Suzy by Gary L Beer (easy books to read in english txt) 📕

smoking a cigarette.
“Sorry about the smoking Adam, got to admit I am a bit worried about Doug, any luck?”
“Yes, I got through to his wife Susan isn't it?”
Darren laughs; “I hope you did not call her that?”
“Yes I did, why does she not like it then?”
“No she does not, bet she got the right hump with you, any news on Doug?”
“That explains her attitude then,” smiles Adam; “She reckons he has gone to live in Manchester with his fancy bit; and got a better job.”
Darren frowns deeply; “What fancy bit? This is the first I have heard of it.”
“Unless he has been doing it on the quiet without you knowing?” suggests Adam.
“No way, he would have told me, we have been mates for ages.”
“Well whatever is going on I do not think it is for us to interfere.”
“Will you let me know soon as you hear anything?” asks Darren politely as he throws his cigarette butt down onto the ground and puts his foot on it.

Lewis rings the bell on Suzy's door, looking up at the sky which is covered in grey cloud and he thinks of somewhere else they can go.
Suzy opens the door; dressed in an old navy blue sweatshirt and faded blue jeans makes Lewis wonder what she has been doing.
“Hiya there was no need for you to dress up for Me.” he says as Suzy smiles a welcome and stands to one side to allow him to enter.
“Well I thought I would make the effort,” Suzy laughs as she looks down at herself; “I have been busy cleaning, I am sorry I did not realise what the time was.”
“No worries, I am only joking anyway as you look great.” smiles Lewis reassuringly as he walks into the hall.
“Go into the kitchen I will get changed.”
“No hurry I do not want to stop you in your work, can I use the Loo on the way past please?”
“Yes sure, if that is what you have come round for.” laughs Suzy as she watches Lewis's retreating back.
Lewis enters the bathroom and shuts the door, looking around he sees that all Doug's possessions have gone from the window sill. Looking in the wicker laundry basket he sees that Suzy's blood splattered clothes and Doug's sweatshirt have gone also. Lewis had not wanted to use the toilet; his main interest had been Doug's possessions, as overnight his suspicions of Suzy have grown.
Flushing the toilet he stands still for about twenty seconds before opening the door, pulling it to, he walks along the hall into the kitchen.
“Better now?” asks Suzy with a soft sarcastic voice.
“I see that you have cleared Doug's stuff and done your washing.”
Suzy stares at Lewis dumbfounded by his words; awkwardly she looks down at the floor her face pale. Unsure what to say, she says nothing and waits for Lewis.
“I have known you a long time Suzy and I know things are not right with you and Doug, do you want to talk about it? I am your friend and I have to admit I feel guilty.”
Suzy looks up at him; “Guilty, what have you got to be guilty about?”
“James party, you tried to ask my help then, yes?”
Suzy looks Lewis in the eyes as she remembers back to the birthday party; “Yes I did want to talk to you but you did not want to know.”
“That was only because I thought you and Doug had had a fight or something and I did not want to get in the middle, you being married and all; and he did keep pulling you away.”
“I felt quite angry towards you for quite awhile after that, I have to admit.” replies Suzy with a touch of sadness to her voice.
“That was years ago, what was it that you wanted to talk about?” asks Lewis in a friendly voice hoping to calm her.
“I wanted to tell you that Doug was beating me and virtually keeping me a prisoner.”
Now it was Lewis's turn to look dumbfounded and he stares into Suzy's eyes as the guilt builds inside him until he feels as if he is going to explode. Angrily he stands up and walks across the kitchen and out of the back door. Leaving the door open he walks along the path towards the shed breathing deeply. His mind whirls with a cascade of thoughts and images; of Suzy's pleading face all those years ago; and of Doug keeping her a prisoner.

Lewis knew that the first time he saw Suzy he had fallen in love with her, the rapport and familiarity they instantly had between them made it feel like they had known each other all their lives. They both had partners already which had not seemed to matter as it made the love between them very pure, and he knew that Suzy felt the same way about him.
Moodily Lewis stares down at the ground as Suzy comes up behind him; “You usually do that, run away.” she says scornfully in his ear.
“I only run away when I get hurt.”
“Hurt you? What are you going on about?”
“That hurt, you made me feel really guilty though I did not realise it was so serious. I thought you just wanted to be happy with Doug.”
“Quite the opposite, he was smothering me back then; and you were the only one who could help.”
“Why only me? You have got lots of other friends and family.”
“They all had the same attitude as you and Doug had the opportunity to lie to them, which he did for years.” answers Suzy in a distressed voice.
“Maybe we should go back inside in case you got any nosey neighbours.” advises Lewis softly.
“I do not care.” shrieks Suzy, the strain of the last few days has finally got to her and here was someone she could let it out on; in any way!”
“Come on.” says Lewis in that same soft voice and holding her arm gently leads her back into the kitchen. Sitting her down at the table Lewis picks up her half empty cup in front of her; “I will make you a fresh one.” he says as he turns and walks over to the kettle.
As Lewis fills the kettle with cold water from the tap Suzy's grief overwhelms her and she starts to cry and sob loudly. Lewis switches the kettle on and walks over to Suzy, putting his hand on her shoulder he bends towards her speaking softly in her ear; “Let it out, then we will talk.”
Lewis stands as Suzy, putting her head between her hands starts to sob uncontrollably. Lewis squeezes her shoulder gently realising that Suzy is lost in emotion and appears unaware of him. Feeling uncomfortable Lewis removes his hand and turns and walks slowly out of the back door. Closing it gently behind him he walks along the path until he reaches the remains of Suzy's fire.
The fire has not burnt completely and Lewis picks up a piece of blood stained carpet and looks at it closely. Recognising the carpet as the one they have in the lounge Lewis looks at the stains and realises they are blood stains!
Looking around for any nosey neighbours Lewis can see none and drops the piece of carpet into the middle of the ashes. A small puff of smoke escapes and Lewis watches as the carpet starts to melt, realising the fire is still alight he gathers more carpet fragments and throws them onto the now burning carpet. Raking all the unburned remains of twigs, branches and clothing into the centre of the fire Lewis watches it all burn.
Sitting on the little wooden bench that is beside the shed, Lewis looks around Suzy's neat garden, noticing the new 'bean patch' Lewis stands up for a closer look. The soil is still fresh and moist showing Lewis that the patch was only dug yesterday or in the past few days. Somehow Lewis knows that Doug is buried there, maybe he can smell him but he knows he is there. By burning the carpet, technically he is aiding and abetting, if that is what happened. Turning around he strides quickly to the back door and opens it wide as he enters.

Suzy looks up at him, her eyes red and sore from crying, her face is ashen and she clings on tightly to a soaking wet handkerchief. Lewis looks at her feeling a deep love inside him that makes him tremble; “Do you want more tea, the kettle should have boiled now?” he smiles.
Suzy smiles weakly in return; “Coffee would be better.”
“Coffee it is.” Lewis smiles broadly as he opens a cupboard and takes out a jar of coffee; “You want sugar?”
“Yes please lots, you want one?”
“Yes, I will sort you first.” he says as he spoons coffee into the cup, pouring the hot water into the cup he takes out a bottle of milk from the refrigerator. Putting the bottle onto the table in front of Suzy he passes her the cup of coffee and bag of sugar; “Help yourself.” he laughs.
“Thank you, kind sir.” Suzy smiles as she pours milk into the cup.
Lewis turns away and getting a large mug from the cupboard makes himself a strong cup of coffee and sits opposite Suzy; “Start talking.” he commands gently as he pours milk into his cup. Standing up again he puts the milk back into the refrigerator and sits back down opposite Suzy with a questioning look on his face.
Suzy looks scared and nervous and looking Lewis deeply in the eyes she tells him of the nightmare years spent as a prisoner with Doug. How she had been beaten and many times locked in the bathroom when Doug went off to work. She had dreamt of escape and James party appeared a good opportunity to get Lewis to help her escape.
“Hang on there.” interrupts Lewis in a loud voice; “Why me? I asked you that before and you did not answer me; and why did you not just walk away or go to the police?”
“Because he said he would kill me if I ran away or went to the police.”
“Why only me?” Lewis persists in a firm voice.
“I told you he had the opportunity to lie to my family and friends and he turned them all against me.” replies Suzy a mad edge to her voice.
“What do you mean he lied?” demands Lewis; “Do not tell me half of it tell me everything.”
“He lied to them the same way your wife lied to your family, making