by Helen Phifer
‘Sean stop, you have to stop this let him go,’ Annie screamed.
He looked at Annie and shook his head. ‘He has to pay, it was all his fault.’
Annie stepped closer. ‘Come on Sean, this is wrong, let him go. It was no-one’s fault, it was one big tragedy.’ She pulled the broken toy that Sophie had given out of her pocket. She held it out towards him and his grip released on the bag a little, ‘Sophie wants you to stop, she’s at peace now. The only person to blame for this whole mess is the shadow man and he’s gone. I helped Father John to banish him for good.’
Jake took a step closer; he looked across at Annie who nodded. She knew what he was thinking, they would both rush Sean and make him let go. Closing the distance between them, Jake threw himself at Sean and Annie lunged for his hands to make him loosen his grip on the bag. She could hear sirens, they were getting closer, and she dug her nails into his hands as hard as she could, dragging them along until they drew blood and soon the small cut that was already there was bleeding heavily. Sean let go of John and Annie dragged him away from the two men who were now fighting. She pulled the bag from his head, but he was unconscious. There was an almighty clatter behind her as Jake landed on the altar and knocked everything off the top onto the floor.
Sean was like a man who was raging on steroids, his eyes were bulging and the muscles in his neck were straining. Annie ran over to help; taking her CS gas from her belt she aimed for Sean’s eyes and let out a jet of the liquid. He yelped but still didn’t release his grip on Jake. She looked around for a weapon and picked up the heavy gold crucifix which had landed on the floor and swung it towards his head. As it connected with his forehead the skin split open and a stream of blood began pouring from the wound, down his face. In the end it was the blood that stopped him. He lifted his hand to wipe it from his eyes and when he brought his hand back down and saw that his fingers were covered in fresh, coppery-smelling blood, his legs gave way and he collapsed to the floor. Annie didn’t pause for a second, she pulled her cuffs from her belt and snapped them onto his hands before he realised what was happening. Jake sat on his legs and wrapped his black velcro leg restraints around his calves and ankles but all the fight had left him.
Outside the police cars screeched to a halt and half a dozen car doors slammed at the same time. The sound of footsteps as many pairs of boots ran along the gravel path and into the church was the most comforting one Annie had ever heard. She looked up to see armed officers running towards them, closely followed by Will and the DI.
Jake pulled himself up off Sean’s legs, stepping to one side, then he grabbed Annie and hugged her. ‘Bloody hell that was a bit close, I thought he was going to overpower me then.’
Will looked at the pair of them, relieved they were relatively unharmed and grinned. ‘Thank Christ you two are okay. I almost had a heart attack on the drive up here.’ He looked at Annie’s pale face with specks of blood on her forehead. ‘Good effort officer Graham, did you know our Sean has a fear of blood? It’s just a shame you didn’t plant the cross so far into his head it bloody killed him and made everyone’s life a whole lot easier.’ Will kicked Sean’s foot. ‘You prick.’
Annie turned and knelt down next to John who had opened his eyes. ‘Is it over, did you stop him?’
She nodded her head and helped him to sit up then moved to the side so he could see Sean, who was surrounded by armed police.
‘I don’t know what to say Annie, that’s twice in one night you’ve saved my life. I owe you big time; whenever you decide to get married it’s on the house.’ He winked at her and she laughed.
‘What a team we are and I mean this in the nicest possible way but I hope I don’t ever have to set foot in this church again.’
John laughed, ‘So do I Annie, so do I.’
The paramedics arrived and one came over to check Father John, who shooed him away telling him the only thing he needed was a stiff drink which made both Annie and Jake smile. Jake was next, he had a cut above his eyebrow and his right eye was swollen; he let them fuss over him until they has stripped the cut back together again. As they walked away he whispered to Annie, ‘See, I’m a proper hero now. I have the injuries to prove it.’
She poked him in the ribs, ‘Yes Jake you are. But then you’ve always been my hero.’
He wrapped an arm around her and squeezed her tightly. Will, who was standing in between the Task Force sergeant and the DI, looked at his boss. ‘Well then, I suppose once he’s been checked out by the paramedics we’d best get him back to custody. Are we taking him to ours or letting someone else deal, Kendal?’
Dave looked at Will. ‘That bastard has caused me more heartache and stress this last week than twenty years of marriage. He will be coming back to ours and we will be dealing and if anyone has anything to say, send them to me. I’ll tell them where to get off. I want to know exactly how much of a fucked up copper Sean Black is and how the hell he got in the job in the first place. I’m not having someone from Kendal come in and take over when it’s almost killed me.’
Will nodded, ‘It’s going to be a long night then.’
Annie suddenly remembered the girl they had left back in the house and, grabbing Will, she made him walk her back to the presbytery. ‘Come on I want you to meet someone.’
‘Who?’
‘Your star witness, his last victim that he didn’t manage to kill. She got away from him because of Father John.’
‘Really, Annie you’re a bloody star.’
He turned and kissed her on the lips and she felt a jolt of static electricity shoot straight into her heart. She pushed him away. ‘I missed you Will.’
His hand reached out for hers and he squeezed her fingers. Not as much as I’ve missed you.’
They reached the front door and Annie knocked on it gently. ‘It’s okay, it’s only me, the policewoman from before. You’re safe, we caught him and he’s in handcuffs and being guarded by men with very big guns.’
The bolt slid back and the door opened. The girl let out a sob and Annie stepped forward to hug her. ‘You’re okay, I promise. I’d like you to meet Detective Sergeant Will Ashworth. He will need to talk to you soon but first let’s get you checked out by the paramedics and make sure you’re okay.’
‘I don’t need checking, I’m fine. Well apart from a broken nail and he’s messed my hair up.’
Annie laughed, ‘We are going to get along just fine.’
All three of them went into the house and into the kitchen.
‘How’s the priest? He saved my life.’
‘He’s a bit shaken up and bruised but he’s fine.’
‘Phew, that’s good. I’ve had some weird dates but tonight beats them all. I’m never going for a drink with a stranger, ever again.’
Chapter 37
Annie had butterflies; she had spent ages looking around town this afternoon trying to find the perfect outfit to wear, she wanted something which was sexy yet very understated in a Audrey Hepburn kind of way. She had been into every clothes shop and hadn’t found anything suitable. Her last resort was the expensive, one-off designer shop in the little side street off Dalton Road. She knew everything in there would be far more than she could afford but she wanted to make a good impression on Will. After being apart for three months she knew what she wanted more than anything in this world was to get back together with him and not just for the time being, she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. He was a changed man since she’d met him; the misunderstanding that Laura had caused had been cleared up and Annie didn’t like to think ill of the dead.
The shop was empty apart from the assistant who was having an intense conversation with someone on the phone at the back of the shop, so Annie was left to her own devices. On the rack directly in front of her was a black lace dress, it had a low-cut neck and it was gorgeous. The black silk slip underneath it gave it a touch of class and she knew that this was the one, it was the only one. She picked it up and looked at the size on the
label and felt her heart sink, it was a twelve. It wouldn’t fit over her hips never mind fasten up. She must have looked devastated because the woman on the phone smiled at her. ‘Megan I have to go, I have a customer.’ She put the phone under the counter and walked towards her. ‘Can I help you?’
Annie felt her cheeks turn crimson. ‘I don’t suppose you have this in a bigger size?’
The woman smiled at her, ‘I’ll go and check, we may have one out the back.’
She wobbled off in her high heels and pencil skirt; Annie could never look like that in a million years. She looked at the price tag and nearly choked – Bloody hell; I hope she doesn’t have one, I won’t be able to afford to eat for a month.
The woman came back shaking her head. She was looking at Annie as if she knew her but Annie couldn’t place her. ‘Do you mind me saying I know you from somewhere but I can’t remember where?’
Annie laughed, ‘I work for the police, you might have seen me walking around town in my uniform.’
The woman smiled. ‘I’m really sorry, it must have been sold but I’ll tell you what we do have. On the sale rail there is an antique cream version of this dress, it would really suit you with your colouring and it’s your size.’
Annie felt her stomach drop; she had never worn anything cream in her life. The woman plucked the dress from the rail and before she could say no thank you she found herself being ushered into the changing rooms and handed the dress.
‘I’ll just get you a pair of shoes that will make your legs look as if they go on forever.’ The assistant tottered off to the front of the shop and the display stand.
Annie wanted the floor to open and swallow her whole so she could escape the cream dress and the high heels which had just been thrust into her fingers. Instead she muttered, ‘Thank you.’ Whipping the curtain across she hoped the assistant wouldn’t want to see her when she had squeezed herself into it, what if she burst the zip? She undressed and took the dress from the hanger. Jake would find this all extremely hilarious. She pulled the dress on and was surprised that she didn’t have to play tug of war to get it over her hips; in fact it slid down, even over her boobs. She struggled to reach the zip but it wasn’t because it was too tight, it was the fact that the arm she had broken last year couldn’t bend at that angle. She slipped on the shoes, which were a lot comfier than she’d imagined, then turned to look in the mirror and gasped. Was that her in its reflection? It didn’t look like her, she looked like a proper woman.
The assistant pulled the curtain to one side and grinned. ‘See, I told you that would look great on you.’ She stepped in and pulled the zip up, then disappeared and came back with an elegant pearl and crystal necklace and matching bracelet. She slipped them on and nodded with approval, ‘You look gorgeous.’
Annie, always the first to put herself down, actually agreed and stepped nearer to the mirror and gave herself a twirl. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever looked so ladylike and I can’t believe it fits. Is it as expensive as the black one?’
‘No it isn’t, it’s half price. I think I know where I recognise you from, are you the policewoman who stopped that killer last year, and helped to capture that mad policeman?’
Annie nodded, ‘I am indeed, why?’
‘Well you did an amazing job and I’d like to show my appreciation for the work you do. I can let you have my staff discount, which means you can buy the whole outfit for less than a hundred quid.’
Annie felt a lump form in her throat and her eyes fill with tears. ‘Thank you but I couldn’t.’
‘Miss, you look amazing and whoever you want to impress will not be able to resist you. It’s sophisticated but also demure and sexy at the same time. It really suits you.’
Annie looked in the mirror again; she did feel good, in fact she felt amazing. ‘If that’s okay with you then I’d like to take the lot and thank you.’
She waited for the assistant to ring it all up then handed over her credit card and felt momentarily guilty but the guilt was soon replaced with excitement to see Will’s face when he opened the door. The woman handed her the two bags with her purchases in and she felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Thanking her again she left the shop and walked back to her car with a huge grin on her face.
***
Now as she stood outside Will’s front door she hoped he would appreciate the effort she had gone to. Once she would have let herself in with a key but things hadn’t been the same for a while. She hadn’t been inside since the morning she found him with Laura. She lifted her hand and knocked softly on the door, not her usual loud copper’s bang, bang. She couldn’t wait to see him. The door opened and she watched as he took a couple of seconds to register that it was actually her, his eyes opened wide and the boyish grin she found so sexy spread across his lips. ‘Wow, Annie. You look gorgeous, I mean you always do but – wow.’ He opened the door wide so she could step into his hallway; vanilla-scented candles were burning on the small table next to the photo of them both. ‘Let me take your coat.’
He helped her to slip out of her coat and as his fingers brushed against her neck she felt a tremor run down the back of her spine making her shiver. She turned to Will; he was wearing a white shirt with the top button undone and a pair of stonewashed jeans, he smelled of Chanel aftershave and he hadn’t shaved for a couple of days and looked as sexy as hell. She was tempted to tell him to forget the food and just take her to bed but for once she was determined to act like a lady so she followed him into the kitchen where the pine table was set with candles, flowers and the most exquisite place settings. She was seriously impressed, he had either bought this all especially or had it hidden away. ‘It looks lovely Will, really lovely.’ She watched his cheeks turn red and realised that he was as nervous as she was.
‘Thanks Annie, it all belonged to my mum. She gave it to me when I left home but it was too good to use for the endless takeaways and cans of lager. I’ve kept in the attic until I had an occasion special enough to use it for.’ He turned away to take a bottle of champagne out of the ice bucket. He popped the cork and handed her a glass, which she downed and handed back.
‘Phew, that’s better, calm my nerves a bit. I can’t believe I was so nervous coming here tonight, it’s turned me into a dithering idiot.’
‘I know it must be hard for you and I’m sorry. I hope it hasn’t upset you too much.’
She laughed, ‘I meant I was dithering about seeing you again. I’ve missed you so much and you look so, so gorgeous.’
Will laughed; it was his turn to down his drink. ‘Why thanks Miss Graham, now we’re even.’ He filled the glasses again and pulled out a chair for her. ‘This time I’m going to treat you like a lady and I don’t care what you think or say, it’s because I want to and you deserve it. You would never let me do anything for you or pay for anything and I know it’s really early days but the last three months have been hell for me and they have made me realise that I can’t live without you, I don’t want to live without you and I hope that one day you will feel the same.’
She stopped herself from blurting out that there hadn’t been a minute of every day that she hadn’t been thinking about him but she knew he wanted to grovel, it would make him feel better, so she would let him do it for just a little while and then she would tell him to shut up because she loved him just as much and felt exactly the same.
They ate a meal of pan-fried fillet steak with a blue cheese sauce, homemade chips and a huge salad, followed by a white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake with freshly whipped cream. Annie took her last bite then groaned, ‘Oh God, I’m so stuffed. That was gorgeous, thank you Will.’
He picked up the empty champagne bottle and took a bottle of the wine that Annie loved so much from the fridge and put it in the ice bucket.
She laughed. ‘I am impressed Will, you thought of everything.’ There was music playing in the background and she recognised a few of the songs but had no idea who was singing them. ‘Who is this singing?’
/> Will picked up her hand, ‘Sorry, do you hate it?’
‘No I really like it; I just don’t know who it is that’s singing.’
Will laughed. ‘That’s what happens when you date older men. It’s Frank Sinatra, he was my mum’s favourite singer and I guess I thought a bit of old Frank’s crooning couldn’t hurt.’ He stood up and pulled her to her feet and started singing, ‘Because I love you and I love the way you look tonight.’ He took hold of her hands and began waltzing with her in time to the music.
Annie felt clumsy, she had never been much of a dancer and Will was so light on his feet but she loved it, the way that he held her, the closeness of their bodies. She was tipsy but not drunk and she knew that she would never forget tonight as long as she lived, it was what she had dreamt about since she was a teenager, her perfect romantic evening. Mike had never done anything like this for her. As she danced with Will, with good old Frank telling her she looked lovely, she didn’t think she could be any happier.
The song ended and Will held her close, his lips brushed against hers and she held him tight and kissed him back. He leant close and whispered in her ear, ‘Marry me Annie Graham; I don’t want to be apart from you ever again.’
She pulled him close and whispered, ‘Yes.’
CARINA™
ISBN: 978 1 472 09100 0
The Secrets of the Shadows
Copyright © 2014 Helen Phifer
Published in Great Britain (2014)
by Carina, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.