The Portal Between (#samplesunday)
The opening of the first Portal book, where Sam has just disappeared and her car is found abandoned.
The Portal Between
1
Two Years AgoIt was just after midnight as PC Peter White walked steadily along the familiar pavement. As he walked along the wooden fence the moon caught a flash of metal amongst the trees. He paused by a gate and unhooked his torch to shine it into the woods.
The young police constable approached the dark, abandoned car carefully. His breath steamed from him in clouds and he stamped his feet. His collar was turned up and a scarf was tucked inside to keep the chill from his neck. Thickly padded uniform gloves didn't keep all of the cold from his fingers.
The car was a deep forest green saloon, with a large dent in the front passenger door. The driver door was hanging open but the interior light was off. The engine was cold and silent as he shone his torch through the window of the passenger door. The car was clearly empty. He reached for his radio but only got static. He banged it a few times and swore. He looked around but there was no-one there. The keys were still hanging from the ignition so he turned the key back and forth and got nothing. The battery was clearly dead. He took the keys to open the boot, which was empty. While he was at the boot he rocked the car to see if he could hear petrol in the tank but again there was nothing. He took a look at the tyres, nothing wrong with them. Then he cast the torch around the closest trees. There was no sign of anyone so he walked back to the edge of the woods, where he knew there would be a better signal for the radio. He was almost surprised the woods hadn't been checked already. Only almost, everyone had assumed she had run off on her own. There had been no hint of anything suspicious until now.
The woods also had the reputation of being haunted but the local police force thought that had more to do with poachers than paranormal happenings. It was a weird place and the young constable was uneasy.
He got to the edge of the trees and called in to report the car, confirmed the number plate and was told to wait for the patrol car. Within a few minutes the dark trees were lit by the strobing of multiple police cars. A couple of the cars parked deliberately so their headlights shone on the green saloon. The young PC was left at the perimeter, tying incident tape to trees. He was still too cold, but his shift was almost over. Another PC joined him.
"Looks like we drew the short straw again Pete." The new arrival rubbed his hands together and his breath was almost frost as it slipped from his nose. He pulled the collar of his jacket up and hunched his head and shoulders as deep as they would go.
"Oh Phil, tell me about it." Pete replied. "Shift's over in about half an hour anyway. Then home for a hot bath, nice hot cuppa and plenty of sleep. Might even have myself a nice warming nightcap on the way."
"They haven't told you yet?" Phil didn't sound surprised. "Overtime tonight so we can keep this bit of the woods secure until forensics can get here."
Pete groaned. "I'll have bloody hypothermia or frostbite by then and Rosie will be waiting up." He shoved his hands deep into his uniform jacket pockets. "They think it is suspicious then?"
Phil shrugged. "No idea mate. Who knows what goes through their heads at times. They have to get forensics to take a look though, just to be sure I guess." Phil stomped off in response to a call from further in the woods. Pete was left patrolling the perimeter.
The forensic team arrived in their standard white van. They went over the car and scene in minute detail. There was nothing to find. All the fingerprints matched the people already involved. There were some footprints leading from the car to the old oak tree, but they simply finished as if the walker had slipped into the tree itself, which was impossible. The car had simply run out of fuel and the engine stopped. With the ignition and the lights on, the battery had soon run flat.
As the sun rose and bright late autumnal light filtered into the woods the green car was loaded onto a breakdown truck and Pete finally got to go home.
Kate turned over in her sleep. She dreamed deeply of two years ago. Her head tossed on the pillow and her hands grasped at the edges of the duvet.
Kate sat on her saggy green sofa, her arms round four small children aged from three to six. The two police officers had no words of comfort to offer. Sam had gone. No-one knew where, when or how. Her car had been found near the old oak, empty, abandoned. There was no sign of foul play, but no sign of Sam either. A third officer was sitting in the kitchen, writing notes. He appeared with a baking sheet filled with mugs of tea, a bowl of sugar and a couple of tea spoons.
"Thought you wouldn't mind if I raided your cupboards Ma'am." He grinned. "I couldn't find a tray and I left the teapot in the kitchen." Then came an almighty crash and the distinct sound of broken crockery in the kitchen. Remarkably the policeman didn't spill a drop as he thrust the tray at his colleague and whirled round to face the source of the noise. His night stick flicking down, telescoping out, long and dangerous, then up and over his shoulder, ready to strike.
Kate's knuckles were white on the edge of the duvet and her eyes were tightly shut. The rapid movement of eyeball beneath eyelid meant the dream was still there. Her breathing ragged now and tears ran from the corners of eyes squeezed closed.
"Woah!" The frightened yelp was familiar to Kate.
"Wait!" She called, "That's Jack, my husband" The night stick was pushed back into a holder at the waist and an apology was offered.
"Is it safe?" Jack tried to be funny and failed. Kate looked at him with a face wet with tears. He took in the profusion of police and the state of his wife and the assortment of children. He crossed the room in a couple of strides to hold Kate tightly as she wept and tried to explain.
"Sam's gone. They found her car but she's gone." Kate's shoulders heaved as the sobs took over.
"I broke the teapot. Sorry." Jack looked apologetic, Kate almost smiled.
"Jack" The name a sob torn from a sleeping throat. Kate still held firmly in the dream, reliving the events that started this part of her life. Her arm flung itself out to hold the empty pillow beside her.
"Excuse me?" A firm female voice broke through. "I've come for the children?" Kate startled and automatically reached out to hold all four children. A woman older than Kate stood in the doorway. She stood straight, shoulders back and was dressed in an official looking skirt and jacket, almost a uniform. Soft dark hair with a liberal lacing of grey hung straight to her shoulders and she held a sheaf of papers which she waved at Kate. "Rebekah Silver, Social Services. This is a Court Order. Thomas and Susan Brewer are to accompany me to a place of safety in the absence of their Mother or an alternative appropriate legal guardian." Rebekah was all business and she took a step towards the children, who clung to Kate in fear.
"Tom; he is called Tom, not Thomas." Kate objected automatically as her mind seized on that last phrase, Legal Guardian. "I'm their legal guardian, Sam put me in her will last year. They can stay here." Jack looked at her aghast before nodding a reluctant agreement.
"I'll need sight of that will before that can be officially authorised." Rebekah looked completely unfazed by this revelation. She shouldered past the policeman at the door and came fully into the room. She was solidly built but not tall, clearly fit, radiating confidence and strength.
"I think it's at her house. I have a key but these kids need me here." Kate wrapped her arms protectively around the children. Susan slipped onto her lap and rested her head on Kate's shoulder. Rebekah frowned.
"I could simply enforce this and take them you know?" She waved the papers at Kate and Jack again and gestured at the body of officialdom in uniforms behind her.
"But you won't." Kate stated calmly.
"She will leave them here overnight and come back tomorrow." A silence greeted the new voice.
"Lily." Kate breathed the name like a promise in her sleep.
"Lily!" Kate exclaimed. Rebekah, her face as cold as stone, slowly turned her head to look at Lily. Her eyes were met by an equally steely gaze and Rebekah broke the stare first, looking down towards the floor briefly before turning back to Kate.
"That does sound shockingly reasonable. Is ten o'clock an unreasonable time during half term?" Rebekah looked back to Kate for agreement and she nodded.
Kate sat bolt upright in bed. She was alone. Older, wiser, but still alone. She took a few gulps of the water that sat by her bed. She wiped her face on the sleeve of her pyjamas, glanced at the alarm clock and tried to get back to sleep.
The Portal Between – paperback
The Portal Between – other ebook
