Chapter 3: Will You Teach Me

‘I’m still sure I couldn’t cut anyone’s bits off,’ Mitch told him, ‘No matter how bad they were. But I’m sure it wouldn’t bother me seeing it done. So, if you need muscle, call on me anytime.’ ‘Thanks Mitch.’ Cliff told him. ‘You’ll be interested to know that John Kirkham has been spotted a couple of times coming out of Grahams caravan.’ Mitch told him.

‘Perhaps he’s still looking for something,’ Cliff said grinning, ‘I wonder if he’ll ever find it?’ ‘He must be worried sick,’ Mitch said, ‘Serves him right.’

They worked on the station all day. Mid-day Rosemary brought everyone a drink round.

She brought Mitch and Cliffs drink last, so she could stop and have her drink and butties with them. As they chatted, Rosemary told Cliff that her mum and dad were delighted with the video and had shown it to her aunt too.

Seeing Mitch’s puzzled look, she explained about Cliff’s performance as Oliver. ‘Is there no end to your talents?’ Mitch said laughing. ‘Fancy me working with someone famous.’ After lunch Rosemary returned to the office, whilst Cliff and Mitch resumed work on the station.

Not long after lunch, they saw a tall young man with a handful of empty mugs heading towards the office. He came over, said, ‘Hi Mitch,’ and asked if they had any empties to return. Mitch introduced him to Cliff and as they shook hands Cliff noticed that he was suddenly looking very nervous.

‘What are you working on, Luke? Cliff asked. ‘There’s a narrow lane goes under the track bed by those trees,’ he said pointing down the track bed. ‘I’m raking out all the stonework on the bridge ready for repointing.’ ‘That sounds interesting,’ Cliff told him, ‘If I get a chance, I’ll wander down and have a look.’

As Luke went off with the cups, Mitch looked at Cliff, ‘Go whenever you want.’ he told him. He had guessed Cliff wanted to have a chat with Luke and eliminate him. What Mitch didn’t know was that Luke was the remaining victim still working on the railway. Cliff had texted him over a week ago but hadn’t yet had a reply from him.

Ten minutes later they saw Luke heading back, this time with his hands empty of cups. As he passed, Cliff called out, ‘Hi Luke, hang on and I’ll walk down with you.’ As he went over to join him, Luke looked scared stiff. ‘Relax,’ Cliff said quietly as he reached him, ‘You’re just showing me the bridge.’

As they walked Luke told him, ‘I’m sorry I haven’t got back to you.’ ‘It’s ok,’ Cliff told him, ‘I understand how you feel and how difficult it is. Mitch helped me find the photos after Graham was arrested. He knows there are photos, but he has no idea who is on them. Neither does he know what the people pictured are having done to them.’

‘To the best of my knowledge, the only people who have seen them are Graham and John who seem to have shared them with each other. And me. If I can interview each of the people in the photos connected with the railway, then I can find a way of dealing with John Kirkham without involving his victims.’

‘When he is dealt with, his own copies on his computer will be seized and deleted and the copies I have will be destroyed. What you probably don’t know is that you are not the only one who was attacked. And all in exactly the same way.’

‘If you will come and see me in private, what you can tell me will help me deal with your attacker. No one connected with the railway will know you’ve been, or anything you tell me. Will you come?’ ‘Yes,’ he agreed, ‘Where would I have to go?’

Cliff explained and asked him what time he finished work on Tuesday. Luke told him five o’clock, so he could be there for half past. ‘That’s great,’ Cliff told him, ‘The shop will be closed by then and the manager will have gone home, so not even he will know you’ve been.’

‘They reached the bridge and Luke showed him all the joints between the stones that he was chipping out. ‘Just think,’ Cliff told him, ‘When the trains are running, they’ll run for years across this bridge, and it will still be standing thanks to what you are doing.’

‘Who knows, you might even bring your children, or even your grandchildren, for a train ride over it one day.’ Cliff told him. ‘I never thought of it like that,’ Luke said looking pleased. ‘Where do you work?’ Cliff asked.