Third Strike (Terror Unlimited Book 3) Read online

  Third Strike

  The third short story in the Terror Unlimited series

  By Jacob Rayne

  A Rayne of Terror publication

  Also available from Rayne of Terror

  The Lazarus Contagion

  Becoming…

  Sunshine

  Flesh Harvest

  Walk in the Park

  Digital Children

  Perpetual Darkness

  Season’s Bleedings

  A Feast of Flesh: Flesh Harvest II

  Terror Unlimited short story series:

  1:15

  Two Stars

  Third Strike

  Copyright © Saul Bainbridge (Writing as Jacob Rayne) 2016

  All rights reserved

  Cover art created by Michael Bray of MB Designs:

  https://www.facebook.com/mbdcovers/?fref=ts

  Third Strike

  ‘Hi, I’m Joanna,’ the blonde girl smiled as her striking blue eyes met Thomas’s.

  ‘Thomas. Nice to meet you.’

  ‘I understand you’re in charge of my training today.’

  ‘Yes. I’ll show you the ropes.’

  ‘No problem.’

  He couldn’t help but notice she was still staring at him. He quickly checked her out. Not bad. If he wasn’t married he’d have definitely had a go at bedding her.

  ‘We’re just putting the stock out,’ Thomas said, pointing down aisle three. ‘Did they cover the basics at your induction?’

  ‘Yeah. It sounded pretty straightforward.’

  ‘It is. Old stock at the front, new at the back. Don’t take all day to do it, don’t leave it looking shit. That’s about all there is to it.’

  ‘Let’s get cracking then.’

  It wasn’t long before they’d finished the first pallet.

  ‘Right, none of that stuff is gonna go out,’ Thomas said. ‘Just take that back in the warehouse and park it to the left of the doors. I’ll be in soon to help you with the next one.’

  Joanna nodded and began dragging the pallet back in.

  Thomas came in a minute later and began re-stacking the unused stock.

  While he was doing it, he kept feeling like someone was watching him.

  He turned and smiled awkwardly as he noticed Joanna was still staring at him. She was a little intense, but since she was cute he took it as a compliment. It was a different story when Mary, the fat sweaty girl from the tills, had had a crush on him last year. He’d wanted the ground to swallow him up.

  This was different, a little ego boost for him, since his sex life with Kelly, his wife of nine years, had flat-lined.

  ‘Let’s get this one out,’ he said.

  She was still smiling and staring him right in the eye.

  Ok, this is a little creepy now, he thought. Maybe she’s just nervous.

  ‘I have to check up on some of the other staff, make sure they’re not taking the piss. I’ll be back to help you soon.’

  It was nice to be away from her for a few minutes, but he could feel her eyes crawling over him when he had his back to her. No harm in having a little crush, I guess, he thought.

  In time, he’d come to view this thought as naive idiocy.

  A few months passed. Joanna grew less intense, although he did still feel her watching him from time to time.

  He began to forget about it, the stresses of being a manager in retail gave him plenty more to focus on. There were never enough hours in the day.

  Whenever he could, he had a laugh with his colleagues, took the piss a little, just daft shit to make the monotonous hamster wheel existence go that bit quicker.

  He played the clown with everyone, store manager included. He and his wife were very close, so cheating on her was the furthest thing from his mind, his intention was to make everyone’s day more fun. A happy team was a productive team, he’d been told on his last Managing a Workforce meeting at head office.

  Male or female, he had the same jokey banter with everyone.

  It wasn’t long before this was taken the wrong way.

  At a night out for one of the checkout girls’ leaving do, Thomas had been enjoying a rare drink outside the house he shared with Kelly and their five-year-old son, Jason.

  He was well on his way to having a hangover in the morning, the beer going down easily as the crack flowed freely.

  The night was going awesomely until Joanna slid onto the seat next to him. She was wearing a tight black dress that showed off every curve she possessed, had he been looking.

  He knew she had a boyfriend, so was not expecting what she came out with after a short exchange about how she was settling in at work.

  ‘Am I right in thinking you have a bit of a thing for me?’ she asked, twirling her long blonde hair with a slender finger.

  Her eyes gleamed as they stared into his. A smile that, under the right circumstances – ie not being married with a kid – would have been very seductive had made its way to her lips.

  He was speechless for a second. This was only the second time in all his being with Kelly that he had been approached by a woman. Again he felt flattered that someone so attractive was interested in him, but… it was awkward.

  So fucking awkward.

  There was no way he was going to hurt his wife like that. They’d been through far too much together.

  The moment seemed to string out for an eternity. He found himself racking his brain for a reply, wanting to make it absolutely clear he had no interest in cheating on his wife, but at the same time wanting to let her down gently, as they still had to work together afterwards.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Gemima and Brian watching with interest. No doubt this would be the subject of the next rumour on the shop floor.

  ‘I’m flattered, really I am, but I’m married,’ he said. ‘Under different circumstances I’m sure I’d have been interested, but I’ve found the woman of my dreams and I’m not going to do anything to fuck that up. Please understand that.’

  She nodded, blinked hard. A look of mild annoyance crossed over her face. She obviously wasn’t used to being turned down.

  ‘I’m sure you’ve been flirting with me. We have a right good laugh at work and I really fancy you. I think we’d be great together.’

  ‘I’m sorry if I’ve done anything to give you that impression. I’m very happily married. And I joke around with everyone at work; it’s just the way I am. Please don’t be offended, but it’s never going to happen. Let’s forget we ever had this conversation and carry on as we were.’

  ‘I feel such an idiot now.’

  ‘Don’t. These things happen. Let’s have another drink and forget all about it, eh?’

  ‘Good plan.’

  She got up, disappeared to the toilets for a few minutes. She was still flushed and looked uncomfortable when she came back. It looked like her mascara had ran a little, almost like she had been crying.

  It was a relief when she didn’t sit next to him.

  He talked to Gemima instead; who it was clear was doing her best to ignore what had just happened.

  They had a laugh like they did at work. From the corner of his eye, he kept seeing Joanna staring at them.

  When he looked over to her, she smiled and toyed with her hair.

  Typical of my luck, he thought. A bird like that falls into my lap when I’m already taken.

  He finished his pint and felt his bladder straining against his jeans. He went for a piss, having a bit of crack about the situation with Taylor, an old mate of his.

  ‘Awkward as fuck, mate,’ was Taylor’s succinct assessment of the situation. ‘But you handled it very well.’

  ‘Thanks. I just h
ope it never gets mentioned again.’

  ‘Me too, mate. See ya out there.’

  Yeah, some catch, Thomas thought, staring at his reflection complete with bags under eyes, receding hairline and love handles. Crazy stuff.

  Joanna waited for him in the alcove outside the toilets.

  ‘You got a sec?’ She said. ‘I just want to talk about what happened before.’

  ‘Yeah, of course.’

  ‘I can tell I made you uncomfortable. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.’

  ‘It’s fine, just forget it ever happened.’

  He tried to edge himself towards the bar, but she had him cornered.

  Fuck, this is weird, he thought. Just drop it, for Christ’s sake.

  She stared at him, drunken lust manifest in her eyes.

  ‘I really thought there was something between us,’ she said, looking a little sad. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to make anything of this?’

  ‘I’m sure. Look, my wife is the best thing that’s ever happened to me and there’s no way I’m going to hurt her. I’m sorry, but you need to let this go. It ain’t ever going to happen. Please, don’t be offended.’

  For a split-second she looked as if he’d slapped her across the face, but pulled herself round.

  ‘Ok, if that’s how you feel. It’s just… you’re so fit.’

  ‘Thank you,’ he said. And, because he felt bad for hurting her feelings: ‘You’re not bad yourself. If I wasn’t married I’m sure I’d be interested.’

  ‘Thank you for that,’ she said, smiling sadly.

  She shuffled off to the bar.

  He said his goodbyes and left pretty much immediately. Though he’d done his best to ignore the encounter, it had ruined the night. He knew if he stayed she’d just badger him again. It wasn’t worth the hassle.

  He cadged a taxi home with Brian.

  Kelly was asleep, but stirred when he woke. Since he kept no secrets from her, he told her everything.

  She thanked him for telling her then went back to sleep.

  The room span a little, but he lay on his side, watching his sleeping wife and thinking how lucky he was to have her.

  The next day, he got a nasty shock when he signed onto Facebook and saw a message from Joanna on his wall: ‘Hey! Thanks for last night. I had a hell of a time! ;-)’

  His stomach lurched and he began to question whether he’d actually done anything with her. A quick re-think of the night’s events renewed his confidence that he’d done the right thing.

  His heart sank when Kelly walked in, a face like thunder.

  ‘What the fuck is this about?’ she said, slamming her phone down on the table hard enough to almost smash the thing clean in two.

  ‘I didn’t do anything,’ he said. ‘I swear to you. Why the fuck would I have told you about her coming onto me if I’d got off with her?’

  She didn’t say anything for a few seconds, just stood there looking furious. ‘You do have a point, I suppose.’

  ‘She’s just put this on to stir up trouble.’

  ‘Is she like that at work?’

  ‘No not really, she’s pretty quiet. But she’s a bit creepy. I find her looking at me a lot. Creeps me out.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me about this before?’

  ‘I didn’t want to upset you. I’ve not done anything to encourage her, if that’s what you mean.’

  ‘Then why keep it quiet?’

  ‘I didn’t think it meant anything. Just part of the banter that goes with the job.’

  ‘What does she look like, this Joanna?’

  ‘Two secs, I’ll show you.’

  He paused a second, messed about with his phone.

  ‘That’s her there,’ he said, holding the phone up for her to see.

  His wife stood with her hands on her hips, considering the photo for a few seconds.

  ‘Ah she’s pretty. I’m sure the two of you will have beautiful kids together.’

  ‘Come on, there’s no need to be like that.’

  ‘It’s just banter. What’s to worry about?’ she asked, throwing the phone to the floor and storming out of the room.

  ‘Fuck’s sake,’ he hissed, going downstairs to check on her, but her car was already tearing down the drive.

  He moped about the house for a bit, feeling genuinely inconvenienced by all of this. After all, it wasn’t like he’d stuck his dick in her, was it? If he had, he’d deserve this sort of grief, but he’d turned her down and was still getting GBH of the lughole over it.

  How do I end up getting this shit when I’ve done the right thing? he thought with a scowl.

  He made a cup of tea and nursed it until it was time to get ready for work. Kelly didn’t return in that time. Probably bitching to her sister about me, he thought.

  His head had already been pounding off the drink, and the argument with Kelly had made it even worse.

  He was going to give Joanna a piece of his mind when he saw her.

  Unshaven, shirt in dire need of ironing, trousers still with a patch of fuck knew what on the knees, he rolled into work. His head began to pound anew at the thought of a busy Sunday shift. Enough to get anyone scuttling for the fucking Prozac, he thought with a scowl.

  He was the first one in, and checked the rota. Joanna wasn’t due in for another few hours. He was simultaneously dreading and looking forward to seeing her.

  It wasn’t going to be a nice conversation to have, but it would be a relief to get this off his chest and clear the air.

  If he managed not to punch her he’d be doing well.

  In nine years of marriage he and his wife had never had an argument like this. And all because of some silly sla—

  ‘—listening, Thomas?’

  ‘Oh, hi, Gemima,’ he said as his colleague’s words shocked him out of his daydream.

  ‘Well last night was awkward.’

  ‘You’re telling me. Kelly kicked right off at me this morning. What the fuck is Joanna playing at posting flirty messages on Facebook?’

  ‘This is why I don’t Facebook,’ Gemima said. ‘Too much drama and too many opportunities to land yourself in the shit.’

  ‘But I didn’t do anything wrong.’

  ‘I know that. You know that. But I bet the rumours have started already.’

  ‘Fuck’s sake. Wait till I see her.’

  ‘I would just keep your cool. There’s obviously something a little off with her, if she’s resorting to doing that.’

  ‘I’m gonna ask her what the hell she’s playing at. That’s about it.’

  ‘And you won’t lose our temper?’

  ‘I can’t promise that, but I’ll do my best.’

  ‘Just be careful. You could end up in a lot of trouble over this.’

  ‘If I did something wrong I could. My conscience is clear. But, anyway, let’s just crack on and deal with this later, ey?’

  ‘Yeah, good plan.’

  The rest of the morning flew by – the good old not enough hours in the day adage ringing true once more for poor stressed out Thomas – and soon the ten o’clock staff were coming in.

  ‘Mind if I have a word with you?’ Thomas said as he saw Joanna enter the welfare block.

  ‘Are we going in the office together?’ Joanna grinned, playing it up in front of the other girls who were clocking on with her.

  ‘No,’ Thomas said, realising how bad that would look if rumours were circulating about them. The other girls were laughing, which was annoying him a little bit. ‘We’ll do it out here in the corridor.’

  ‘I bet you will,’ Theresa laughed. The other girls joined in.

  ‘I meant have a chat in the corridor,’ Thomas said. ‘Clean your fucking minds up.’

  ‘I heard you two chatted in the toilets at the Black Horse last night,’ Sara chortled.

  ‘Yeah, I heard you chatted her back doors in,’ Theresa grinned.

  Joanna said nothing, just smiled.

  ‘Look, nothing happened,’ Thomas snapped
. ‘Just fucking leave it, will you?’

  ‘What do you want me for?’ Joanna said, pouting. The dark red lip gloss she wore glistened in the light.

  ‘I need a quick word.’

  ‘I bet you do,’ Sara laughed.

  ‘One more fucking comment like that and I’m gonna put you up for disciplinary,’ Thomas snapped.

  The girls shrank back, muttering among themselves and laughing.

  He closed the staff room door, made sure he was in full view of them so he couldn’t be accused of seducing her in the corridor, as pathetic as that sounded – who the fuck would be so scummy as to have an affair at work in this day and age? – and began:

  ‘Why are you posting inappropriate messages on my Facebook page?’

  Her face dropped a little bit, like she wasn’t sure what he was talking about.

  ‘What message?’

  ‘The one thanking me for last night. Don’t play around.’

  She furrowed her brow.

  ‘I didn’t send you a message,’ she said, half smiling. She looked away from his gaze, looking decidedly shifty.

  He pulled his phone from his pocket, accessed his Facebook account. ‘This message,’ he said, thrusting the phone in her face.

  She took it off him and read it slowly.

  ‘I didn’t put that on there,’ she said. ‘I don’t get how it could ha— Oh, I fell asleep last night and my friend Amy was round. She’s a real windup merchant. She must have done it when she saw my phone was left unattended.’

  He watched her carefully while she was talking. She was pretty convincing. If she was lying she was doing a good job of it.

  ‘Well, you can imagine the conversations that were had in my house this morning as a result of this,’ he said.

  ‘Yes. And I’m sorry. I’ll have a go at her when I see her.’

  ‘OK. But, please, forget about anything ever happening between us. Cos it isn’t gonna happen.’

  ‘I understand. You made that very clear last night. Do you want me to get a till?’

  ‘Yes. Can you send the other two in when you come too, please?’

  Things were a little better when he got home. He explained that he had confronted Joanna about the message and that she had confessed that it was her friend messing about, but things were still a little edgy.