Release: A gripping, fast-paced thriller

by Karen Moore

  “Only a grazed knee,” Hanna explained, disappearing through the door with Eva.

  A few moments later they were back, with Eva sporting a criss-cross zebra-striped plaster on her knee and a wide grin as if showing off a trophy.

  “Look what I did!” she said proudly, pointing to it.

  “What happened?” asked Rhys, prompting Eva to repeat the tale of Eric the alpaca, this time with a few embellishments for dramatic effect. She was a good mimic, and her imitation of Eric, making a lowing noise punctuated with high-pitched squeals, made them all fall about laughing.

  Lars appeared at the kitchen door and looked surprised to find them all in such high spirits. “Hi, everyone! What’s going on?” he asked, joining them at the table where Nerys was laying out a tray of wraps.

  “Thought you’d be hungry, so I’ve made us a spot of lunch – falafel and salad wraps, with homemade elderflower cordial,” she explained. “Hope that’s OK for everyone?”

  They all nodded and began to help themselves to the food. As they ate, Nerys related the tale of the eventful alpaca walk and Eva repeated her impersonation of Eric, to yet more laughter.

  Hanna ate little. The thought of Luciano’s cousin being so close left her feeling nauseous. She pushed her plate away, her wrap only half-eaten.

  “Can I go out and play?” Eva asked as soon as she’d finished eating.

  “Yes, but don’t wander off. Stay in the garden,” Hanna said.

  “OK.” Eva wriggled from her chair and ran into the garden, followed by the dogs.

  “So, how did you get on at the cottage?” Nerys asked when Eva was out of earshot. There was no disguising the curiosity in her voice.

  Rhys swallowed a mouthful of falafel. “Well, the place was empty when we got there, but after a while a white van turned up. Two men and several young black girls – young teenagers, as far as we could see – got out with small bags and went into the house. Bit of a strange set-up. God knows what’s going on.”

  “What’s even stranger and more worrying,” Hanna cut in, in a subdued tone, “is that I recognised one of the men. Not a local. One of Luciano’s cousins.”

  “What?” said Nerys, her eyes widening in disbelief. “But how… What does that mean?”

  Hanna shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant, but struggling to overcome the knot of fear rising within her. Her mouth felt like sandpaper, and she took a gulp from her glass of cordial.

  “It’s bizarre,” said Rhys, taking control of the conversation again. “Given the timing, I’d hazard a guess that the van had just picked the girls up from the Dublin ferry at Holyhead. For what purpose, who knows? We need to keep an eye on what’s going on over there. We could do with having a continual watch on the place.”

  Lars wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “And how would we do that?”

  “If we could set up a surveillance camera outside, we’d be able to capture all the comings and goings. That would give us a better idea,” Rhys replied.

  “Wouldn’t it need wiring up?” Lars asked.

  “I’m no expert, but you can get battery-operated cameras that work outdoors and save the footage to the Cloud. That way you’d have easy, real-time access to the footage,” said Rhys. “I’m sure there’ll be someone at work who can advise. After all, it is a Park property that we’re talking about.”

  Nerys frowned. “Shouldn’t we just call the police and let them investigate?”

  “I doubt they’d take us seriously without any real evidence,” Rhys replied. “If we can get CCTV footage of the place, we can monitor what’s going on and decide whether we need to involve the police or not. I’ll check out a suitable system and get hold of it from somewhere. Agreed?”

  Nods all round.

  “Fine, that’s settled then.”

  ***

  It was nearly mid-afternoon by the time they left. The atmosphere in the car on the way home was subdued. Bryn snored gently in the back of the pick-up, Eva by his side, quiet and drowsy after the morning’s excitement.

  Hanna mulled over what they had seen at the cottage and the disquieting presence of Luciano’s cousin. Was it just a coincidence, or was there more to it? Either way, she didn’t want Angelo anywhere near her family. Was there a plausible explanation for him being there? Her gut feeling told her otherwise. A chill crept over her. She glanced at Rhys who seemed lost in his own thoughts, a faraway look in his eyes. He didn’t seem to fully appreciate the potential risk. She needed to talk it through with Ceri, and get her views.

  She dug her mobile out of her pocket and checked the screen. As she thought, the signal there was intermittent. The call would have to wait.

  ***

  As soon as they got home, Hanna disappeared into the garden to call Ceri. “I think we may have a slight problem here,” she said, and went on to explain about Angelo being at the cottage with the group of young girls.

  Ceri seemed to be listening attentively, interrupting occasionally to ask the odd question. When she had finished explaining, Hanna paused for breath, then asked, “So, what do you think?”

  But there was no answer. The line had gone dead.

  Chapter Twelve

  Hanna called her straight back and Ceri picked up immediately. “Sorry, don’t know what happened there,” she said.

  “No problem,” said Hanna, though impatient to hear her friend’s reaction.

  “You know what it sounds like, don’t you?” said Ceri.

  “I know. That would explain Luciano’s cousin’s presence. But here in Wales?”

  “It seems odd. You need more information before you can do anything, but I can’t see it being anything legit. Sounds way too fishy for that.”

  “Rhys is going to set up a surveillance camera outside the cottage so we can get a better idea of what’s going on.”

  “Good idea. Meanwhile, you’ll need to be extra careful with Angelo around.”

  “You don’t need to tell me that…” muttered Hanna grimly.

  “I’ll tell Sergio and see what he reckons. Let me know how it goes.”

  “I will,” said Hanna. “Any news about Luciano?”

  “Nothing as yet. Did you see the story on the EU farming scam? It was picked up by several of the major European nationals with Sergio’s by-line on it. Great for his career!”

  But not great for his safety, thought Hanna with concern, or of those around him. Aloud she said, “You look after yourselves. And get Sergio to think seriously about that job on the mainland.”

  “Who knows, maybe things might be quietening down here now?” Ceri said.

  Hanna could hear the wistfulness in her friend’s voice.

  “Wishful thinking on your part. We both know that the Mafia is so entrenched into Sicilian culture, it’s unlikely to ever disappear. It’ll just morph with the times as it always has done.”

  Ceri sighed. “Yes, you’re probably right, even with all the backlash here against organised crime.”

  A whoop of joy rose from the kitchen and Rhys appeared in the doorway, both hands in a thumbs-up gesture. “Got the camera!” he mouthed, his eyes shining with excitement.

  “Gotta go, Ceri. I’ll give you a ring as soon as there’s any more news.”

  “Same here. Take care. Ciao.”

  Hanna pocketed the mobile and turned to Rhys, who was slipping a light fleece over his head.

  “I’ve spoken to Owain at work. He reckons there’s a camera in the office that would be perfect for monitoring the situation. I’m going over there now to pick it up. With a bit of luck, we might be able to fit it tomorrow if the coast is clear.”

  “Shall I call Nerys and see if they can let us know when the place is empty?”

  “Good idea! Maybe we could go up there tomorrow afternoon if there’s no one about. Right, I’m off! See you later; won’t be long,” said Rhys, pecking her on the cheek as he made for the front door. Bryn followed expectantly, wagging his tail.

  “Correction, we won’t be long!” h
e said, opening the door for the dog.

  ***

  Rhys had obviously underestimated the time needed to pick up the camera. He was gone for a couple of hours, and it was starting to get dark by the time he arrived home. Eva had refused an early dinner, insisting on waiting so they could all eat together. Hanna relented, making it clear that she was only making an exception because it was school holidays.

  She heard the key in the front door, then a whirlwind rush of fur as Bryn burst into the cottage, leapt onto the sofa, and started smothering Eva in sloppy kisses. The little girl tried to fend him off, giggling relentlessly as she did so. Rhys struggled through the door, laden with several boxes, an apologetic smile on his face.

  “Sorry, I’ve been a while,” he said, kicking the door closed. “Owain was showing me how to install it and view the footage. Think I’ve got it now. How did you get on with Nerys?” He set the boxes down on the coffee table.

  “Oh, fine. Lars has volunteered to go over there tomorrow and keep watch. If the cottage is empty, he’ll give you a hand fitting it.”

  “Great, it shouldn’t take long. The camera’s battery-powered so it doesn’t need to be hooked up to the mains or anything complicated.”

  “Can we eat now?” asked Eva, bouncing up and down impatiently.

  Hanna frowned. “Can you not do that, please, poppet? And it was you who wanted to wait, remember?”

  “I know but I’m hungry now. My tummy’s rumbling.”

  Rhys laughed. “Mine, too. You go and feed Bryn and I’ll give your mum a hand.”

  Eva’s face broke into a broad grin as she slipped off the sofa. “Deal!”

  All three of them converged on the kitchen at the same time, ending up in a squash in the doorway and a fit of giggles. Rhys disentangled himself and went over to the cooker, lifting the lid on the pan simmering on the burner.

  “Mmm, cawl, one of my favourites. That smells so good,” he said.

  “It’s not really a summery dish, but I know how much you like it,” Hanna said.

  Rhys came over, threw his arms around her and nuzzled her hair. “I’ve never been so well fed, thanks to your wonderful cooking. I am so blessed.”

  What a curious expression, thought Hanna. She looked up at him and their eyes met in a look charged with emotion.

  “Watch out!” yelled Eva from behind them, breaking the spell. They turned to see kibble scattered across the kitchen floor and Bryn looking sheepish. “It was Bryn. He nudged my elbow and made a mess!”

  Hanna laughed and wriggled free from Rhys’ grasp. “Don’t worry, we’ll soon get it cleaned up,” she said, getting a dustpan and brush out of the cupboard.

  “Bowls or plates?” asked Rhys.

  “Bowls would be better.” Hanna smiled to herself. Back to reality.

  Cosmo had appeared from nowhere, rubbing against their legs, waiting for food and adding to the confusion in the compact kitchen. They danced around each other in a kind of awkward ballet as Eva refilled the animals’ dishes with kibble and Rhys rifled through cupboards and drawers in search of bowls and cutlery. It took him a couple of minutes to find them. Hanna wondered why he could never remember which cupboards contained what. She said nothing and ladled out the steaming lamb stew into the waiting bowls. Rhys helped her carry them over to the table.

  A few moments of uncustomary silence fell as they settled down to eat. Hanna felt a warm glow, a fleeting sense of serenity and contentment, a feeling of sheer contentment that came from just being together. She recalled Rhys’ words. We are all blessed, she thought as she tucked into her bowl of stew. We’ve come too far to let anyone, or anything, ruin our lives now.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rhys spent Sunday morning scouring the internet for information on surveillance cameras. His colleague Owain had given him detailed instructions on how to install the camera and monitor the footage, but he wanted to be thorough. After all, as he said, he wasn’t in the business of tracking people’s movements. Animals, on occasions, yes, but this was a whole new ball game for him.

  Hanna left him to it and wandered out into the garden where Eva and Bryn were playing on the grass. She moved a lounger into the sun, put on her sunglasses, and settled down with the Sunday paper. Half-way through an interesting feature on the work of the anti-Mafia organisation Libera, Hanna heard Rhys shout from inside the cottage. Shortly afterwards, he dashed out of the back door towards her, the camera boxes in his arms.

  “That was Lars on the phone,” he said, his voice animated. “They’ve gone, all of them! Left the cottage and gone off in the van, with bags in their hands. He’s just seen them as he was walking Brady over that way. Looks as if they’ll be away a while. I’m going to scoot over there and fix up the camera while they’re out.”

  “Fine,” said Hanna, standing up and tucking the newspaper under her arm. “But leave Bryn here. He’ll only get in your way otherwise. Eva and I’ll take him out for a run while you’re out.”

  “Don’t forget to take your mobile with you,” Rhys said, rooting in the pocket of his jeans for his car keys.

  “Will do. Sure you’ll be okay?”

  “Should be fine. Lars will give me a hand, and I can always call Owain if I get stuck.”

  Hanna was happy to stay behind, convinced she’d be more hindrance than help. “OK, see you later. Take care.” She kissed him lightly and watched him disappear around the side of the house, then heard the sound of the pick-up truck starting up.

  She turned and shouted over to Eva: “C’mon, you two, let’s go down to the beach and work off some of that energy!”

  ***

  Along the coast, a light breeze was blowing, the air soft and gentle against her face. It had a curious relaxing quality that Hanna had come across nowhere else, not even in Sicily which she had once loved so much. She tried to push any thoughts of her former home to the back of her mind.

  Oystercatchers wheeled over the calm water, the air shrill with their staccato cry. Bryn chased after the few birds that had dared to venture onto the beach, followed by Eva running behind, delighting in the game. Against the azure sky, the Menai Straits stretched out towards the horizon, with Penmon lighthouse in the distance.

  On the other side of the beach, the verdant slopes of the hills rose steeply reaching for the sky. Although it was Sunday, few people were about. Such a beautiful peaceful place, thought Hanna, only to have this thought dashed a moment later by a shriek from Eva who was now frolicking in the shallows with Bryn. Hanna walked on at a brisk pace, relishing the opportunity to stretch her legs. She was almost lost in her own little world when her mobile rang. Thinking it would be Rhys, she glanced at the screen and was surprised to see it was Ceri.

  “Sorry, it’s me again.” Ceri sounded agitated.

  “What’s up? Has something happened?”

  “They’ve only gone and firebombed the Gazzetta offices last night…”

  Hanna gasped. “Oh my God, that’s terrible! Has Sergio been injured? Or anyone else?”

  “No, no, he’s fine. Fortunately, he was at home at the time. It happened in the early hours so only a few staff were around. A couple had superficial burns and smoke inhalation but no major injuries. The Fire Brigade managed to get there pretty quickly and put the fire out so there’s no serious damage to the building. But I’m worried sick. Just as I thought things might be settling down…” Her voice trailed off as she started to sob.

  Hanna felt helpless, thinking nothing she could say would comfort her friend.

  “And how’s Sergio feeling? Has he had a chance to speak to his dad about it?”

  “He’s not said much. We’ve not really discussed it in any detail. You know how he is, pretty sanguine at the best of times. He’s playing it down, but I’m really concerned. And the timing, straight after the Gazzetta broke the Mafia fraud scam story that ran with Sergio’s by-line. It can’t be a coincidence. And then the story got all that wider coverage around Europe. It’s a warning, Hanna. What if the
y come after him next?” Ceri started to sob.

  “I’m sure it won’t come to that,” Hanna replied, although she was less than convinced. “The police will be on to it straight away. He needs to discuss it with his dad.”

  The sobbing subsided. “Yes, you’re right. I’m sure he will. It’s only just happened, and I’m obviously still upset. What with the wedding and everything. This won’t put you off coming, will it?”

  “As long as nothing else happens,” said Hanna, instantly regretting her words.

  “What d’you mean? What else could happen?” Ceri replied, a touch of hysteria in her voice.

  “Nothing, I’m sure,” said Hanna soothingly, trying to reassure her. “It’ll be fine, just a one-off.”

  “That may be,” said Ceri bitterly. “Nevertheless, it’s a show of strength, a demonstration that despite everything, organised crime means business and isn’t going away.”

  Hanna’s was struggling to speak, her mouth dry. With some effort, she managed to piece together a few reassuring phrases to try and pacify her friend. By the time she hung up, Ceri seemed a little calmer. Privately, Hanna thought that if Sergio continued his relentless anti-mafia pursuit, it could only be a matter of time before he too became a target.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Hanna woke the following morning to the sound of rain battering against the bedroom window and the wind howling round the cottage. She instinctively reached out for Rhys, but the space next to her was empty and cold. Although the bedside alarm confirmed it was 8.21am, the room was still dark, a sure sign of the gloomy conditions outside.

  She lay in bed, listening to the birdsong. Even that was subdued. Other than that, the cottage was quiet. No sound or sign of life from Eva or Bryn. But Rhys would have taken Bryn to work as he usually did. She yawned and stretched, hoping that the sudden change in the weather didn’t indicate that summer had come to an end. Slowly, she swung her legs out of bed, shivered, and reached for her fleecy dressing gown.

  She padded over to Eva’s bedroom but found it empty. A demanding miaow rose from the kitchen. She went downstairs to investigate, and found Cosmo pacing up and down on the worktop keeping a close watch on Eva who was struggling to fill his bowl from a new bag of kibble. Hanna suppressed a giggle.