‘He did intend to kill you and Liam.’
‘No, he just wanted us to be together.’
‘Why won’t you try to help yourself? A court would be sympathetic and with your medical condition I doubt you would get a custodial sentence.’
‘There’s nothing left to live for.’ Leah’s voice trembled.
‘There’s Liam. You’re all he’s got,’ Meadows gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘Come on, you have to try. Liam used all his strength to save you, he doesn’t want you to die.’
A tear rolled down Leah’s cheek and she turned her head away.
The door opened and Edris peeked inside. Meadows nodded.
‘You have a visitor, Leah.’ He stood and walked to the door.
Liam rushed into the room. ‘Leah!’ He threw himself on the bed.
Dean Casey stood in the doorway. ‘Thank you,’ he said to Meadows.
‘I’ll leave you three alone,’ Meadows looked back and saw Leah stroking Liam’s head. He smiled and left the room.
‘You’re taking a bit of a risk sending Liam in,’ Edris said.
‘I have to give her a reason to live. I just hope it works.’
Chapter Thirty-four
Meadows stood outside Bethesda House, watching the residents climb into the minibus which would take them to catch a plane to Lapland. Edris was talking to Harry, his eyes twinkling. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before she climbed on the bus.
‘Dare I ask what all that was about?’ Meadows grinned.
‘I’m sort of seeing her,’ Edris looked coy.
‘What about Val?’
‘Well, that didn’t work out.’
‘Didn’t work out? When have you had the time to ... oh, never mind. I hope you haven’t left her broken-hearted.’
‘No, actually she used me, took advantage of my body then told me she didn’t want a relationship.’
‘Good for her,’ Meadows laughed.
‘Winter Man!’ Kevin came lumbering out of the front door dragging his pink and white spotted suitcase.
Meadows felt his heart swell and couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he walked towards Kevin. He could see that the doctors had shaved his head and a row of stitches were visible beneath the stubble. His eye was swollen and his cheek a purple-yellowish hue.
‘I’m so glad to see you back on your feet,’ Meadows embraced the big man who would forever hold a special place in his heart. ‘I have something for you.’ He took a scarf from his pocket and handed it to Kevin. ‘It’s for your snowman. My mum knitted it for you.’
‘You have a mum?’ Kevin’s eyes were wide.
‘Yes,’ Meadows laughed.
‘Come on, Kev, you better get on the bus, you don’t want the plane to leave without you.’ Gemma smiled. ‘He was determined to come on the trip, the doctor thought it would do him good.’
‘I doubt they would’ve been able to stop him. You have a great time, Kevin, take a picture of your snowman and I’ll come and see you when you get back.’
‘Bye bye, Winter Man,’ Kevin grinned and climbed on the bus.
‘You know you frightened the life out of me climbing that tree,’ Edris said as the bus pulled out of the car park.
‘You needn’t have worried. Circus performers used to come to the commune when I was a kid. I was pretty good at trapeze and tightrope.’
‘You’re full of surprises,’ Edris laughed. ‘Shame you don’t have the same skills with women.’
‘I think I’ll leave that up to you!’ Meadows grinned.
‘Christmas dance is coming up. Why don’t you ask Daisy?’
‘Maybe I will.’ Meadows smiled as he watched the bus fade into the distance.
Crime Fiction from Accent Press
For more information about
Cheryl Rees-Price
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© 2016 Cheryl Rees-Price
The right of Cheryl Rees-Price to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her 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 copyright holder.
Published by Accent Press Ltd 2016
Paperback ISBN: 9781783759675
Ebook ISBN: 9781783759668
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