Release: A gripping, fast-paced thriller

by Karen Moore

  “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?” In truth, Hanna hadn’t yet decided. She had a few ideas in mind, but it depended on how the day panned out. “Eat up, then go and wash your face and get ready. We’re leaving in about half an hour or so.”

  She looked at Rhys for confirmation. He nodded, forced a smile, and rose from the table, mug of coffee in hand. “Just time for a quick shower, then. Great breakfast!” He drained his mug, then kissed the top of her head before disappearing upstairs to the bathroom.

  Eva pulled another face when she heard that Bryn was staying behind.

  “We can’t take him shopping, poppet. He’d only be miserable.”

  “But so will I, and I’ve got to go,” Eva pointed out.

  Hanna smiled. “Yes, but you’ve got a treat waiting for you afterwards.”

  The little girl looked at her imploringly.

  “And no, I’m not going to tell you what it is.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  By the time they arrived in Conwy, it was starting to get busy with the first early-morning shoppers. They parked with ease below the castle ramparts, a short way from the centre. Eva eyed them up wistfully as she climbed out of the car.

  “Are we going to the castle, Mummy? Is that the surprise?” she asked.

  “Not today. It’ll be too busy. Besides, you went there with school only recently,” Hanna replied.

  “Yes, but I don’t mind going again. It’s fun,” said Eva, jumping up and down.

  “Another time maybe,” said Rhys. “Today, we’ve got other things to do.”

  Eva looked crestfallen, as if she suspected these would be adult things that would have little appeal to her.

  “First, you can help us both choose outfits for Ceri and Sergio’s wedding,” explained Hanna. “Then you can have your surprise.”

  Eva pulled a face. “How long is that going to take? And why can’t I come to the wedding?”

  Hanna stared at her. She had seemed perfectly content to stay with Nerys when she had spoken to her. “It won’t take long. And you’d only be bored at the wedding. All grown-ups and very few children.”

  The little girl stared back, a sulky expression on her face. “Can we go on the walls first, then?”

  Hanna and Rhys exchanged glances.

  “Sure, why not?” said Rhys, locking the car. “Just be careful you don’t fall.”

  They headed for the nearest tower and climbed up the stone steps, Eva going up on all fours, to follow the ramparts around the town. Ahead of them stood the magnificent medieval fortress, a dark silhouette looming against an almost perfect blue sky, a monument to Wales’ turbulent past.

  The castle always reminded Hanna of that first meeting with Rhys after they’d fled Sicily, followed by the drive up to the cottage in the hills in his rickety old Land Rover. There’d been an easy familiarity between them from the start, and an instant attraction that she’d tried hard to ignore. Getting Eva to a place of safety had been uppermost in her mind at the time.

  “Come on, you two!” yelled Eva, shaking her from her reverie.

  Hanna noticed with alarm that she was some way in front of them now, and was starting to jump down the steep stone steps that descended to the castle car park.

  “Hold on there!” said Rhys, quickening his step towards her.

  Eva stumbled, and Rhys managed to grab her hand in time before she fell. She giggled as if it was a game and let him help her down the rest of the steps.

  Rhys kept hold of her hand as they crossed the junction into Castle Street, leaving Hanna free to browse the shop windows. She automatically headed for her favourite boutique, one where she’d bought a number of items in the past. Expensive, classy, timeless items, all beautifully made, that she wore time and time again. She couldn’t remember if they stocked more formal outfits; she’d never had the need for them before.

  Leaving Rhys and Eva to pay a visit to the nearby handmade-sweet shop, she pushed open the door of the boutique, activating the bell as she did so. The assistant smiled in greeting, asked if she needed any help, and pointed her towards the back of the shop where the merchandise hung on rails in colour-coded order. Hanna selected five potential outfits and took them over to the fitting room to try on.

  By the time she emerged wearing the first outfit, Rhys had returned with Eva, cheeks bulging from their purchases. She tried on each outfit in turn and, with help from her two critics, opted for a sleeveless Masai dress in an abstract flower print in soft shades of coral and caramel, with a matching coral jacket. The style was flattering, long and flowing, cut to accentuate her curves, and comfortable and cool. Perfect for the wedding.

  Rhys looked her up and down in admiration. “That outfit,” he said, “is simply stunning. You’ll have to be careful that you don’t overshadow my sister! You could almost wear that to your own wedding…”

  A knowing look passed between them. Would that ever happen, Hanna wondered, realising not for the first time that she was still married to Luciano.

  “It’s lovely, Mummy,” echoed Eva. “You look so pretty!”

  Hanna smiled, marred by a twinge of regret at having to leave Eva behind while they attended the wedding.

  “Thanks, guys! This one’s my favourite, too! Never thought I’d find something so easily. Let’s hope we’re as lucky with a suit for you,” she said as she disappeared back into the changing room.

  ***

  Luck, that day, happened to be on their side. Not the first but the second men’s shop they ventured into offered a vast array of suits. Rhys opted for an Italian model in a light grey silk and linen mix. Hanna couldn’t remember a time he’d ever looked so handsome. The light grey suit set off his dark Celtic good looks perfectly.

  Eva was getting bored now and kept nagging them about her surprise.

  “Can we go now, Daddy? Is it time for my surprise?” she asked, pulling at his sleeve as he handed over his credit card at the cash desk.

  “Yes, pumpkin, just let me pay first,” he said, trying to appease her.

  They left the shop with their purchases and wandered down to the waterfront, stopping at a stand to buy ice-creams – mint chocolate chip for Eva and salted caramel for them – before joining a queue of people lining up along the quay. There was no containing Eva now; she’d sussed out that a boat trip was to be her surprise.

  “Will we see seals?” she asked, so beside herself with excitement that she almost forgot about her ice-cream which had started to melt and drip down her arm.

  “Not today, but there’ll be lots of birds and other things to see,” said Hanna, wiping the drips away with a tissue.

  “Will there be puffins?” the little girl persisted.

  “’Fraid not. You can only see puffins in very special places and at certain times of the year,” Rhys explained, adding quickly, “but we should see plenty of other interesting birds. You’ll have to see how many you recognise.”

  That seemed to have piqued her interest and she fell silent. The queue was edging forward to board the Princess Christine. They found seats in the stern of the boat, the ideal spot for getting the best views. Rhys kept a restraining hand on Eva who, he knew, would otherwise be tempted to run up and down the boat. He shot her a warning glance which she accepted without a word.

  Once everyone was on board, the skipper started up the engine and pulled away from the quay, steering the boat into the estuary, making for the open sea. The brisk breeze whipped their hair into their faces, and they were thankful for the fleece blankets provided, wrapping them around their shoulders against the cold.

  The commentary pointed out places of interest along the way: the imposing limestone headland of the Great Orme at Llandudno further along the coast, and distant views of Anglesey and Puffin Island in the opposite direction. Eva hung over the side of the boat, more fascinated by the birds than the views: the shrill call of the oystercatchers and the screech of gulls as they whirled overhead, and the cormorants diving into the wat
er in search of fish.

  Before long, the boat turned and headed back towards Conwy, passing Deganwy on the opposite bank as it made its way up the estuary. The passengers clicked away, taking photos of the imposing castle as it came into view, the boat passing under the bridge to enter the lower Conwy valley. Here the birdlife changed; Eva pointed excitedly as a heron lifted its massive wings and rose majestically with effortless grace above the riverbank. Mallards and shelducks swam happily in the shallows, and the occasional egret waded through the water. Rhys pointed them all out by name to Eva, who repeated them to herself, trying to remember them.

  As they sailed upriver, the foothills and mountains of Snowdonia came into view, the perfect backdrop to the pretty valley. Eva oohed and aahed all the while, pointing at the tallest peak they could see.

  “What’s that one called?” she asked, looking at Rhys.

  “That’s Carnedd Llywellyn,” he answered, with a knowing twinkle in his eye. “The second highest mountain in Wales after Snowdon. Do you fancy climbing it?”

  Eva’s eyes widened as she regarded its massive size.

  “Don’t think so,” she said, after some consideration. “I’ve only got little legs. That’s much too high.”

  Hanna laughed and gave her a hug, which the youngster shrugged off, embarrassed in front of so many people. They were having a great day. It was such a pity they had to leave Eva behind when they travelled to Sicily for the wedding. But it was much too risky to take her with them.

  Hanna pushed this thought to the back of her head and focused on enjoying the views on the return trip. It was only as the boat was chugging back into the harbour that she suddenly realised that it might be equally risky to let Eva stay at Nerys’, so close to the goings-on at the cottage.

  If not more so.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Why hadn’t it occurred to her before? What sort of mother was she? Now they knew almost for certain there was a link between the business at the cottage and Sicily, and to Luciano in particular, the situation was totally different.

  Despite a pleasant lunch at the Castle Hotel where Eva devoured a ‘posh’ fish finger butty, the thought continued to plague Hanna for the rest of the afternoon, serving as a dampener to an otherwise enjoyable day.

  Several times she caught Rhys watching her, no doubt wondering what was making her so subdued. He said nothing, focusing instead on chattering to Eva and keeping her amused. Hanna tried her best to join in, but her heart wasn’t in it. How could they go to Sicily now and leave Eva behind? She would never forgive herself if anything happened to her daughter again. By the time they got home, her head was so awash with anxiety, she felt light-headed. She got out of the car, collected the carrier bags from the boot, and was making her way to the front door when she stumbled and fell. Rhys rushed over to help her up.

  “Are you sure you’re feeling OK? You’ve been quiet all afternoon.” He glanced back at the car to make sure Eva was out of earshot. “I didn’t want to ask before in front of Eva.”

  “I’m fine,” she assured him, dusting herself down, and walking awkwardly down the garden path.

  She unlocked the door and Bryn came rushing out to greet them, tail wagging, barking furiously. Eva grabbed his Frisbee from the porch, and they disappeared together round the side of the cottage into the back garden.

  “It’s just…” She dumped the bags on the floor and flopped onto the sofa.

  Rhys waited expectantly for her to finish the sentence.

  “I suddenly realised that everything’s changed,” she explained. “How can we go to Sicily for the wedding and leave Eva behind on her own, with everything that’s going on at the cottage? It’s unthinkable, especially for her to stay with Nerys. It’s much too close. I’m not prepared to jeopardise her safety again. I don’t think we should take that risk.”

  Rhys nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, you’re right. It hadn’t occurred to me. So, what are you saying, that you don’t want to go now? What if she stayed somewhere else, further away?”

  Hanna looked at him perplexed. “But where? We’ve haven’t got any family living locally and I wouldn’t want to ask Megan’s mum. It’s too much of a responsibility.”

  “Before we decide one way or another, let me have a think,” said Rhys. “There may be a solution. Let’s sleep on it and talk tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ll make supper. Stay where you are, and I’ll get you a drink.”

  Rhys, ever the pragmatist. Hanna summoned a wan smile. “Deal!”

  “By the way, did we do anything about getting Ceri and Sergio a wedding present?” Rhys asked.

  “You mean, did I do anything? Don’t you remember me telling you that I talked to Ceri about this? She suggested a painting by some local artist they both like, and that we could all go to his studio when we’re over for the wedding so they can choose one.”

  “Oh, yes. I remember now. That’s okay, as long as we’re still going…”Before Hanna had chance to reply, Cosmo wandered into the lounge, leapt onto the sofa and curled up in a ball on her lap. Hanna stroked him gently and within minutes, his breathing slowed, and she could hear soft feline snores. He had chosen his adoptive home well. Cosmo’s presence had a strange calming influence on her, and she could feel her own eyelids growing heavy.

  ***

  Rhys insisted on not only making supper – pasta with a tuna sauce, one of Eva’s favourites – but also on clearing up afterwards so that Hanna could have an early night. Feeling emotionally drained, she accepted gratefully, although she normally never went to bed much before midnight. But a restful night eluded her, her sleep tormented by images of Eva being abducted again, this time by Luciano’s henchmen. Visons of the youngster battered and bruised, hungry, abandoned, or worse…

  The dreams were so vivid that she awoke in a panic believing them to be true. Rhys did his utmost to quell her growing hysteria, but it was only when Eva, disturbed by the commotion, popped her head round the bedroom door, that Hanna finally began to calm down and realise the visions were imaginary.

  “What’s the matter, Mummy? Why are you crying?” asked Eva tentatively.

  Hanna beckoned to her daughter, holding her arms out wide. “Come and give me a hug, sweet pea. It was a bad dream, that’s all.”

  Eva ran over to her. “Oh, you get them, too?”

  Hanna hugged her tightly, smoothing her hair and kissing the top of her head. “I didn’t know you had bad dreams, poppet?”

  “Just sometimes,” Eva’s voice was faint, almost smothered in her embrace. “About the bad men who took me…”

  Hanna released her grip and held the little girl at arms’ length, searching her face for more information. But Eva lowered her head and didn’t answer.

  Rhys placed a hand on Hanna’s shoulder. “Best leave it for now,” he said gently. “It’ll only make the situation worse.”

  She nodded. “You’re probably right. Let’s go and get some breakfast.”

  ***

  After breakfast, they all piled into the pick-up, Bryn included, and headed for the little village of Abergwyngregyn. It was Rhys’ turn to lead the Sunday walk, part of the Snowdonia wardens’ summer programme. Today’s walk would follow the pretty steep-sided valley up to the spectacular Aber Falls, a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. The subject of the wedding had been dropped for the time being, although it preyed on Hanna’s mind. She tried to shake it off and focus on the day ahead.

  “Are we going on Daddy’s walk with all the tourists?” asked Eva.

  Hanna turned around to find Eva wriggling in the back seat and Bryn straining on his harness to reach the open window. “No, sweetheart, we’re going to go off on our own to see if we can find any mountain ponies. Then we’ll go up to the waterfall and meet up afterwards for a picnic. Is that okay?”

  “Awesome!” Eva grinned and clapped her hands together excitedly.

  “But there’s no guarantee the ponies will be there. They roam wild, so they come and go as they please. We�
�ll be lucky to see them,” Hanna continued, trying not to build the little girl’s hopes up too much.

  “But we saw them last time, I remember!” said Eva.

  “Apparently, there’ve been sightings in the last few days so there’s a good chance they’ll be there,” added Rhys.

  Eva’s face lit up. “Ooh, I hope so.”

  “Aber Falls might not be as impressive as the last time we were up here,” he continued. “It was winter, remember, and we’d had lots of rain. This summer has been so dry so there won’t be as much water coming down from the mountains.”

  “It’s a lovely day and such a pretty spot. I’m sure we’ll enjoy it, whatever,” said Hanna, trying to keep the tone positive.

  Before long, they pulled up in the small car park by the river and crossed the bridge towards the small information centre that was to be the start of the organised walk. Bryn ran to and fro, tail wagging frantically, delighting in so many new smells and doggy friends. As Hanna had suspected, Eva was constantly distracted by the wildflowers and birds, hanging back to indulge her curiosity.

  “What are those big black birds with the red beaks and legs?” shouted Eva, pointing at a pair swooping and whirling above their heads.

  “Those are choughs,” said Rhys. “You see them quite a lot in Wales.”

  “Come on, Eva, get a move on. We don’t want to make Daddy late,” said Hanna.

  “OK, I’m coming,” said Eva, reluctantly tearing herself away from watching the two birds’ aerobatic antics.

  By the time they reached the information centre, a group of a dozen or so people were already waiting, wearing walking boots, and kitted out with rucksacks and walking poles, chatting animatedly among themselves. As they approached, snippets of conversation drifted over. One voice stood out, the words melodic, uttered in a foreign but familiar tone. The speaker turned round, and a cold shiver coursed through Hanna’s body.

  It was the driver of the white transit van.