Michael Wood - The Hangman’s Hold

Day Ten

Saturday, 18 March 2017

He may have been only five years old, but Jason Lacey knew the benefits to having a birthday fall on a weekend rather than a weekday – he didn’t have to go to school. He woke up earlier than usual, excited at what his parents had planned for him that day. He ran into their bedroom and jumped on the bed. It was like Christmas morning all over again. At least he’d waited until it was light this time.

After breakfast, which he ate in record time, Jason was allowed to open two presents. His mother ushered him out of the room to get dressed upstairs.

‘Right, let’s go through the plan one more time,’ Karen said to her husband, entering the living room while putting her coat on. She spoke in hushed tones just in case her son was listening.

Joe sighed and lowered his newspaper. ‘I’m not thick. I know what I’m doing.’

‘You’re not even dressed yet.’

He looked down at his cartoon pyjamas and dressing gown.

‘Have you been sat there reading the paper while I’ve got myself and three kids ready?’

‘It’s the weekend.’

‘It’s also your son’s birthday. Now, are you sure you don’t want to take the kids to the cinema and I’ll collect everything?’

‘You really don’t trust me, do you?’ He smiled.

‘It’s not that,’ Karen started to flounder. ‘It’s just … well, organization isn’t your strong point, is it?’

Joe dug around in the pocket of his dressing gown and pulled out a tatty sheet of A4 paper. He unfolded it. ‘See, I have your instructions with me which I shall carry out to the letter.’

She kissed him on his recently shaved head. ‘You know how to make me happy.’

‘I thought I did that on your birthday last month.’ He winked. He grabbed the waistband of her jeans and pulled her towards him.

The sound of three small children thundering down the stairs interrupted them.

‘Right, we’ll be off now. Don’t forget, presents first, cake last. We’ll be back by four at the latest.’

‘Should we synchronize watches?’ he asked, staring intently at the Breitling he’d been given for Christmas.

‘Promise me you’ll not forget anything.’

‘I promise.’ He smiled.

Karen leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. ‘Make sure you have a shave too.’

‘I’ll even wash behind my ears.’

Karen rolled her eyes and left the room. The three children, Esme, Victoria, and birthday boy, Jason, were all excitedly waiting in the hallway wrapping themselves up in their coats, scarves, and gloves.

‘Are you guys ready?’

‘ The Lego Batman Movie !’ Jason almost screamed at the top of his voice.

Joe kissed all of the children in turn and told them to have a great time. He picked Jason up and raised him high in the air.

‘You’re getting big now, birthday boy.’ He kissed him on the cheek. ‘Enjoy the film. Tell me all about it when you get back.’

‘Ok.’

Karen turned to make sure the kids were out of earshot. ‘Remember …’

‘I know, presents first, then cake.’

‘And don’t drop it either or I’ll drop you.’

‘Such a lovely way with words.’ Joe kissed his wife hard on the lips before she could issue any more instructions. He waved them off and closed the door.

The silence, no chattering wife, no excited kids, was deafening. He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. As much as he loved his family, he appreciated his alone time just as much.

It was an unusually cold morning. The sun was shining in the clear blue sky, but it was bloody freezing. As Joe selected fifth gear, he slammed his foot down on the accelerator and headed into Derbyshire. The rolling landscape was covered with a sparkling layer of frost, bare trees reached into the air, sheep grazed on the steep hillside, and the sound of birds singing was heart-warming. Winter was maintaining its stronghold on 2017 for a little longer than usual. With these stunning views, it didn’t matter.

Joe had struck lucky when it came to in-laws. Karen’s parents were kind and generous. They welcomed Joe into their family and forgave him his past deeds. As long as Karen and the kids were happy, they were too. They invited Joe in for a hot chocolate to warm him up before presenting him with a sack full of gifts for Jason. It was exactly like the Christmas Eve present run.

‘There’s a little something in there for Esme and Victoria too. I didn’t want them feeling left out,’ Karen’s mum said.

‘You don’t need to do that, Alice. You gave them all plenty at Christmas.’

‘Well, I just want them to know we think about them all. Give them a big kiss from their grandma and grandad and tell them we’ll see them tomorrow.’

Joe headed back to Sheffield. He stopped off to fill up with petrol, then went to the far side of the city to collect the cake from the baker.

‘Oh my God, that’s brilliant,’ he beamed when he opened the box and saw the large cake inside. ‘Jason will love it. It’s his favourite Minion.’

‘Well I hope you all enjoy it.’

‘We will.’

The box was secured with the seatbelt and Joe drove carefully back to Meersbrook. He couldn’t stop smiling as he imagined the look on Jason’s face when he saw the cake. He drove straight into the garage and closed the door behind him.

Before he’d left, Joe had set the dining room up for the mini-party they were having later with a few of Jason’s friends from school. The table was clear, and Joe could place the cake in the middle without any hassle. It was heavier than expected.

He took the lid off the box, carefully removed the large yellow cake from it and placed the smiling Minion on the table. He stood back and inspected it. Karen would kill him if there were any damages. He was amazed something so intricate could be made out of sponge and icing.

The attack caught Joe unawares. The wind was knocked out of him from behind, and he fell to the floor, hitting the ground with a loud thud.

Dazed, he shook his head and tried to stand up, but something was pushing down on his back and he fell to the floor once again. He looked up and saw his pained reflection in the patio windows screaming back at him. Above him was a dark figure dressed in black who had one foot on his back, pressing him to the floor. He couldn’t breathe as he felt his ribs starting to break.

‘I could easily kill you. It wouldn’t take much for a broken shard of a rib to pierce your lung and for it to fill with blood. You’d gag. You’d choke. You’d drown in your own blood, but it wouldn’t take long before you lost consciousness.’

The pressure was released from Joe. He was in a great deal of pain, but he managed to turn over onto his back. He coughed as he struggled to regain his breath.

‘Who the fuck are you?’ he asked.

The man dressed in black took off his backpack, unzipped it and took out a length of rope. He held it aloft, showing Joe the noose swaying at the end of it.

‘I’m your executioner.’

Panicking, Joe tried to get away. He didn’t get far as he banged the back of his head on the patio window. He turned, reached up for the handle and pulled, but it was locked. He felt the noose go over his head and squeeze into his neck. He tried to get his fingers under the rope, but it was no good, it was too tight. Already his breathing was laboured, and he felt light-headed as he was dragged along the carpet.

‘Wake up, Joe,’ his attacker shouted, slapping him across his face. ‘You need to know why you’re being executed. You’re taking all the fun out of it.’

‘What do you want?’

‘Justice. That’s all I want.’