The Truth About Him

“One steak pie and one macaroni. Can I get you guys anything else?” Eilidh asked with a fake smile that looked genuine enough. Working behind a bar was tolerable since there was a counter between her and the public, but being a waitress was more up-close and personal, something she didn’t exactly enjoy.

When the couple sitting at the table said no, the curvy brunette wished them a good meal before walking off to the bar. For a Friday, it wasn’t very busy in the pub, but it was only lunchtime and it was a sure thing that the place would become more active as the day progressed.

While she restocked the downstairs bar, engrossed in her duty and oblivious to the world around her, Eilidh’s thoughts drifted to a certain dark-eyed charmer by the name of Benjamin. It had been a little over a week since she met the man and, despite her attempts to not think about him, he had plagued her mind ever since.

The brunette had seen him back in Salem’s a few times during the week, but they never spoke again, much to her dismay. They had, however, shared bashful smiles and humorous eye contact, almost as if having an inside joke which neither knew of. Though they hadn’t spoken since that fateful Thursday night, the young woman was content with their playful glances.

“Hey, Eilidh, you can go home if you like. There aren’t that many people here and I don’t expect it to get busy until later,” Charlie announced, scaring the girl out of her thoughts. “Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“It’s fine, I’m always a little jumpy…um, I’ll just finish up here and get going. I’m working tomorrow night, yeah?”

“Yes, just the usual hours. Thanks again for coming in today on such short notice; you’re a life saver, Eilidh!” the boss exclaimed exhaustedly, showing the curvy brunette a weary smile before hearing the phone ringing in the back room and leaving to answer it.



As soon as she returned to her cosy apartment, Eilidh carried out her usual inspections around her home, making sure there were no intruders. It was always a daunting task, but it was something she lived by and knew it was the only way to make her feel comfortable.

“O’Malley?” she called out when she was finished, knowing her beloved cat would have taken refuge in a small space she was unaware of. Only a moment later, the dumpy, ginger cat wriggled out from under one of the couches. “Hey, baby,” the girl greeted in reply to a meow.

Just as she was feeding her pet, her mobile phone began to buzz. After 5 rings, she finally answered the device. “H-hello?”

“Hello Eilidh, it’s Graham.”

Relief washed over her and a smile graced her features at the sound of the familiar voice on the other end of the line. “DC Swindon! How are you?”

Their catch-up conversation lasted for an hour, the two chatting about the past couple of weeks and how their lives have been. The detective treated Eilidh like a daughter; he cared about her and wanted the best for her. She was the only person to have survived an interaction with The Hacksaw Murderer, and as lucky as that was, she was left with no one, causing DC Swindon to feel somewhat guilty.

“So, how’s the case going?” the woman asked nervously.

“I wish I could tell you something better, but we’re at a complete loss. There’s never any evidence left behind. All we have to go on is the locations of the murders and, well, everything you’ve told us. I’m sorry, Eilidh. I really am.”

Taking a deep breath to calm herself and resisting the urge to cry, the brunette felt her hope disintegrate. She knew she couldn’t get her family back, so the only thing she prayed for was that the killer would be caught and sentenced to life. But she also knew how careful the madman was and how unlikely his arrest was becoming.

“It’s fine, Graham. I know you’re all trying your best. Can you let me know if there’s any new information?”

“Yes, of course! But anyway, I better let you get on with your day.”

When they had each said their goodbyes, and just as the she was about to hang up, Graham spoke up again. “Oh, and Eilidh? Don’t be a stranger. Call me whenever, alright?”

Smiling to herself, she replied, “Thanks Graham. I’ll call you soon.”



Deciding that she wanted to do a bit of much-needed shopping, Eilidh grabbed her handbag and coat then left to wander the busy streets of Aberdeen. She knew the fundamentals of the city, but she wanted to gain more experience with being out and about, even though it was still quite a terrifying thought.

The first place she wanted to explore was the music store down the road from her, a place called The Cellar which advertised a vast amount of CD’s and records, as well as being a small venue for bands. When she entered the building, where she was greeted by a set of descending stairs and an elevator to the right, she realised that the shop was, in actual fact, a converted cellar.

Eilidh instantly began searching through the rows upon rows of music, her fancy being taken by the Classic Rock section as always. Her eyes scanned the shelves for nothing in particular, but took in all the different bands and singers displayed in front of her. Just as she was beginning to unwind, she felt a presence behind her, causing her to stiffen.

“Are you stalking me?” a deep, husky voice asked from right behind her, somehow instantly relaxing her while filling her with thrill.

“I think it’s you who is stalking me, dear Benjamin.”