The Copse Corpse
Part one
As he turned over in bed, he knocked a cup of cold coffee across the room, breaking the cup and sending the contents all over the carpet. This was enough to wake Jonathan. He levered himself out of bed and aimed to grab the dressing gown from the edge of the bed. He tied it round his middle and made his way to the kitchen for a cloth and some kitchen paper. After mopping up the little accident and saying goodbye to his favourite cup, he proceeded downstairs to make himself a fresh cup.
While the kettle was boiling, he looked at the clock. It was 8:15am. Jonathan was not used to getting up so late but he had been awake half the night wondering about Maddy. It was unusual that she had not called but after two weeks, he was starting to worry. In the life of a thriving investigative journalist, there must be something exciting that Maddy could talk to him about.
After many cups of coffee later, he got dressed and decided to call her. He pushed the memory button on his phone and waited for the dialling tone. He heard the ring and waited, and waited, and waited. Forty rings later a tired voice answered the phone.
"What?" The voice of Maddy was never so much appreciated. "Hi Mad, it's Jonathan. What seems to be the problem?" There was a pause and then... "I'm not in the mood to talk right now. I'll call you when I have something to say." She hung up the phone. With a somewhat bewildered look on his face, Jonathan pressed the receiver and pushed the memory button again. He was going to beat her at her own game.
"Yes?" was the reply as she answered. "Believe it or not, Maddy, I need to talk to you. I'm on my way." Before she had the opportunity to say anything he hung up, grabbed his coat and headed for the train station.
All the way there, he was wondering why Maddy was so abrupt on the phone. Although this was nothing new, she had never sounded so depressed in her life. Different things began to run through his mind. What if she was ill? What if she had to move away? What if someone had died? He just could not pin point anything that may indicate to the problem. Surely if she was ill, she would have said something, wouldn't she?
He got off the train and hailed a cab. Not exactly the cheapest journey he had ever taken but it sounded necessary. He arrived at Maddy's door at 11:30am and the door was answered by an pyjama dressed but perkier Maddy.
"Sorry about that on the phone before. I didn't mean to snap. Come in, I've just made some coffee." He entered at the thought of enjoying yet another cup of coffee. As he entered she slammed the door. "But there was no need to hung up on me like that." Maddy barked at him. He turned looking shocked, but prepared for her attitude. "So it's wrong to be concerned about somebody now is it? Is there a problem with someone caring? I haven't heard from you in over two weeks. What the hell have you been doing?"
She ignored the comment and continued into the kitchen to pour the coffee. They both sat down and began an Olympic style staring match, until Maddy broke the silence.
"Sorry Jonathan, I've had a lot on my mind. I found out that my friends fiance has gone missing. He was really nice and my friend's been distraught. She's asleep upstairs. I asked her to stay over for a few days. The reason I'm so upset is that I once had a thing for Michael and he never knew. I still really like him."
Jonathan sipped his coffee again.
"Has she called the police?" Maddy answered. "She called the police last week, they still haven't found him. He didn't leave a note. All he said was that he was going for a walk. That was a week on Wednesday and now he can't be contacted." Jonathan only had one idea at present and that was a stupid one. He voiced it anyway.
"Have you or your friend tried to ring him on his mobile?" Maddy got up from the chair and went into the living room. Jonathan wondered why she'd done this but then she came back with something in the pocket of her dressing gown. She lifted it out and put it one the table. "He left his mobile on the table as he left that afternoon."
Suddenly there was a noise from upstairs and then the lock went on the bathroom door. "Don't mention anything to her. Just pretend that I haven't told you." Maddy went back to the coffee machine as she said this and Jonathan stuck his nose in his mug.
Steps where heard on the stairs and then someone entered the kitchen. Maddy turned around and passed her a cup of coffee. "Helen, I don't think that you know Jonathan. Jonathan this is Helen." He stood up and offered her his seat. She declined and perched herself on the work surface. She was very think with distinctive features and dark brown hair, tidily set into a bob, thin and about shoulder length.
"Have you told him.?" Helen whispered to Maddy. Maddy edged away from her slightly. "Sorry. I hope you don't mind. I can trust him." Helen took a gulp of her coffee. Then she tilted her head and looked at the clock for a while. "Well....I suppose I'd better get ready." She finished the coffee in her cup, put it in the sink and shuffled upstairs.
"Where's she going?" Maddy finished her toast and answered. "She's a mature medical student. She thinks that by doing something, it will take her mind off things. Her choice not mine." Jonathan looked at the toast with expectation but it never arrived. Maddy continued to eat the other two slices.
The two of them sat silent downstairs and listened to the actions that where taking place upstairs. The lock was put on the bathroom door. The water began to run and the toilet was flushed. The lock was taken off and there where footsteps on the landing. After twenty minutes of this, the somewhat tidier figure of Helen came downstairs. She picked up her bag from the hall and cam back into the kitchen.
"Listen Mad, thanks for the gratitude you've given me these past few weeks. I'm glad I have a friend like you." She walked over to Maddy and gave her a hug. Then she turned to Jonathan. "I've heard a lot about you. I'm am only hoping that you will be as much of a friend to Maddy as Maddy has been to be." Jonathan nodded and continued drooling over the toaster, now empty, but leaving an aroma in the room.
"I'll be back at around four. You can go out, I have a key." Maddy shuck her head. "I'm not made of glass you know. I won't break if you leave me, and I'm certainly not going to do anything stupid. I can cope on my own. I'll see you later." With this, Helen exited the kitchen and went out the front door. It slammed shut, as always.
Maddy grabbed the jug of coffee and proceeded to pour another. "What do you think then?" Maddy just expected Jonathan to know all of the answers. "How am I supposed to know? Michael is missing and there is nothing that I can do until something happens. Either he comes back, he doesn't come back, or he is found. that is all I can say."
Maddy looked a bit agitated at being told that Michael may be FOUND rather than come back. "Have you received any information from the police." Jonathan was not the sort of person to skirt around a question. "Not yet. But you know what they say. No news is good news. I just hope that he realises all of the problems that he is causing and decides to come back." At this point, Maddy wiped a tear from her eye. Jonathan gave a sympathetic look. "Are you alright?" Maddy pretended nothing had happened "Of course I am. I'll survive. you know me. I'm a fighter. I'm just afraid that Helen isn't."
Part Two
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