Something Missing (Updated Weekly)

Chapter 16 - Small Mercies

Something cold passed through her.

'A group of 'hate preachers' who launched a 'campaign of intimidation' based on an extreme interpretation of the Bible have escaped prison and been fined £250 for harassing and threatening shoppers. In one case, children aged 6 and 8 were left in tears after a member of the Abundant Blessing Church of Christ told them that their mother would die and burn in hell for not believing in God.

In response, the church issued a statement maintaining that its members' arrest and sentencing was an 'attack on free speech' against 'righteous Christians who were only trying to deliver the gospel.'

But ex-members of the group have described extremist rhetoric, abuse and indoctrination. One ex-member who refused to be identified said, 'They think anyone who does not live as they do is demonic. They are completely radicalised. I am scared they are planning something violent.''

Once she was done Rita wandered back through the aisle with her bags until she found her seat. The man beside her had taken her spot by the window. She squashed her emotions down to focus on the annoyance. She opened the notes app on her phone and created a new file called 'Erica'. She pulled her phone close to her face, concealing the screen from any prying eyes, then set up 2 factor authentication on the document. The first thing she wrote was 'Speak to Donna'.

Then, she began entering names. Carly Hill. Jon Phillips. She hesitated a moment, then wrote Matteo Cadiz, still feeling awkward and sad about it.

So far, they were her top three.

*

It was 6pm by the time Rita's train got in. It was dark and the air was crisp and cold. Heather had told her that before going to the restaurant, she was hanging out in a pub opposite the station called the Three Dragons. Rita spotted the pub straight away. Her bag was heavy and she regretted taking so many clothes if she was only staying one night.

When she opened the pub's heavy door, she was instantly hit by a blast of warm, alcohol suffused air.It was busy on a Saturday night. Most of the punters were middle aged but by the door there was a table of young people drinking, surrounded by balloons saying '20' on them. Rita smiled, feeling slightly sad. She hadn't been 20 for a very long time. She couldn't remember having that many friends back then. She glanced around for Heather and spotted a Basset hound, lying under a table where two old men sat with pints of beer.

As she walked towards the back of the pub something thumped her on the shoulder. It would have made her jump had she not recognised Heather's voice. She turned around to see her friend holding hands with a tall, thin woman with close cropped hair and glasses. The previous times she had met Heather she'd had gold hooped earrings but she had swapped these out for tiny multicoloured birds. Both women had glasses of beer in their hands.

'Rita! How are you my love?' Heather said, putting her beer down on a sticky table and hugging her. 'Cheers for coming up. So glad you could make it. This is my wife, Aimee. Aimee - this is my friend Rita. We worked together on the Henry Dixon case.' Aimee nodded at Rita and shook her hand. She had a tattoo of a hairy orange and black beetle on her wrist.

'I'm good.' Rita smiled. Heather had a way of putting people at ease - she definitely put her at ease. 'Until the delay, the journey was fine. Quite easy.'

'Still, you got here in the end, didn't you.' Aimee let out a throaty laugh. Without even trying, Rita could smell the nicotine on her. If she had one cigarette, surely it wouldn't be so bad. And she'd be saving Aimee from herself, wouldn't she? 'Great to meet you. Can I get you a drink?'

'Maybe some cider, it's a rare treat for me,' Rita said. 'What time is the meal?'

'Table's booked for 7.30,' Heather said. 'Enough time for a swift half, I think. Or two.'