Memory lane

She had a lousy day. She had only been in charge there for two weeks but she knew that she was going to have to sort out the sales manager. He obviously had a problem working for a woman. She sat thinking for a while about what to do. Then she picked up the phone and called him. The phone seemed to ring for hours, just as Kath was about to hang up Richard answered.
“Yes” he said in that stern, gruff voice of his. “Who is it?”

“Is that Mr Richard Cooke?”

“Yeah! Who are you?”

“Ah! Hello Mr Cooke. This is Kath Wright your boss. I just thought I’d call and see if you could explain why exactly it is that for the third day in a row you’re not at work”.

“Medical reasons”.

“Is that right, do you have a doctors note?”

“Yes. I’ll give you it personally.”

“I would appreciate it Mr Cooke. Well goodbye, oh and Mr Cooke”

“Yeah”

“Do get well soon.” Kath hung the phone up and opened the top drawer of her desk. She reached for the bottle of whiskey. She needed something to steady her nerves. Then changing her mind she reached for the phone and punching in a number. The phone was answered immediately.

“A.A. we’re here to help. May Jones speaking.”

“Hello May. It’s Kath I I need to talk.”



Kath slowly made her way into the parking lot. God she was glad the day was over she couldn’t wait to get home and put her feet up. As she made her way to the car she felt uneasy as if someone else was there. She shrugged it off after all no one else could get in. It was a closed parking lot you needed a special pass to enter and only employees had them. She climbed into her car, switched on the radio and sat for a while allowing the music to wash over her and calm her down. Then after a few minutes she started the car and made her way slowly out of the parking lot. It wasn’t until she was out of the parking lot and half way home that she noticed him.

“Richard what the hell do you think you’re doing in the back of the car?”

“Waiting for you. We’re going to take a little trip down memory lane.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” She steared at his unshaven face through the mirror and saw the tears in his eyes

“You’ll see just keep on this road.” After what seemed like an eternity Richard spoke again. “Turn here.” Kath started to shake as she recognised the road they were now on.

“Glad to see you recognise where you’re at.” Richard said with a smile on his face.

“What are we doing here?” she asked “I know you have a problem working for me because I’m a woman but...”

“That’s what you think.” He snapped cutting her short. “You being a woman has nothing to do with it. Turn here.” They headed down a long back road. “You being a murder has. Stop the car.” Kath stopped and looked at the surrounding area it looked familiar but she couldn’t quite work out why.

“What are we doing here?” she asked

“This is where it happened. Do you not recognise it? I can’t believe you didn’t even recognise the name Cooke.”

“I don’t. Want to explain it to me.”

“Five years ago you got loaded got in your car and went for a little drive. You came down this road there was a young girl on a pushbike you knocked her down, ran over her and killed her.”



Kath’s mind started to take her back to that night. Shed been at a friend’s birthday bash she knew she was over the limit but decided to drive anyway. Her theory was she’d driven drunk everyday and nothing had ever happened because she was careful. But that night something had happened. She’d seen the girl on the bike and knew she was there but her favourite tape was on the floor and she wanted to hear her song. She bent down to pick it up. Then thud. Kath sat up and braked sharp. There laid on the road just behind her car a mangled bike and further back the body of the young girl lay. Kath snapped back to reality as she remembered how she struggled with the decision of staying until the police came or driving off and leaving her.



“That was when I had a problem but what the hell dose that have to do with you?” she asked.

“She was my new wife we’d been married about a month when you did that. We were planning on starting a family.”

“I I I’m sorry”

“And all you got was a slap on the hand and a little fine you should have got life you deserved to get at least some jail time but no spoilt little rich girl got away with it.” Kath started to cry as Richard reaching forward and took her car keys out of the ignition.

“Get out” he snapped “they may have let you get away with it but I’m not. Its pay back time little girl.” Kath stumbled out of the car not knowing what was going to happen to her. Richard slowly climbed out the back of the car on the opposite side. Then slowly he made his way around the back of the car to face the now terrified Kath.



The following day Richard turned up for work when the head of the company came to visit.

“I’m here to see Miss Kath Wright” he said

“I’m sorry sir she’s not in today.” Richard replied “fact is I can safely say I’ve not seen her at work for about a week”

“Thank you. If she turns up can you tell her I’m waiting in her office?

“Hey Richard” one of the young lads whispered as the head of the company close Kath’s office door. “What was all that about?”

“He wanted to know when I last saw the boss so I told him not at work for over a week”