The Girl on the Beach

by Morton S. Gray

  ‘What was he doing, Nick? And come to think of it, what were you doing over there?’

  ‘Me? I get everywhere round here. Prefer being out than at home, so I mooch around all over the place. Know Borteen inside out. You’d be surprised what I see when I’m wandering around.’ Nick looked proud of himself.

  ‘What was the man doing?’ Ellie tried to mask her impatience, Mandy should be here any minute. As Nick spoke, a rebellious, excited, almost hopeful feeling was beginning to build up inside of her, however much she wanted it to go away. A chink of light seemed to open up in the general blackness of her mood.

  ‘Another man arrived at the cottage. He got out, shook hands with the man who followed you and gave him a packet. Then, he drove off.’

  Drugs no doubt, thought Ellie. Rushton was up to his old tricks again.

  ‘Did you see anyone else there? Was there a van?’

  ‘I only saw the dark-haired man and, yes, there was a big van.’

  ‘Colour?’

  ‘Silver. Would you like the reg?’ Nick held up his arm and showed her letters and numbers scrawled on his skin in biro.

  ‘Well done, Nick.’ As she noted down the number, Ellie’s mind began to work on different scenarios. Rushton might take Harry and Tom back to that cottage and maybe …

  ‘Can you remember what the cottage is called?’

  Nick drew himself up proudly. ‘Of course I can, Miss. It’s Quarry Cottage. Really hidden away, it is. Can’t see it from the road. In a quarry, but I guess that’s why it’s called that.’

  Quarry Cottage, she was sure she’d seen a sign saying that on the road out of the town.

  Ellie unlocked the gallery door at last, pleased that she had put their bags in the studio not in the gallery, so Nick wouldn’t see them.

  ‘I could show you where it is, Miss.’ His eyes were excited.

  ‘No, thank you, Nick, although it’s very kind of you to offer. You must promise me that you’ll not go near the cottage for a few weeks at least.’

  ‘But …’

  ‘Nick, I need your solemn, cross your heart and hope to die, promise.’

  She thanked the boy, whilst making a quick assessment of how long it would take her to get to The Point. She showed Nick out and offered up a prayer that he would indeed keep away from the cottage and wouldn’t trail after her.

  Mandy greeted Nick as they met at the entrance to the alley. They high-fived. Since Mandy had been selling his art, the two had become friends.

  Ellie lurked inside the gallery door. Her friend’s face was flushed with rushing and her eyes wide.

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Rushton, my ex, kidnapped Tom last night. He agreed to swap Harry for Tom, but everything went wrong. Rushton took both of them away. He wants money.’

  ‘I’m very confused. You didn’t say anything earlier. You let me think everything was romance between you and Harry …’

  ‘I’m sorry. It was just too complicated to explain right then.’

  ‘Why on earth would Rushton want Harry?’

  ‘It’s a long story.’

  ‘Have you told the police?’

  The enormity of everything hit Ellie full force and she slumped against the central display table. Mandy caught a vase just as it began to teeter.

  ‘They know Tom is missing, but Rushton made threats about their safety if I involve the police, so I haven’t told them the latest developments.’

  ‘He would make those threats though, wouldn’t he?’

  ‘There are things you don’t know about Harry. He used to be an undercover policeman.’

  Mandy cocked her head on one side. ‘Don’t tell me, in Cornwall?’

  ‘Yes.’ Ellie’s mind was working in the background.

  ‘So you were right. You did know him before.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So, what do you want to do? What do you want me to do?’

  ‘I’m confused, which is why I needed to talk it through with you. Harry gave me a police contact, at least I think it’s a police contact. It’s the number for the man responsible for keeping an eye on his safety now he’s no longer a cop. The local force know Tom is missing, but Rushton’s changed the van they were looking for. Nick’s just given me the registration number of the new van.’

  ‘Hey, hey, slow down. Say that again. What has Nick got to do with it? I need to get up to speed with all of this.’

  Ellie repeated what she’d just said.

  Mandy shook her head in disbelief.

  ‘Nick’s just told me where Rushton might be hiding out. So, I don’t know whether to check the address out before I involve anyone else, to see if Rushton is there or just to ring the local police, or ring Harry’s contact, or even to set up a meet and give Rushton his money.’

  ‘Have you got the sort of amount of money he’d want?’

  ‘Harry gave me an envelope full of cash to make a new start somewhere new.’

  ‘Why on earth would he do that?’ Mandy’s face was full of confusion. When Ellie didn’t answer the question, Mandy shrugged. ‘Ellie, if I’m honest, this sounds far too big and dangerous to go it alone.’

  ‘I know, but do I have a choice?’

  Mandy ran her hands through the marbles in the vase by the door. They clinked and jangled against each other. Her expression changed.

  ‘We need to ensure Tom’s safety as a priority, and Harry’s. I think the only way you are going to feel safe in the future is for Rushton to be caught and put back behind bars, so giving him money is not an option.’

  ‘I know you’re right, but what do we do?’

  ‘Ring Harry’s contact, ask for advice.’

  Before she had any more time to ponder her misgivings, Ellie located the number Harry had insisted that she put carefully into her phone contact list.

  Nagging at her mind was the fact she was only supposed to dial this number when they were safely away from the area, but if she left it any longer, anything could happen to Tom and Harry. For a second, she could feel the warmth of Harry’s hug, see the way Tom’s hair flopped on his forehead. There was no option but to try to rescue them both.

  She dialled the number, her heart drumming a military beat, surprised by her own forcefulness when the call was answered. The man on the other end of the line sounded very wary and suspicious.

  When she told him her name, he appeared to already know about her and her connection to both Harry and Rushton. It was a relief not to have to explain everything. She related what had happened to Tom and Harry, followed by what Harry had told her to do before her son had been snatched back. She let him know Nick’s information about Quarry Cottage as a possible location for Rushton and his hostages and recited the silver van’s registration plate. ‘What about the local police?’

  ‘I’ll liaise with them. Ellie, Rushton Jacob is dangerous. You must not, repeat not, go after him.’

  ‘I know very well that he’s dangerous, but he’s got my son. Do you really think I can just sit here and wait?’

  ‘Yes. You must.’

  Ellie looked at Mandy.

  ‘But I’m not going to do that!’

  ‘What?’ The man protested loudly, but Ellie was adamant. She looked across at Mandy. Her friend had a grim smile playing on her lips.

  ‘You do what you can from your end, but we, that’s my friend, Mandy and I, are going to the vicinity of Quarry Cottage to see if Tom and Harry are still there. If we can, we’ll rescue them, or at the very least delay any plans Rushton has to move on. It should give a rescue party time to arrive.’

  ‘We’re a distance away, but will be there as soon as we can. Do you realise how risky this course of action could be? Well done for finding where they are, but, Ellie, keep away from there. Promise me. You have done enough. We can handle things from here.’

  ‘We are going anyway. I’ll go mad if I sit and wait. We’ll do what we can. Do what you have to do and do it quickly please. It’s Quarry Cottage, The Point, at
the end of the beach in Borteen. Rushton wants money. I’m going to pretend to give him what he wants. So if you want to stop us,’ she paused, ‘or save us, you’ll have to be quick.’

  Harry had told her to delete the number from her phone once she had spoken to the contact, but the man on the other end of the line, who said his name was Sam, told her to keep it for now in case she had further information to share with him.

  ‘Ellie, be careful and put your phone on silent. I can’t tell you how many people have been given away by their mobile phone ringing at the wrong moment.’

  There was silence in the gallery for a few moments after the call ended. Ellie and Mandy just looked at each other.

  ‘How much money does Rushton want in exchange for Tom?’

  ‘I found a load of cash hidden in our old house. No doubt the proceeds of drug deals. A lot of money. That’s what he’s after.’

  ‘I still don’t understand how you could have married a man like that.’

  ‘Goodness knows. I was young. We all make decisions we regret later, don’t we? It’s just some are bigger mistakes than others.’

  Ellie grabbed the larger envelope of money to take with her, tucking the smaller one into her rucksack instead. She turned to find Mandy filling her pockets with marbles.

  ‘What are you doing, Mand?’

  ‘Think I’ve watched too many Home Alone movies. They always use marbles to trip up the baddies.’ Mandy ran a hand through her hair and tied it back in a ponytail with a scrunchy she had on her wrist. ‘Humour me. I need something to make myself feel better about going into the lion’s den. We must be mad.’

  ‘You don’t have to come with me.’ Ellie grabbed a handful of marbles too, just in case they could ever be remotely useful.

  ‘Just try stopping me. You know how much Tom means to me.’

  Ellie covered her hair with her scarf and the two friends left the gallery.

  ‘Car or no car?’ asked Mandy.

  ‘Would you drive? We may need to follow them if they make a getaway.’

  ‘Sure.’

  They jogged round the corner to where Mandy’s four-by-four was parked in the craft centre car park. Ellie put the envelope of money in the glove box and took deep breaths to fight down her nerves as Mandy started the engine.

  The rescue party was on its way.

  Chapter Thirty

  How stupid had he been? Harry wriggled ineffectually against the bindings on his wrists and ankles. The blindfold forced him to rely on his other senses for information.

  He could smell fabric softener on the surface he was lying on, probably a bed. Waves sounded on a beach somewhere nearby and seagulls called overhead.

  Despite his earlier words to Ellie, he’d mistakenly believed he could outwit Rushton and get himself and Tom to safety. He had been wrong. So wrong. He’d been about to dart away when Rushton grabbed him. The man was fit and strong.

  He didn’t know for sure, but from the little he’d seen before he was bundled into the van, he thought Rushton had taken Tom back too. Poor Ellie. She would be distraught, helpless and alone. He willed her to ring his contact number before she called the local police. Sam would know what to do and mobilise a search and rescue party.

  In the meantime, his side ached horribly where the burly minder had taken great delight in thumping him several times.

  Where was Tom? The boy must be terrified. Oh, why had he been so stupid as to underestimate Rushton?

  There was a bang. It must be the door opening. Harry braced himself. Something landed on the bed next to him and the bang came again as the door closed.

  ‘Mr Dixon?’

  ‘Tom. Are you okay?’

  ‘I’ve been better.’

  ‘Can you take off this blindfold?’

  ‘My hands and feet are tied too, but I’ll try.’ There was much grunting and creaking of the bed, as Tom tried to get into the right position to pull at the blindfold with his fingertips. He was almost sitting on Harry. Eventually, he succeeded in pulling it down and it fell around Harry’s neck.

  Harry blinked in the strong sunlight coming through the big window. He tried to move and waves of pain and nausea swept over him. When he opened his eyes again, a white-faced Tom was staring at him, fear and concern written all over his features.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Harry chuckled at the ridiculousness of the statement. ‘Or rather, I’m as fine as someone whose been abducted, tied up and thumped can be. How about you?’

  ‘Physically I’m good, but a bit scared and worried about Mum.’

  ‘Your mum will be okay. At least we know there is someone out in the world on our side.’

  ‘Rushton warned her about involving the police though.’

  ‘I know. We have no control over what happens out there. All we can concentrate on is the here and now. Like, can we get these ties off, where are we and can we escape?’

  Harry looked at the boy. He was pale and a deep furrow had appeared on his forehead.

  ‘Was Rushton okay with you last night?’

  ‘Yes. It was kind of weird. He came over all step-dad-like, as if mum had asked him to mind me while she went out with Mandy. We had a take-away and he made sure I had an extra blanket for the bed so I didn’t get cold. He’s different today though. He’s angry.’

  ‘Did he tell you why?’

  ‘No, I guess he’s not going to confide in me.’

  Harry tried to sit up and gasped at the pain in his side.

  ‘You’re hurt.’ Tom tried to help him sit up, but everything was clumsy with both of them tied at the ankles and wrists. All he could do was nudge Harry with his body.

  ‘Just the thump one of those Neanderthals gave me. Do you know who they are? Did Rushton introduce them?’

  ‘They’re Gus and Frido. I almost burst out laughing when Rushton said that. They seem almost like characters from a comedy film.’

  ‘Hmmm. Don’t underestimate them. They are baddies all right. I can recognise one a mile off.’

  Tom’s smile died on his lips. ‘Shall we try to untie each other?’

  ‘I don’t think there’s any point until we make a plan. They’ll only tie us up again if they come back.’

  Harry thought, but didn’t say that he wanted to avoid another thumping if possible. He rested his back against the headboard of the bed and looked around. The bed was piled with cushions that co-ordinated with the wallpaper and curtains. It seemed an unlikely place to keep hostages. He tried to get his feet to the edge of the bed and then thought better of it. Pain radiated through his abdomen and he felt sick.

  ‘What can you see out of the window?’

  Tom rolled to the edge of the bed and jumped over to the window.

  ‘It’s a sheer drop down to the beach. It’s like this house is built into the side of the cliff.’

  Maybe not such an odd place to keep captives.

  ‘Can you tell where we are in relation to the town?’

  ‘I know exactly where we are. I’ve ridden past here on my bike lots of times. Far end of the beach, down a side road. It’s a house that looks like a bungalow from the front, but it’s actually two, if not three storeys at the back. I know, because it intrigued me at the time, so I made a point of looking the next time I was on the beach. Built into the cliff. It’s a holiday cottage.’

  ‘Strange choice for a hideout.’

  ‘Maybe not. You can’t see it from the road. Views from all sides so no one could creep up on you and two ways to get away onto the main road.’

  ‘Pity we can’t phone your mum and tell her to pick us up.’

  ‘Rushton took my phone off me.’

  ‘Mine too.’

  ‘Why are you here, Mr Dixon? Why did Rushton nearly swap you for me?’

  ‘I knew him years ago, Tom. He recognised me when we fought in the gallery and I guess he fancied settling some old scores, especially if your mum couldn’t give him any money.’

  Harry
wondered if the boy would recognise the name Ben Rivers, if anyone called him that. Surely Ellie would have told Tom his father’s name? It was a difficult situation and he didn’t think it was his place to tell Tom about his parentage, that should be Ellie’s job. He decided to remain quiet unless the need to confess arose. He felt uneasy, but this situation was already complicated enough.

  Tom jumped back to the bed and sat on the edge, nearly falling off again as he was off balance with his hands and feet tied.

  ‘What will they do with us?’

  Harry saw Tom’s lip tremble and realised he would need to try to lighten the atmosphere, so the boy didn’t get overwhelmed by their situation.

  ‘Let’s just focus on escape plans. Come on, let’s brainstorm. Throw any ideas out and see what we can come up with.’

  ‘Sheet ladder.’

  ‘How far is it to the beach?’

  ‘A very long way.’

  On one hand, it seemed like madness, on the other, it felt like the right thing to do. If there was a chance to find Tom and Harry, surely she should take it. Wouldn’t she always wonder if she didn’t act? Ellie had spent the last fourteen years wondering if things could have turned out differently if she’d stayed on the beach with Ben that night. Okay, maybe she’d be dead, but even that might have been better than years of turmoil and wondering. This time she was going to act on her instincts and be brave.

  Would Rushton be armed? She’d not reckoned on the possibility of weapons. Rushton had only ever used his fists when she’d been living with him, but who knew what he’d learned in prison. He’d had a knife in the gallery, but it was little more than a large penknife. All she and Mandy had were pockets full of marbles.

  The same thoughts must just have occurred to Mandy. ‘Did Rushton have weapons?’

  ‘He came to the gallery with a knife, but the police have got that. I’d guess he’ll have another by now. He’s also got two other men with him, big guys.’

  ‘Thugs to protect him, I suppose.’

  ‘Can you think of anything else we should take with us?’

  ‘Nothing we can carry easily without attracting attention. Let’s go.’

  Ellie started to feel sick with apprehension. She hadn’t thought this through, but if she started to now, she knew she wouldn’t do it at all and she definitely wouldn’t let Mandy be involved. A vision of Tom’s frightened face came into her mind and a surge of protective instinct strengthened her resolve.