by Clare Revell
Sara shook her head. “Austin stabbed Jamie. The man I walked into was someone else.”
Shepherds leaned forwards. “Can ye describe him?”
“He was the same height and build as Jamie. There was a mark on his left arm.”
“What sort of a mark?”
“I don’t know. I can’t remember. It was too dark.”
“Yes, you can,” Luke told her. “Visualize it in your mind. Where on his arm?”
Sara closed her eyes, trying to do what Luke said and see the man in her mind’s eye, waving her free hand as she spoke. “It’s on his left wrist. It’s green and blue, scales, wings and claws.” She paused, thinking for a moment. “It’s a dragon.”
“Are you sure?”
She opened her eyes. “Yes, I’m sure. It’s a dragon.”
Luke hugged her. “Well done. Told you you could do it.”
Sara hugged him back. “Thanks to you.”
He smiled. “We need to check the database for a tattoo like that and hope we come up with something.”
Dave stood. “I’ll get right on it.”
Luke got to his feet. “I’ll see you out.”
Sara sat there as the men left. “I wish I could undo the past few months.”
Mary’s voice was gentle. “But then you’d not have the twins, and you wouldn’t have met Luke.”
Sara sighed. “Yeah.”
Luke came back in. “Sara, going back to what we were talking about earlier.”
Just like a dog with a bone, he won’t drop it. “I told you, Leftenant, my rings have gone. Either we say my fingers are too swollen, or I’ll find a curtain ring from somewhere.”
He shook his head. He pulled his college ring off his little finger and handed it to her. “Sara, I know my ring may be a little big for you, but would you wear it?”
Sara longed to take it, but shook her head. It was his ring and with all that wearing it implied, it was something she couldn’t in all good conscience do. “I can’t.”
“Please. Just until this is over, and then I’ll take it back.”
Sara took a deep breath. “All right, since you said please.” She took it and slid it onto her finger. “It’s a little big, but not too much.”
The doorbell rang again. She shook her head, her attention still on the ring. “It’s like Piccadilly Circus around here.”
“Huh?” Luke asked on his way to the door.
“Bedlam, Paddy’s Market, people coming and going all the time,” Sara explained.
“Ah.”
Sara glanced at Mary. “I think I confused him even more.”
“Probably.”
Luke came back in with the doctor.
Scott smiled at her. “Hello, Sara.”
Sara smiled back. “I’m sorry to bother you again.”
Scott shook his head. “It’s nae problem. Luke said ye’d had a shock yesterday and were nae feeling so good.”
“To put it mildly. I didn’t sleep and probably look as bad as I feel.”
“Let’s check ye over.”
****
After Scott left, Luke came back into the room. He had concern written all over his face. “What did he say?”
“He wants me to rest. No more shocks for a while. He said if I don’t sleep again tonight, he can give me a mild sleeping pill that won’t harm the twins. Just to get me back into a routine of sleeping properly.”
“Did he give you a prescription for it?”
“No, I said I’d see how I sleep the next few nights.” Sara ran her finger over Luke’s ring. “Could you carry me upstairs, please? I want a bath.”
“Sure. You feel like some lunch?”
Sara raised an eyebrow as he picked her up. She slid an arm around his neck. “Why? Do I look like some lunch?”
Luke poked his tongue out at her. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Luke Nemec,” came the voice from the doorway. “Put that tongue away right now.”
Sara burst out laughing. “I told you.”
Luke laughed. “You did.”
As one, they turned and poked their tongues out at Aunt Mary.
She put her hands on her hips and smiled at them. “What am I to do with the pair of you?”
“Love us,” Sara said. “I’ll be back down in a bit. Luke’s taking me for a bath.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “You can bathe yourself. I’m just taking you upstairs.”
“Leftenant Stair Lift.” She glanced up as she nestled against him.
Luke shook his head in despair. “You should be grateful I like you.”
Sara laughed. “Otherwise, you’d drop me, right?”
“That’s for me to know, and you to find out.”
Mary shook her head. “Children.” She laughed. “I must pack. Dave’s taking me to the station at five o’clock.”
Sara glanced over Luke’s shoulder at her. “I wish you weren’t going.”
“I’ve got your number now so I can phone. It’s not like either of us is going to vanish, is it?”
Sara shook her head. “No.”
“Go and have your bath, and I’ll make lunch once I’ve packed.”
****
Luke sat in the kitchen and gawped at Mary. “I’m sorry?”
“I said when are you going to tell that stubborn niece of mine how you feel about her?”
“I never said anything…”
“You don’t need to. It’s written all over the way you react to her, talk to her, and care for her.”
“I’m on duty,” Luke muttered.
“And in love with the woman you’re protecting.”
Luke squirmed in his seat. “What if I am? She doesn’t feel the same way, and even if she did, I’m working. I’m not allowed to fall in love with her.”
“But you have.”
Luke took a deep breath. “Yes, I like Sara way more than I’m supposed to. Despite her awkwardness, the tantrums, the pouting, and the way she calls me leftenant, I’m fond of her, but I can’t act on it.”
“Why not?”
“Her emotions are all over the place. She doesn’t know which way is up, never mind anything else. All men are being classed the same way as Jamie. Lying scumbags she can’t trust. I’m not like that, but she doesn’t see it. And don’t tell her I just pronounced lieutenant the English way either. I’ll never hear the last of it.”
Mary looked him straight in the eye. “What makes you the expert on women all of a sudden? Are you prepared to risk it?”
“Risk what? That all she wants is a fling, a shoulder to cry on, a father for her unborn kids?”
Mary shook her head. “I didn’t take you for a fool, Luke. Don’t throw away any chance you have with her. Love is a risk, but if you don’t seize it with both hands, you miss out. Are you prepared to settle for a piece of sky, or will you fling open the door and soar in the vast unknown.”
“I don’t know.” Luke glanced up as Sara called him from the top of the stairs.
“Talk to her, Luke. Sort it before you lose your chance.”
“I will, just not yet.” He stood up. “I’d better go and get her.”
****
Sara waved goodbye to her aunt as the car drove off. She turned away from the window, tears rolling down her face.
“What’s wrong?” Luke stepped in front of her.
“I can’t shift the feeling I’m never going to see her again.”
Luke wrapped his arms around her. “Of course you will. She said she’d ring my cell phone when she gets home. You can speak to her then.”
Sara shivered as he ran a finger down her cheek, wiping away her tears. She could feel the goose bumps rising at his touch, his face inches from hers. To have him hold her, kiss her, and make everything all right would be wonderful, but that wasn’t going to happen.
Sara eased out of his arms. If she stayed there, she’d end up doing something she shouldn’t. Something both of them would regret.
Luke took the hint. “I’
ll go make a start on dinner.”
She balanced on the crutches, and headed into the lounge. She had a painting to finish.
16
Two weeks later, Sara sat on the edge of the bed gazing out of the window at the sea. Despite asking almost every day, she hadn’t been there. Maybe if she asked again, he’d take her just to shut her up.
The shower started running and she tuned out the image of Luke standing under it. Hopefully, the hospital would give her the all clear today, and she could lose this annoying splint. She no longer needed Luke to carry her up and down the stairs, but he insisted and she wasn’t going to argue with him. There was something about being in his arms that made her stomach fill with butterflies, the blood rush faster in her veins and her heart sing.
Hearing Luke go back to his room, Sara threw back the covers and got up. She went to the bathroom and washed, then went back to her room and dressed. By the time Luke knocked on her door, she was ready.
She opened the door. “Good morning.”
“Morning, Sara.” Luke swung her into his arms and started carrying her down the stairs. “You’re too light. We’ll have to feed you up a bit more.”
Sara leaned into him. “You worry too much.”
“I know, but you’re pregnant. Would you please bring it up at your next checkup with Doc Scott? If you don’t, I will.”
Sara sighed as he sat her at the table. She’d do it for him, no other reason. “All right.”
Luke set the microwave going and turned to Sara. “Do you want some breakfast?”
“Toast, please.”
Luke opened the bread. “Sure. One or two pieces?”
“Two, please. I don’t feel sick this morning.”
Luke smiled. “That’s great. Maybe I can fatten you up after all.” He made breakfast and brought it over to her. “I was thinking. We should have your aunt to stay again. For Christmas, perhaps.”
Sara beamed. “I’d like that, and so would she. Thank you.”
Luke smiled back. “I’ll organize it today.”
Sara picked up the jar of Marmite and layered it on the toast. She added jam and peanut butter.
“That’s disgusting.” Luke scrunched up his nose.
She grinned at him and took a large bite. “No, it’s not.” She spoke with her mouth full. “It’s yummy.”
Luke made sick noises. “No, it’s disgusting.”
“You eat jam and peanut butter all the time. In fact, you introduced me to it.”
“Peanut butter and jelly is nice.”
“Jam. You have jelly with ice cream. Jam with bread.”
“Whatever. That yeast extract makes it a revolting combination.”
She waved the toast under his nose, laughing at the faces he pulled. “You should try it.”
“No thanks. I’ll stick to oatmeal this morning.”
Sara took another bite. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”
“I know exactly what I’m missing.” He grinned.
Sara finished the toast and coffee and leaned back in the chair. “That was lovely. Thank you.”
“Do you want some more?”
“No, thanks. There’s no room. If I…” She broke off.
“What’s wrong?” He sat up straight, concern flashing in his eyes.
Sara grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. “Nothing’s wrong. The babies are playing football again.”
“That’s amazing.”
“They’ve been doing it on and off the past couple of weeks, but not as much as they were doing at one point.”
Luke looked down at her stomach. “Jodi said that when she was pregnant with Danny, that’s her eldest, he’d kick the soap off her stomach and send it flying across the bathroom.”
She smiled and rubbed the top of his hand. “Funny.”
Luke raised his eyes and leaned forwards. Sara found herself inches away from his face, her lips almost on his. She pulled back. She couldn’t kiss him. It wouldn’t be right.
Luke stood, cleared his throat, and started clearing the table. Sara pulled herself up and went into the lounge, a torrent of emotion running through her. Why did things have to get so complicated?
****
In the kitchen, Luke busied himself with the dishes, pushing down his feelings. They weren’t his babies. Sara wasn’t his wife or girlfriend. He glared at the dish in his hand, for a moment wishing it was Sara he touched.
He took a deep breath and huffed. So far his investigation had turned up diddly-squat. He spent a vast amount of each day delving into Jamie’s past, discovering nothing but dead ends. It was as if someone was thwarting every move they made.
They were no closer to finding the leak in the department in Winterton. He had a nasty feeling it went deeper and further than it appeared, but he only shared that with Dave.
His mobile phone rang, and he snatched it up. “Nemec. Good morning, sir.” It was Captain Harriman. The last person Luke expected to hear from. “How are you? Yeah, I’m good. I was going to call you later. That’s the thing. Not so good. I’m not protective services, and to be honest, she resents it as much as I do. So what I’m asking is to be reassigned.”
He sat down at the table and listened while Harriman spoke, his fingers drumming on the table. “I understand that, sir, but this isn’t working. There are a lot of brick walls. Files we had on Jamie have been mysteriously misplaced. Lines of enquiry are suddenly terminated. Phone calls aren’t returned, and there’s a stony silence on the subject of the leak in the department. I’ve resorted to contacting the LAPD and making enquires there.”
Luke paused. “We’re focusing on trying to trace Jamie, his family, and where they came from, but there’s nothing, and what little we did have has vanished. Thing is, sir, why bring me all this way, almost six thousand miles, to baby-sit Sara? I’d be far more useful out there hunting Austin and finding him, than I am sitting here, day in and day out, evaluating files. Not to mention the—”
He stilled his fingers. “I see.”
Luke let out a deep sigh. “Then I guess I have no choice.” He ran a hand through his hair. “All right. I’ll sit tight and do things this way for now. You, too, sir. Bye.”
He closed the phone and shoved it to one side. If Harriman was right, and Luke desperately hoped he wasn’t, he was in the right place. But who, if anyone, could he trust? Could he even trust Dave? He was depending on him for so much and every outside contact he’d made had been suggested by Dave.
His thoughts were interrupted as Sara came back into the kitchen, a worried expression on her face. “What’s up?”
“A car pulled up on the driveway. It’s not Dave or Carole.”
Luke leapt to his feet. “Stay here.”
****
Sara sat at the table, her heart pounding. The door opened, and voices echoed in the hallway. Luke came in with a short, long-haired man with glasses. Dave stood behind them.
“Sara, this is the lawyer you wanted to see, Mr. Rankin.”
Sara stood up and held out a hand. “Hello.”
“Mrs. Barnes, I have those papers for ye tae sign. I’ll need two witnesses.”
“I’m sure the two gentlemen here will oblige.” She got nods from Luke and Dave. “Where do I sign?”
She took the pen and signed where she was shown. She smiled. She couldn’t help it. She was free. No longer Mrs. Barnes, but Miss Daniels. The name change finalized and the marriage annulled. The only thing that would change that now would be if Jamie somehow turned up alive.
Dave glanced at Luke as he witnessed the papers. “I’ll meet ye at the hospital. I have a couple of errands I need tae run first.”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you out.”
Sara moved to the window as the men left, resisting the urge to ring her aunt. She’d do that later. As Luke came back in, she moved over to him. “It’s time to go, Leftenant.”
“Sara, my name is Luke.”
Sara winked. “OK…It’s time to go
, Leftenant Luke.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “Guess I asked for that one.”
Her heart leapt within her. He still wanted her to call him Luke, and now she was free, she could do so. “Yeah, you did, Luke.”
Luke’s smile made her heart leap even more. “I’ll get your coat.”
Sara smiled. “Thank you.” She paused and tried his name out again. “Luke.”
She followed him into the hall, put on her jacket, and grabbed her bag. She let him lead her to the car, and she got in and did up her belt, rolling her eyes as Luke’s phone rang. She was anxious not to be late, but wanted to know if it was about her. “Don’t be long.”
Luke put the keys in the ignition and started to shut the door. He shook his head and pulled the phone out of his pocket. “I’ll talk and drive at the same time.”
“Luke, you can’t. That’s illegal in this country.”
“All right, I’m still taking it.”
“Fine, take it.” Sara pulled her hat down further and tightened her scarf. “If we’re late, and I miss the appointment, I’ll have to remake it. I won’t get one until after Christmas.”
****
Luke answered the call. “Nemec.”
“Good morning, Lieutenant, it’s DCI Shepherds. I thought I’d let ye know the officer responsible for the leak in Norfolk has been traced and brought in. He’s no’ talking, but if he does, we’ll let ye know.”
“Thank you.”
“It sounds as if yer outside.”
“We’re about to leave for the hospital. Sara can’t miss this appointment.”
“Extra back up will be waiting there for ye. What time is she seeing the doctor?”
“Ten-forty-five. We’re cutting it close as it is.”
“Take a different route there and back.”
“Yes, sir.” He raised a hand in greeting as Antonia, bundled up against the cold, came over, and started chatting to Sara. He’d never known a neighbor who liked talking so much. She had called around almost every other day to see if Sara wanted coffee or a chat or both. Antonia could be just being neighborly, but he couldn’t take the chance. He was fast running out of excuses. Dark gray clouds hung overhead. Finishing the call, Luke put the phone away. “Good morning, Antonia.”