Accused

The Trap

Edwin watched the car until it disappeared into the distance.  He paced back and forth for a few minutes, then sat down.  He stared up at the sky, then down at the bushes, then up at the trees, then down at the grass, then began picking at the leather that was coming off his worn shoes.  They began to come apart.  His senses strained, he was up in another minute and resuming his pacing.

The sky looked as if it were on fire as the sun sank down.  It was a beautiful sunset.  Flaming tongues of cloud leapt into the sky and then billowed up like floating cotton.  They were gathering on the horizon, when young man at last sank down beneath the tree, exhausted.  His nerves were on edge and his ears were strained for the sound of a motor.  He had almost begun to allow dark thoughts to fully envelope his brain, when the long-sought-after sound was heard down the road.  

He sprang to his feet as an engine roared and four tires screeched to a halt.  A beaming girl jumped out of her car and stood in front of her friend.

"Elsie!" Edwin breathed, utterly relieved, "you're alright!"

"Sorry I took so long, I stopped off at a shop."

She reached into her car and brought out some food, a mirror, shaving cream, and a razor.  Edwin was conflicted between annoyance at her taking a risk, and amusement at her daring.  The brighter emotion, as usual, won the mental brawl.

"Oh Elsie!"  He chuckled, "you are wonderful!  You know that?  Bless my soul!  I don't have too much of a beard do I?"

He reached up and felt the fuzz on his chin.

Elsie laughed.  "No!  I just thought you'd like it."

"Well, I do.  Best present anyone has ever given me.  Beats socks!"

"Oh, speaking of that..." She pulled out several pairs of socks from under the seat.  "Let us see... these are mine, and... here you go."

"You think of everything, don't you?  Much obliged!  I'll pay you back someday, I promise."

"You really don't need to.  I could use some help with this though.  I bought new bandages for my arm, seeing as we've used up the rest."

"Alright, give them to me."

She handed him the bandages and he removed the old ones.  "The wound looks much better.  Lucky it isn't infected."

"Edwin," Elsie said seriously, "we don't have much money left."

He glanced up at his friend, but said nothing until he had finished binding her arm.  "I've been thinking of a plan while you were gone."

"What is it?"

His lip was subjected to another murderous assault from his teeth, as he fully convinced himself to take a risk.  "We need to see my brother."

"But the police are watching him!"

"I guessed that, but I have a plan.  It's risky, but if it works, I will be cleared.  We must return to Guildford."

Elsie nodded and was about to ask what his plan was, when she felt drops of moisture upon her face.  "It's raining, we had better get into the car.  Help me with the cover."

They pulled the thick cover over the seats in the car and crept beneath it, sheltering from the rain.  Edwin lounged on the back seat and crossed his legs, watching as his friend positioned an emergency torch to illuminate their darkening surroundings.

"Now," Elsie said, sitting in the front of the car and resting her chin on the seat to look back at Edwin.  "What is your plan?"

He took a deep breath, letting it out in a slow hiss.  "We will return to Surrey, and put ourselves in the way of the police."