‘And Mr Wilbury? No, I know him. Large house on the outskirts of Truro. And Rosie? Tell us exactly where she is.’
‘On the Falmouth Road. About three miles along it. Here, you didn’t know, did you?’
‘We know now. Take him away. Don’t let him get anywhere near his brother, though.’
‘Please, take me to Rosie,’ Drew begged Damian when the prisoners had gone.
‘I’ll have to get someone to come here. It isn’t safe any more. No front door and a broken window at the back.’
‘I really don’t care. I just want to find Rosie.’
‘I’m not sure she’d feel the same about her precious home.’
‘If we don’t get there soon, she may not survive long enough to see her home again.’
‘OK. I’ll call and get someone to come in after we’ve left. Let’s get you into my car.’
Half an hour later, they arrived at the building they’d been told about. It was a large sort of shed and once they had opened the doors, they saw Jimmy’s van parked inside. Rosie was lying in the back.
‘Rosie? Oh, Rosie? Are you all right?’
‘About time too. Where were you all my life?’
Then she started crying and sobbed as if she might never stop.
‘It’s all right. We’ve got them both. They haven’t admitted to everything yet but we know exactly what they’re guilty of. Even know the name of their boss. He’ll be under arrest as we speak.’
Damian looked very pleased with himself.
‘A nice tidy ending.’
‘I want to hear everything that’s happened,’ sobbed Rosie, through her tears.
‘You’re all right. That’s the most important thing to me,’ Drew told her.
‘What’s happened to your crutches? Have they been in the wars?’
‘Oh yes. I’m the world’s best crutch fighter. Come on. Let’s go home and I’ll tell you everything as we go.’
Epilogue
A few weeks later, the Harrison brothers and Mr Wilbury were all charged with the series of events that would keep them imprisoned for a good many years. Rosie and Drew were both involved in giving statements and then some time later as witnesses in court hearings.
Drew was now happily walking around without plaster, or his crutches. He was feeling almost normal again.
‘Thank heavens that’s all over,’ he said. ‘Perhaps now we can get on with our life.’
‘I really hope so. Drew. Anyway, I’ve decided something. I’m going to give myself one more chance looking for my birth parents. I’m going to call some of the adoption agencies and see if they can help.’
‘Do you really want to do that? You seem to have had such a good life with your Mum and Dad. Why on earth should you want to find someone who gave you up?’
‘I don’t know. It just seems as if I should. Otherwise, why did Mum leave me with that letter?’
‘OK. Well, do what you have to. I just hope you won’t be too disappointed. But whatever happens, I’m here for you.’
‘Oh, Drew, I do love you.’
She leaned over to him and kissed him on the lips. He responded fully.
‘I think we should try going to bed. I’m sure I could manage it now I’m all unplastered and feeling strong again.’
‘You do say the most romantic things,’ she laughed.
All the same, she followed him through. He stopped in hall.
‘Your place or mine?’ he asked.
‘Definitely mine,’ she replied, taking his hand and leading into her room.
A couple of hours later, they both lay side by side feeling very content. His hand brushed hers and he smiled.
‘That was definitely worth waiting for. The first of many. I’d say. How about you?’
‘Oh not bad. Not at all bad. I could certainly become addicted to you. We could try again, just to make sure.’
‘Heavens, woman. Are you completely unsatiable?’
‘Where you’re concerned, I am. But, if you’re too weary of course …’
‘Come here then, harlot. Too weary? After so many weeks of sitting about?’
Much later they sat over a meal he had cooked. Rosie had made some phone calls, with one positive response which she shared with Drew.
‘I have to go into their office tomorrow. They have some information anyway but they need to see me to clarify my identity, or something.’
‘Sounds reasonable. Do you want me to come with you?’
‘That would be good. If you feel up to it.’
‘The least I could do.’
They set off together the following morning. Rosie felt very nervous and Drew told her not to worry.
‘It needn’t affect you in any major way, you know. You’re very secure in your life and with me. At least, I hope you are. I love you, Rosie Breeden.’
‘And I love you. You know I do. But this is something I have to do.’
Together they went into the building. They were shown into a small office, where Rosie was asked for proof of identity before she was told any information.
‘As you know,’ said the woman, ‘we now have to release the information about birth. I’m afraid it isn’t good news, however. It seems that your mother, your real mother, was just a schoolgirl when she gave birth. Her parents made her hand over the baby – you, that is – to save their shame at having an unmarried daughter.’
‘So is she still around?’ Drew asked.
‘Unfortunately, she was killed, very strangely, in a road traffic accident. Like your adoptive parents.’
‘And her parents? Are they still alive?’
‘I’m afraid not. They both died some time ago. Soon after their daughter was killed, actually.’
‘So it turns out I don’t have any relations after all?’
‘But your father. Who was he?’
They both turned to the woman but she shook her head.
‘I’m sorry. We don’t have any record of the father. The girl refused to say who he was.’
‘I think it’s a bit sad, actually,’ said Rosie. ‘Poor girl. She must have felt so awful at handing over her tiny baby.’
‘I’m sorry we couldn’t be any more helpful.’
They left the agency and she felt very morose.
‘I would have liked her to see how I grew up. To let her know I turned out OK.’
‘Well, I’m very glad, in a way. I don’t think it would have done you any good to have met anyone.’
Drew took her hand comfortingly.
‘I suppose not. So, that’s it then,’ she murmured softly.
‘It’s good you made some effort. I’m sorry for you, though. But now at least, you can move on.’
‘What’s next? Are we going to start a business? There’s a whole load of land waiting to be developed next door.’
‘I think there’s only one thing I’m missing in my life. Will you marry me?’
‘Course I will. I’ve been waiting for you to ask me – forever nearly.’
‘Oh. I’ve put off asking you for ages. I didn’t realise it would be so easy.’
‘Nothing in my life is easy. You should know that.’
‘Oh Rosie, I do love you.’
He was laughing as he spoke.
‘I love you too. But who’s going to be your best man?’
‘I thought perhaps I’d ask Damian. We’ve got to know him pretty well lately.’
‘Sounds perfect. In fact, from now on, life is going to be perfect.’
‘And we will start our business. Very soon.’
Chrissie Loveday
Dangerous Secrets
Julia Renton returns from a trip to Kenya to discover her mother is dead – evidently having committed suicide. Her brother Ryan is equally devastated and the pair rushes to their cottage in Cornwall to escape their cold and unforgiving father. Soon, a body is discovered in an outhouse and things start to go wrong, including the presumed murder of one half of an elderly pair of sisters, and the Rent
on’s cottage burning down.
Trying to move on, Julia takes employment with Bryce Davies, a local holiday and property dealer. There seems to be something major in the pipeline and Bryce is involved, but his intentions with the Rentons are possibly less than innocent. When strange things start happening to Julia, she realises someone has made themselves involved in her life – and closer than she originally thought
Marina Pascoe
Bartlett and Boase series
A warm-hearted and enthralling
detective series set
on the beautiful Cornish
coast in the 1920s
Penny Kline
Nobody’s Baby
In the middle of the night Izzy Lomas finds an abandoned baby on her doorstep. It could have been left by any desperate person … except that the baby’s name, pinned in a note to its carrycot, brings back a striking memory from her childhood. If you had a baby what would you call it …
If Izzy’s suspicions are correct and she tells the police, it could end in tragedy. Allowing herself some time to investigate, she frantically tries to trace the baby’s mother, but every twist and turn in her search seems to lead to a dead end. And if she stays silent any longer, is she putting more people in terrible danger?
For more information about
Chrissie Loveday
and other Accent Press titles
please visit
www.accentpress.co.uk
Published by Accent Press Ltd 2015
ISBN 9781783757619
Copyright © Chrissie Loveday 2015
The right of Chrissie Loveday to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers: Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN
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