by Clare Revell
“When?”
“After the repatriation. As their CO, I can be here to receive them. Then the next day I report in and fly back.” He searched her eyes. Fear flickered in them. The same fear that gnawed at his stomach. “I’ll be OK.”
“You can’t guarantee that.”
“No,” he admitted. “I can’t. But I can guarantee one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“This.” He pulled her gently towards him and kissed her. “I love you. I have never been more sure about anything.”
“I love you, too. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise,” he whispered, pulling her close.
“That’s all I ask,” she whispered, before his lips closed on hers and he kissed her.
~*~
The next week flew by in a blur of dates and work starting on the house.
Jude was convinced she was still being followed, but could find nothing substantial to put her finger on. She still hadn’t heard from the insurance company, although the fire had officially been ruled as arson. The one decision she had made was to sell what was left of the bakery. It was all in the hands of her solicitor. What she would do instead, she had no idea.
Dad was renovating the kitchen and Elliott was doing the bathroom and central heating system. They’d both agreed to decorate the rest of the house, and she was hoping it’d be finished before Bev left so he could see it.
She still couldn’t believe it was his house, and he’d been prepared to let her chose the color scheme.
The day of the repatriation arrived and she offered to go with him. He refused. Instead she’d watched him drive away in his dress uniform and a stoic look on his face. His stiff upper lip, poker face, and taut shoulders the only sign of the emotion within him, almost broke her heart. She watched the repatriation on the TV and waited for Bev to come home.
They’d planned to have dinner together at her place, one last ‘hoorah’ before he left. Or just sitting quietly, letting him assimilate what he’d done today. She’d leave that entirely up to him and what he felt like doing.
Car doors slammed outside, just as the timer went off to say dinner was cooked. Perfect timing. She got to the door as fast as she could and flung it open.
Bev unfolded his tall frame, still in uniform, from the car. He looked up at his Gran’s house. A woman flew down the path to greet him. He laughed and swung her into her arms, kissing her cheek. His joy at seeing her was evident.
Stunned, her stomach pitting, Jude backed into the house and shut the door before he saw her. She trusted him, she really did, but seeing him in the arms of another woman hit her hard. Harder than she expected. She wanted that to be her. Always. But she could lose him to his job. The next repatriation could be his. And that would be more than she could bear. This had to end and end now.
She scrapped the food into the bin and rang her parent’s house. Her mother had wanted her to stay while the house was being worked on, and it would make it easier for Dad and Elliott if she weren’t constantly under foot. And it would be easier on the both of them if she didn’t say goodbye.
~*~
Bev shoved his bags into the car. There was no sign of Jude. She hadn’t been in last night either, and he was sure they’d had dinner plans. He’d had the entire evening organized down to the finest detail. The box in his pocket was heavy. He’d seen the ring in a store on the base, and it was perfect. All he had to do, all he needed to do, before he left, was to propose.
He crossed the road and rang the bell. No one came. He glanced up at the windows. The house seemed closed up and empty. Disconsolate, he turned and went back over to Gran’s. He pushed the kitchen door open.
“This was on the mat for you when I got up.” Gran held out an envelope.
Bev took it and ripped it open. It was covered in Jude’s neat writing. Bev, something came up. Gone to my parents for a day or two—easier on the workmen if I’m not in the house. Safe trip. Jude.
He turned it over. Was that it?
“Bev?”
He screwed the paper up and shoved it into the bin. “She isn’t coming. Can we go?”
“Did she say why?”
“No. Just that she’d gone away.” He shook his head and pulled the ring box from his pocket. “Keep this safe. I won’t need it now.”
“What is it?”
“Just shove it in a drawer and forget about it. I’ll see you by the car.” He headed out into the garden and picked a handful of forget-me-nots. He took them over to Jude’s and laid them on the doorstep. He closed his eyes, praying for her. He didn’t know what he’d done to drive her away, but whatever it was he hoped he would have the chance to apologize.
His heart breaking, he headed over to the car and got in, to begin the long trip back to his unit. Or rather, what was left of it.
11
Jude arrived home after what had turned into a week-long visit, to find wilted forget-me-nots on her doorstep. She put them straight in the bin and headed into the kitchen to make some tea. Still confused over the whole Bev issue, she decided over the hot, sweet liquid, that there was nothing she could do. He was gone and what she assumed, what she thought they had, was nothing. She’d been wrong about him and the way she felt. Her emotions were not to be trusted.
She’d given him her heart, allowed him to kiss her, and awaken feelings in her and for what? To be tossed aside at the last minute and have her heart broken. Well, never again. She’d remain single. It was far, far safer than feeling the way she did now.
Going through the mail she found an ebluey. Tempted just to discard it, something made her open it. He was still her squaddie after all and she ought to keep sending parcels, even if nothing else.
Hey, Jude. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye. I came over after the repatriation, but you were out. Was it something I said or did? If it was I’m sorry. Please e-mail or update social media and let me at least know you’re OK. Love Bev.
Jude crumpled the letter and tossed it at the bin. It missed and lay on the floor, taunting her. The doorbell rang and she stood, ignoring the flickering light on the answerphone. Slowly, she headed down the hall to the door, and leaned on one crutch to open it. She managed a smile at Milly. “Hello. What brings you here so early?”
“It’s not early, it’s gone eleven. And where have you been?”
“I went to Mum and Dad’s for the week. Why?”
Milly nodded to the car behind her. “I need you at the station. I have a line up you need to attend. If you’d checked your phone and e-mail messages, you’d have known.”
Heat rose in Jude’s cheeks. “Sorry. I left my phone here because I didn’t want to be bothered while I was away.” She put her coat on and slung her bag over her head. She followed Milly to the car, the pouring rain matching her mood on the inside to a tee.
“What’s up?” Milly asked as she opened the car door.
Jude sat, then shoved the crutches to the floor before swinging her legs inside. “Nothing.”
“Hmmm. Don’t give me that.” She shut the door and went around the other side. “You’re lying, Judie, and that doesn’t become you. Besides, I’m on duty and you never, ever, lie to a cop on duty.”
“I just did, apparently,” Jude muttered.
Milly started the car. “So. What’s up?”
“Bev.”
“He’s gone back, right? You can write, and you’ll see him when he comes home again.”
Jude shook her head. “No. I’m not having anything to do with men. Ever. Ever. Again.”
“Wow. Where’d that come from?”
Jude leaned against the door, the rain hitting the windscreen faster than the wipers could clear it. “He told me he loved me. But he had to attend another repatriation the day before he left. Five more blokes from his unit got killed by an IED. What if he dies out there? I can’t bear that. Besides, I saw him with someone else that last night.”
“What did he sa
y about this?”
“Nothing, I haven’t spoken to him. I went to my parents and left him to it. If he wants her rather than me, so be it. But I am not opening myself to this kind of hurt again. Ever.”
“Let me get this straight. You and he tell each other you’re in love. Then you let him go back to a war zone without letting him explain and without a bye your leave or a goodbye.”
“What was I meant to do? He was all over another woman. He didn’t want me to go to the repatriation. I was waiting for him, expecting him to need comfort, instead I watched him run into the arms of another woman, laughing and joking with her. And yes, I’m jealous. I admit that.”
“There has to be a simple explanation.” Milly glanced at her as she parked the car. “Maybe she was a sister or…”
“He never mentioned a sister,” Jude muttered. “He wrote, but I don’t know how to reply.”
“Ask him outright. It’s the best way. Trust me.”
“Trust you? You’re as single as I am.” She sucked in a deep breath.
Milly shook her head as she got out of the car. “Come on.”
Jude followed her inside and while she waited, she pulled her phone from her bag. She brought up the e-mail app and sent Bev an ebluey. She phrased it exactly as she’d suggested to Milly. After all, that was asking directly, right?
She looked at the six masked men behind the glass. Each held up a numbered card, but she recognized the eyes instantly. “Number five.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“OK.” Milly knocked on the window five times. “Let’s get you home.”
Jude took a deep breath. “I’ll walk. I need the fresh air.”
“Not on crutches you won’t,” Milly told her firmly. “DS Holmes and DS Philips will drive you home.”
~*~
Jude was half way up the garden path when something hit her hard, sending her to the ground. She rolled over to find Kevin about to hit her again. Not having time to think, she grabbed the crutch and hit him hard with it.
Just then DS Holmes ran over and pulled Kevin off her. He pulled Kevin’s hands behind his back, slapping on the cuffs.
DS Philips helped her to her feet. “Are you all right?”
Jude nodded.
“Nice move with the crutches.”
“Thanks.” Her heart pounded and fear gripped her. Kevin? Kevin attacked her in broad daylight? Why? Wasn’t the bloke who’d tried to kill her locked up now? Those and a thousand other questions ran rampant through her mind.
DS Philips held out a hand. “Give me your keys and I’ll check the house before you go in.”
Jude gave him the keys and stood to one side as another police car came screeching to a halt outside the house, blue lights flashing.
Mrs. Bowen came over. “Jude, dear, are you all right?”
“A bit shaken,” she admitted. She glanced in the back of the police car where Kevin sat. He caught the look and licked his lips. Jude shivered and turned away.
“Sergeant, I’m taking Jude over to my place out of the rain,” Mrs. Bowen said.
DS Holmes nodded. “I’ll be over in a few.”
Jude hesitated, but she was getting soaked and really didn’t want to sit in a police car as if she’d done something wrong. She reluctantly followed Mrs. Bowen over the road.
The woman Bev had been hugging threw the door open.
Jude felt sick. “I should go…”
Mrs. Bowen shook her head. “I don’t believe you’ve met my granddaughter, have you?”
Jude shook her head.
“Linea, this is Jude Travis, Bev’s tenant. Jude, this is Linea King, Bev’s…”
Somehow Jude shook Linea’s outstretched hand, trying to ignore the wedding band on the other, tuning out what Mrs. Bowen was saying. Bev was married? How could he? She felt sick, but somehow forced herself to be pleasant. She could do this. She could be the better and bigger person.
“Jude?” Milly’s voice came from the open doorway. “Sorry, but there’s a phone call over at your place. It sounds important.”
Relieved, and knowing she should be annoyed the police had answered her phone, but really not caring, Jude nodded. “I’ll come.”
~*~
Bev stared at the two e-mails. The second was even more confusing than the first. Containing just the one word. Married? He tossed the pad to the desk and rubbed his hands over his face. He wasn’t married. Was she? Is that where she’d gone? Or did she think he was the one who was married? He groaned.
“Boss, you got a sec?”
“Sure, Steve. Come in.” Grateful for the distraction, Bev twisted his chair to face Steve. “What’s up?”
“You look bothered. Problems?”
“Just women,” Bev muttered.
Steve dropped into the chair on the other side of the desk. “Is that all?” He nodded to the photo stuck to the desk. “Is that her?”
“Yeah. I don’t get it. Things were really good. I thought she felt the same way and then I get these.” He held out the letters. “I knew something was up because she just vanished rather than say goodbye, but I’d hoped she just doesn’t like goodbyes.”
Steve read the two letters. “Married? Is she? Or does she think you are?”
Bev shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. But according to Gran she isn’t, and she doesn’t wear a ring. I’m not that stupid.” He sighed. “Anyway, what brings you to the door of my container?”
Steve handed over the report. “This.”
Bev read it. Twice. Shock ran through him. “Is this for real? What’s being done about it?”
“Nothing.”
“Not for long.” He stood and grabbed his hat. “I’m taking this to the Brigadier.”
~*~
An hour later he was back in his office waiting for the go ahead he was sure he’d get. He booted up the laptop and loaded the ebluey site. Then on reflection, he closed it and opened his e-mail. This would be faster. And no one else would read it. Jude, I’ve gone over and over the last week we spent together, and I must have done something to upset you, but I have no idea what. Please tell me. And tell me how I can put it right. We can’t leave things as they are right now. Bev.
A tap on the door frame jerked his head upright. “Sir?” he asked, scrambling to his feet.
Brigadier Hereford-Jones nodded to him. “You have a go. Brief your men. You leave in forty minutes.”
“Aye, sir.” As his CO left, Bev sat and typed another e-mail. First to Gran. Then one to Jude. Jude, I’m going off base on a mission up north. We’ll be gone about a week and incommunicado for most of it if not all. When I get back, I’ll call. We have to sort this out. I love you. Bev.
He took the photo off the desk and tucked it into his shirt pocket. Then he stuck his head outside the tent. “Steve, get the unit in the crew room. Now.”
Ten minutes later, Bev finished briefing the men. “You don’t have to go on this one, but if the intel is right, we have the ability to conduct a rescue and put a stop to the activity in the village. So, I’m going to the kit room. I’ll be leaving in ten minutes. If you want to join me, be there. I won’t think badly of anyone who doesn’t appear.”
Before he’d even left the podium, every single man in the room stood, ready to follow him. Pride and love filled each step as he led them out.
~*~
Jude left the post office and swung home. Fortunately, it’d stopped raining and the post office was a five minute walk from her place. The phone call had been from her mother. Not important in the slightest, but she wasn’t complaining. She loved talking to her mother on the phone or in person. Of course Mum was now insisting Jude moved back in with them, at least until things calmed down, but both Kevin and this other bloke, the locksmith of all people, were now behind bars and likely to stay there.
Evidently Kevin’s crush had deepened to the point he’d been convinced he had to be with her or no one else could. He’d paid the locksmith to star
t the fire and follow her. The theory being Jude would turn to Kevin for comfort and protection. When that failed, he’d decided to take matters into his own hands.
Reaching the house, Jude sat at the computer and loaded the e-mail.
Bev, just a quick note to say there’s a parcel on the way. And they caught the stalker and arsonist, so it’s over.
The e-mail chimed, and Jude minimized the one she was writing to read. Two from Bev, both sent within a few minutes of each other. She read them then pulled back up the one she was writing. How did she reply? She wrote and deleted. Wrote and deleted. Then settled on simplicity.
Bev, I wish you’d told me you were married rather than leading me on with false hope and flattery. I’d never have gotten involved if I’d…
She deleted it.
Bev, I’ve posted a box. It’ll be there when you get back. They caught the stalker and arsonist. It’s over. Stay safe. Jude.
She hit send. But within a few seconds it had bounced back. She checked the address and tried sending again. Once more it bounced back. Oh, well, she’d try later.
~*~
Bev could see the village from where he sat in the lead truck. He’d prayed constantly that this mission would be a success. It seemed daft to pass up the opportunity to get this aid worker out when she was so close to where they were. Especially with the threats made to her life. He nudged the driver. “OK, this should be close enough.”
He jumped out, checking the area, gun ready should he need it. Then he gave the requisite hand signals and proceeded cautiously on foot. The hut was exactly where the intel said it would be. Using signals, he sent three of his men around the back and another three to each side. That left him and the rest to go through the front. “On three,” he whispered through the head set. “One, two, thee…”
As one, he and his men burst through the door, guns blazing, shouting instructions to each other. Checking rooms one by one, Bev found the aid worker, tied up and guarded. Without hesitation, he shot the guard in the leg, then as he fell, Bev scooped up the aid worker and carried her from the building. “Let’s go!”