The Girl With Nine Lives, The Girl Who Bit Back, The Girl With Ten Claws 3 Book Boxset (The Adventures of Benedict and Blackwell Series)

by E. Earle

  One day was the longest I managed to hide Ben.

  When the nurse found him under the covers and tried to throw him out, I was gathering my things as fast as I could.

  “Please, get back into bed,” she hissed at me, her hands going on her wide hips.

  I shook my head, avoiding her chiding gaze. The threat of Ben being ordered to leave made my skin crawl. My hands shook as I was picked up my clothes and I stared at the bandages that were making everything so much slower. In my haste I had forgotten my injuries. I turned around with red eyes, exhausted and shivering.

  “You guys have been brilliant,” I told her. “I’m not a crazy cat lady, but if you try and take him away from me, I think I’ll go mad.”

  She fixed her eyes at me for long seconds, as if for a moment considering if she could allow Ben to stay and then finally shook her head. “If you insist on discharging yourself I can’t stop you,” she said, her Polish accent sounding delicious over her t’s. “But you need to get back into bed. You are not well enough to leave.”

  I shook my head stubbornly.

  “Fine,” she said. “If you insist on leaving, at least allow me to contact someone to get you?”

  I shrugged and when I next looked up she had gone.

  Brynn came to the hospital within twenty minutes. We didn’t talk much- he had strain written all over his face. I knew he was relieved that Craggys wasn’t doing too bad, but stressed because Donny was still in a bad way. I had been in to see him but he was sleeping and the guilt crushed my shoulders so much I had to stagger back out.

  I don’t know why I felt it was my fault- I just did.

  After ten minutes of driving in silence I cracked. “What’s wrong?” I asked Brynn, aware that his body was completely tense as he sat beside me. “Are you angry at me?”

  He sighed and stared ahead. I waited for a full two minutes before he answered me. “Why would I be angry?”

  I frowned at him, his words sounding too sarcastic for my liking. I stared at my bandaged hands and allowed myself a moment’s pity.

  Ben purred against me, content that I had chosen him before the hospital. I smiled at the thought of it. He never questioned my decisions- he allowed me to go ahead with them and was always there at the end whether they went right or not.

  We started coming across familiar roads and I attempted to relax. Festival goers were walking through the village down to the beach or back to the fiesta field to have a look at the hippie market. Ben looked out of the window in interest as the world went by, his whiskers pressing against the glass. I would have given anything to ask him what he was thinking right then. I’d probably be disappointed.

  He was more than likely thinking of bacon.

  Craggys came to view soon enough, people walking in and out, avoiding the wreckage that had once been Donny’s home. Tape cordoned it off from the public, the bright yellow flapping in the breeze like frantic hands waving at my return. I closed my eyes to it.

  Brynn slammed down the brakes a bit too hard, making me slap both my palms down on the dashboard to steady myself. I bit back a cry of agony and held my hands to my chest.

  Brynn’s moody composure faltered for a second to allow guilt to pass by and he got out of his side, grumbling under his breath.

  Holding back a small sob, I opened my own door before he could help me, ignoring the pain screaming from my palms. I didn’t want his help. Ignoring his open mouthed attempt of apology, I shoved past him and started walking towards Craggys, Ben happily trotting on ahead.

  “You have a guest,” Brynn called behind me as I stormed ahead.

  I was about to snap at him that we always had guests when Calloway’s still figure in front of me stopped me in my tracks.

  All sound left, all words crumbled and everything else in my sight was blurred except him.

  And suddenly I was back there in the barn, bleeding from a gunshot wound with Detective Arthur Calloway shouting at me to stay awake.

  His face was drawn, pale and serious, hands clenched in black pockets. He was impeccably dressed as always in his black slim fit suit, professional and deadly. I wanted to drag my eyes away but failed, wanting to push away the feelings of hurt, anger and yearning that suddenly coiled up in my gut like a heavy rock.

  “Hello, Ellena,” he said finally.

  Oh shit. The wind blew hair into my face making me momentarily splutter. My eyes searched for an exit from the situation but saw none except a cliff. I wasn’t going there again.

  “You’re here,” I gasped stupidly.

  He was still staring at me. Completely ignoring Brynn. “I’ve been worried about you,” he said finally, his eyes burning me into place. I almost shivered, knowing I had escaped from one fire to jump into another.

  “What are you doing here?” I breathed.

  He cocked his head to one side as if I had asked a ridiculous question. “Really, Ellena?”

  I looked down to a pushing on my leg and saw Ben. He meowed at me, and I was glad for the diversion, as finally Calloway’s green gaze was wrenched from mine.

  “What is he doing here?” he asked, taking his hands out of his pockets.

  I didn’t have to look behind me to know Brynn was standing steps away, and I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know that he didn’t trust the Detective.

  Grateful for the distraction, I picked up Ben and started to walk past Calloway. “I really should feed him-” The detective’s hand snaked out and grasped my arm tightly. I looked down at it in surprise.

  “You have had me so worried,” he said to me, his voice cold and hard, pushed through gritted teeth. I saw then the lines of concern around his eyes, the hard line of his jaw and the stubble on his face. I forgot how to breathe all of a sudden.

  “Hey, leave it out,” growled Brynn stepping face to face with the detective. “She’s just come out of hospital.”

  I watched them glare at each other and frowned at the aggression there. What the hell? Ben meowed and struggled out of my arms- enough to jump down and distract Calloway enough to release me.

  “Ellena, I didn’t spend five hours driving down here for you to turn your back on me-”

  My knees were shaking, exhaustion was setting in, and even Ben’s slight weight in my arms was making me sweat. Panic was creeping closer at the sight of the detective I had left behind in the midlands.

  “What are you doing here?” I hissed at him, angry all of a sudden.

  Hi face hardened at my tone of voice. “You think I don’t have my sources here?” he growled. “You think I don’t know what happens to you?”

  I looked away, furious. “It’s none of your business about what happens to me now though, is it?”

  His face shut down. “Ellena-”

  Suddenly aware of Brynn over-listening, I turned from them both and walked into Craggys.

  “Welcome home!”

  I just about jumped out of my skin as Ben scrambled from my arms in shock as the entire staff and customers jumped out, bursting party poppers into the air. My heart hammering, I stared in shock at the faces of people I knew and didn’t as they beamed at me.

  “Wha-”

  My mind went into overdrive as I was hugged and had my back patted- it was five minutes later of people yabbering at me before I realised I had a cocktail shoved into my hand.

  Such.Bad.Timing.

  “The locals wanted to show their appreciation to you,” Brynn said behind me.

  I shivered as his breath tickled my ear and I looked up at him surprised. He was wearing an expression I hadn’t seen before, and I didn’t know how I felt about. It reminded me of something predatory. Glancing up, I saw Calloway wearing the same expression.

  Territory.

  Frowning, I turned away and allowed myself to get swamped up in the crowds. My voice finally kicked into gear and I thanked people for their kind words. Unfortunately, the papers had heard and started taking pictures of the celebration. I rolled my eyes at the thought of it being head
line news in this sleepy place and tried to drink as many rum and cokes that were offered my way.

  Finally managing to escape outside when no one was looking, I took a deep breath. Ben trotted out after me and we walked to the furthest side of the garden at Craggys- a patch of land that looked out over to the ocean.

  “What is he doing here?” I growled to Ben as I flopped down on the floor.

  “I have no idea,” Ben meowed. “But he still smells of dog.”

  “John has a dog and you don’t mind him,” I pointed out.

  Ben licked a paw nonchalantly. “John has bacon,” he said. “Your detective does not.”

  “He’s not my detective,” I muttered drinking my rum.

  “Sure, sure, and I’m not a talking cat.”

  We sat there for five minutes just staring out at the sea. I looked down at my bandaged hands and scowled at them. I downed the rest of my rum and pulled out Ben’s catnip toy from my pocket.

  He had just about pounced on it when a long shadow crept over us both. Sighing, I turned around about to tell Calloway where he could go and just about choked on my words.

  “Oh hi, Ol- err, Marley,” I said, seeing the old man holding a bag of cat biscuits in his age spotted hands. He didn’t smell today, which was good- as he decided he wanted to sit right next to us.

  “Fire was bad,” he said staring at Ben, his voice raspy. He rattled the bag, making Ben tear his face away from his beloved catnip toy. He opened it and poured some biscuits in front of him. “You saved Donny.”

  I hesitated. “Not really,” I said feeling awkward. “Brynn practically carried him out.”

  “You’ve hurt your hands…”

  I fiddled with my glass and forced myself to put it down. “They’re ok,” I said.

  He nodded, accepting my answer and just sat there stroking Ben as he chomped down the biscuits.

  It was nice- despite the weird feeling of it all. I suppose I had sympathy towards older people now- especially since my Granddad had gone. Whenever I saw an old man struggling carrying shopping or opening doors, I wanted to run over and give them a hug and help. I had recently picked up an old man in my car when it was pouring it down with rain. I didn’t know his name, although I gave him mine- I only knew that he walked five miles every day.

  I would believe in doing good deeds until the day I died. Some people would say that no good deed goes unpunished- but I would rather help at risk to myself than not- regret was something I found difficult to handle, and I tried to say yes to as many things as I could (within reason).

  “How are you?” I asked him.

  He shrugged to my surprise. “I’ve been better,” he said.

  I couldn’t help it- I was curious- he had never spoken to me this much before and I wondered how Brynn had even managed to get him to stay at his place.

  “The fire…” he said. “It was because of me?”

  “No!” My voice was harsher than I intended and I put my hand on him gently seeing him flinch. “No,” I said softly. “It wasn’t at all. I’m sorry this is all happening… I saw your place- it was amazing.”

  He nodded, taking in my words. “He can’t have it,” he mumbled. “It’s not his…”

  I nodded and rubbed his arm. “Don’t worry,” I said. “We’ll help you.”

  He fixed his blue eyes on me then, looking more like a child than the old man he was. “You will?” he asked hopefully.

  I nodded, not knowing even if I could. “If we can help anyway we can,” I promised. Ben meowed as if in agreement.

  A smile cracked Old Marley’s face in two, the freckles on his face a lot more evident now because of a recent wash.

  He slapped his thighs and let out a bark of laughter. “Well that’s settled then,” he said standing up. Before I could ask him anything else, he ruffled my hair and started to walk away.

  “Marley!” I called after him. “Where’re you going?”

  He paused in his shaky walk and turned around. “Going to see the pirates!” he shouted back, and then was off again.

  I thought I had sneaked safely into Craggys without being seen for a good two minutes before I got tapped on the shoulder. I turned around and saw Calloway standing there in his pristine suit.

  “We need to talk,” he said; his voice solid, calm and brooking no argument.

  I hesitated, searching for a face that could help. Seeing none, I scowled and gestured for him to follow me. The only room I could think of that was empty was my bedroom. Slightly inappropriate, but what could I do? Ben didn’t follow- Charlotte’s promise of duck had been far more interesting.

  I opened my door for Calloway to walk through and shut it behind me. “Before you say anything-”

  I didn’t get another word out before his lips were locked on mine. My back slammed against the door as he pushed his body against mine, his hands holding my waist tight. For a mad few seconds, I was swept up in the moment and allowed myself to be taken away.

  But reality was a bitch and she soon clawed me awake.

  Wrenching my face from his, I pushed him from me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I yelled, furious.

  He took a step back and turned away to regain his composure. “I’m sorry,” he said after a full twenty seconds. “I’ve been dying to do that since I saw you.”

  I stood silent, having no reply to that. I could have said a bunch of retorts there and then, but I hate hurting anyone for no reason. “Why are you here?” I said instead, putting my hands on my hips. “Because if you think you can come waltzing back into my life, you’re very much mistaken.”

  “Ellie-”

  “I’ve made a success of myself here.”

  “If you would just-”

  “You have no right to-”

  “Rino’s been sighted.”

  With those three words, my world came crashing down. I just managed to grab onto my bedstead before I hit the ground, blackness seeping through my sight. The pain from my palms was the only thing keeping me cemented to reality, Calloway’s voice miles away from the sound of blood rushing in my head.

  My entire soul at that moment screamed out for Ben, the only thing that would drag me out of that chaos. Sweat dripped down my face and between my shoulder blades, my knees shook and my lungs disbelieving in any oxygen it was taking in.

  Oh God, I couldn’t breathe…

  I heaved in more air into my lungs, desperate to have a sense of escape as the blackness came back in, the image of Rino’s face smiling in front of me wild in my mind. Hands were tight around my upper arms. A voice shouting at me, but it made me feel more trapped.

  Ben, Ben, Ben, BenBbbbenBenBenBbben!

  Before I knew it, I was lying on the floor, staring at the twirling ceiling above my eyes. I knew people were staring down at me, but I didn’t care. I wanted to sink away, and went the darkness set in, I was glad. The sensation of soft fur touched my hands and at last I relaxed and allowed myself to succumb.

  I was in my old bedroom at my Nan and Granddad’s house. It was dark, and Barry was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room.

  “You didn’t tell me about the money,” I found myself saying, as if we were already hours into the conversation.

  “What money?” he said, the smile on his face betraying his ignorant words. He looked as I remembered him years ago. Black shoulder length hair, black beard and a thick jumper hiding the tattoos on his body- including the ones of his wrists that said both my name and my sister’s.

  We stood there silent in the dark until I was aware of another presence. My Granddad. He was standing tall, staring at Barry with an intent I had never seen in him before.

  “Make him stop,” I begged him, my voice coming out quiet. My Granddad turned to me. “Make him leave me alone.” I was suddenly desperate for all of this pain to leave me, all of this guilt, doubt and unanswered questions. I wanted it gone.

  My Granddad and I stared at each other for seconds longer, our understanding crossing the ai
r between us and laying on my skin like a soothing balm. He turned to my biological father and started murmuring words. I couldn’t make out any of his sentences. I couldn’t even say if he had actually spoken, if he used any words or sounds. All I knew was that communicated had passed.

  I looked back at the chair to see that Barry was gone. My Granddad was taller than I suddenly as I embraced him, something he hadn’t been for a long time. He wasn’t crouched over in pain. He was strong. Tall.

  I remembered then that I needed to take advantage of the situation. How long had it been since I had last seen him? I could ask him what I wanted- tell him all of the things I needed to say. But as I opened my mouth to speak, he turned his eyes on me, and smiled.

  “Granddad…”

  Chapter Eight

  I awoke to voices arguing.

  “Just leave her be-”

  “I know her more than anyone here-”

  “It’s not a competition, mate.”

  “Grow up and get out-”

  The voices continued, each word twitching my eyelids open. I realised then that I was lying on my bed with Ben stretched across my chest. His eyelids were half open in boredom from the argument by the looks of it. I tried to push myself in a sitting position and scowled at my useless palms.

  Calloway and Brynn were standing in my room with the door wide open, Jessica standing between them, looking as though she was trying to keep the peace. Her voice was a soothing balm to the conflicting emotions in the room and I wondered whether it was too late to flop back down and pretend I was asleep.

  “Ellie, you’re awake!” Jessica said, relieved.

  Damn it.

  She pushed past both of the men and walked to the bed. “Are you ok? Do you want anything? Water maybe?”

  I licked my dry lips and nodded.

  “One of you, go get her a glass of water,” she said turning around to face them. Calloway and Brynn looked from her, to me, to each other and back to Jessica. A dark look passed over her face. “I don’t care who does it,” she snapped, “as long as someone does.”