3. GEORGE TURNS 18 (3rd and final ''George'' story)

Chapter 13 - THREE SURPRISES

''Maybe we should call the police?'' Chloe suggested

''No point yet'' George said sadly ''They won't take it seriously at this stage, I know them. Let's just go to bed and wait to see if Ju comes home during the night''

''I wonder where Julie is as well?'' Jake pondered ''She's been gone for hours too''

The three of them went to bed and heard someone coming back very late. They rushed out to see if it was Julian but it was Julie

''I wasn't expecting the three of you to rush out to greet me!'' Julie said with a laugh ''What is wrong, you all look worried?''

''We wondered where you got to that's all'' George said ''Also Julian is not back either, we wondered if it was him coming back when we heard you come back''

Chloe went in to use the downstairs bathroom and screamed in terror

The others rushed into the room ''Chloe why did you scream like that?'' George asked in concern

''Oh there was a face at the window, staring in at me'' Chloe sobbed ''it was so creepy and it gave me the fright of my life!''

''Are you sure there was a face there?'' George demanded rather scornfully ''Come on Chloe, your mind may have played tricks on you''

''No there was a face there alright, I know what I saw'' Chloe was quite sure of this ''It was a man looking in at me, a creepy pervert no doubt''

''Right we'd best go out and have a look'' Jake said bravely and marched outside followed by George and Julie. Chloe stayed inside, too scared

''This is stupid'' grumbled George as they hunted around ''I am sure there is no one out here. Chloe is like Anne, scared of any shadow, and at night we can sometimes think we see something which isn't there, shadows and bushes and trees can look different and strange in the dark''

''Ok but it hardly hurts to check does it'' Jake said as they hunted about in the dark

''Well no one here surely'' Julie said at last and they headed back inside

''Chloe are you there? We had a look around and there is no sign of anyone out there'' George called out ''Really I do think you might have made a mistake love''

Chloe didn't answer and there was no sign of her in the bathroom or any of the downstairs rooms

''Maybe she went to bed already'' Jake said ''She was pretty tired''

''Maybe we should all go to bed now and I hope Ju comes back in the night'' George said and yawned

The next morning Julie and Jake were already in the kitchen making breakfast when George came down and checked his phone. There was a missed call from Julian's number and George felt excited and relieved until he spotted a concerning text message

SURPRISE #2

''Hello I tried calling this number but no one answered. I found this phone in some bushes and when I went through the contacts I tried calling your number. I live nearby if you want to come and collect the phone''

George rang his brother's number and a cheerful-sounding man answered 

''Good morning there!'' he said ''I guess you finally got my message then?''

''Yes I am sorry I was asleep'' George said ''You found my brother's phone?''

''Yes, well not really me. My dog found it when I took him for his morning walk, it was in some bushes in Finniston Copse when I took him for his walk early this morning. I figured it was lost and when I looked through the contacts you were the top one so I tried to contact you. The phone is here with me if someone wants to come and get it''

''Yes thank you'' George said and took the man's address ''You are just up the road from us, we'll come and get the phone from you. Thank you for your kindness and honesty in contacting us to give the phone back''

''Only too happy to'' the man said cheerfully ''too many people would have kept it or sold it, I am not like that. I always try to return lost property if I can''

George thanked this kind man again and ended the call. Jake and Julie were standing nearby looking intrigued

''I think it's probably time to contact the police'' George told them gravely and went on to explain that Julian's phone had been found by the dog walker

''Finniston Copse was where we climbed trees yesterday'' George said ''I can't imagine what happened to Julian, I do hope he didn't fall from a tree and hurt himself, hit his head, or something. Really we never should have climbed trees it was childish and foolish at our age''

''Dangerous too when you're...Jake started and then remembered Julie was there. Jake was going to tell George that it was dangerous to climb a tree while pregnant and George understood that was what he was going to say and agreed that he was right about it. George felt ashamed and like an idiot 

''Well I'd better ring the police'' George said ''then someone needs to go and get the phone, the man gave me his address it's just up the road''

 I'll go and collect Julian's phone'' Julie said and picked up the piece of paper with the address on it and her car keys and headed out the door

''I'll go and wake Chloe up and tell her what has happened'' Jake said and rushed upstairs

George was on the phone reporting her brother missing when a concerned and confused-looking Jake came back to the room 

SURPRISE #3

''George, Chloe isn't in her room and the bed hasn't been slept in'' he said