Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2021 13:14:41 +0000
From: Isuccum <Isuccum@protonmail.ch>
Subject: Started at the busstop 45

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Now read on and enjoy.

Started at the Bus Stop
Chapter 45

Eventually they all did get a cup of tea from Mavis, along with some
biscuits that had not been discovered by the men searching the house. As
she served the tea, she spoke to John. "They've helped themselves to all
the bread and the cold meats we had in the fridge. They've nearly used up
all the milk, along with half a bottle of instant coffee and a lot of
sugar, several packets of biscuits, and I'm not sure what else. In my book,
it's outright theft!" That Mavis was upset was not in dispute.

"I'm sorry this has upset you so much, Mavis. I can assure you that with
permission I am going to take these guys to the cleaners. I've seen this
happen time and time again, but I've not been able to get enough evidence
to be able to do much. This time we have bucket loads, and I'm going to use
it to the best advantage," John reassured Mavis.

Turning to Grace and Elliot, he explained what he knew and what he thought
he should do. He also said he was going to work this case, if they gave him
the go-ahead, without charging them as he fully expected to be able get his
expenses covered through the claim that would be lodged against the
others. "They're not going to be able to touch you guys for some time
because of their failures, and I'll be getting a judge to subpoena their
interviews with you all."

John headed back to his office to get moving on the case. He was really
excited to have a solid base on which to build the case.

He had not been gone long when Adam and his three children arrived at the
door. Percy had called William and told him what was happening as soon as
he picked his phone out of the pile of returned electronics. He did have to
put it on charge, but they had not actually begun to look at the phones or
computers.

After greeting everyone, William moved over to the pile of CD's and videos
and began sorting them, commenting that they might at least have put them
back neatly.

"They've trashed the whole house," Percy said. "It's going to take me ages
just to get my room right. Mum and Dad's studies are awful, and you should
have seen the kitchen."

"Can we help in any way?" Juliet asked.

"I think we need to do our studies ourselves, and I'm sure that Mavis will
have just about finished sorting the kitchen out. Thank you for your offer,
but I doubt there is much that can be done now. I'm not even going into my
office until tomorrow. I've hardly slept since we were woken up yesterday
morning," Grace said.

"I think they need some time to talk all of this over, so we will be going
shortly. I would offer to get in some food for you for tonight, but I think
I might get panned by Mavis if I did. I have taken the rest of the week
off, so if there is anything I can do, just give me a call," Adam told
them.

"Thank you, Adam. Just giving Percy some comfort and a place to sleep last
night was more than we could ask," Grace said.

Throughout the whole time Elliot had just sat slumped in the chair with his
face down, staring at the same spot in the carpet. He had not said a word;
even when the Chestertons got up to leave, he didn't lift his head or say
anything.

When the three of them were alone at last, Elliot looked at his wife and
his son. "I'm sorry I got you into this. I'll pack a bag and move out so
that you're not put through it again."

"What do you mean, Dad? What have you done?" Percy asked.

"I've been really stupid. I did something that gave another country the
power to blackmail me into passing them some sensitive information. I
expect that as soon as these guys get their ducks into a row we will be
raided again, and this time no lawyer will be able to turn it around,"
Elliot said.

"Why didn't you tell us? Maybe we could've helped you," Grace said.

"I was too ashamed of what I did. I think they put drugs in my drink, but
they've got pictures and video with sound recording. I just couldn't face
admitting it to anyone."

"But surely if they've got that sort of stuff, then it clearly was a
set-up. If you'd come straight to us about it, I think we would forgive
you. But to sell out your own country just to save face, that I'm going to
really struggle with," Grace said.

"I'm going to sort out my room," Percy said. He got up and left, unsure of
just how he felt about what his father had revealed.

"I'll call you when supper is ready," Grace said as he walked out.

By the time Mavis had got the meal ready, Percy had just about finished
putting his room to rights, pleased not to find anything else
missing. Their meal was eaten in relative silence; afterwards Percy
returned to his room to finish sorting it and to get his uniform ready for
school. He had decided that he couldn't stay at home to be torn apart by
all the thoughts which were going around in his head. He felt school would
at least provide some distraction. Before getting into bed he phoned
William and told him he would meet him to walk to school the next
morning. They talked for a while before assuring each other of their
love. Percy fired up his laptop and found some material to help him get his
release before going to sleep

Wednesday dawned before anyone in either of the households was up. Percy
was the first up in their home, about an hour after the sun, as he had got
more sleep than either of his parents in the last forty-eight hours. He
took care of his immediate need and then got out of bed to take care of
another pressure. While there, he brushed his teeth and washed up. Back in
his room, he pulled on his uniform and headed downstairs to get some
breakfast before going to meet up with William and Juliet. He was glad to
be getting back to some semblance of normal. At least he had something
different to think about, to take his mind off the questions that were
plaguing him concerning his father.

As they were walking Percy asked, "What do the others know about this?"

"Nothing really. I told them that there was some sort of emergency with
your father and left it at that. They know that there's been some issues
with him, so I thought that would keep them from asking too much," William
said.

"Thank you. I still don't know exactly what it's all about, so I'd prefer
it if we could keep it all to ourselves. All I know is, it was probably
what caused the change in my dad, and I don't suppose it's over yet."

"Don't worry. Even though it would make some nice juicy gossip, I'll not be
saying anything," Juliet said.

"What would you like us to say? I think we need to have our stories match
yours," William said.

"I think let's just stick with there were some problems with my father and
we're hoping that they're sorted now," Percy said.

"Okay. That won't keep the nosey parkers happy, but it's all they'll get,"
William said.

By the time the three got to school, Grace had got up and phoned the school
to explain Percy's absence for two days and got the head teacher's
agreement to keep what she had told him confidential.

With there being no real story to get their teeth into, Percy's classmates
soon dropped the subject. By the end of the day his absence was all but
forgotten.

Grace and Elliot returned to their jobs. Grace immediately went to her
manager and explained what had happened and why she had been unable to get
a message to him. Her boss allowed her to take the two days as leave and
made no further mention of it.

On Friday, Elliot returned to his office after lunch and complained that he
wasn't feeling well. Half an hour later he collapsed in his office, but as
he worked alone in the room he was not discovered for over an hour. When he
was found, the paramedics were called and he was rushed to hospital, but it
was too late; he passed away before Grace and Percy could get there to see
him. An autopsy revealed he had been poisoned. Grace suggested to Percy
that it was probably done by the blackmailers to prevent him being forced
to reveal who they were.

When they got home from the hospital, Adam and William were waiting for
them and invited them to have supper with them. Adam suggested that they
might want to stay overnight rather than spending the night in their own
home. The kindness and sympathy being shown by Adam and William was enough
to break Grace's resolve, and she burst into tears. Adam quickly stepped
forward and pulled her into a hug and just held her while she regained
control. William pulled Percy into a hug also, as he could see that Percy
was not far behind his mother. He gave his boyfriend a squeeze and
whispered in his ear, "Go on and cry if you can. It'll be better." Percy
did shudder a few times and tears did roll down his cheeks, but he didn't
start crying. His emotions were in too much turmoil to allow for it.

Grace and Percy did accept the offer of a meal and a night away from their
home. Even though Percy shared a bed with William and they were both naked,
they didn't enjoy any release. Percy was too wound up from all that he had
been through. William was sensitive enough to know that there is a time and
season for everything.

A few days after Eliot's death, uniformed police came, along with
C.I.D. inspectors, and asked for permission to look at Elliot's computer
and phone in an attempt to find some link that would lead them to his
killers. Grace allowed them in and showed them to Elliot's study. Out of
earshot of Percy, she told them what Elliot had confessed to her about his
sordid affair and the blackmail. These officers were a lot more
compassionate and circumspect and quietly set about their task in Elliot's
study.

About an hour later they asked to be allowed to take his computer away for
analysing and assured Grace that it would be returned, but that they needed
an IT expert to work on it. Grace gave them permission. They gave her a
receipt, took the computer and left. When Grace went back into the study
she saw they had left it as neat and tidy as it had been when they entered.

Elliot's body was released two weeks later. Grace and Percy had agreed that
they would have a small service at the funeral parlour's chapel with a
private cremation. They didn't think it would be fitting to have something
lavish for a traitor to the country. They notified a few friends who had
expressed a wish to attend and also informed some of his work
colleagues. It was a cold, grey, dismal afternoon when a total of fourteen
people sat in the chapel to hear the vicar give a homily extolling the
virtues of honest living which he said he was sure described Elliot's
life. The vicar had not even visited the family to learn anything of the
deceased. He just accepted the fee paid to him through the undertakers and
rambled on for a quarter of an hour about someone he had never met. As
ridiculous as the service was, it did give Grace and Percy some closure and
help them with their grieving. Adam and William had attended solely to be a
support for Grace and Percy. Later Percy told William that it had been a
comfort just knowing that he was there and that he loved him.

The funeral did allow Percy to get back into his normal life again. Despite
everything he did still love his father, and the grieving process would
have to work its way. But with his father's body cremated and the ashes
scattered, Percy was able to start healing and continue his exploration
with his boyfriend. Their love deepened and grew, to the extent that it was
almost impossible to hide it from people who knew them. Although they never
officially came out at school, it was generally agreed that they must be a
couple, and for the most part this was accepted. There were, surprisingly,
very few nasty comments made, and no one made a point of avoiding them.

Through it all, Daniel waited patiently. He expressed his sympathy when he
learnt that Percy's father had died and this might have helped him to
wait. But Percy and William had not forgotten his request.

 Three weeks after Elliot's funeral they approached Daniel at school, and
the three of them went off to a secluded area where they could talk
privately.