by Clare Revell
“I need to see her.”
“That’s not possible. She’s sleeping right now.”
He frowned. The man was lying to him, but which bit was a lie? “Then ask Hattie to ring Laurie when she wakes. She’s worried sick.”
“Laurie? Oh, right, you mean Mrs. Dillon, her aunt. I’ll ask her. But Harriet’s determined to make a clean break.”
Cal glanced past him to the suitcases just visible in the hallway. “Are you going somewhere?”
“On a cruise for our honeymoon. After that it depends on what Harriet wants.”
Cal changed tactics. “Is Steve here?” he asked, knowing full well he was. Not only was Steve’s car here, he could see his reflection in the mirror in the hallway.
“Steven went home. I’ll have Harriet call her aunt at some point before we leave.”
Markus was lying through his teeth. More than ever convinced Hattie was in trouble, Cal simply nodded.
He turned and headed back to his truck. Driving a short way down the road, he pulled over and parked. He got out and doubling back on foot, sneaked back up to the house. The drawing room window was open and he hunkered down beneath it.
Markus’s voice floated through. “Be careful with that. I don’t want it broken.”
“Did he leave?” Steve’s voice was unmistakable.
“Yes, he did. But he did have a point. You’d better ring Mrs. Dillon before she sends the cops over here. You don’t want that.”
“I don’t? It’s not just me involved here. You’re the one who set all this up.”
“Once I get my money back, all this is over.”
Footsteps and rustling accompanied the voices. Cal risked a peek through the window. They were packing something into crates filled with straw.
“I almost had it,” Steve replied. “Until my idiot of a wife got the accountants in and they gave it to Hattie.”
“We just need to keep Harriet occupied a few more hours for the money to transfer over to my account. Then it’s all over.”
“What about the lodge?” Steve’s voice was closer to the window and Cal ducked back down again.
“I’ll take care of it. It’s not like we need it anymore.”
“I don’t want to do this any longer. I want my life back.”
A car drove up and Cal ducked into the bushes. There was a long silence then, just as he was about to creep away, Markus’s voice floated back through the window.
“That was the lawyer with the forms. I told him I’d get Harriet to sign them, then I’ll drop them off.”
“I’ll sign them.” The pen scratched on the paper. “There.”
“Nice forgery.”
“When can I see her? What have you done with her? You haven’t harmed her have you?”
“It’s a little late for brotherly love, don’t you think?” The papers rustled as Markus gathered them up. “Sorry, Steven, by the time anyone finds her, it’ll be too late. That ship sailed a long time ago. Jacobs, see these are filed with the solicitor immediately.”
There was a pause, then Steve spoke again. “Markus?”
“You are just as involved, Steven. If the police get wind of this, I will know it came from you and then I’ll have to kill her slowly. Got it? Good. Then let’s get out of here.”
Cal pulled back and ran to where he’d parked his truck. As he drove, a sudden thought hit him. That ship sailed a long time ago. He reached for the phone and turned on the hands free mode. He dialed the harbor master.
“Harbor master, Dan Green speaking.”
“Hey Dan, it’s Cal Trant. Are there any boats due out today?”
“Let me check for you.”
“Thank you.” He pulled up at the lights, his fingers tapping on the steering wheel.
“No. There’s nothing due out today.”
“What about any of Markus Kerr’s boats?”
“Nope, nothing scheduled. He won’t be back for a while according to this. He left last night for France.”
He can’t have. He tried to contain the panic starting to fill him. His voice deepened, taking on a note of urgency. “Which boat? Was it definitely him?”
“I’ll check, but it’s his signature on the form here.”
“It’s really important. Was he alone?”
“Nope, he had some woman with him. A cute blonde, actually. She looked a little worse for wear, but he said they’d been celebrating and the champagne didn’t agree with her. They left yesterday at twenty hundred hours in the Cape of Good Hope.”
“Are any of his other boats missing?”
“No, just that one. But like I said he sailed yesterday.”
“You still have the CCTV footage?”
“Of course, you want me to hang on to it?”
Cal swung off the main road and headed into the estate where Laurie’s cottage was. “Yes, I do. Can you fax a copy of his shipping plan across to the lifeboat station? Along with a couple of stills from that CCTV footage, if possible please. I need to ID the woman with him. Thank you. I’ll be in touch.” He hung up.
Two minutes later, he parked outside Laurie’s and ran up the path. The door opened as he got there. He filled her in quickly. “Markus was lying. I’m not sure how he got back without the harbor master knowing, unless he docked somewhere else.”
“What do I do?”
“Ring the police, and report Hattie missing. I’m going to the base to alert the coast guard. Have the police meet me there. Maybe we can track the boat.” He hugged her and hurried out.
26
Cal pulled into his parking spot and ran to the Ops room, not bothering to lock his truck.
Tom glanced up as he ran into the room. “Cal, what are you doing here?”
“I need to trace a boat. I have reason to believe Hattie’s been kidnapped.”
“I’m sorry? Say that again, only slower this time.”
“Hattie’s missing. No one’s seen her since she had dinner with Markus and Steve, day before yesterday. I’ve just seen Markus. Now, according to him, he’s leaving today on a cruise, with Hattie. He also said several other things that didn’t add up. The two of them getting married for one thing.”
“I thought Hattie was marrying you.”
“She is. However, I spoke to Dan, the harbor master on duty this morning. According to him and his records, Markus and a blonde woman left for France last night on the Cape of Good Hope and haven’t come back. And none of his other boats are scheduled to leave today. But he said the blonde woman was worse for wear.”
Tom pulled over the charts. “What was his course?”
“Dan was going to fax over some stills from the CCTV footage and the shipping…” He broke off. “Perfect timing. There it is.” He ran to the printer and ripped it off.
His stomach plummeted and his gut twisted as he took in the photos. Markus had his arm tightly around Hattie, who looked more than worse for wear. She was leaning against him, her head on his shoulder. He’d taken her.
He took the papers over to Tom. “He took her. We need…I need to find her.” The two of them poured over the map, comparing that to the shipping plan. Cal sighed. “This is hopeless. He left eighteen hours ago. The boat could be anywhere. Besides, Markus has kidnapped Hattie and then abandoned her. Would he really file a legitimate shipping plan?”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“Yes, I do. This photo proves he left on the boat with her. I spoke to him not more than an hour ago. He’s still on the island. And he said she was here, too.”
Tom reached for the phone. “I’ll request a helicopter to go up and look. Maybe the navy has seen them. I’ll ask.” Before he could call out, the phone rang.
“Penry Island Lifeboat Station.” He listened and then nodded. “Consider it done.” He hung up. “Fisherman spotted a boat adrift about twenty miles off the coast. They aren’t answering radio hails and it seems to be low in the water. Coastguard wants us to attend.” He paused. “It’s the Cape of Good Hope.�
�
Cal took a deep breath, his hands cold and numb. “Page the watch. I’ll go and change.”
“You’re not on duty. It’s white watch this week.”
“I don’t care. I’m here, page the rest of white watch, but I’m going as lead helm. You better get Laurie in. And the police.”
“Why?”
He headed to the stairs, calling over his shoulder. “Because Markus is not on that boat. And I’m betting that only Hattie is.”
****
The water had reached the upper decks now. Hattie splashed back to the bridge. Everything below was flooded, but she wouldn’t have been able to fix it even if she had the tools and the use of both arms. She’d gone below to check the pumps and not only were they smashed beyond repair; there were a series of small holes in the side of the boat. The boat would have taken it’s time to flood, but there was no stopping it, even if the pumps had been working.
She was going to drown.
It had to have been deliberate. But then she knew that as the radio and all the electrics had been torn out or removed. The boat had been ransacked, but she guessed that was also deliberate. The only thing she couldn’t work out was why. She went back on deck. The sun shone and the sea was flat calm. There just wasn’t anyone in sight apart from a few seagulls that swooped and cried mournfully overhead.
The boat was sinking by the head, so she clambered to the stern. Maybe someone would come if she could hang on long enough. She tripped over a wooden box. The lid slid to one side, displaying the flares. Sending up a prayer of thanks and a fervent wish that someone would see them and come to her aid, she lit one.
****
Jim from White Watch tapped him on the shoulder. “Cal. Flare. Nine o’clock. A long way off. If that’s her then she’s drifted a fair way.”
Cal turned the boat and sliced through the waves. “What if it’s not her?”
“It’s a boat in distress, we can’t ignore it.”
“I know that, Jim.”
“Cal, chill. If it’s not her, we call it in and they send out the other boat to search for her. Chances are Hattie won’t be on the boat anyway.”
“She was seen getting on it.”
“Aye,” Jim insisted. “But if Markus got off then perhaps she did, too. The boat appears abandoned.”
Cal tilted his head. “Maybe, but someone let off that flare. There’s another one.”
A huge explosion lit the sky in front of them. The sound roared across the water towards them, the waves rippling outwards tossing the small lifeboat high in the air. Ignoring the curses and exclamations around him, Cal increased speed, time now being of the essence. Oh, God, keep whoever it is out there safe just a few more minutes.
He hit the radio mic and called it in. “Penry Island ILS, this is Seagull. Large explosion approximately five miles ahead. Request helicopter support and police and fire service.”
“Roger that.”
Cal tried not to dwell on the fact it was most likely Hattie out there. But it was hard. No matter how firmly he told himself it didn’t matter who it was, he had a job to do, Hattie’s face swam before his vision. He could feel her arms around him, her lips on his.
Tears burned in his eyes. He couldn’t lose her, not now, not after all this. Was it wrong of him to hope it was a different boat?
As he reached the scene, pieces of wood and fiberglass floated on top of the water. Charred remains of what was once a boat. Some of it still burned. A piece of the hull bobbed on the surface of the water with the word Cape still visible.
His heart sank further, a pounding in his ears. He was dimly aware of Jim behind him confirming on the radio that it was the boat they were looking for and they were now searching the wreckage for bodies.
Tom’s voice came over the radio. “Markus just reported the boat stolen. He claims he wasn’t on it last night.”
Cal growled. “We know he’s lying. We’ve seen the pictures the Harbormaster sent over. He still has the original CCTV footage of him and Hattie taking her out last night.”
He scoured the water as he piloted the boat. Where was she?
Something caught his eye. A motionless figure floating face down a hundred yards away. There was too much debris to get the boat through fast enough. Jumping up he glanced behind. “Jim, take her.” He dived over the side, swimming as quickly as he could over to the figure. Definitely a woman. Was that Hattie?
He reached her and turned her over. His blood ran cold. Was she breathing? “Hattie…”
No reaction. He felt for a pulse. Slow, but there. He leaned down to start breathing for her. His lips covered her cold, blue ones, breathing deep into her lungs, his legs working to keep them afloat. One breath, two breaths…
“Come on Hattie, please…”
Her eyes flickered open.
Thank You, God. She can’t have been face down for long.
His hand ran down her face as he started back to the lifeboat. “Hattie…”
“Am I dreaming?” she whispered.
“I wish you were, love. Just hold on. I’m taking you home.”
27
Hattie eased herself onto the sofa, holding in the sigh as Aunt Laurie fussed around her, tucking a second blanket across her legs.
“Can I get you anything, dear?”
“You fuss too much. I’m fine, thank you. Cal is right in the next room if I do, anyway.”
Aunt Laurie nodded. “And no getting up to help him.”
“I promise. I’m going to sit right here and catch up on all the TV I missed the three weeks whilst I was in hospital.” She tapped the laptop next to her. “Then I’m going to finalize the fundraiser. You and Cal did a great job with it, but—”
“It needs the Hattie touch.” Aunt Laurie laughed. “Have fun.”
“Have you heard from the police yet?” Hattie asked quietly. She laced her fingers together, the all too familiar nausea rising at the thought of what happened. She couldn’t remember all of it. Just bits and pieces of Markus’s hands—on her—horrifying memories she wished she could forget. She remembered a little of the boat and going into the water. Then Cal was there.
“DS Johnson rang just before you got up.”
“Has he found Steve?” she asked. No one had seen Markus since Cal had pulled her from the water. A fact she only found out yesterday. And as no one had mentioned Steve either, she had to assume they were together somewhere. Or Steve had just gone away to sulk as was his custom when he didn’t get his own way.
“He didn’t say. He said he and another officer will be coming to talk to you later. Now, I’ll be in at lunch, so you don’t need to get up and make yourself anything to eat.”
“OK. See you later.” Hattie sat until she heard the car start up and drive away. Taking a deep breath, which for the first time in a while didn’t hurt, she pulled up to her feet. Aunt Laurie was lovely, but she fussed way too much.
“Sit down.” Cal’s voice echoed from the other room.
She glanced around but there was no one in sight. “How do you know I’m standing up?”
He looked around the door at her. “I know you. And if I didn’t, your reaction gave it away.”
She picked up the notebook, pen and phone, and walked slowly towards him. “I’m not an invalid.”
“I beg to differ. You’ve been in hospital the past three weeks with pneumonia. This is only your third day home and your first day out of bed. The doctor said to rest.”
She kissed him to shut him up, satisfaction filling her as he responded. Then she sighed as he threaded one hand under her knees, the other around her shoulders and swung her into his arms. “Cal—”
“Rest.”
“Fine. Then I’ll sit in the other room and watch you work.” She leaned against him as he carried her, her heart beating in time with his. “I’m sorry.”
“What for, love?”
“This mess.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Steve’s my brothe
r and Markus is, well, I thought he was my friend.” She sighed. “I don’t remember what happened that night. So if our wedding needs cancelling...” Tears pricked her eyes and slowly tracked down her cheeks.
He probably didn’t want her now. And she didn’t blame him in the slightest if he didn’t.
He set her down on the chair in the den and hunkered down in front of her. He cradled her face in his hands, his thumb wiping away her tears. “Hattie, I love you. And I intend to marry you in two months and one week just as we planned.”
“But, I remember Markus...” She couldn’t finish
“Laurie didn’t think you were listening to all the test results that the docs ran, and let’s face it there were so many of them. And you were pretty sick for a while there.” She nodded numbly as he spoke. His thumbs wiped away more tears. “Love, nothing happened. He didn’t touch you. And even if he had, it wouldn’t change the way I feel about you.”
She held his gaze. “Really?”
“Really.” He kissed her. A mind numbing kiss that would have blown her socks off had she been wearing any. A kiss that made her forget everything except the fact he loved and wanted her.
When he broke off, she leaned into his arms. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Glad you do.”
He looked at her notepad then up at her. “Is that the fundraiser stuff?” As she nodded he grinned. “Then guess what?”
“What?”
“We have a beat the goalie stand.”
“Do we?”
“Sure do. And ten footballers ready to be raffled.” He paused. “And I have organized a special guest to draw the raffle and he’s agreed to be raffled as well. Or we auction him on the night.”
“How did you manage that?” she asked amazed and in awe that he’d have done something like that.
“I have my ways,” he grinned.
She tilted her head. “By the way, you have to promise not to be jealous if I win someone else.”
“That depends on who wins me. I mean Alba does chat me up every time I see her.”