by Joanna Neil
The children were fascinated, and Cassie had a whole new range of recordings on her camcorder.
The afternoon ended all too soon, and Grace prepared to take the children to meet up with their father and look around the house.
‘I’ll take Toby for a long walk,’ Lacey told her. ‘That’ll make up for leaving him this afternoon.’
Grace gave her a hug. ‘Thanks, Lacey. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Lacey waved them off, and went back into the house. The thought of being in the house on her own had never bothered her before, but now she was besieged by doubts. What if the intruder came back?
If only Jake could be here with her. She could handle anything if he was by her side. She didn’t fear anything or worry about what might happen. He was her rock, her safeguard…but he wasn’t here, and she missed him desperately.
When the sun started to set, she called Toby, and they set off to walk around the perimeter of the property. No one would risk coming back to trespass on her land now that they knew there was a dog guarding the place, would they? She tried to convince herself of that. But the fact was Toby wouldn’t be here for much longer. Perhaps she would go into town one day soon and choose a puppy to keep her company in the future. With any luck he would grow up to be at least as strong and loyal as Toby.
She felt better, knowing that she had a plan of action, but her contentment was short-lived. Toby, on a long, extending leash, had found that very same spot where he had stopped the other day. Cassie had pulled him back, but here he was again, foraging in the crevices in the rock.
He growled, then sniffed, and then began to paw at the undergrowth. He started to bark excitedly, looking around to see if Lacey was paying attention.
‘All right, let’s have a look at what you’ve found.’ She went to investigate. ‘If it’s some ravenous creature with sharp teeth, you’re in trouble, young fellow.’
Only it wasn’t an animal that was causing Toby’s excitement. It was what looked like a piece of canvas, tucked away in a fissure in the rock, hidden by bracken and brambles.
Lacey made her way carefully through the sawgrass, moving closer. It was a good thing she was wearing jeans to protect her from the long, sharp leaves. Toby, sensibly for once, stood back, waiting, panting, while she slid her hand into the crevice and tugged on the material.
It took a lot of effort to pull it out, but when the whole thing was finally revealed, she saw that it was a canvas bag. It was dirty and mildewed, as though it had been there for a long time. The zipper was rusted and try as she might to open it the bag stayed closed.
‘Okay, Toby,’ she murmured, ‘we’ll take it home and put some grease on the metal to see if that helps. I don’t know what’s in here, boy, but it’s really heavy.’ Technically, the bag was stowed away on her land, just within the boundary line. This must be what the trespasser had been looking for.
Back in the kitchen, she set to work, rubbing the rusted zipper until, at last, she gained some movement along the metal tines. She pulled as hard as she could, and eventually the bag gave up its contents.
She gasped. There were at least a dozen flat, gold bars, a gold drinking vessel, a bag full of coins and several pieces of jewellery decorated with gems. They were all in good condition, protected by the waterproof lining of the bag. She stared at the treasure trove, hardly able to believe her eyes. They had probably come from one of the ships that foundered off the coast.
Stunned, she sat down at the table. What should she do? Whoever had left this hoard would be looking to retrieve it, but it had to be an illegal venture, or why was it hidden away?
Her first thought was to turn to Jake. All her former misgivings melted away. She loved him, she needed him and, more than anything, she wanted to hear his voice. Nothing else mattered.
She reached for her phone and keyed in his mobile number. Whatever he was doing, she prayed he would be free to answer.
‘Lacey? Are you all right?’
Relief overwhelmed her. His tone was surprised, concerned, but most of all he sounded as though he was willing to hear her out.
‘I’m not sure,’ she said. Her voice shook a little. ‘I’ve just found something on my land…at the point where the channel runs closest to the boundary. It’s gold, Jake. A bag full of gold artefacts…a chalice, gold bars and jewellery. It was hidden away in a cleft in the rock, and I think someone’s been trying to get hold of it.’
‘Wait,’ he said. ‘Slow down a minute. You said someone’s been trying to get hold of it…how do you know that?’
‘I thought I heard someone the other night, out in the dark when I was on the deck. And then again yesterday Toby was growling at someone out there by the rocks. I just found the bag, Jake…and I don’t know what to do.’
‘Why on earth didn’t you tell me all this was going on?’ She heard the frustration in his voice. ‘No, don’t answer that. Call the police. Tell them you need them to come out there, now. Lock your doors and put the bag somewhere safe.’
‘Yes. Yes, I can do that.’
‘Okay, where are Grace and the children? Are they with you?’
‘No. They’ve gone to stay with Matt at a lodge. They’ll be back tomorrow.’
‘But Toby’s with you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good.’ He paused. ‘Lacey, cut this phone call and get the police now. Don’t worry about the bag. It’s not important. Just lock your doors.’
‘I will.’
She had wanted to hear his voice, to know that there was some kind of physical contact between them, but it wasn’t enough, not nearly enough. When she cut the call it was as though she had cut off a safety line. She wanted him here with her. She needed him to be here by her side, but she couldn’t ask him to drop everything for her, could she? What did she really mean to him after all? She didn’t even know what he was doing in town. For all she knew, he was meeting up with friends and drinking the night away.
She called the police, but they weren’t hopeful of getting anyone out to her right away. ‘Is there anyone trying to gain access to the premises right now?’ the officer asked.
‘No…but I’m worried that they might try later on.’
‘I’m sorry. We have so many callouts to attend to. We’ll get someone to you as soon as we can. In the meantime, make sure the house is secure.’
‘I will, but if I feel that I’m in danger I’ll ring you again. You have my number.’
Lacey rang off. She had never felt more vulnerable in her life. She stashed the bag and its contents in the safe in the living room and then started the process of locking up. She was thankful that Toby followed her from room to room.
‘Okay, we’ve done here,’ Lacey told him, as they headed back towards the kitchen. ‘All we have to do now is check the dining-room doors.’
But Toby was no longer listening. His ears had pricked up and his hackles were beginning to rise. A low, warning growl escaped him, and the hairs on the back of Lacey’s neck began to prickle. A cold shiver ran along the length of her spine.
She turned towards the inner door, a feeling of dread creeping over her from head to toe.
‘You have something that belongs to me.’ It was a rasping, ominously threatening voice. A man, swarthy complexioned, with black, dishevelled hair, was standing in her kitchen. He was thickset, with wide shoulders and a grim, intimidating expression. His eyes glittered with menace, piercing her like a knife, and his jaw was set in a snarl, as though he would attack her at the slightest provocation.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Slowly, cautiously, so as not to alert him to what she was doing, Lacey slid her hand into the pocket of her cotton jacket and felt for the emergency speed-dial button on her phone. If she pressed it and let it go on ringing, someone at the other end might at least hear what was going on.
‘Don’t give me that,’ he said, his voice grating along her nerves. ‘You took it. It had to be you. No one else keeps nosing around that place.’
He scowled, taking a step towards her. ‘You’re a pain in the neck.’
Toby growled again, a deep, rumbling growl that meant he was ready and waiting.
‘You’d better keep that dog back or he’ll get a whack the side of his head.’ The man moved his arm very slightly, lifting it away from his side, and for the first time Lacey saw that he was holding a lethal-looking baseball bat. Her mouth went dry. ‘See?’ he said. ‘This is for him…you, too, if you don’t give me what I want.’
Toby saw it too, and his whole body was on alert now, poised, and ready for action. His ears were back, his tail was straight out, and his lip curled, baring his teeth and showing his intent.
‘You’re the one who should keep back,’ she told the man. It amazed her that she was even able to speak. Her heart was beating so fast it took her breath away, and all the while her mind was whirling, trying to find a way out of this situation. ‘You’re trespassing on my property and I’ve already called the police. If you know what’s good for you you’ll get out of here, now.’
His mouth twisted in a mocking, derisive sneer. ‘Do you think I’ve waited two years to give up now? Oh, no…that’s my fortune you’ve made off with. It belongs to me. Do you think I’m gonna let you stop me? Think again, lady.’
‘I think you’re making a big mistake,’ she said softly. ‘You won’t get away with this. The police know you’ve been hanging around the place, and they’ll be looking for you.’
He laughed, a contemptuous, dismissive sound that chilled her to the bone. He had no fear of the police, or of the dog. What on earth was she going to do?
‘Enough of this,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘You’re wasting my time. Where have you put the bag?’
‘I already told you. I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’
‘Then I’ll have to knock some sense into your head, won’t I?’ Suddenly he lunged forward, grabbing her arm, his hand closing like a vise around her. As his other arm clamped around her neck, yanking her back against him, she made the only move left to her—she jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow, a move that brought a soft explosion of breath from him. He cursed and tried to tighten his grip on her.
At the same time Toby flew at him, all teeth and jaws, ready to do as much damage as possible. He buried his teeth into her attacker’s leg, so deep and hard that the man dropped the club and yelled out in pain.
Lacey jabbed her elbow once more into his rib cage, astonished with herself that she could find such strength, but the point of her elbow hit home, and she heard the crunch of a rib as it cracked under pressure. Then she swung her leg in front of his, made a backwards kick and sent him off balance.
Harassed, his hold on her weakened, and he stumbled backwards. Toby found another part of his body to cling on to, this time an arm, and the man aimed a blow at him. It should have hurt but, instead of backing off, Toby tightened his grip on the man until he howled with pain.
And then, just as Lacey stooped to pick up the baseball bat and readied herself to lash out, Jake erupted into the room. Without stopping for a second, his hand bunched into a fist and he aimed a blow at the man’s face, a cracking, well-aimed blow that knocked him backwards and took him off his feet. Sprawled on the floor, the man must have wondered what had hit him. Dazedly, he stared up at the ceiling.
‘Guard him, Toby,’ Jake commanded, and Toby obliged with enthusiasm, placing his substantial front paws on the man’s chest, leaning his body weight over him and lowering his head to snarl directly into his face, inches away from his cheek, teeth bared, a low, menacing growl that dared him to move.
Jake flipped open his phone and dialled the emergency services. ‘We need someone here, now,’ he said, his deep voice commanding, authoritative, brooking no nonsense.
He cut the call after a moment or two and looked at Lacey. ‘He said they’re already on their way…something about an emergency call you made.’ He studied her pale face. ‘Are you all right?’
She nodded. Just at that moment she couldn’t get any words out. The trauma of the incident was beginning to crowd in on her, and even as her fingers made to tighten on the baseball bat to stop it slipping from her grasp, she began to tremble.
‘Here, you’d better give me that,’ Jake said. ‘It’ll come in handy if he’s stupid enough to make a move.’ He gave the man a meaningful look, but it was clear he was going nowhere.
Jake took the bat from her, laying it down on the table, and she stared at him, wide-eyed, the strength draining from her body. ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked. ‘I thought…’
‘I came as soon as I sensed you were in danger,’ he told her. ‘I must have broken the world speed record to get here…it’s a wonder the police didn’t pick me up along the way.’
She tried a weak laugh, but failed. Her body slumped a little and he caught her, steadying her with a strong arm around her waist. ‘I couldn’t bear to think that you were in any kind of danger,’ he said. ‘For the life of me, I can’t imagine why you didn’t tell me what was happening before this. If I’d known, I would never have left you alone without putting safety measures in place first of all.’
‘But it’s not up to you, is it? I mean, I have to take care of myself… I have to sort myself out.’
‘No, you don’t.’ He drew her close and kissed her on the forehead, his lips brushing away the tension that was gathering there. ‘I’ll always be here for you, Lacey. You don’t ever have to worry that you’re on your own.’
She gazed up at him, wondering what he could possibly mean by that, but her thoughts fragmented when she heard the sound of sirens and of police cars churning up the gravel on the drive outside.
‘At last,’ Jake said. His gaze travelled slowly over her. ‘You should sit down,’ he said. ‘You’re in shock. Leave me to handle all this.’ He frowned. ‘Just one thing…where did you put the stuff?’
‘It’s in the safe, in the living room.’
‘Okay. Let me help you into a chair.’ He pulled out a chair by the table and eased her down into it. Lacey was more than glad of his help because now the danger was all over, her legs felt like cotton wool.
He looked at her and smiled. ‘I’ll never forget the sight of you ramming your elbow into his rib cage…and getting ready to swing at him with the bat. Way to go, Lacey.’
She tried a smile, but she wasn’t really up to humour right then. She was simply glad he was going to deal with the police and take the weight off her shoulders. All the fight had gone out of her and realisation of the enormity of the danger she had been in was beginning to make itself known in shock waves through her entire body.
A police officer pulled her assailant to his feet and handcuffed him. ‘Looks like you need to see a medic,’ he murmured. ‘Two nasty dog bites there, from the looks of things…a painful jaw and maybe a cracked rib. Not your day, is it?’ With the help of a colleague, he marched him out to the waiting police car.
Toby watched him go, and then settled down on the floor beside Lacey to watch what was going on. ‘You did a great job, Toby,’ she said quietly, stroking his soft fur. She checked him over for any sign of injury, but he seemed fine.
The officer in charge inspected the bag of artefacts. ‘I guess he picked these up from some illicit salvage operation,’ he said. ‘We know who he is. He’s been locked up in the state prison for some two years. He must have stashed this lot away before he was caught, and decided to come back for it once he was released. Bad move on his part, because from the look of things he’s bought himself another long stretch now.’
‘I suppose he must have brought a boat along the waterway, looking for a convenient, out-of-the-way place to hide the stuff.’ Jake made a wry smile. ‘Of course, he reckoned without Lacey and Toby. That should teach him not to mess with feisty women.’ He glanced across the room at Lacey. ‘I just want to know where she learned her ju-jitsu moves.’
‘Chilterns Academy,’ she said. ‘Year of the millennium. I can’t say I wa
s great at it, but I managed to get by.’
He chuckled. ‘You did more than that. You were absolutely brilliant.’
She smiled, basking in his praise for the moment, but she knew full well that without his knockout blow and Toby’s ferocious protection she would have been in dire straits. The whole episode left her feeling incredibly weepy…not at all the spirited, never-back-down-kind of woman he had tagged her.
The officers left after some half an hour, and peace finally descended. Lacey stood up, testing her feet on the floor to see whether or not things had returned to normal. She felt reasonably sure that she was back on form once more.
Jake rummaged in the cupboards to find an extra-special treat for Toby, and then he came over to Lacey and gathered her up in his arms. ‘It’s hard to believe what you’ve just been through, and all without telling me anything about it. I want you to promise me that you’ll always tell me everything that troubles you from now on.’
She sent him a puzzled look. ‘I would…but you gave me the impression that you’d have me move out of here. How does that fit in with wanting to take care of me?’
‘I wasn’t suggesting that you go very far,’ he murmured, his head bending close to hers, his lips nuzzling the softness of her cheek. ‘Better still, you could move in with me. Now, that would be perfect.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Move in with you?’ Her heart began to race all over again. ‘That idea’s turned up out of the blue, hasn’t it?’
‘Not so much.’ He dropped a kiss onto her soft lips. ‘I’ve been thinking about it for a long time…’ He laughed. ‘Well, ever since you moved here, if the truth be known. I just felt I had to have you near…only you weren’t at all keen on me and my way of life, were you, so I was on the back foot from the first.’
‘I didn’t understand…about the medicine, I mean, but I can see now why you would give it all up. You went through a terrible time, and it was bound to make you think hard about the way you live your life.’