Jonathan Creek- The Problems at Gallows Gate

Chapter Four: Flashback- The Day Duncan Proctor Died

Flashback: The Day Duncan Proctor Died

  The wind whistled through the branches of the trees, playing an eerie song that echoed through the black void of the night sky.

  The garish red  Mercedes, standing out in glaring contrast against the overwhelming darkness, rattled along the dusty road, its glaring headlights illuminating every pebble.

  One of the pair of young ladies in the said vehicle held her glowing iPhone to a sheet of paper. Across the top, in large, bold typeface, was written: “DUNCAN’S 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY” and below that, in smaller letters: “directions to my house”.

  “Just… it should be down this turning here,” said the brown-haired woman with the map, nodding toward a small turning in the side of the road.

  “You sure, Clare?” Asked the lady at the wheel, her perfectly styled blond hair falling in silky waves down her back. Her forest-green eyes glanced anxiously at her petite companion.

  “Quite,” replied the lady, replacing both directions and iPhone back into the camel-coloured handbag she invariably carried around with her. Her eyes, unique because of their singularly pale blue colouration, looked back at her nervous companion. “Trust me,” she repeated, in a tone of slight annoyance, when she saw that her pretty counterpart still hesitated about going down the dark, narrow path. “Felicity-”

  “Alright, alright, I’m turning-”

  Before long, a huge mansion loomed up before their astonished eyes. It had three stories, nearly every window had a balcony, stone lions stood at attention in front of the colossal front doors. However, their majestic aspect was somewhat spoiled by the crudely-taped piece of paper to the door that declared (in red ink): “DUNCAN’S BACHELOR PAD”.

  “Holy…” murmured Felicity,  painted fingernails to her sensuous red lips.

  “I think he inherited it,” said Clare, as she hurriedly put the last few touches to her simple makeup and combed down her plain brown locks, tucking them behind her ears to display a pair of beautiful dangling golden earrings, somewhat in contrast to her modest grey dress.

  “Probably,” agreed Felicity, silver bracelets jangling as the slammed her car door shut. She turned back to Clare. “Got the presents?”

  “Right here,” Clare replied, holding up two gaily-wrapped presents. She briskly strode over to her friend and handed her the flatter package. Hers she placed carefully in the crook of her left arm whilst she rummaged in her handbag for a ribbon to put the finishing touches on the gift.

  “Let’s go, Clare,” said Felicity, obviously impatient. She tapped her kitten-heeled party shoes and glanced at her Tissot watch. “Well, we’re early, that’s one comfort,” was her comment.

  “’Course,” smiled Clare, making her way to her companion and linking arms with her. “You had the best navigator it was possible to have.”- laughing as she said so.

  “True,” agreed Felicity, with an affectionate smile, as the giggling  pair made their way to the front door.

  Even as they went up the massive front steps, they could feel the vibrations of the blaring dance  music from behind the huge doors. Clare didn’t seem to mind, but Felicity shook her blond head in disgust, making her hoop earrings shake as well. “I never did like this sort of music; always gives me a migraine,” she murmured to her friend, as they rang the doorbell.