Heartbreak at Heaton Valley Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins Have you ever noticed things never seem to happen when you're waiting for them?
And yet,
When you least expect it,
The most amazing things come along to remind you just how wonderful life really is.
Episode Thirteen Ava Smith drank in the scent of the man leaning over her.
His soft breath came in a clear,
Reassuring rhythm and sat sweet on her skin.
He was as still as the pattern on the fabric beneath them,
Eyes fixed,
Lips mutely sealed.
She opened hers to speak,
But he placed his forefinger across them in a vain attempt to calm her down.
She was too weak to turn away,
But she cared not now.
This man was worth looking at.
His shoulders were determined enough to carry them both,
And his wet body was strong.
He had a symmetrical face,
But not perfectly so,
With a fine scar running across the right side of his forehead.
And his clear blue eyes were ever so slightly mismatched,
But both with dark rings encapsulating the ocean within.
Can you lift your head?
It was Martin Gardner,
And they were in his car.
I think so.
He cupped his hand around the nape of her neck and helped Ava up to sitting.
She was bewildered at first,
But quickly came to full consciousness the closer they became.
What happened?
Don't you remember?
Did I faint?
Yes,
Again.
We crashed.
And then all at once Ava was awake,
Her thoughts running in and out,
Jumbled together in one sickening mess.
She was confused and dizzy and nauseous all at the same time.
She shook her head wildly,
Her wet hair sticking to her cheeks.
I can't think.
It's okay,
Ava,
It's okay.
Martin brushed it aside,
And instinctively Ava raised her hand to trace his dark features.
He had thick brown eyebrows and his nose was firm,
Almost like a classic sculpture.
Either side of his temple sat soft curls of which he'd never even attempted to tame.
This man had a will of his own,
Evident in the soft lines that ran from his eyes to his cheeks.
Are we safe?
Yes,
We're safe.
Ava had not intended to love him.
She had not intended to love anyone.
But Martin Gardner held a power over her.
Her will was fettered in his.
He had made her submit without even trying.
The police were on the way and the fire service.
I'm afraid there's no hope for George.
George?
And Jack?
Jack will be on his way.
Okay,
It's okay.
No,
It's not.
Not.
It's Daisy.
I know.
No,
You don't.
You don't know.
Ava,
Please.
It's okay.
I'm here now.
And it's not Daisy Jack's interested in.
It's you he wants.
But I'm going to make sure that never happens.
You'll help me?
A rush of emotion exploded from deep in Ava's abdomen,
Up through her stomach and out through her mouth as she collapsed into fits of sobs.
I don't think he's going to stop until.
.
.
Until nothing,
Ava.
It's okay.
This all stops now.
Don't you worry about a thing.
And as the shrill sirens rang out in the cold air and the blue streams of light swamped them,
Martin made up his mind never to leave Ava Smith ever again.
Mr.
Smart,
Your statement?
Okay,
Give me a moment,
Please,
James.
Paul sipped slowly at his coffee,
Which was tepid at best.
The police station was not known for its creature comforts,
And the detective's voice was grating.
He'd been sitting there for some time,
Having gone from a missing person inquiry to now a full-blown investigation into Jack Riley,
Which would have been acceptable if he hadn't already risked life and limb to get there.
Just tell me,
Have you heard anything?
Anything at all?
I can't get hold of Gardner,
And he's the only one who seems to have a handle on things.
I'll fill you in after we finish taking down what you've got to say,
Smart.
Now let's start from the beginning,
Shall we?
Really?
You say you worked with Jack Riley without being aware of what he did at Lincoln Lakes?
I find that hard to believe when you're in the same industry.
It's a mess,
I know,
But it's true.
He's got connections to the Skinners,
And they've got their feet well and truly under the table at Lincoln West Planning.
My contacts are all in Lincoln East.
They're completely different buildings.
I see.
I've got all the evidence you could need of his malpractice,
And that's why we're in the situation we're in now.
Ava Smith was the one to give it to me.
Ava Smith?
The girl who works for you?
That's right.
And she regrets her actions,
Does she?
She was coerced.
I've got the text to prove it.
Hmm.
Well,
Love's a funny thing,
Mr.
Smart,
And when it's over,
People do and say even funnier things to get their own back.
She says it was never love.
Jack manipulated her,
Pure and simple.
Ava Smith is innocent in all this,
And the evidence proves it.
And you'll be submitting that evidence today,
Will you?
I've already sent the email,
But that's all history.
It's what's happening now that needs to be dealt with.
Jack thinks the evidence is still with Ava,
And he's keeping her captive until she gives it up.
I'm sure of it.
She's petrified of the man.
Right.
And you have proof of this,
Do you?
But before Paul could answer,
In walked the desk sergeant with some shocking news.
Flooding at Duckup Bridge.
The river's burst its banks and there's been a fatality.
The room went cold.
Not another one.
I wish people would stay indoors.
They're fishing out the vehicle now,
Sir,
And the man's already been identified by the others involved.
It's George Skinner,
Sir.
Skinner?
Paul gasped and sat back again in disbelief.
There was no mistake in him,
Apparently.
His wife's been contacted and informed.
And not surprisingly,
She's in complete shock.
But that's not the weirdest part.
Yes?
Well,
Spit it out then,
Man.
I'm in the middle of taking a statement.
She was found with a little girl.
A little girl that claims she's being kept against her will.
At this,
Jane shot out of his seat along with Paul,
Who ran down the corridor straight to the front desk,
To see Ava,
Daisy and Martin Gardner hugging each other as though their lives depended upon it.
Come on,
Daisy,
It's your turn now,
Yelled Maisie,
As the sun settled on the third board game of the afternoon.
I think we should get ready for Uncle Smart,
Said Daisy authoritatively.
He'll be here in a minute in his favourite game,
Monopony,
Not Cluedo.
And my nanny can play it too with your nanny.
Maybe they can team up.
Dad,
We're going to pack away,
OK?
But Martin Gardner did not reply.
Auntie Ava,
Aren't you playing any more,
Said Daisy,
But still no reply.
They must be busy,
She confirmed,
With all the authority and knowledge of an eleven and a half year old,
Who'd finally got her own way.
Never mind,
There's so much to do when you have people over.
So they haven't got time for Cluedo any more.
We'll leave them getting ready in the kitchen and we'll make this room perfect,
Just as a great surprise.
Good idea,
Agreed Maisie,
Secretly pleased she had someone to share all her childhood enthusiasm with.
And as they busied themselves as only happy little girls who realise their greatest wish can,
Martin held Ava as close as ever he could.
While they listened to the radio broadcast about the Lincolnshire man who'd been sent down that day for fraud and perverting the course of justice.
The End I hope you enjoyed this series.
If you did,
Please look out for my new romance series,
Love in the Layton Hills.
