The Fowler and His Net — Epilogue

Gary did not recognize his surroundings when he awoke, but had an overwhelming feeling of security that he could not explain. Then he began to panic, he had to pick the work gang up at seven, then he had that overtime job in the evening that his father had asked him to attend to, he tried to move. A strong hand pushed him back into the mattress.

‘Whoa, fella.’ A voice said softly.

He still didn’t know where he was. ‘The lads, I’ve got to pick the lads up!’ He murmured feverishly.

Gary waited until his breathing had calmed before he made any further movements. It took about one minute.

‘Yer awake now fella?’ the voice asked.

‘Dazza!’ Gary said affectionately, before he suddenly felt a searing pain down below. ‘Bloody, ell my bollocks hurt!’ he exclaimed.

Darren laughed. ‘Not surprised, lad, you’ve probably ‘ad ‘em kicked in.’

‘Eh, what?’ Gary was confused. ‘How come?’

‘Oh, aye! Doctor said summat abart memory loss n’all.’ You’ve bin ‘it in’t ‘ead too.’

Gary looked around. ‘I’m in yer spare room.’

‘Nursery Gaz!’ Darren corrected him. ‘Fixed it up when you should ‘a bin in Portugal.’

‘Portugal?’ Gary sank back into the sheets again. ‘What’s goin’ on?’

‘Was ‘opin you could tell us.’

Gary found out a little more from Darren over the next half hour as he recuperated. ‘So I were in hospital?’ he asked.

‘So t’ doctor said. Police said you’d been helping’ ’em with an operation and that we, Trace and me, have to keep stum. Bit pointless seein’ as it’s roun’t village.’

‘What!’

Darren frowned and thought. ‘Hang on it’s nearly time for’t news, won’t be a sec.’ Gary’s brother disappeared from the room and returned a few minutes later with a portable television that he perched precariously on the side of the new cot and tuned, noisily. ‘Bloody aerial. Can’t get ought this side of the… ah, here we go.’

The familiar voice of the local newsreader sounded over the crackle. ‘And now over to Justine, where we have more developing news from the village of…’ more static interrupted the broadcast, causing Darren to readjust the antenna again. ‘…kidnapping and prostitution that has been uncovered by the county police. However there is a new factor in the case, illegal drugs that have apparently been discovered on the premises of the firm involved; Mortimer, Mortimer and Mortimer, the prestigious city solicitors and which may be part of the wider South American drugs ring that is also being investigated. I am here with Chief Inspector Watts whose operation uncovered this disturbing incident. Inspector Watts, is there any connection with these new findings and the case of drug smuggling discovered last year by your force. ‘

‘Ha!’ said Darren excitedly, ‘it’s bloody Watts?’

‘We of course cannot comment on such speculum… speculation, however I can say that nothing is being emitted, sorry, omitted from our enquires.’

‘And, can you give any more details on the local hero that played such an important part in the investigation?’

‘Well, I can tell you that the gentleman has been fully discharged…