Blast from the Past

49

Peter’s mother picked up the phone.

“Camden Police,” said a voice at the other end.

Peter’s mother had anguished long and hard about informing on her son. She was absolutely loath to do it and shuddered to imagine how he would react when he found out. However, she felt that she had no choice. He had been hanging around that woman’s street all night, he was wet through and not himself, and he was messing about with that dreadful knife.

She knew the terrible things her son had written to the girl after she had rejected him. They’d been read out in court. Many times he had threatened to stick a knife in her and worse; sometimes he’d been specific in his threats, talking about cutting bits off her, all sorts of horrible stuff she felt sure he’d got from videos.

He wouldn’t do it, of course. She knew that, she was certain of that. On the other hand, he’d looked so very desperate. But Peter’s mother would rather have her son arrested for breaking a court order than for murder, which was why she had decided to call the police.

“He’s been told not to go there but he couldn’t resist it, I’m afraid,” she said to the duty officer at the police station. “He’s just hanging about in her street in the rain… and… well, I know he’s taken his knife with him… Just against yobs and muggers, you understand! I mean, he wouldn’t actually harm anyone with it… not her, I’m sure, but perhaps you could send someone down to talk to him anyway – tell him to come home.”

The duty officer promised that they would send a car round.

“Thank you, officer. Thank you. He’s a good boy, you know.”