by R. J. Parker
‘No. I don’t want this!’
‘You want to punish Elliot.’ His voice remained even. ‘And you never want to see him again.’
‘Don’t twist my words. You’ve harmed him enough.’
‘Enough for what? All the years of deception or for handing me the key to your insecurities?’
Leah’s father and Elliot were both noisily fighting to get free.
‘Say the word and it’s done. No repercussions.’
Leah shook her head.
‘Say it!’
‘You’re the only one I want dead!’
‘Because I’m the only one telling the truth!’ Tate took another step forward.
‘Stay back!’ Leah noticed her father had stopped moving. ‘Dad!’ But she couldn’t afford to look down at him, even for a second.
There was no response. Elliot continued struggling behind her.
‘Dad!’
‘I think he’s fitting.’ Tate squinted.
‘Dad!’
‘Perhaps this decision’s about to be made for you.’ He didn’t look up.
Leah shot a glance to her father. His body was taut and she could only see the whites of his eyes.
Chapter Sixty-One
‘It appears, despite my best efforts, you can’t decide for yourself.’ Tate regarded Leah’s father as his body jerked in the chair.
She had to cut him free of his gag, but she couldn’t afford to take her eyes off Tate.
‘If you really think he’s worth saving…’
Leah put her free hand to the hose wrapped around his head, but it was bound too tight. It had to be cut.
‘…which you obviously do, I won’t stop you. Go ahead.’ There was disapproval in his voice.
She shook her head. Another trick?
Her father noisily drew air in around the gag.
‘I told you, I won’t lie to you. Release him. Give him the shell of his life back. Even if dying now is what’s best for him.’
Leah lowered her blade and slid the blunt side under the hose at the side of her father’s face. She started furiously sawing away from his cheek.
‘The serrated edge should make short work of that.’
She focused on cutting through the plastic, Tate lingering at the periphery of her vision. He could attack her now and she would never slide the steak knife back out in time to defend herself.
The blade got traction on the double thickness of hose.
‘But if you choose one man you forfeit the other.’
Her hand halted.
‘I’m making that decision on your behalf. It really would be remiss of me to watch you throw this opportunity away.’
Her father’s eyes had closed, his convulsions were weakening.
‘Dad!’ Leah started sawing again. She had to save him first. ‘I refuse to make that choice.’
‘You’re incapable of resolving this. You’ll thank me though. That’s if your father isn’t already braindead.’
‘Stay with me, Dad!’ The knife was through the first coil.
As she sawed faster her father’s head bounced loosely on his neck.
‘Look how close you are. You could just wait a few seconds. Keep sawing, if you like though, so you can tell yourself you tried.’
‘Shut up!’ The blade was cutting through the second coil. She got her fingers under the hose and opened up a gap. ‘Breathe, Dad!’
‘Maybe he doesn’t want to anymore. Perhaps there’s a part of him that wants this as much as you.’
She sawed frantically and Tate watched, motionless.
The coil severed and Leah pulled the plastic away from his face. ‘Dad?’ She shook him.
His head lolled forward.
‘Dad!’ She lifted his chin and slapped his cheek.
His eyes flickered under his lids.
‘Take a breath!’
After a second, his chest suddenly heaved and he noisily dragged in air.
Leah turned to Tate. He was still watching silently. When she stole a look at her father his bloodshot eyes were open, uncomprehending.
‘What is this?’ Spittle ran down his chin.
‘It’s all right, Dad, you’re OK.’
Her father squinted at Tate and then blinked as he tried to focus his eyes on her. ‘What are you doing?’
‘D’you think he recognises you?’
‘It’s Leah. This man tied you up.’
Her father bounced his gaze fearfully between them.
Leah’s fingers trembled as she tried to release his left hand from the arm of the chair, but the hose was binding it tight.
‘Cut them. I’m not going to stop you.’ Tate promised. ‘Soon have you out.’ He addressed her father.
Leah couldn’t get the knife under the coils.
‘Just saw down.’ Tate suggested. ‘Careful not to sever any of his main cables though.’
Leah looked into her father’s confused expression to reassure him, but she could see he was just as wary of her as he was of Tate. ‘It’s me. It’s Leah. I’m going to get you out of here.’
‘Maybe he would rather it was Olivia who was helping him.’
Leah sawed the blade above his wrist.
Elliot started yelling through his gag again.
Leah’s father swivelled his head to where he was. He turned back to her, eyes widening.
‘I think Elliot is becoming concerned about the choice you’ve made.’
‘I haven’t made any choice!’ Her arm worked furiously.
‘It’s not too late. You can still change your mind.’
‘What is he talking about?’ There was still no recognition in her father’s eyes.
‘Your daughter has to choose you or her husband. You remember Elliot?’
‘Just keep still, Dad.’ She had to cut him loose. Give him a chance to defend himself if Tate attacked her.
Elliot kept screaming.
But under it Leah could still hear Tate observe:
‘Looks like she’s just made up her mind, Elliot.’
Chapter Sixty-Two
Ragged ends of hose flicked up as Leah’s knife cut through them. She yanked on the remaining length and it came away. ‘Dad, use your hand to free the other one.’
He regarded her with bewilderment.
But his feet were still tied. And even if he could get out of the chair it was unlikely he could defend himself. ‘Don’t!’
Tate had advanced a step.
Leah held up the blade to him again.
His expression remained impassive. ‘See to your father.’
‘Keep back!’ She swiped the steak knife. ‘I mean it.’
‘I’ve no doubt you do. In fact, I’m probably the only man here who doesn’t underestimate you.’
‘I can’t move my legs,’ her father whimpered.
‘See to him. Take him back up to the cottage. I’ll finish here.’ Tate’s gaze switched to Elliot.
Elliot slid noisily back in his chair.
Leah swung the blade again as he took another pace forward.
‘Who else here has shown you the consideration that I have? I’ve laid it out for you. Made it as easy as possible. My instincts are good. I refuse to believe I’ve been wasting my time.’
‘Dad, try to untie yourself.’ Her eyes were on Tate but she could see her father made no move to free his other hand.
Elliot grunted and rocked in his chair.
‘I could have dealt with both these problems before you arrived, but I didn’t want to be presumptuous.’
‘Don’t.’ She raised the knife high as he approached.
He was a couple of feet inside the apple store. ‘You have the potential, Leah Talbot, but it needs to be harnessed.’
‘By you? What is it you believe will happen after this?’ She had to play for time. Distract him while she weighed up non-existent options
‘Enlightenment,’ he replied, as if it were obvious.
‘And then what? My gratitude?’ She retorted cau
stically.
‘Your life is about to change for the better. You may not see it now as I do but once a situation becomes academic the only path left will be the right one.’ He extended his hand. ‘Make the right choice and join me.’
Leah brought the blade down and it caught the pads of his fingers.
He snatched them back, pain briefly registering on his face. He examined the cut.
Leah caught her breath, could see drops of blood welling up on his middle finger.
Tate seemed to check himself before he inhaled. ‘Let me have the knife now.’
There was a clatter from behind Leah. She didn’t turn but guessed Elliot had tipped over in his chair.
Tate briefly looked down at the floor. ‘First time he’s fallen at your feet?’
‘Stay away from her.’
The silence that briefly followed underscored the threat.
Leah looked down at her father. He was glaring at Tate.
‘Leave my daughter alone.’ He didn’t blink.
‘Is this a breakthrough?’ Tate sucked his fingers. ‘This girl you’re valiantly protecting though, can you tell me her name?’
The hose securing Leah’s father’s other hand creaked as his body tensed.
‘Can you? Tell me who she is.’
Her father’s jaw clenched, the muscles throbbing in his jaw.
‘Don’t answer him, Dad.’
‘What about your wife, will she remember? Should I go and get her? D’you think she’ll jog your memory for you?’
Leah’s father’s eyes burnt, full of an intensity she hadn’t seen for a long time.
‘Is she indisposed?’
Leah’s knuckles went white along the handle of the knife.
‘Take these off.’ Leah’s father nodded at his remaining bonds. ‘Take these off and let me out of this chair.’
‘Looks like he’s coming to your defence.’
‘That’s enough.’
Tate seemed satisfied by the barely controlled rage in Leah’s growl.
Squeaking and thudding as Elliot writhed on the floor.
Tate raised his palm at Leah’s father. ‘Just give me her name.’
‘Dad—’
Her father lifted his hand too. Like he used to when she was a little girl, irked at her interruption. He didn’t wrench his attention from Tate. ‘Olivia,’ he whispered, his expression triumphant.
Leah lunged with the blade.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Leah gasped and held up both her empty hands.
Tate was open mouthed too.
Leah’s father breathed heavily down his nose.
‘You chose.’ Tate stated but both words were whispered, almost in awe.
Her eyes were on the blade and where it was buried.
Elliot had stopped struggling.
‘Olivia,’ her father said.
Tate looked down, his chin grazing the top of the blade. The metal was half buried at the bottom of his neck, just above his clavicle. The motion prompted blood to pour from the wound.
Leah hadn’t aimed for any particular part of Tate’s chest. Her palms went to her lips as he reeled unsteadily. She couldn’t allow the shock of what she’d done to paralyse her.
There was surprise on his face as he carefully took hold of the wooden handle.
Leah’s fingertips were under her eyes.
He focussed on her, opened his mouth to speak but gagged.
‘Untie yourself, Dad.’
Tate gurgled as blood flowed faster from the deep slit. His expression changed, shifted to triumph.
Her father hadn’t moved.
‘Quickly!’
She heard him tugging at the piping around his other wrist.
Elliot was saying something incoherent through his gag.
Tate yanked out the knife.
Leah drew breath the same time as he did but his bubbled.
Tate staggered back, his hand to the wound but blood pouring through his fingers.
‘You left me no choice.’ Leah didn’t blink.
His gaze slid sideways. He was looking at the wall opposite. Staggering to it, he placed his palms on the bricks, his back to her.
She kept her attention firmly on him. ‘Hurry,’ she addressed her Dad. Then she backed over to where Elliot was lying on the floor on his left side.
He was still babbling at her through the gag.
She worked at the tight knots securing his right hand to the chair arm, dropping her eyes to her trembling fingers and then returning them to Tate.
Tate’s body sagged and he leaned harder against the wall. Blood was pooling in droplets at his feet. Had he brought a weapon out with him?
The knots were so tight and Elliot was struggling and tensing the hose.
‘Keep still!’ she hissed. ‘Let me do it.’
Her father had his other hand clear and bent unsteadily forward to his bound ankles.
As Leah worked frantically on Elliot’s bonds, Tate went down onto one knee.
Leah’s father was bent all the way forward now, grunting as he fought to untie his legs.
Leah released Elliot’s hand and checked Tate. He was still motionless. She uncoiled the hose and her husband’s hand started working on his other. She concentrated on his feet.
Tate tried to stand again but dropped down hard onto both knees.
Leah picked at the knots and noticed he’d dropped the steak knife. It was at the bottom of the wall.
Elliot used both hands to tug at the hose around his face.
Her father had his feet loose and tried to stand up. He collapsed back into his chair.
‘Dad, wait there. We’ll help you up now.’ She undid the knot at the back of Elliot’s head, and he ripped it away.
Tate’s body collapsed against the wall.
Leah helped Elliot with his ankles.
‘I’m sorry.’ Were her husband’s first words.
‘Can you get up?’ She pulled the chair away from him.
Elliot took a few breaths and nodded. He started to stand but trembled and flinched as the motion emphasized every slice in his muscles.
Leah supported him to his feet.
His eyes looked so white in the dark blood mask of his face and he opened his sticky lips to speak again.
‘Save your energy. Can you walk?’
He nodded and she guided him to where her father was trying to rise a second time.
‘Your dad,’ Elliot whispered and took his arm from Leah.
She helped him out of the chair then took a few cautious paces towards Tate.
‘Don’t,’ Elliot warned.
She halted but quickly raced forward and scraped up the knife.
Tate didn’t react.
‘Let’s go,’ Elliot whisper-yelled.
In the dregs of daylight Leah could see a small puddle of dark blood between Tate’s knees as it broke its tension and flowed backwards, picking up dust as it went.
‘We can’t leave him like this,’ Leah’s father said.
‘We’ll call him an ambulance.’ But Leah knew it would probably be too late.
‘Come on.’ Elliot dragged her father out of the apple store.
Leah took one more look at Tate’s hunched shoulders and followed them.
‘We get inside, lock the doors and call the police.’ Elliot was determinedly walking her father back to the cottage, their breath misting around them.
She caught up with them. ‘Careful, Dad’s about to collapse.’ She took his other arm.
But Elliot wouldn’t slow down.
‘Wait!’ She stopped.
‘What is it?’ Elliot turned to her. Tears had welled up in his eyes and were trickling white tracks down his face.
‘He has Dad’s phone. And mine.’ Leah turned back to the apple store.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Leah found the spare key and locked the back door as soon as they were inside the kitchen. She and Elliot helped her father through to the hallway and she d
ouble checked that the phone wasn’t there. Tate had it and her mobile in his pocket but going back into the apple store was a bad idea.
‘I just need to sit down,’ her father declared.
‘No time.’ She repositioned herself under his arm. ‘We’ll drive my car to the nearest neighbour, call the police and an ambulance.’
Elliot nodded and blanched as he took her father’s weight. ‘Can you walk OK now?’
Leah’s father looked ashen. ‘If I can just have a minute’s rest.’
Leah shook her head at Elliot. ‘Come on.’
The three of them shuffled through the tight hallway towards the front door.
A rattling sound came from behind them.
They all stopped dead and Leah and Elliot turned in the direction of the noise.
The back-door handle was being jerked down.
‘Out the front.’ Leah was already dragging them both to the door. She opened it and they helped her father onto the path.
‘Where are we going?’ he asked bewildered.
Leah gripped the steak knife firmly in her right fist. ‘He could come up the side of the house. Keep a lookout.’ She fixed her eyes on the darkened track overhung by trees to her left as they headed up the short path to where her car was.
‘I need my coat.’
Leah felt her father resist them. ‘You don’t need it. It’ll be warm in the car.’
‘Quiet,’ Elliot snapped, his attention locked on the track to one side.
They’d reached the gate.
‘Support him.’ Leah took her arm from under her father and, watching the house, scrabbled in her pocket for the key.
‘Hurry.’ Elliot turned her father so he could look back as well.
No sign of it in either pocket. Maybe it was back in the house or had fallen out in the apple store. She tried her back pockets and felt metal. ‘Got it.’
She pressed the button and the door clunked.
‘He’s coming!’ Elliot exclaimed.
Leah spotted Tate emerging from the shadows at the right side of the house. He was illuminated as he stumbled in front of the lights from the windows. He was carrying a long pole.
‘Run!’ Elliot turned to Leah in alarm.
‘Dad can’t outrun him. Get him inside the car.’