To Bedevil A Beauty (Southern Sanctuary - Book 5)

by Jane Cousins

  She blinked several times, her vision clearing. She was in a dimly lit cabin, lying on a padded bench. She turned her head to scope out what else she could see. Oh Goddess thank you, Joanne was alive, tied up, lying on a padded bench on the opposite side of the cabin.

  “Berry.” Joanne was lying on her side awkwardly. Her face very pale by the light of the moon. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so.” Berry frowned. “How did we get here? What’s going on?”

  “I’m so sorry.” Tracks of tears made glistening trails down the side of Joanne’s face. “It was Colin. I don’t know how it happened. I was feeling unwell at the party, he offered to fetch you and the next thing I know he was spraying some kind of gas in your face and you collapsed. He sprayed me also, but he didn’t have much left in the canister. I remember him driving us here. Walking me onto the boat, tying me up and then carrying you in. It’s so bizarre, what does he want?”

  “That’s what I was going to ask you?”

  Joanne shook her head abruptly. “I don’t know what’s going on. He wouldn’t answer my questions.”

  “Where are we?” Berry eyed the large cabin again.

  “The marina around the bluff from the senior’s village.”

  “We’re in Haven Bay?” Berry wriggled her shoulders until she was half sitting up. “Have you tried calling for help?”

  Joanne nodded glumly. “He came in and told me that the place was deserted for the night so go ahead and keep yelling until I was hoarse.”

  “Where is he?” Berry glanced towards the entrance expecting Colin Prescott to appear.

  “There’s a problem with the motor. He muttered something about it looked like wild life had chewed through the fuel line. I think he’s trying to fix it.”

  “You don’t know what he wants with us?”

  Joanne shook her head, fresh tears dripping down the side of her face. “No. But it’s all my fault Berry. I should have realised there was something not quite right about him. He asked all these questions about you… but I just thought he was interested in me, my life, what was important to me. I never imagined… never could have guessed that… that he would do something like this. He was such a gentleman… charming, sweet even. How could I have been so foolish? So blind?”

  “Jo-Jo don’t beat yourself up about it. We have more immediate problems on our hands, speaking of which, can you get loose?” Berry tested her own bindings, finding them annoyingly tight.

  “No.” Joanne wriggled so violently she almost fell off her bench.

  “Careful.” Berry warned, peering around the cabin. Hmmm… the galley, maybe in one of those drawers she might find a knife or something sharp to cut her bindings. Heaving herself upright took two goes but eventually she managed to sit up, swinging her bound feet around to rest on the floor for balance. Thank Goddess Colin had tied her wrists together in the front. Now all she needed to do was keep her balance and bunny hop her way over to the kitchen area. Damn, she wished she’d taken more yoga and learnt to centre her core. Heaving herself up was easy, balancing as the boat dipped and rocked beneath her proved challenging.

  Taking several deep breaths she waited until she was reasonably sure she had the timing of the swaying boat down. Her whole body tensed to take her first bunny hop when the sound of boots clattering down the stairs from the upper deck distracted her so greatly she fell back down on the bench, knocking the air from her lungs.

  “Well, well. It’s all about the timing, isn’t it?” Colin flicked on the light as he entered the cabin, wiping his oily hands on an old cloth. The smug smile on his face turning into a full blown grin as he surveyed his two captives.

  In the dim light Berry took a good look at the man who’d kidnapped her. At the party she’d been too caught up in her own anger and misery to really take stock of the man who had been dating her mother-in-law for the past several weeks. He was tall, fit for a man in his early 60’s and pale, his hair a too dark auburn that said he clearly dyed it. His eyes were a bright, intense, slightly unnerving blue. His broad smile was surprisingly infectious. For all his genial polite exterior though, there was something intimidating about Colin, something behind his eyes, something dark an unsatisfied.

  “I just came down to let you know we’re about ready to depart. Lucky for me huh?” He picked up a piece of rope from a discarded pile at his feet and walked towards Berry, who automatically flinched away from him.

  “What are you going to do?”

  Colin ignored her, looping the rope between her ankles and securing the other end to the base of a nearby table. “That should keep you in place until we get out to sea and can have a little chat about leverage…” He flicked a quick glance over towards Joanne.”

  “What do you want with us? Why have you kidnapped us?”

  Colin resumed rubbing at his greased stained hands with the rag, leaning casually against the table he’d anchored Berry to. “I want you to solve all my problems Berry Granger. And I intend to use Joanne here as my insurance policy, ensuring that you toe the line to my specifications.”

  “My name is Malone. And toe what line? What do you think I can do for you?”

  If possible Colin’s smile broadened. “No more and no less than what you use to do for your husband.”

  “Robert?”

  “You know Robert?” Joanne echoed Berry’s bewildered tone.

  Click, a few things suddenly made sense for Berry. “Your one of the prison escapees, aren’t you? You’re friends with Gerry.”

  “Gerry? Oh, you mean Gerard.” Colin discarded the rag and gave Berry his full attention. “I hadn’t realised what an unwell man he was until we got here. I sent him off on a simple exercise to watch you and report back. Next thing I know he’s crashing through the woods telling me he’s shot you and that he needs to go back and kill the bastard who put him in prison.” Colin sighed, a distinctly put upon sound. “And just like that, all my careful planning went out the window. I couldn’t talk Gerard around or get him to listen to reason so we parted ways. Luckily I’d already introduced myself to the widow Granger as a back-up plan. A few coffees, a long walk or two, an intimate dinner listening to all her troubles… I’ve always maintained that any good plan should have a contingency… words to live by.”

  “Didn’t stop them from arresting you after you stole all that union pension money did it… Previn.”

  “Ah-hah. Well done. Smart as well as beautiful, and according to your husband very, very lucky.”

  “Where is Robert?” Berry looked towards the stairs, expecting Robert to appear.

  Previn shrugged. “How the hell should I know? Last I saw him was when the prison wall collapsed. It was every man for himself as the saying goes.”

  “I knew Robert didn’t have anything to do with all this.” Berry scowled suddenly. “So why are you here? Why did you track me down? What do you want?”

  “All very good questions.” Previn checked his watch. “Most will have to wait, but we have a few more minutes for the new fuel lines to be pumped free of air. What do I want with you? Well I’ll tell you Berry… Malone, I want magic to happen.”

  “Magic?” Berry forced a laugh. “Like Harry Potter and Tinkerbell?” She shook her head, a smile clinging to her lips.

  Previn’s left eyebrow rose in an arch for a brief moment before he moved to sit on the edge of the bench that Joanne was lying on. Bound as she was there was little Joanne could do as Previn grabbed a hank of her hair, fisting it tightly, causing her to wince in pain. All the time Previn’s intense blue eyes were fixed on Berry, watching her reaction. “I know magic is real. I know what you are.”

  Berry’s mouth felt suddenly very dry as she watched Previn hover over Joanne, bright malevolence in his gaze. She forced herself to swallow. “And just what am I?”

  “Why, you’re a witch Berry. The genuine article. And you’re going to come work for me.”

  Berry shook her head in the negative.

  “Uh-huh, before you deny
anything. Remember I’ve spent the past two years listening to your husband’s stories, the wining horses, all those court cases you won.”

  “Hey, I’m a good lawyer.” Berry protested. She’d hardly ever used her magic to help her win in the court room.

  Previn dismissed her protest with a wave of his hand. “I listened to Robert’s fantastical claims and the man never wavered. He thought you were some kind of psychic, but I knew better. My family are from Scotland you know, my grandfather always talked about magic being real. That you just had to open your eyes to see it. Well, I opened a search engine Berry Malone. Your mother’s maiden name is Bright… and what an interesting life her ancestors led. Escaping Salem just as the first witchcraft trials commenced… timely yes?”

  Berry contemplated the man before her. Previn was no longer hurting Joanne but he was still touching her, stroking her hair back now. But it wasn’t a loving gesture, it was like that of a master, subjugating a pet. The man was manipulative, dangerous and extremely unpredictable. She could manage him better if she knew what he intended to do to her… to Joanne. Meeting his gaze she asked him point blank. “What are you going to do with us?”

  “Not going to deny being a witch any longer? Smart.” He gave her a victorious grin.

  “What are you going to do with us?” Berry asked again, trying to compel him to answer.

  Previn leaned her way, his cologne saturating the air, smothering even the smell of the ocean. “Whatever the hell I want.”

  Berry’s magic kicked in, instantly the hundreds of pathways open to Previn flickered through her consciousness. He was an amazingly driven, single-minded man, as every path was heavily focused upon the enslavement of Berry – either by torturing Joanne or more worrisome was the number in which he casually killed Joanne in front of her to prove his determination to bend her to his will.

  Berry fought hard not to vomit, why did the bad guys agenda never make sense? If she was a witch with all these powers why wasn’t she busting loose of her bindings, frying Previn senseless and hauling Joanne out of danger? No, the bad guys rarely applied logic to a situation. They were too busy thinking about what was in it for them. And that’s what made them unpredictable and deadly. Previn’s devotion to saving his own hide and emerging triumphant, with her powers to aid him, meant that she couldn’t sway, manipulate or distract him. As far as Previn was concerned, he had no doubts, no hesitation, no kinder side that she might be able to appeal to in order to get him to release her and Joanne.

  “So we have a deal Berry? You come work for me, and I don’t kill Joanne here?”

  What could she say? She knew that hurting… killing Joanne to get what he wanted was as inconsequential to Previn as being polite when he ordered a meal. “Yes.”

  Previn smiled smugly, but it didn’t reach those cold calculating eyes of his. The smile slipping from his face abruptly as three heavy thumps sounded above them. Immediately Previn was alert, reaching back to haul a gun out of the back of his trousers, pointing it towards the stairs. Nothing happened, no further sounds, no movement outside the cabin windows.

  Previn frowned. Reaching over with his spare hand he once more grabbed a handful of Joanne’s hair, pulling her head back before he dashed it hard into the side wood panelling with a sickening smack. Joanne’s cry of pain cut off abruptly as he dropped her back onto the bench. Not even bothering to look down to see how much damage he’d caused, Previn grinned at Berry. “Something for you to think about while I get us underway.”

  Honestly, if she hadn’t been tied to the table Berry would have launched herself bodily at him. “You bastard.” She scowled as he exited the cabin. At least he’d left the light on. “Jo-Jo?” Goddess, she hoped she was alright, that sickening thud. “Jo-Jo, are you okay?”

  Joanne groaned and then rolled over so that Berry could see the nasty bruise on her forehead. A trickle of blood running down her too pale face. “I… I’m fine. What are we going to do Berry?”

  “I don’t know.” Berry turned her head as the boat dipped suddenly. Looking out the window she surmised Previn was undoing the mooring lines as the boat dipped once more, signalling he was back on board. “He’s mad.” Heavens, once he got them out to sea proper… it didn’t bear thinking about. She wouldn’t be able to deliver on whatever elaborate magic wishes he had and when that happened the psycho would probably end up killing them both. “All this talk of magic.”

  Joanne managed a weak laugh. “The man is obviously insane to think you are some kind of genie to grant his every wish. As if magic works like that!” Joanne moaned loudly as the cruiser engines roared to life aggravating her throbbing head.

  Berry blinked back tears of frustration. She hated that she’d failed Joanne. She hated even more that she hadn’t had the courage to tell Ramsey how she felt about him. So what if the man wasn’t in love with her. There was no law that said they had to make things official. They might have been able to make a go of a non-council approved relationship for years before Ramsey grew tired of her, after all, the sex had been spectacular.

  Berry winced as the throb of the engine changed and the cruiser slowly began to make its way out passed the other moored boats and into the channel heading out to sea. Walls of rocks passing by on either side of the boat now. Grrr, what could she do? She needed to do something… anything to stop this. Draw attention to them somehow. But the marina looked deserted.

  Suddenly, from above came a high pitched scream, the boat jerked to the left, followed by the sound of gun shots, one… two. There might have been more but Berry couldn’t hear them over the horrible rending sound the cruiser made as it hit the rock retaining wall. The impact sent Berry flying through the air, coming to land awkwardly on the floor. At least Joanne had been able to stay on her padded bench.

  Rolling, Berry groaned, the rope tying her to the table was wrapped around her legs. She didn’t know what was going on outside, over the shriek of the still running engine she couldn’t hear anything as she tried to twist and turn to see up and out the windows. She could only assume that Previn had run them aground on the retaining wall. Had he had help? Those gun shots… were they being rescued?

  Perhaps all she had to do was lie here calmly and wait… except… she frowned as cold water suddenly drenched the back of dress and hair. Oh Goddess, the boat was flooding and she was trapped on the floor, tied up like a Christmas turkey. No, no, no, she refused to let it end like this… drowning was not on her agenda for this evening. Think, Berry, think… she winced as icy cold water filled her ears… Oh Goddess, she so didn’t want to drown… think.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ramsey had expected Mac and Cam McKenzie to lodge protests when he ordered them to stand guard at the main marina complex. Mac even opened his mouth to say something, then he looked down, spying the three cats twining themselves around Ramsey’s legs and abruptly shut his mouth.

  Only in Haven Bay would three cats be deemed appropriate back-up.

  Ramsey gestured for the McKenzie brothers to crouch down out of sight as he started down C dock, headed towards the only boat in the marina that was displaying any activity. He moved from shadow to shadow, his gun clutched in one hand in readiness. He had no idea how to flow… how to move and still be unseen, but he wanted it so badly that he was determined to tap into his magic no matter the cost. Above all else he would rescue Berry tonight, no matter the personal risk. If he couldn’t finish this, he had faith the McKenzie brothers would know what to do… who to call.

  The cats helped, corralling him. Keeping him from tripping over extraneous dock and boat equipment. Two boats from their destination, Limbo leapt to block any further progress. Ramsey immediately froze, reaching for the stillness inside. Several moments passed before the ginger cat next to him gave his leg a soft nudge. The four of them padding forward carefully, making no sound. The cruiser was big. He couldn’t see inside the cabin, the windows were positioned too high, but he had to trust Berry and Joanne Granger were safe for
the moment.

  How in the hell was he going to board the cruiser without making himself a target? Shit, if he entered via the rear of the boat anyone standing on the upper pilot deck would have a clear shot at him. The question was, where was Previn Carlyle? Ramsey was seriously contemplating rushing the boat when Limbo gave his leg a hard shove, what the… it seemed the cat had an idea. Oh God, was he really going to trust a cat? Trust Berry’s life to a feline?

  The plan it seems was relatively simple, while the ginger and patched cats took up ready positions towards the rear of the boat, it looked like he and Limbo were going to clamber up and on to the front of the cruiser. Fuck, he holstered his weapon in readiness for the awkward climb. Limbo gave him one last hard look. In the light streaming from the cabin windows Ramsey interpreted it as ‘don’t stuff this up, Stupid’.

  Ramsey nodded, watching Limbo as he tensed. When the feline’s head flicked up Ramsey launched himself forward, knowing at the same time the ginger and patched white cats were leaping on to the back of the boat. Damn, this was awkward as he scrabbled over the metal railing, hauling himself up as quietly as possible on to the bow of the boat. Ducking down into the slight dip in the centre where ropes were usually kept when the cruiser was in motion.

  He held his breath, reaching for the still inside himself once more. Seconds ticked by, no response, then after a minute or so there came the sound of Carlyle’s voice, dripping with disgust. “Cats! Get out here you fuckers.”

  It didn’t seem as if Carlyle knew he had been boarded. Good. Now what? Ramsey hugged the shadows in the bow, letting his body adjust to the gentle sway of the boat, doing his best not to react as a rope sailed out of the darkness and hit him in the chest. Damn, Carlyle was untying the cruiser. It was too late already to take the man out on the dock. Shit, what an opportunity to miss. Ramsey bit back a frustrated curse listening to the sounds of Carlyle clamouring up the ladder to the pilot level.