Man with no name

This story is by Lesley Pike and was part of our 2018 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

THE MAN WITH NO NAME –

The long drive across the state and through parched and dusty countryside had given Harry plenty of thinking time. Not knowing who to trust, if anybody, and where his life was leading him, the decision to flee was not taken lightly, but he had not spent enough time on forward planning. Harry had hoped his pursuers would not find him if he moved states and settled in a far off region. Going by a new name and changing his physical identity by growing his hair and beard, wearing jeans and flannelette shirts (instead of the white shirt and tailored three piece suits that were his usual trade mark), he was hoping would ensure that no one would recognize him.¬¬-

Slowing down, he saw a takeaway food shop ahead and realized he was ready for a break. He parked and headed into the shop. The young man behind the counter seemed very friendly and after placing his order, Harry asked.-

“You wouldn’t know of any work around here would you?”-

“What sort of work are you looking for?”-

“Anything manual, I’m pretty good with my hands” Harry replied.-

“I think Alex James the builder was looking for a laborer if that’s any good to you. Staying long?”-

“Don’t know yet, I’m just seeing some more of the country.” Harry replied.-

“If you would like to see Alex about some work I’ll give you his address and phone number?”-

Taking the proffered note Harry left the shop and wandered over to the park to eat his lunch and decide if he would stay here for a while, get work, earn some money then move on. He had been on the road for a while and hadn’t yet found anywhere he would like to stay. Maybe this would be his first stepping stone to a new life.-

After pondering over the question of employment, Harry made up his mind to see this Alex James. If there was an offer of a job then he would make the decision to stay.-

His phone was ringing when he got back to his car, but not knowing the caller he decided not to answer. Harry suddenly realized that he should have destroyed the phone way before now and hoped that it wasn’t already being it traced.-

Walking down the street and into the Chemist shop, Harry approached the counter.-

“I need to buy a new mobile phone please. I don’t need anything fancy, just being able to make calls is all I want.”-

After purchasing the phone Harry went straight to see about work. He was assured Alex could certainly use the help, and it was arranged that they would meet the next morning at the building site. –

Harry now had to find somewhere to stay. A motel room for the night would suffice.-

He was starting to feel confident that maybe a stay in this country town would be just what he needed to set himself up for his new way of life, getting him some much needed experience in another work field, before he had to move again.-

As the accountant for a drug cartel he knew he was being chased. They wouldn’t give up their search until he was found.-

Money laundering was his specialty. He was good at his job but had had enough of the deceitful life he’d had to lead. Harry knew he had to stay one step ahead of these men which meant moving on fairly often, changing employment, and perhaps he may even have to change his car.-

Luckily he had brought work clothes with him, thrown in at just the last minute, and his one and only pair of work boots; at least he would look the part even if he didn’t know much about being a builder’s laborer.-

How much was there to learn about digging holes and carting timber from one place to another?-

On arriving at the work site early the next morning, Harry was introduced to the other workers and told by Alex what his job would be, he may even have to move between building sites depending on the work schedule. This didn’t worry Harry, in fact, he thought it might be better if he didn’t work in the same place all the time, harder to trace him. His worry about disposal of the old phone was taken care of on his first task for the day. Harry was asked to fill in a trench covering some drainage pipes, an easy job to do.-

Harry dropped the pieces of the phone in the hole and threw several shovels full of soil on top, covering it up, and then spent the next few hours filling in the rest of the trench.-

At lunch he asked some of the other workers about accommodation, and was told he was in luck as another resident had just moved out of the boarding house, so a room was available.-

With his new phone he rang the manager of the establishment and was told he could have the vacant room, the cost was affordable.-

That was another problem solved. It certainly was a good day.-

The days blended into one another and Harry had now been working as a laborer for a few months. He’d been getting on quite well, moving from site to site with no complications with his work mates or boss. He wondered how long he could remain and still be undetected? He had no qualms about moving on. Harry had saved quite a sum of money, enough to get him settled in a new town. He thought he might change his vehicle to make it harder to be found.-

One of his work mates had said he was looking for a car to teach his daughter to drive in. They lived out in the bush a bit and he didn’t want to pay much for a car to be bumped around in the paddocks.

Harry offered his car and a deal was completed. Harry was now in the market for a new car.

Strange things happen, and another of the workers came in on the tail end of their conversation, telling Harry that his mother had just gone into a nursing home and her near new car was to be sold. Harry couldn’t believe things were going so well for him, and bought the car sight unseen.-

Harry needed some fun in his life so decided to attend the local Bachelor and Spinster ball that weekend. During the night he happened to see two men walking around talking to some of the crowd. Dressed in three piece suits, they stood out.-

He was worried! Had someone finally found out where he was?-

His appearance was different now which meant he blended in. He still had his long hair and his red beard so he looked very different to when he left the city.-

Harry became very uncomfortable with the situation and decided it was time to hit the road. He now had another mode of transport, something he hoped couldn’t be traced easily. He couldn’t wait to get back to his lodgings, pack up and be ready to leave at first light. He’d have to let Alex, his boss, know that he was moving on. It wasn’t fair to just walk out.-

After driving for several hours Harry had the realization that this was not the way he intended to live his life, always looking over his shoulder. The only way out was to go to the police, and stop the perpetual running. He thought that by telling all the secret ways he had been laundering the gangs’ money, his own life would be changed again and he may have to spend some time in witness protection or even jail, before finally being free.-

Harry knew that it would need to be a larger town with a major police presence for them to be able to help him. The next signpost gave him the answer he needed, 120km to the next petrol and the town of Crawford.-

With great trepidation he walked into the police station and explained the whole sorry mess he had found

himself in. He was told to take a seat and a detective would come and speak to him. Harry waited patiently, with a million thoughts running through his head, had he done the right thing by coming here? Was this the redeeming action he needed to try and get his life back on track or would this land him in deeper?-

Having to retell his whole story in detail and providing the proof that he had managed to bring with him about his former life of crime would hopefully be the catalyst to a new beginning.-