Melanie’s phone call left Tyler stunned, usually nothing upset her. Her message to Tyler was of a scared, frightened woman. Her voice was shaky, bordering on hysteria, telling Mel to lock all the doors and windows and pull down the blinds.
Tyler finished off with the statement that he would come over straight away.
Arriving on Mel’s estate, Tyler had a gut feeling something was wrong. Tyler checked to see if Mel had followed his instructions on how to protect herself and how to keep safe.
Tyler hid behind the garden shed, moving carefully to avoid being seen. Entering the woods, Tyler found temporary refuge behind the large trunk of a ginormous tree.
All around Tyler, bullets zipped and ricocheted close by. The only reason Tyler could think why he was being shot at was the shooter may have been warning Tyler to stay away from Melanie.
Tyler waited half an hour, he then emerged into the open following a different route back to Melanie’s home, watching over his shoulder and keeping in dark shadows as he crept along. He was grateful it was uneventful that no-one was following him.
Arriving at Melanie’s home Tyler opened the door with his own key. To Tyler’s astonishment and consternation he found Melanie huddled on the couch in the foetal position.
Tyler spoke in a soft gentle tone. “Mel! It’s me, your best mate and friend.”
Taking her hand, he murmured soothing words of encouragement to her. After staring into space for some time, Melanie broke her silence. As she started to speak, her bottom lip quivered and tears started to flow. She sobbed uncontrollably for about twenty minutes, all this time Tyler held Melanie’s hand.
As the sobs subsided, Melanie told him slowly through unshod tears that she had been having weird phone calls for a few weeks.
Tyler said, “You can tell me anything, you are my best friend and best mate!”
Melanie locked eyes with Tyler. Seeing the compassion in his eyes she blushed. Turning her head away, hoping Tyler hadn’t seen her embarrassment.
Helping Mel to sit up, he made her comfortable. She knew what he intended to ask her next.
“Now!” Tyler said, “Tell me exactly what’s happening Mel?”
“Tyler! It’s dreadful. How can I tell anyone let alone you?” She replied.
“Mel.” Tyler told her, “Someone will have to know what’s going on. You can trust me!”
“Well the first phone call of many was heavy breathing. After some time the caller told me things referring to explicit sex and that he wanted me for his partner. Following that he said, I know where you live Mel, I am watching you. How could he know my pet name, only you have that information?”
Tyler was horrified. He showed a blank face to Mel so she didn’t know what he was thinking.
“Listen to me Mel!” Tyler was quite persuasive. “Tomorrow I start my three months long-service-leave, so I will be your personal bodyguard. You will go nowhere on your own.”
Mel questioned Tyler, “How can you mind me and keep me safe all day long. It’s not practicable! You need time to rest.” Mel told Tyler.
Tyler stated that he would be sleeping on the couch, as he would take the night shift. I have eight men, all who have been trained in judo and karate. Each one had earned their black-belt status. This level of belt signifies the wearer had reached a high standard in martial arts.
“Mel exclaimed, “Wow! This information has lessened my fears. Soon this evil man will be caught and everything will be back to normal.”
“She will find out the truth shortly,” thought Tyler. “As these type of men are devious, sly and hard to track down.”
Tyler wanted to know where there was a private place to make mobile calls.
“Try the study, third door on the left!” Melanie told him.
The following are the names of Tyler’s team. First is Dakota, then Jackson, Peter, James, Jordan, Calvine, Jonathon and Evan.
Dialing their unlisted private numbers, Tyler explained the situation to each man. He then told his men the address of where to meet him at 2.00pm that afternoon. Tyler knew that they would work together, as their team spirit was beyond reproach.
As the team assembled, Tyler gave instructions.
Jackson and Calvine’s watch starts at 6.00pm tonight at the edge of the woods.
Dakota and James see to the back of the estate, while Jordan and Peter will cover the left side of the grounds. Jonathon and Evan’s stake-out will be the area to the right side of the house.
As your shift will finish at 6.00am, you will each be relieved by another group. The men in this group are marines who have been deployed and fought in Afghanistan.
Unlike yourselves, their names will unknown to you. Tyler revealed this information, adding he knew each individual as he had dealings with them quite often. They were tough, but would do exactly what he would ask of them. According to Tyler, all the men on watch were equal.
Tyler announced, “Before you leave here, I want to caution you about the man we are after. He is armed and dangerous. I have been trapped in the woods with him. He plays mind-games and is not afraid to use his weapon, so be careful!”
Dakota and Calvine arrived early. They placed a bug in Melanie’s phone and also many more bugs and hidden cameras throughout all the rooms in her house. The equipment was strategically placed to cover the entire facility and outside surroundings.
An unearthly high pitched scream pierced the night silence.
Tyler ran upstairs to Mel’s room. He broke down the door. Melanie was white as a sheet.
“He was here!” she said. “My wildest nightmare had come true!”
“Did he harm you Mel?” Tyler’s voice was raspy with fear.
“He didn’t find me.” Melanie yelled. “I went into hiding in the large wardrobe.
“Tyler!” she shouted at him, “I thought all your men were meant to protect me?
“Can you describe him to me?” Tyler wanted to know.
“He was about six foot tall and had a paunch rounded belly. As for his face, he wore a ski mask.”
Tyler needed an answer. “How did you know it was your phone caller?”
“By what he said he would enjoy doing to me when he found me!” Mel was angry.
“Why did he give up his search for you so easily Mel?” Tyler wanted to know.
“One of your ex-marines shadowed him here. He would have caught the intruder, only that he had smeared grease on his entire body and clothing. Although the soldier was not due for his turn of duty yet, He still rushed to my rescue. He is a true hero in my eyes.” Melanie reckoned.
Tyler was furious that Mel’s caller had made it into her home before being detected. He would blast his martial arts team as soon as he could get them all together.
As the man had long gone, Tyler had time to interrogate the team.
“Which of you slept while on duty?” Tyler demanded.
One of the lads stepped forward. “I found two men lying on the ground. Thinking that they were dead, I shook them to make sure and they awoke. They had been knocked out with chloroform. That’s how the sneaky bastard broke through the ranks!”
Tyler was extremely annoyed.
In all fairness to his men, Tyler spoke about how the scoundrel had crept past him. Tyler told them that when he was on watch, he always had coffee with him. The night before, the coffee had tasted bitter. He was telling them how easy it is to get distracted. He was conversing with one of his men about an important matter, leaving his thermos flask unattended on the front porch for ten minutes. That must have been when it happened. During that time someone must have tampered with my flask.
Tyler was angry about the whole situation.
His team were astonished at what Tyler had revealed to them. No-one moved or talked, their training taught them that in matters like this not to become involved.
“A big change is for tonight.” Tyler said while giving his talk. “Are you up to a challenge? If you are for it, the risk is great and may cost any of you your life!”
“I need fearless men to be on watch in Melanie’s house tonight. There will only be four of you, so you will have to be on guard and be smarter than you were last night. Whatever you’re attempting to do, each agent must protect their backs.” Tyler suggested.
“Are you expecting trouble?” Dakota asked.
“Certainly! After losing his prey last evening, he will storm Melanie’s home tonight. So keep your weapons handy.” Tyler finished what he had to say.
After arranging his men in strategic places, Tyler warned them to be alert and ready for any trickery, if they were to save Melanie and their own life.
Tyler checked his weapons and what the marines carried.
Tyler lay across Mel’s doorway, to keep anyone from crossing the threshold into her room.
It was midnight and the area was filled with tension. Out of the dark night a tiny sound like the squeak of a mouse was heard.
Tyler signaled to his men in sign language to be at the ready.
Inside Mel’s room all hell broke loose. A shot rang out.
Tyler shoved everyone out of the way. Mel was nowhere to be seen. A large man who only had a flesh wound from a marine’s bullet sat on the floor rocking to-and-fro, with a manic grin on his face.
Tyler cussed loudly. “Lock him up in the guest room and guard him well!”
They dragged Ivan to the guest room. They knew him by his first name and they knew him well. With great reluctance, Ivan went to the guest room.
After locking him inside, two armed guards stood in front of the door.
Back at Mel’s house, Tyler found Melanie. Her attire, a classic black dress teamed up with black knee high boots.
Tyler at a loss for words did not have anything to say.
Brightening up, Tyler remarked, “Mel, you look all grown up and so pretty, but why the change of attire Mel?”
“Well, I locked myself in the bathroom. I always leave some of my clothes in a small closet in there, so I chose this frock to wear today.” Melanie explained.
Tyler felt that something was not just right. Mel never liked make-up. Now she had artistically made-up her face. Tyler was puzzled. He must be imagining things.
Returning to the prisoner in the guest room, one of the marines took a meal tray to Ivan who sneered at him. “You think this is over. I will have what I came for!”The psychopath grinned sardonically.
After collecting his tray, Ivan put his plan into action very slowly.
As quietly as possible, he dragged a piece of carpet which had a large pot plant on it. Inch by inch Ivan tugged the stubborn greenery, leaving it behind him there.
What he wanted to do was to get to a concealed trapdoor. On opening the trapdoor, he climbed down a ladder and gently closed the hatch.
There in front of him lay his way of escape.
He chuckled like the manic he was. Ivan remembered what his Grandfather showed him. The underground had various mazes. Ivan found the right key to his freedom. He rubbed his hands with glee.
Ivan felt excited. The temptress would be his. Now he would take her.
Ivan’s eyes bulged. He was going to slap her into submission. Erotic thoughts filled his crazy brain.
Threading his way along the corridors around many corners, Ivan didn’t mind, he was drooling over the fact of the supreme prize at the end.
One of the marine guards was so angry.
“What’s this about?” Tyler asked.
“Our prisoner has gone.” The guards were afraid they would be punished.
Tyler raged on, furious about the situation.
“How! Where! When!” Tyler groaned in despair.
“I don’t know when. Both marines spat out the words. That man had us deceived. He had plotted to outwit every guard and the rules you gave us.”
“Neither of you have told me. How the devil did he get out” Tyler questioned.
Evidently Ivan knew that under a large pot-plant, there was a hidden exit. One marine fired away at him. Also Jackson from your martial arts team intimated that rum smugglers used the very same trail back in the olden days.
“By George! Every man, spread yourselves around into each of the rooms. We may catch the cur again yet, after all!” Tyler boomed.
The sound echoed throughout the room.
Suddenly there was a furor coming from the bathroom.
“What on earth is causing that uproar?” Tyler asked.
“This murdering scum who terrifies women tried to sneak into our house!”
Tyler said, “What do you mean our house Mel?”
“I’m over here Tyler!” said Mel.
“That’s my twin sister Maeve, over there near you.”
“Oh! That explains the difference in clothes and make-up.” Tyler commented.
“Where did you get that stiletto knife from? You have nearly pierced a hole in Ivan’s neck.” Mel asked.
“That’s why I wear boots; they’re a great place for hiding things in too. I even carry a small ladies derringer pistol in my other boot.” Maeve added.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you had a twin sister Mel?” Tyler inquired.
“She was overseas until now. She didn’t answer my emails at first.” Said Mel.
Now it was Maeve’s turn. “What are we going to do with my hostage, Ivan the terror?” She asked.
One of my men contacted the police. They will be here shortly.” Tyler told Maeve.
The next minute the Law came bursting through the door with their guns drawn.
Detective Sergeant Langely-Jones was glad this well known rotter has been caught at long last.
“Thanks to your quick thinking young lady and even faster action, Ivan will spend a long time in prison.”
Everyone cheered. Thank heavens it’s all over!
Tyler spoke in low tones. “Mel, meet me in the study in five minutes?”
When they were on their own, Tyler asked Mel to be his steady girlfriend. Their first date would be at Renae’s Restaurant.
“Yes! Yes!” Mel was so excited.
Out of all of this, at last something good had come to her.
Hilda Oakley
Copyright © 03.04.2019
