It had been three days since Robert had ordered the flowers and he was on his way round to Erins’ house now. He was not happy with her or the florists, with which one he was not sure as yet. Either the florists had been lying and they hadn’t actually delivered the flowers to her or Erin had decided enough was enough with Robert and was giving him the cold shoulder. Either way Robert wanted answers and if it turned out to be an embarrassing time between him and Erin, then so be it. Robert didn’t feel like he should be treated that way and neither would he be. He pulled up to the curb outside Erin’s house and got out of the car, taking in a deep breath of the cool air.
He zipped up his hoodie as he approached her door and knocked three times when he reached it. No answer. H e knocked again, harder this time. Still no answer. Robert peered through the frosted glass on Erin’s front door and could see a faint light coming from what , must have been her kitchen. He tried the bell a couple of times, looking for the movement of a shadow in the kitchen that may give away her presence, but nothing moved. He waited.
There was a click of a door opening and emerged a rather startled looking old lady from next door, who was taking her rubbish out for it to be ready for early morning pick-up. She saw Robert standing on Erin’s top step and almost jumped out of her skin at the sight of him.
“I’m sorry, do you know if Erin Whitley is in? Its just I’ve been trying to talk to her for a few days but she hasn’t been answering my calls. I’m Robert by the way, her boyfriend.” He hoped Erin wouldn’t mind introducing himself that way, anything else would make Robert seem creepy and, to him, it just seemed the right move.
“Oh, hello. Erm, I haven’t actually seen her since, oh when was it, Tuesday? No no, it was Monday because it was a double bill of corrie. Sorry about that. You could always try round the back, she may have fallen asleep in her back room again, she won’t mind if you poke your head in, I’m sure she’ll love to see you Richard.” She waved a hand as if to beckon Robert to follow her and he did so, picking his way through the old ladies house which was full of ornaments and nick-nacks precariously perched on various awkwardly placed tables and shelves. As the stepped out into the garden the old lady told Robert he could jump the fence where it got lower down to waist height.
“You look like a strapping young man, capable of that.” She had said to him.
“Why thank you Mrs....” Robert elongated the ‘s’ to show he wanted an answer.
“Storrington, would you say hi to her if you see her, thank you.” And with that Mrs. Storrington wandered back into her house, careless as to what Robert did next.
Robert easily vaulted the fence and made his way to Erin’s back door. Robert found it to be unlocked as he pulled down on the handle and the door gently opened inwards to the small but tidy kitchen. Smell hit him like a bus. Robert gagged at the smell and was even sick onto the back paving slabs.
The smell was one of rot. It smelt as though a butchers had been left unattended for over a month. It hung thick in the air like heat on a breezeless day. It sent a shiver down Roberts spine and he could restrain the constant gagging that had erupted due to the smell. He pulled the collar of his t-shirt up over his mouth and nose which bore the runt of the stench. Robert called out for Erin in fear. He knew the smell, he’d heard descriptions of this sort of thing before on the T.V. but Robert didn’t want to believe it. He walked through the kitchen and towards the front of the house where the stairs were located. He turned round the corner of the wall which enclosed the stairs at speed and brushed his head against something hard and cold. He recoiled and looked up in horror. He had just head-butted the feet of a dead body, sending it into a spin. However as the rope around the bodies neck twisted back round forcing the face to be directed at Robert he cried out on horror, pain and misery all in one.
Erin hung there by a rope attached to the top of the banisters, neck lolling around loosely, her chin touching her chest. Her eyes were wide and puffy and starred at Robert with such hostility that he was forced to turn away and run in fear.
He burst back out into Erin’s garden and was violently sick for five minutes on the moist grass. Tears streaming down his cheeks, the imagine burnt in his brain. Her eyes had seemed to be screaming at him, as if it was all his fault.
Finally, exhausted from dry-heaving Robert collapsed into his own sick and with deep panting breaths called 999.
***
