by Sue Brown
His arm around Sam’s neck loosened, and Sam managed to gasp out, “I’m your brother.”
For a moment Colin looked almost sad. “My brother died a long time ago.”
“We’re a team.” Sam’s voice was barely more than a whisper.
Colin shook his head. “I ran your life just so you could live inside your own head. What did you expect me to do, Sam? Be your puppet forever?”
“Hey, leave him alone!”
The cry came from over Gabriel’s shoulder, and Gabriel cursed. He’d managed to get closer to them while the two brothers had been talking, but at the shout, Colin swung round. He took another step closer to the edge of the cliff and overbalanced. Gabriel hurled himself at Sam’s legs as Colin’s feet slipped over the edge. For a split second, Gabriel thought they would all plunge to their deaths and he thought how ironic it was that he’d die just as he found a reason to live.
He saw the shock on Colin’s face as he realised the danger he was in, but by then it was too late. Colin fell, and thankfully his grip on Sam’s neck broke as he scrabbled frantically at the cliff face. Gabriel held on as Colin’s momentum nearly took Sam, headfirst, with him. Gabriel slammed onto the ground, Sam under him, both of them skittering towards the edge. He heard Sam moan, but they were still sliding, and he was sure they were both going to go over and follow Colin to the rocks below. Suddenly someone tackled Gabriel as he had Sam, knocking the air out of him, and there was the acrid aroma of sweat. They all stopped, Sam half over the edge, Gabriel looking down at the broken and twisted body of Colin Maitland. Then he caught the terrified expression in Sam’s eyes, and nothing else mattered.
“I’ve got you,” he said. “I won’t let you go.”
Sam clung on to Gabriel’s arms, his fingers digging in painfully.
“We’re going to pull you back,” someone said from above him. “Don’t move.”
Gabriel kept his eyes on Sam’s as the weight eased off him and they were dragged away from danger.
“You’re safe now,” the voice said.
Gabriel stayed where he was, sprawled half over Sam as he tried to get his breath back, his limbs unable to work for a moment. His brain hadn’t caught up to the fact that he wasn’t about to plunge to the rocks. Beneath him he heard gasps, and he raised his head to see Sam staring up at the sky, his eyes unfocused.
“Sam?” Gabriel said.
Sam didn’t react, didn’t even blink. Worry spread its icy tendrils through Gabriel.
“Sam—”
“Fuck. I thought you were goners for sure.”
Gabriel turned his head to see a huge, almost bald man dressed in running shorts and a sweat-stained T-shirt, bending over him, his eyes wide and his face as sweaty as though he’d run a great distance. He swallowed hard. “You were the one who saved us?”
The man nodded and ran a hand over his shaved head. “I was just running past. You probably didn’t notice me. I saw you drop the mugs and turned to see the man trying to kill your… friend.” Gabriel stiffened, but the man continued. “I didn’t think I was going to get to you in time.” He looked sheepish. “Sorry about tackling you like that. Used to play rugby.”
The man was built like a mountain, and Gabriel hurt like hell along his back and thighs, but that was okay. Gabriel could cope with a few bruises to still be here, and more to the point, for Sam to be alive.
“If you hadn’t, we’d be dead,” he reassured their saviour. “I can’t thank you enough.”
The man glanced at Sam, who was still on the ground, his eyes staring up to the sky, and furrowed his brow. “Christ, that’s Storm Maitland.”
Gabriel blinked. Was he the only one who didn’t know who Sam was? Then again, he’d never been into music before Jenny died. She was the one who had music in the cottage, listening to the radio in the kitchen or the old iPod she’d had since university. Gabriel was more into video games and YouTube. Since they’d gone, his X-Box lay untouched as he spent all his days on the clifftop, waiting.
“You know who he is?” he asked.
“He’s all over my daughter’s bedroom,” the man said. “Is he all right?”
Gabriel rolled off Sam, kneeled over him, and studied him anxiously. “Are you okay, Sam?”
Sam’s face had lost the redness from Colin choking him, but his gaze was still glassy, and he took so long to answer that Gabriel was seriously worried.
“I’ll call an ambulance,” the man said, sounding concerned.
That seemed to stir Sam. He blinked and turned his head to look at Gabriel. “You saved me. Again.”
He had to force out the words, and the red finger marks around his throat were darkening. Gabriel wanted to cover them with his own fingers, hide them until they disappeared. Anger started boiling in Gabriel’s gut, and to distract himself, he pointed at the man now kneeling by them. “If it weren’t for—” He paused and raised an eyebrow.
“Mick. Mick Powell,” the man said hastily.
“Mick saved us both.”
Gabriel helped Sam sit up. What colour was in Sam’s face drained, leaving him ashen. But he managed to give Mick a wan smile. “Thanks, Mick. I owe you.” He leaned against Gabriel who gathered him against his chest. Gabriel held him tightly as Sam shook in his arms.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he murmured. “I won’t let you go.”
Sam shivered and nodded and held on to Gabriel, burying his face against Gabriel’s chest.
Gabriel caught their rescuer eyeing them both, but he didn’t care what Mick thought. He was only focused on Sam. But Mick’s next words took him by surprise.
“Becky’s never going to believe I saved her hero.” He sounded starstruck.
“Don’t look much like a hero at the moment,” Sam muttered into Gabriel’s chest, but Gabriel hushed him and smiled at Mick.
“Now you’ll be the hero. You saved him.”
“She’s never going to believe me,” Mick said again.
Gabriel heard shouting and turned his head to see Toby running towards them, consternation on his face.
“Gabriel, what the fuck just happened? What happened to Sam?”
Sam answered before Gabriel could open his mouth. “My brother tried to finish off what he tried before.”
“Again?” Toby looked around. “Where is he?”
“At the bottom of the cliff,” Gabriel said.
Toby blinked and then gave a grim smile. “Good.”
Mick looked bewildered. “That was your brother?”
Sam nodded.
“Your manager?”
“Yup.”
“Jesus.” Mick thought for a moment. “No offence, but you’re better off without him.”
Sam snorted as though he were about to laugh, but then started to cough. “None taken,” he managed finally.
Toby snorted too and then peered over the edge of the cliff. His expression was grimmer when he turned back to them.
Sam sucked in a breath. “Is he…?”
Gabriel had seen Colin lying on the rocks, but he wanted to check for himself that the bastard was actually dead. Sam shuddered, and Gabriel kissed the top of his head. It didn’t matter. Morgue, hospital, or prison, Colin wouldn’t be getting near Sam again.
“I’m sorry, Sam,” Toby said, his voice as gentle as it had been to Gabriel after Jenny died. “I need to look at your throat, make sure the bastard hasn’t done any permanent damage.”
People were gathering to stare at them, and Gabriel was sure Sam didn’t want this sort of attention. “Why don’t we take this back to the cottage?”
He got to his feet, and between him and Toby, they hauled Sam up, balancing him when his legs wobbled. Mick stood anxiously by, looking ready to leap in if necessary. Once they were standing, Gabriel understood why he felt as though he’d been run over with a steamroller. The man was about Gabriel’s height but would easily make three of him.
Sam managed to stand on his feet without collapsing, and held his hand out to Mick, w
ho stared and then took it gingerly. “I can’t thank you enough for what you did for Gabriel and me. What can I do to thank you?”
Mick shook his head. “You need to get medical help. The fact you’re alive is enough for me.”
“Let me take your phone number. When things have settled down, I’ll call you and arrange a gig just for your daughter and her friends.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Mick patted his shorts’ pockets. “Uh, I don’t have a pen or paper.”
“Nor do I.” Sam turned to Toby, who rolled his eyes and dug a small notebook and pen out of his jacket pocket.
Mick scribbled in it, pausing as he tried to remember his number, and then Sam took it and also wrote something. He carefully tore it out and handed it to Mick, who read it and looked dumbfounded.
Gabriel peered at the piece of paper, trying to decipher Sam’s scrawl.
Becky
Your dad saved my life. He’s my hero
Storm Maitland
“Thank you.”
Gabriel held out his hand. “You saved my life too, Mick. Thanks.”
Mick shook it without the hesitation he showed Sam. “You’re welcome. My morning runs aren’t usually this dramatic.”
“Someone must have called the police.” Sam pointed to two police officers loping towards them. “You’d better call your family, Mick. This is going to take a while.”
Mick looked almost pleased. “My mother-in-law is here for the day. The longer this takes, the better.” He winced and cast Sam an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, mate, that sounded heartless. I know you just lost your brother.”
Sam managed a brief smile and buried his face against Gabriel’s chest. Gabriel brushed a kiss over his bright hair and held him closer. It was going to be a long afternoon trying to explain everything that had just happened. Then he took a closer look at the police officers.
Toby cast him a worried look. “Do you see—?”
“I see,” Gabriel growled.
Sam tilted his head. “What’s wrong?”
Gabriel forced a smile on his face. “Nothing. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,” Toby snapped. “We’re just about to meet PC Arsehole.”
“What?” Mick asked.
“Who?” Sam said at the same time.
Toby gave a grim smile. “PC Adam Riley. He thinks Gabe killed Jenny and Michael.”
Chapter 18—Sam
SAM STARED at Toby and then up at Gabriel and noted his hooded eyes and closed-off expression.
“You’re joking,” he said.
Toby stared grimly at the approaching policemen. “I wish I were. He caused a lot of trouble for Gabe, insinuating he had something to do with their deaths. He spread it around the village, and there are still people who believe it, even now.”
“No smoke without fire,” Gabe said harshly.
The two officers reached them, and Sam studied them carefully. It wasn’t hard to guess which one was Riley—a thirtysomething man with small dark eyes and a wide forehead who scowled at Gabriel with vicious glee.
“Here we are again, Mr Pennant. Another death, and you at the centre of it again.”
Gabriel’s face couldn’t have looked colder or bleaker. “Good to see you too, Riley.”
The other officer was younger than Riley, probably no older than Sam. He looked between the two of them, his expression wary. “I’m PC Billings. This is my colleague—”
“He knows who I am,” Riley said, his tone harsh.
Gabriel inclined his head at Billings, ignoring Riley. “Gabriel Pennant. This is Storm Maitland.”
“Yes, I know.”
Riley didn’t look impressed, but Billings had the same starstruck look that Mick had worn.
“And this is Mick Powell,” Gabriel said, indicating the man who’d been standing next to them.
Sam was pleased Gabriel took the time to introduce Mick, who had kept quiet during the whole exchange.
Mick nodded to the two policemen; his expression unfriendly. “I witnessed a man trying to kill Mr Maitland and this man save him.” He pointed at Gabriel, who smiled at him.
“You saved us both,” Gabriel said. “And you saw what happened.”
From Riley’s sour expression, he understood the repeated warnings that there were witnesses. If the officer thought he could blame this on Gabriel, he had another think coming.
Sam didn’t move away from Gabriel’s embrace. “Gabriel saved my life. If it hadn’t been for him and Mr Powell, I’d have been at the bottom of the cliff, thanks to my brother. And he saved me from drowning five days ago.”
“That’s convenient,” Riley snorted.
Sam frowned at Riley. “What do you mean?”
Riley curled his lip. “It’s convenient that he happens to be there just in time to rescue you.”
“I’ve watched the bay every day since my wife and child were swept away.”
There was so much pain in Gabriel’s statement that Sam wanted to hug him close and promise he could take the pain away, but that pain would stay with Gabriel until his dying breath. Sam leaned against Gabriel, trying to give him comfort. Gabriel didn’t move away, and Sam was fully aware that both policemen noted the closeness between them. Just let them say something. Sam would have them up on disciplinary charges before they could take the next breath. There were some advantages to knowing the chief constable. He squeaked as a memory of entertaining the chief constable at a dinner party hosted by Colin popped into his mind. Gabriel gave him a confused look.
“I just remembered something,” Sam said lamely. “I’ll explain later.”
“Where is the man who attacked you, Mr Maitland?” Billings asked, jumping in before Riley could make another acidic remark.
“He’s at the bottom of the cliff,” Sam said.
“Of course he is.” Riley rolled his eyes, and Gabriel stiffened.
“Do you have something you want to share, Officer Riley?” Toby snarled.
“We need to take a look at him and then take statements from you,” Billings said hastily.
Gabriel gave a short nod. “We’ll be in the cottage. Riley knows where it is.”
“Do you know who tried to attack you?” Riley asked.
Sam took a shaky breath, trying to hold back a sob. “My brother, Colin.”
“Your brother tried to kill you?” Billings wrinkled his brow. “Isn’t he your manager?”
“He is… was.”
“What was wrong?” Riley snarled. “Didn’t you pay him enough?”
Billings glared at his colleague. “Officer Riley, we need to look at the body.”
He turned and headed to the steps without another word. Riley’s scowl was just as fierce, but he stomped after Billings.
“The air is suddenly clearer,” Mick muttered.
Toby and Gabriel laughed, although Gabriel’s was a little shaky.
“Come on, Mick. I’ll make you a drink,” Gabriel said.
“Great.” Mick shivered as the breeze suddenly picked up. “I wonder how long they’re going to keep me. I could do with a shower and clothes. It’s getting a bit parky now.”
“The shower I can help you with,” Gabriel promised.
“I might be able to find something to fit you,” Toby said. “My husband’s a big guy.”
Mick eyed them all. “You all gay?”
Gabriel shook his head, and Sam held his breath.
“I’m bisexual. I was married to my Jenny for a long time.”
It was obvious from his expression that Mick wanted to ask questions, but then he shrugged. “Coffee sounds good.”
As they walked up towards the cottage, Sam slipped his hand into Gabriel’s and was relieved when he didn’t pull away.
“How are you feeling?” Gabriel asked.
“Like my brother tried to strangle me and then two big men fell on top of me.” Sam gave him a wry smile. “I’ve got bruises on my bruises.”
He was bruised from head to foot, and he
felt as though he could feel every finger mark left by Colin around his neck and throat. Gabriel’s expression clouded as he focused on the bruising around Sam’s neck.
“It looks bad… huh?” Sam asked.
“You’re not going to be doing any naked photo shoots for a week or two.”
Sam rolled his eyes. “I’m a singer-songwriter, not a member of a boy band. I don’t make a habit of taking my clothes off.”
Ahead of them, Mick made a choking sound, and Sam realised what he’d said.
“Sorry, Mick,” he called out.
Mick looked over his shoulder. “I’m glad you don’t take your clothes off or my daughter and I might be having words.”
“Is your throat sore?” Gabriel asked, lightly stroking one of the marks.
“Yeah,” Sam admitted. “It’s stupid, but all I could think of when he had his hands around my neck was that if I survived, he could wreck my voice.”
He remembered that moment—the fear that Colin was going to strangle him and then the worry for his voice. It made him realise which he valued the most. He fought for his life, but also he wasn’t going to let Colin take everything from him. Then it all became irrelevant as Gabriel tried to save him and Sam was scared for both of them.
“I’ll take a look at you back at the cottage,” Toby said.
“I’m fine,” Sam assured him. Then Gabriel snorted, and Sam tilted his head to look at him. “What?”
“You’re talking like you’ve got a choice.”
“Finally he gets it,” Toby muttered.
Sam opened his mouth to protest and then shut it again. Toby nodded in satisfaction.
“You’re a quack?” Mick asked.
“Yes, local GP. My surgery is just over there.” Toby pointed in the direction of the trees.
“I’ve run past here so many times but only stuck to the coastal path. I’ve never explored the villages.”
Sam leaned into Gabriel, who slung an arm around his shoulder. He was suddenly exhausted and wanted nothing more than a nap in Gabriel’s arms for the rest of the afternoon, but he knew the nap would be a long time coming.
Gabriel slowed down and let the others pull ahead. He stopped and turned to face Sam. “I’m sorry.”