The Dark Knight Of The Soul

Chapter Twenty Two

Ellie walked up the garden path and knocked on the front door. She checked her watch again and noticed two cars on the drive.

She must be home.

Ellie rang the doorbell again, she was starting to fidgety now, tugging at her shoulder bag, then her coat. The front door swung open and an exasperated Harrison lurched forward as the door opened further. His face flushed, and he smiled at Ellie. "Hi!" He said breathlessly.

"Hi. My names Ellie, I'm from the community team," she showed her badge that was hanging on a tie around her neck. "I'm here to see Jenny."

Harrison's face paled quickly, he fixed his eyes at her badge for a couple of seconds before finally breaking his brief fixation. "She's not been too good lately. In fact, she did ask me to call you to cancel your appointment today as she wasn't up to it today. She's asleep at the minute but I'll tell her when she wakes up that you called!" He replied, authoritatively.

Ellie was surprised by his sharp tone and superior attitude. She suspected something was odd. "Wait," Ellie said, holding up her hand. "You said she wanted to cancel our appointment. Which one?" She replied innocently, smiling as reached into her bag to retrieve her diary.

Harrison paused, he pinched his eyebrows together and said. "Today's!" He answered impatiently. His tone laced with sarcasm and a glint of contempt flashed in his eyes.

Ellie was a little distracted by Harrison's bold approach. Her mouth dropped, and she froze on the spot. She quickly re focused her vision and stepped back as Harrison went to close the door. She turned and began to speed walk her way back to her car. Closing the door behind herself, she dropped her bag on the passenger seat and scrambled in her bag to capture her phone. Without pausing she quickly speed dialled the office base.

"Hi, Michelle, it's Ellie. Listen I need to speak with Julia urgently. Is she available?" Ellie gasped, to catch her breathe.

"Just a second Ellie." Michelle the receptionist replied.

Ellie kept her eyes vigilant as she listened on her phone. She put her sun glasses on to try and disguise her staring. Her face was ashen with shock as she tapped her right hand anxiously, against the steering wheel.

"Hi, Ellie." Julia replied.

"Oh my god Julia. This is freaky. I just called to Jenny Mackles house and she's not coming to group. However, that's not my concern. What I noticed was he said she wanted to cancel our appointment." Ellie paused to take a breather. "We didn't have an appointment." She said rapidly, her voice was shaky as she paused to try to catch her breathe. "Then, just as he was about to slam the door...oh god I had the shock of my life...my sister walked right behind him!"

The line went silent and Julia quickly quipped. "Ellie. Are you still there?"

Ellie brought her hand to her mouth like she was trying to conceal a secret. "I can't believe it. I can believe it, I mean...... My hairs all over my body are standing on end.... He WAS Eve's boyfriend. Her perfume that I could smell, the night dreams where she keeps showing up. She's trying to tell me ITS HIM!" She replied, looking back up at the house. She paused as she stared, her jaw dropping in shock. "Oh my fucking god?" Ellie said in a slower, serious tone.

"What?" Julia asked urgently.

"It's says HELP in big letters across the bedroom window." Ellie said, her voice rose an octave as she stared at the window for a few seconds. "She's in danger. Oh god.... he done it to her too!" Ellie's voice trailed into barely a whisper. "Julia, get the police here.... quick!'

"Ok. Ellie. Listen to me.... Do not, I repeat, do not go back into that house until I arrive ok.... Do not move from your car. This is far too complex. You could be in danger..... I've got your whereabout's, I'm going to call the police and you're going to wait there until I arrive."

"Ok. I'll call an ambulance. Right, get off the phone," Ellie replied with urgency.

"No Ellie. I've got the police and ambulance on the line, just what till I get there. Please."

The line paused as Michelle asked, "Ellie. You ok?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Oh, Jesus she's in danger," Ellie replied. Her voice cracking from the repressed emotions bubbling away beneath the surface. "My gut instinct told me something was up before I got out the car. I guess this is what it meant!" Ellie said as she stared intently at the house.

"Your intuition is good." Michelle replied seriously. "I'm sure underneath all that adrenaline, it's saying 'keep safe' too." She said softly, with concern.

Ellie looked away from the house and towards the floor. "I am staying safe?" She replied softly as she saw the police car approaching in her wing view mirror.