“Lets leave her here and let nature take its course!” they said, tossing the old woman into the snowdrift. The villains didnt realise karma would come back to bite themand soon.
Agnes Whitmore was walking towards her block of flats when she spotted the neighbourhood ladies perched on a bench, gossiping about the flashy car parked nearby.
“Who does that belong to, then?” Agnes asked.
“No idea, love,” one of them chirped. “Probably one of Marys lot. Fancy motors like that dont just rock up for us pensioners!”
“Only ambulances bother with our lot,” another cackled.
They carried on nattering about council cuts and who-knew-what until Mary herself strolled out, completely ignoring them and the car parked half on the lawn. Agnes hurried inside.
“Agnes Whitmore?” a mans voice called from the stairwell. “Remember me? We spoke the other day. Im your nephew, Jeremy.”
“Oh, Jeremy!” Agnes gasped. “Why didnt you say you were coming? Is that your car crushing my petunias?”
“Er, yes.”
“Well, shift it before the neighbours call the council! Honestly, parking on my flowerbedwhat were you thinking?”
Jeremy scurried off to move the car while Agnes put the kettle on. Shed been meaning to sell her flatno point leaving it to vandals who trampled her garden.
Years ago, her uncle used to visit with his son. Then the family lost touch. And now, out of the blue, Jeremy had turned up. Something about him made Agnes uneasy. He chain-smoked like a chimney, his teeth already yellowed despite his youth. Still, at least hed come. Shed preferred not to involve an estate agentbetter to let her nephew handle the sale. Oddly, he refused any commission.
Agnes had no husband or children left. She fancied retiring somewhere quieter, with fresh air and a bit of garden. A village with a decent bus route, perhaps. While she still had the strength, she wanted to grow her own veg. By autumn, a buyer had appeared.
“Winters coming. Lets wait till spring to sell,” Agnes decided.
“But prices soar in spring!” Jeremy argued. “Buyers check the heating nowand what if this one backs out?”
“But I havent found a house yet! Where will I live? Find me one first, then well sell,” Agnes sighed. Jeremy relented.
Soon, hed lined up a few cottages. After a viewing, Agnes felt deflatedeach needed work. Still, the flats sale would cover it, with enough left for renovations. Jeremy, handy with a hammer, promised to help.
But Agnes fretted.
“Winters nearly here. I cant face renovationsI just want to move in and live properly!”
“Ill help, Auntie!” Jeremy insisted.
Still, it nagged at herwhy was he so eager to sell? Surely there was nothing in it for him. She thanked him anyway and set a completion date.
The buyer and solicitor arrived promptly. Jeremy served tea. Agness heart achedthis was her home. A lifetime of memories. But no turning back now. Boxes were packed, papers signed.
“Right, time to move!” Jeremy announced.
“Now? Ive still got china in the cabinet!”
“The buyer needs the place tonight,” he insisted.
Grumbling, Agnes agreed. Soon, they were rattling along in a van. She yawned, dozing offonly half-aware of the road, the murmured voices.
“Auntie? You awake?” Jeremys voice sounded distant. She couldnt reply.
“Leave her here,” she heard faintly, then nothing. Everything blurred. They dumped her in the snow.
“Shell freeze,” Jeremy added.
Realisation struckher own nephew had swindled her. Spiked her tea. Now hed left her to die. Eyes closed, she braced for the end.
Meanwhile, a young woman driving past spotted the van. Thinking theyd broken down, she pulled overthen watched, baffled, as two men hauled something into the woods. In this weather? Suspicious, she noted the number plate. Once theyd gone, she hurried overand found Agnes, barely conscious.
“Alive!” She called her husband, and together they bundled Agnes into their car.
“Where am I?” Agnes croaked.
“We found you,” the woman, Emily, said. “Do you remember how you got here?”
“Yes. My nephewwe sold my flat. Then tea… he mustve drugged me! They dumped me!”
“Lets get you warm,” Emily said, rubbing life back into her hands.
“Nicer than freezing to death,” Agnes managed a weak smile.
Emilys family took her in while the police investigated. Weeks later, Agnes got her flat backJeremy and his accomplice jailed for fraud.
Come spring, just as shed planned, Agnes sold up and bought a cozy cottage. No repairs needed. By summer, shed planted a garden and invited Emilys family for tea. Shed never forget their kindness.
