Narrative tenses: Mystery in the snow

I'm Steve, a motor mechanic and this is the story of something strange that ___ to me about five years ago.

• happened

• was happening

• had happened

It was a freezing cold winter. One day I ___ a call to assist a motorist whose car had broken down and was stuck in snow.

• received

• was receiving

• had received

As I ___ to the place where the motorist was stranded, I noticed that the snow was getting heavier.

• drove

• was driving

• had driven

When I ___ the phone call, I was sure I knew where the motorist was. But when I got there, I couldn't see a car anywhere.

• got

• was getting

• had got

I ___ to call my office, but my mobile's battery was dead. I looked around, the snow had stopped, but it was lying thick on the ground.

• tried

• was trying

• had tried

I got out of the car and ___ looking for some sign of the motorist. I looked down and saw some footprints in the snow.

• started

• was starting

• had started

I began following them. They ___ over a small bridge and across a park. It was freezing cold.

• led

• were leading

• had led

I ___ the footprints through the park when I saw a phone box about one hundred metres away. I listened. I heard a noise.

• followed

• was following

• had followed