The Man Who Wasn't There

Nathan 'Nate' Hayes woke before his alarm. He lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, until the phone buzzed on the bedside table. Once. Twice. On the fourth buzz, he reached over and tapped the screen to turn it off. Nate looked at the screen. 05:47. "This is too early," he said sleepily.

"You've been saying that for four years," Lucy replied, still half asleep.

"I've been right for four years," Nate joked. Lucy laughed into her pillow as Nate swung his legs out of bed. Before he could fully put his feet down, he felt something furry underneath his foot. He looked down to find his cat lying on the floor beside the bed stirring slighty.

"Sorry, Amber. Didn't see you there."

Amber looked up at him, yawned, and settled back down.

Nate rubbed the stubble on his face. He knew it was getting more silver than it used to be. "Coffee first, or are you going to pretend you like me before caffeine?"

Lucy responded by throwing a pillow at him. Nate caught it, laughing, and headed downstairs.

The kitchen still smelled like last night's pizza. He rinsed the coffee plunger and started making the coffee. The ritual mattered more than the taste. A few minutes later, Nate returned upstairs with a mug in each hand. Lucy scrolled through her phone.

"Maverick needs a walk tonight," she said as Nate handed her the coffee.

"I'll do it. Promise."

"I'm not doing it after last time. He dragged me into the hedge." Lucy gave him a look. The kind of look that meant you owe me.

Nate grinned. "I'll buy you chips on my way home."

"Don't forget the cheese and gluten-free gravy."

"Deal." Nate headed into the bathroom, where he brushed his teeth, shaved the remaining stubble from his face, and applied deodorant. It was an ordinary morning. Nothing particularly special. And that was exactly how he liked it. He headed back into the bedroom and pulled on his standard-issue shirt and trousers. He tucked his shirt in and smoothed out any wrinkles. Nothing fancy. Then came the boots. He pulled them on and laced them tightly, checking them twice, just as he had done hundreds of times before.

Lucy turned over in bed and watched him as he started towards the door. "You sure you're not auditioning for a parade no one told me about?"

Nate smiled. "You know old habits die hard. I don't want to look like a proper scruff."

Lucy smiled back. "Hmm. Well, don't let the lads at work see you polishing them, or you'll never hear the end of it."

Nate let out a quiet laugh before walking back over and giving her a kiss. "See you tonight."

"See you tonight."

He pulled on his jacket, grabbed his bag, and headed out. The rain fell lightly as he got into his car. It was not unusual for a morning in Cumbria. Just another normal commute.

Nate pulled into the police station car park at 06:26. The rain was coming down a little heavier now, bouncing off the windscreen. He finished his coffee and grimaced. "Terrible." He tossed the travel mug into the door pocket, grabbed his bag, and stepped out into the rain. Inside, the station smelled of stale coffee, wet coats and toast that someone had forgotten about in the toaster.

Nate made his way into the report room, where he found PC Robert 'Robo' Fletcher sitting at a desk, staring at his computer as though it had personally wronged him.

"Morning," Nate said.

"Morning," Robo replied, Looking up from his computer and slowly looked Nate up and down. "No."

Nate stopped. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You said no."

"I know."

Nate frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Those." Robo pointed towards Nate's boots.

Nate sighed. "What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing's wrong with them. That's the problem." Robo looked at the boots again. "They're clean."

"They're supposed to be clean."

"Not that clean."

Nate started walking towards his locker.

"They're police boots, not parade boots." Robo laughed. "You've been polishing them, haven't you?"

"No." Nate said it slowly enough that Robo probably knew he was lying.

"Stop lying. It's clear to see."

A voice came from behind Nate. "Leave him alone, Robo."

Nate turned around and saw PC Sarah Morgan walking into the report room with two coffees in her hands. She handed one to Fletcher. "You'll only encourage him."

Fletcher accepted the coffee. "Thank you."

Sarah looked at Nate. "Morning."

"Morning."

Her eyes dropped to his boots. "Nice."

Nate pointed at her. "See? That's how you're supposed to respond."

"I was being sarcastic."

"Still counts."

Sarah smiled and walked past him. "You are both idiots," she said, laughing.

Nate heard footsteps approaching the door of the report room.

PC Dan 'DD' Drummie appeared in the doorway. "Morning, everyone. Who's an idiot?"

"You." Nate answered immediately.

"Fair enough," DD replied.

For a few minutes, it was an ordinary morning shift. Coffee. Paperwork. Complaints about the weather. Someone arguing with the printer. Someone else trying to figure out whose turn it was to buy the milk. Nate checked his equipment almost without thinking. Radio. Body-worn camera. Handcuffs. Baton. PAVA. Torch. He checked everything twice.

Robo noticed. "You know, it doesn't change if you look at it again."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"Habit."

Robo nodded. "Yeah that makes sense."

Nate clipped his radio into place, turned it on and closed his locker.

He headed over to the Taser locker and began the familiar booking-out process. He carried out the necessary checks, making sure everything was functioning as it should, before securing it in place. He closed the locker.

Then the usual radio traffic changed. It was the red button. Every conversation in the room stopped. Nate looked up. A voice came through the radio. Breathless. Frightened.

"I need help..." There was a brief pause. "Put the knife down! Put it down now!"

Something crashed in the background. "Get back! Get the fuck back!"

The officer shouted an address over the radio. Nate looked across the room. Sarah was already on her feet. "Is that Sam?"

"Night shift?" Robo asked.

Nate didn't answer. He was already moving. "Get moving." Nate said.

He grabbed a set of keys for one of the police vans from the hook on the wall and headed for the door. As he ran towards the yard, he pressed the transmit button on his radio.

"Control, show me attending. Robo's with me."

The jokes were gone. The coffee was forgotten. And nobody mentioned the boots.

Nate jumped into the driver's seat as Robo climbed into the passenger side. Nate then threw the van into gear and pulled out of the station yard with the blue lights activated.

Nate pushed the transmit button on his radio, "Control, what's the latest?"

"One officer currently confirmed on scene. Male offender believed to be armed with a knife. Officer has requested urgent assistance. No further details at this time."

Nate frowned. "One officer?"

Robo looked across at him. "It is a domestic." Nate nodded. Two officers had been sent. They both knew that.

Nate pressed the transmit button. "Control, can you confirm the attending crew?"

"Stand by." The radio fell silent. Then Sam's voice suddenly burst through the speaker. "Put the knife down!" Something crashed in the background. "Get back! Get back!"

Nate looked at Robo.

"Come on, Sam."

He pressed the transmit button. "Sam, it's Nate. We're on our way. Can you hear me?" Nothing. "Sam?" Static. Then, faintly: "He's—" The transmission cut out.

Nate's grip tightened around the steering wheel.

"He's what?" Robo shook his head.

"I don't know."

They drove the rest of the way in silence. A couple of minutes later, Nate spotted the marked police vehicle. It was stopped awkwardly across the road. The driver's door was open. Nate slowed. "That's Sam's."

He pulled the van in behind it. Both men stared through the windscreen. The passenger door was open too. Nate looked at Robo. "Both doors."

Robo nodded. "Yeah."

"Where's the other officer?" Neither of them had an answer. Nate switched off the engine. For a moment, the only sound was the rain hitting the roof of the van. Then a muffled scream came from inside the house. Nate opened his door. "Let's go."

Nate stepped out of the van and immediately reached for his radio. "Control, we're on scene." He looked towards the marked police vehicle. "One marked vehicle present. Both front doors are open. I can see no officers outside the property. We've heard shouting from inside and believe the male remains armed with a knife."

He paused, listening for a response.

"Additional units, be advised of the potential for an armed male inside the property. We're going in to locate the officer."

"Received. Further units are making their way to you."

Nate released the transmit button. Robo was already beside him. "You ready?"

Nate nodded. "Yeah." He drew his Taser and held it in a low-ready position. Robo did the same. They moved towards the front door. It was already open. Nate stopped just short of the threshold and listened. Nothing. Then, "HELP!" Sam.

Nate looked at Robo. "That's him."

They entered. The hallway was narrow and poorly lit. A coat had been knocked from a hook and was lying across the floor. A picture frame hung crookedly on the wall.

Nate kept his Taser trained ahead as they moved deeper into the property. "Sam!" he shouted.

"Back here!" His voice came from somewhere further inside. Nate moved towards it.

"Police Officer with a taser! Show me your hands!" A loud crash came from the room ahead. Robo flinched. Nate didn't stop.

"Sam! Where are you?"

"Kitchen!" Nate reached the doorway.

The man stood in the middle of the kitchen, the knife hanging in his right hand. Between Nate and Sam. Sam was backed against the counter. Blood ran from the side of his head and down towards his jaw. For a second, nobody moved. Nate kept his Taser trained on the man. “Police. Drop the fucking knife.”

The man stared at him.

“Put it down.” Nothing. Nate heard Robo behind him, moving into position.

“Mate, listen to me. Put the knife on the floor and step away from it.”

The man glanced towards Sam. Just for a second. Then back to Nate. Something about the movement didn't feel right. Nate kept his voice steady.

“You don't need to do this. Put the knife down.”

The man shook his head. “He's not—” He stopped.

Nate frowned. “Who's not what?”

The man looked towards Sam again. Sam said nothing.

“Drop the knife,” Nate repeated. “Now.”

The man's breathing was getting heavier. Nate watched his hands. Watched his shoulders. Watched his eyes. “Don't fucking move.”

The man suddenly stepped towards Sam.

“DROP THE KNIFE!”

The man kept moving. Nate fired the Taser. The probes left the cartridge with a sharp crack. One struck the man's upper body. The second disappeared from Nate's view. For half a second, nothing happened.

The man stumbled but didn't go down.

“Fuck.” Nate moved. He closed the distance quickly, keeping himself between the knife and Sam. “PAVA!” Robo was already moving.

Nate discharged the PAVA into the man's face. The suspect recoiled, dropping the knife as he stumbled backwards.

“Get down!” Nate grabbed him, driving him away from Sam and towards the floor. The man fought for a few seconds, blinded and coughing, but Nate kept hold of him. “Hands behind your back!” Robo kicked the knife clear. “Handcuffs!” Nate brought one of the man's arms behind him. “Stop fucking fighting!” The man finally stopped resisting. Nate secured the first cuff. Then the second.

For a moment, the kitchen was completely silent except for the man's coughing and the sound of everyone breathing. Nate kept hold of the man's wrists for another few seconds, making sure he wasn't going anywhere.

“He's secured.” Robo looked at the Taser cartridge. “One of them didn't connect.” Nate glanced down. One probe was still attached to the man's clothing. The other was lying on the kitchen floor.

“That explains why the bastard didn't drop.” Nate released a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. He turned towards Sam.

“You alright?”

Sam wiped the blood from the side of his face and looked at his hand. “I've had better mornings.”

Nate gave him a quick once-over. “Sit down. Ambulance is on its way.” Sam lowered himself onto the chair beside the kitchen table. Nate looked around the room. The knife was on the floor several feet away, the suspect was cuffed, and the immediate danger was over. He reached for his radio.

“Control, suspect detained. One officer injured. Ambulance required.”

“Received.”

Nate looked back at Sam. “Where's your crewmate?” Sam looked towards the hallway.

“She went upstairs.”

Nate nodded. “Alright. We'll find her.” He looked at Robo. “Stay with him. I'll check upstairs.” Robo nodded.

Nate turned towards the hallway. The shouting had stopped. For the first time since they arrived, the house was completely quiet.

Nate headed upstairs, keeping one hand near his Taser. “Beth?”

No answer. He reached the landing and looked along the hallway. “Beth?”

A faint groan came from one of the bedrooms. Nate moved towards the sound and found her lying on the floor beside the bed, one arm tucked beneath her and her hair partially covering her face. Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing.

“Beth!” He dropped beside her. She stirred, blinking up at him.

“What happened?” She tried to sit up.

“Easy,” Nate said, putting a hand out. “Don't move too quickly.”

“I feel like shit.”

“Yeah, you look it.”

She gave him a weak glare. “Thanks.”

Nate smiled. “Can you tell me what happened?”

“I came upstairs to check the bedrooms. I heard something behind me and then…” She touched the back of her head. “Nothing.”

Nate checked that she was conscious and breathing normally before calling it through to control.

“Control, second officer located. She's conscious but appears to have been knocked unconscious. Requesting medical assessment.”

“Received.”

A few minutes later, with the ambulance crew making their way upstairs, Nate finally stepped back downstairs. The suspect was still secured. Sam was being checked over by another officer, and Beth was conscious and talking with the paramedics.

For the moment, everything was under control. Robo looked across at Nate.

“Coffee?”

Nate nodded. “And paperwork.”

Robo sighed. “You had to ruin it.”

Nate smiled. “Post-arrest paperwork and use of force form doesn't fill itself in.”

They headed back towards the front door. Outside, it was still raining. Nate looked back at the house before following Robo towards the van. The adrenaline was wearing off now. The coffee and paperwork were waiting.

By the time Nate and Robo returned to the station, the adrenaline had worn off. There was still paperwork to finish.

Statements. The use-of-force form. Notes from the incident. Enough boxes to tick to make Nate wonder if he'd actually spent more time writing about what happened than dealing with it. Eventually, he saved the final report and leaned back in his chair. “Done.”

Robo looked over. “About time.” “It's been two hours.”

“Exactly.” Nate shook his head and stood. The rest of the shift passed without anything particularly memorable.

A couple of routine jobs. A traffic stop. A shoplifting report. More paperwork. Lunch was eaten at his desk because neither of them could be bothered going anywhere.

By mid-afternoon, the morning's incident already felt like it had happened days ago.

The rain hadn't stopped. Nate looked out through the report room window. “Still raining.”

Robo didn't look up from his computer. “It's Cumbria.”

“Fair point.” At 16:38, Nate checked the clock. “Nearly there.”

Robo looked across at him. “Don't say that.”

“Why?”

“Every time someone says we're nearly finished, something happens.”

Nate laughed. “You're just superstitious.”

“I'm experienced.”

Nate started shutting down his computer. “I'll see you tomorrow.” The radio on the desk crackled. Both men stopped. Robo slowly looked at Nate. “I fucking hate you.”

“I didn't do anything.” The radio came alive.

“Any available unit for a concern for welfare…”

Nate picked up his jacket. “Come on.”

Robo and Nate started making their way towards the van. Robo turned to Nate. “I'll meet you down there. I need to take a piss.”

Nate turned to him. “Don't take too long, and don't get any on your boots.”

“Very funny. I'll get you to clean them.”

Nate continued down the stairs and pressed the push-to-talk button on his radio. “Control, show us travelling to that concern for welfare after a quick toilet stop. What's the concern?”

After a short moment, Control came back. “The concern is for an elderly male who's been found wandering along the road with no shoes on. Caller stated they've struggled to get any details from him. That's all we have at the moment. The caller is still with the male.”

Great, Nate thought to himself. At least this is something a lot easier to deal with than this morning's incident.

After Robo joined Nate in the van, they made their way to where the caller and the elderly male were waiting. They arrived at the side of a main road. Nate updated Control while Robo made his way over to speak with the caller.

After letting Control know they were on scene, Nate went over to speak to the elderly man. He was sitting on the grass beside the road, his bare feet covered in mud. His trousers were damp at the knees and an old brown coat hung loosely around his shoulders. His face was weathered, with deep lines around his pale blue eyes and cheeks, and thin white hair clung to his scalp, damp from the rain.

Nate crouched down a few feet away. “Hello, mate.”

The man looked at him but didn't say anything.

“My name's Nate. I'm a police officer.”

The man's eyes moved down towards Nate's boots before returning to his face.“I need to go home.”

“Okay,” Nate said. “We can sort that out.”

The man looked towards the road. “I need to get home.”

“I understand.” Nate kept his voice calm. “What's your name?”

The man stared at him for a moment. “Arthur.”

“Alright, Arthur. Nice to meet you.” Nate held out his hand. Arthur looked at it before slowly taking it.

“Nate.” Arthur nodded. “My wife's waiting for me.”

“What's your wife's name?”

“Margaret.”

Nate smiled. “Margaret. Okay.” Arthur looked at him suspiciously.

“You know her?”

“No,” Nate said. “But I'm sure she'd like to know you're safe.”

Arthur looked down at his feet. “She'll be worried.”

“I imagine she will.” Nate glanced back towards the road before looking at Arthur again. “Do you know where you live, Arthur?”

Arthur opened his mouth to answer. Nothing came. He frowned. “I...” He looked around. “I don't know.” Nate nodded.

“That's alright.”

Arthur looked embarrassed. “I should know.” “It's okay.”

“I've lived there for years.”

“I believe you.”

Arthur looked back at Nate. “You do?”

“Of course.” Nate sat down on the grass beside him. Robo glanced over from where he was speaking with the caller but didn't interrupt. Nate looked at Arthur's bare feet.

“Where are your shoes?”

Arthur looked down. “I had them.”

“Do you remember where?” Another pause.

“No.”

“That's alright.” Nate took off his jacket and placed it around Arthur's shoulders. “You're cold.”

Arthur pulled the jacket closer. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The rain had started again, light drops landing on the shoulders of Nate's uniform. Nate didn't seem to notice. “So,” he said, “tell me about Margaret.”

Arthur looked at him. A faint smile appeared on his face. “She doesn't like the rain.”

Nate smiled back. “Can't say I blame her.”

“She always says it makes her hair go funny.”

“Sounds like a serious problem.” Arthur laughed quietly. It was the first time Nate had seen him relax.

“Very serious.”

Nate nodded. “Well, let's get you somewhere warm and we'll work out how to get you home to Margaret.” Arthur looked at him for a moment.

“Will you come with me?”

Nate smiled. “Yeah, Arthur. I'll come with you.”

Nate stayed beside him for a moment. “Right then, Arthur. Let's see if we can work out where home is.”

Arthur nodded. “Okay.”

“What's your full name?”

“Arthur.”

Nate smiled. “I've got that bit. What's your surname?” Arthur thought for a moment.

“Bennett.”

“Arthur Bennett?”

“Yes.”

“Good. And do you know your date of birth?”

Arthur looked at him. “Why?”

“So we can find your address and get you home.”

Arthur nodded slowly. “Twenty-third of March.”

“Twenty-third of March. What year?”

Arthur frowned. “I should know that.”

“You probably do. Take your time.”

Arthur looked towards the road. “Forty-one.”

“1941?”

Arthur's face brightened. “Yes.”

“Brilliant.” Nate gave him a smile. “See? We got there.”

Arthur smiled back. “I'm getting old.”

Nate laughed softly. “You're allowed.”

Robo walked over. “Got his details?” “Full name and date of birth.”

Nate looked back at Arthur. “Do you know your address?”

Arthur thought about it. “Number...” He stopped.

“It's alright.”Nate waited.

“There's a green door.”

“A green door?”

Arthur nodded. “Margaret painted it.”

“Okay. That's useful.”

Arthur smiled. “Bright green. You can't miss it.”

Nate smiled. “I'm sure we can find a green door.” He paused. “What road is it on?”

Arthur looked confused again. “I don't know.”

“That's alright.” Nate thought for a moment. “Do you know the town?”

Arthur nodded. “Wigton.”

“Good.”

Arthur looked relieved. “That's where I live.” Nate looked at Robo. “Wigton. Arthur Bennett, born twenty-third of March, 1941.”

Robo nodded. “I'll run it.” He stepped away and began speaking into his radio. Nate stayed beside Arthur.

“What's your wife's name again?”

“Margaret.”

“And she's at home?”

“She'll be waiting.”

Nate nodded. “Then let's get you back to her.”

Arthur looked down at his feet. “I seem to have lost my shoes.” Nate looked at the muddy grass.

“Yeah. I noticed that.”

Arthur smiled sheepishly. “I don't remember taking them off.”

Nate smiled. “Don't worry. We'll sort that out too.” Nate stayed beside Arthur while Robo stepped a few feet away with his radio.

“Twenty-third of March, 1941,” Robo said into the radio. “Arthur Bennett, Wigton.” Nate could hear the response coming through his own earpiece, but he kept his attention on Arthur.

“So, Arthur,” he said, “how long have you been married to Margaret?”

Arthur smiled. “A long time.”

“How long is a long time?”

Arthur thought about it. “Fifty years?”

“That's a good run.”

“Fifty-six.”

Nate smiled. “Fifty-six years?”

Arthur nodded proudly. “She's been putting up with me that long.”

“I think that means she's probably quite fond of you.”

Arthur laughed. “She'd tell you otherwise.” Nate's earpiece crackled.

“Control to unit.”

Robo lifted his radio. “Go ahead.”

“Control has located an address for Arthur Bennett. He resides at 43 Balmaine Road, Wigton” Robo listened, then repeated the address back to confirm it. Nate glanced over.

Arthur was still smiling to himself.

“Arthur?”

“Yes?”

“Does 43 Balmaine Road sound familiar to you?”

Arthur looked at him. “Green door.”

Nate smiled. “That's the one.”

“Margaret painted it.”

“Then I think we've found you.” Robo walked back over.

“Control's also flagged him as a frequent missing person. He's got a diagnosis of dementia recorded and has previously been reported missing after wandering from the address.” Nate nodded. That explained a lot. He looked back at Arthur. The old man was staring down at his bare feet again.

“Right,” Nate said gently. “Let's get you home.”

Arthur looked up. “Will Margaret be there?”

“She should be.”

“And she'll be angry.”

Nate smiled. “Probably.”

Arthur laughed. “She gets angry when I wander off.”

“I think I'd be more worried if she wasn't.”

Arthur looked at Nate for a moment. “Are you coming with me?”

“Yeah.” Nate stood and held out his hand. “Come on, Arthur.” Arthur took it and slowly got to his feet. Nate steadied him. “Easy.”

Arthur looked at him. “Thank you.”

Nate nodded. “No problem.” He looked towards Robo. “Let's get him home.” Robo opened the rear door of the van while Nate helped Arthur towards it. “Watch your step.” Arthur nodded and carefully climbed inside. Nate made sure he was sitting comfortably before closing the door. “Alright?”

Arthur nodded. “I'm alright.”

Nate walked around to the driver's side while Robo climbed into the passenger seat. Once they were both inside, Nate looked back at Arthur. “Ready to go home?”

Arthur smiled. “Ready.”

Nate started the engine and pulled away from the roadside.

The journey was quiet. Every so often, Nate glanced in the mirror to check on Arthur. The old man was sitting quietly, looking out of the window. After a few minutes, Arthur spoke.

“Is it far?”

“Not too far.”

“Good.”

Nate smiled. “You'll be home soon.” Arthur nodded and went back to looking out of the window. A few minutes later, Nate slowed the van as they turned onto a quiet residential street. “Arthur, does this look familiar?”

Arthur looked out of the window. Then he smiled. “That's it.”

Nate pulled up outside a small house with a green front door. “There we go.”

Arthur looked at the house for a moment. “Margaret painted that.”

“I remember.” Nate got out and opened the rear door. “Come on, Arthur.” Arthur slowly climbed out. Nate stayed beside him as they walked towards the front door. Before they reached it, the door opened. An elderly woman stood there, looking worried.

“Arthur!”

Arthur smiled. “Hello, Margaret.”

Margaret hurried towards him. “Where have you been?”

“I went for a walk.”

“You went for a bloody walk without your shoes!”

Arthur looked down at his bare feet. “Oh.”

Nate glanced at Robo. Robo was trying not to laugh. Margaret looked at Nate.

“I'm sorry.”

“No need to apologise. We found him walking along the road.”

Margaret nodded, clearly relieved. “Thank you.”

Nate smiled. “No problem. Just make sure he gets inside and warms up.”

“I will.”

Arthur looked back at Nate. “Thank you.”

Nate nodded. “Take care, Arthur.”

Arthur smiled. “You too.”

Nate watched as Margaret helped Arthur inside before closing the door. He turned back towards the van.

“Right,” he said.

Robo looked at him. “Home?”

“Hopefully.” Nate checked his watch. His expression changed slightly. “Shit.”

“What?”

“It's 1800. We're late, and still have the paperwork to sort out for this.”

Robo laughed. “You can blame Arthur.”

Nate shook his head. “I'm not blaming him.” He climbed into the driver's seat.

“Let's get back.”

Nate pulled away from Arthur's house and headed back towards the station. Neither of them said much during the journey. The rain continued to fall, its steady drumming against the roof of the van filling the silence around them. The roads glistened beneath the streetlights. By the time they reached the station, it was well after six. They still had the paperwork from the welfare call to finish before they could go home. Nate sighed. He didn't mind the job; it was the paperwork afterwards that always seemed to drag.

Once that was done, Nate grabbed his black Thrudark shift shell jacket and headed towards the exit. Outside, the rain was still caming down. Nate checked his phone after getting into the car. There was a notification from the local news station advising that his usual route home was closed due to flooding.

“Brilliant,” Nate muttered. He looked at the map on his phone. The alternative route would take him considerably longer. “Looks like I'm taking the long way home.”

Nate started making his way home, stopping on the way to grab the chips and gluten-free gravy he'd promised Lucy that morning. The rain had eased slightly, but the roads were still wet as he followed the diversion home.

He drove through a quiet stretch of road, barely seeing another car. As he came around a bend, his headlights caught someone walking along the roadside.

Nate glanced at him as he passed. Something about the man made him look twice. Nate checked his mirror. The man was already disappearing into the darkness behind him. He looked familiar. Nate frowned, but couldn't place him. Probably someone he'd seen before. He carried on home.

By the time Nate pulled onto his drive, he'd almost forgotten about the man on the side of the road. He grabbed the chips from the passenger seat and headed inside.

“I'm home!”

Lucy called from the other room. “About time.”

Nate smiled. “Road was flooded. Had to come the long way.” He put the food down and reached into his pocket for his phone. There was an unread message. He unlocked his phone and opened the messages app.

Unknown Number.

Nate stared at the screen. The message contained only two words.

'Nemo Relictus'

Nate's smile disappeared. He read it again. He knew those words. No one else should. He hadn't heard them in 10 years.

No one left behind.