The frosty January air hit her like a solid ice wall. Rain fell heavily from the dark sky overhead. Callie cursed. Why hadn’t she thought to bring her umbrella with her from the car? She should have clocked the warning signs when she’d parked up, but her bladder had been the only thing on her mind at the time.
Callie fumbled inside her bag for her car key. She clasped it firmly in one hand and ran across the car-park on shaky legs with her bag held over her head in a vain attempt to keep dry. She skidded to a halt beside her car and unlocked the door. Callie threw her bag onto the passenger seat as she climbed behind the wheel and slammed the door shut.
Cold wet drops of water wormed their way down her neck and slid down her face. Callie shivered and turned on her heating. What the hell had happened back there? Had that man really not seen the girl she’d approached? It seemed impossible. The child had been right in front of her. Callie could still picture her as clearly as if the girl stood before her.
She ran a hand down her face, surprised to realise she was trembling. I’m just cold. It’s nothing. But a small voice in the back of her mind warned her she was lying. Since she couldn’t explain the incident, Callie decided to pretend it had never happened. What no one else knew, couldn’t hurt her. She clipped her seat belt into place, turned her windscreen wipers on, and started the engine. Callie drove out of her parking space and headed back to the motorway.
She leaned forward and switched on her radio. Music filled the car, its steady beat immediately cheered her up. She sang along to the song at the top of her voice and tapped her hand on the steering wheel in time to the beat. The miles slipped passed and Callie relaxed as the distance increased between her and the service station. The rain finally cleared away, but the sky remained grey and bleak.
Callie left the motorway and travelled steadily into Devon. Her back ached from the hours of sitting at the wheel and her head started to pound dully in the background. She couldn’t wait to reach the B&B. The radio suddenly broke into static. Annoyed, Callie pressed the off switch. She wouldn’t risk fiddling with the dial while driving. Sighing, she rubbed at her neck with one hand.
“Turn back!”
Callie screamed at the unexpected voice whispering in her ear. Her gaze shot to her rear view mirror. The pale face of the child she’d seen at the service station stared back at her. Shocked, her heart slammed in her chest. The car swerved on the road and slipped on the wet surface. Panicked, Callie fought to gain control. A loud grinding erupted from the engine and smoke spilled out from under the bonnet.
Two cars overtook her, blaring their horns loudly. Angry faces glared at her through their windows and one guy actually stuck his fingers up at her. Callie ignored them all and headed for the layby. She slammed on the breaks and came to a dead stop.
Breathing hard, she turned off the engine and applied the hand break. She clasped a hand to her chest and closed her eyes, grateful she’d managed to make it to safety. Callie unclipped her seat belt and swung round in her seat. Her startled gaze landed on the empty back seat of her car. There was no sign of the girl.
“What the hell?” Callie covered her mouth with her hand. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Was she cracking up? The child had been there, large as life in her mirror. She’d heard the girl’s strange voice right in her ear, telling her to turn back. What could it all mean?
Callie struggled to her knees and leaned over to check the floor behind her seat. Empty. There was nowhere for a child to hide. The car had nobody in it but her. Stunned and shaken, Callie twisted back around. She stared at the smoking bonnet in front of her. She didn’t dare attempt to start the car.
“I don’t believe this!” Callie threw her hands into the air. Nothing had gone right on this stupid trip! She grabbed her bag and fumbled through it for her phone. She scrolled down to the number for Roadside Assist, glad she always made sure she had emergency numbers in her contacts list. She pressed the call button.
A rumble of thunder rolled through the sky and the heavens opened once more. Callie glared at the onslaught of rain pelting her windscreen. Could things get any worse!
*****
Jason struggled through the rain. The wind buffeted his van and he had to work hard to keep the vehicle on the road. A loud boom of thunder rocked the sky and lightening flashed, briefly illuminating the landscape around him. The windscreen wipers fought to clear the torrential onslaught of water that descended down on him. It was certainly not a day he would have wanted to venture out in, but work demanded it.
He glanced at his GPS. Not far now. It had taken a great deal longer to reach the breakdown than he would have liked, but the conditions on the road had worsened within minutes as the storm hit full force. He twiddled with the radio dial, hoping to get some updated news on traffic conditions. Static was all that greeted him and he switched off. There had been a number of warnings in the last hour to stay off the roads. If only!
He grimaced. Visibility was becoming increasingly difficult. He only hoped this wouldn’t last much longer. How he was meant to fix a car in this downpour was beyond him. He hoped to be able to complete the job and still make it back to take Lucinda to dinner.
Jason didn’t want to have to call her and cancel. He knew he needed to make things up to her for the previous evening, but he couldn’t afford to turn down a call out. Not only was the pay extremely good, but the company wouldn’t use him again if he wasn’t reliable. Jason prided himself on taking every job they threw at him and as a result, he was often top of their list for breakdowns in this area.
He slowed the van down and flicked his gaze between the road and the layby. It couldn’t be far now. His headlights reflected off a small car sitting at the side of the road. This had to be it.
He flipped his indicator on and pulled to the roadside. Jason switched the engine off. He adjusted his scarf to cover the lower half of his face and slid the hood of his waterproof jacket over his head. He grabbed his torch and alighted the vehicle.
Struggling through the wind and rain, he reached the driver’s side of the stranded car. He tapped on the window. It slid down a small way and a pair of large, thickly lashed eyes stared back at him warily.
“Hello, I’ve been sent by Roadside Assist.” He had to shout to be heard over the traffic and the storm that raged around them.
“Thank goodness you’re here.” The woman wound the window down further, but he still had to strain to hear her. “It’s been getting steadily worse out here. I’ve been half scared to death that someone was going to skid on the road and crash into me.”
Jason bit back a groan. The female staring out at him had city business woman written all over her. She wore a blue trouser suit that probably cost a small fortune if the cut was anything to go by. An air of sophistication and quality clung to her like a second skin.
Her face had the barest hint of make-up that simply enhanced her delicate features. Her long red tresses were cut in layers to frame her jawline and tumble down her back. She held an edge of confidence in the tilt of her head and the cool regard of her gaze.
Just what he didn’t need right now! He’d rescued enough women like her to know they usually required constant babysitting, while insisting they were independent and capable the whole time they stared down their noses at him. He gritted his teeth and geared himself up for what he was sure would end up being an ordeal. Just be professional!
“Don’t worry, hopefully I can get you fixed up and back on your journey in no time. Can you pop the hood for me?” She stared back at him as if he’d just spoken to her in Mandarin Chinese. Her hands fluttered over the dashboard in front of her.
“Just how do I do that?” she asked, uncertainty clouding her voice. Just as he’d thought. She didn’t know one end of the car from the other.
He leaned forward and attempted to keep his annoyance out of his voice. “If you don’t mind, I can do it for you.”
The woman hesitated, then nodded. He stuck his head inside the car and felt aro
und for the lever that popped the bonnet. He didn’t miss her slight intake of breath or the subtle hint of her floral perfume. It smelt expensive and was a far cry from the sweet musk that Lucinda always wore. He could feel her body stiffen beside him as he located the small device and pulled it. He frowned at her obvious discomfort. Seriously? Did she think he was going to grope her or something? He rolled his eyes and swiftly removed himself from her personal space before she could start complaining.
Jason moved to the front of the car and propped up the bonnet. He switched on the torch and shone the light into the engine. Jason carefully examined the damage. It didn’t take him long to locate the problem. The engine was a mess. There was only one thing that could cause this kind of damage.
He leaned on his forearms against the car and sighed. This was serious. He wouldn’t be able to get the woman back on the road anytime soon. He hoped she wouldn’t pitch a fit when he told her. Experience taught him that this kind of news would not go down well.
Chapter Four
Callie blew onto her frozen fingers and slipped them into her armpits in a vain attempt to warm them. She wished now she’d listened to Jade and kept a pair of gloves in her car. She was so cold, she was beginning to feel numb. Her toes had long since lost their feeling.
She wiggled them inside her shoes to attempt to bring back some kind of sensation in them, but they felt stiff and unyielding. She truly hoped the mechanic wouldn’t take long to fix the problem. All she could think about right now was a warm bath, hot food, and dry clothes.
She glanced toward the front of her car, but she couldn’t see him. The bonnet covered him completely, despite his considerable bulk. She’d been really worried when he’d first turned up. He seemed to be heavily built, but it was hard to tell with the thick padding of his coat.
Without a doubt, he was tall. She’d been able to determine that much at least. The thick waterproof coat and the scarf wrapped around his face had made him appear like a car thief. Callie had been so relieved when he’d announced he was from the breakdown company that she’d nearly cried.
The man suddenly appeared by her window and Callie jumped. She’d been so lost in thought that she hadn’t noticed his approach. He tapped on the glass and Callie wound the window down. Her stomach flipped as her eyes collided with his intense stare. Something about this man drew her, but she couldn’t figure out why. She couldn’t even see him properly and yet when he’d leaned into her car earlier, he’d made her heart flutter like some silly teenager.
Annoyed with herself, Callie thrust aside her reaction to him and quirked an eyebrow. “Is it fixed?”
He leaned in closer. “I’m afraid not. It would appear that your timing belt blew when you were driving. The engine is a mess. This car isn’t going anywhere for quite some time to come.” His apologetic tone didn’t really help matters.
“What is this timing belt you’re mentioning? Don’t you have one you can fit now? Would it take long?” Callie could feel her anxiety rising. She really needed to reach the B&B as soon as possible. The idea of being stuck out on the roadside was intolerable.
“You don’t understand. The engine is completely wrecked. You’re going to need a new one.” He shuffled from one foot to the other and blew into his cupped hands. Rain pinged off his hood like small pistol shots. Callie could not believe what she was hearing.
“That is ridiculous. This car is in perfect working order. I have it serviced regularly.” She stared at him suspiciously, sure he was trying to pull a fast one.
“Really! Would you like to try turning on the engine?” His sarcasm grated on her nerves and Callie gritted her teeth.
“There is no need to be rude,” she forced out, anger rising up like a tidal wave. “I know what mechanics are like. I’ve seen the TV programmes. Just because I’m a woman, don’t think you can fleece me!”
“Great! I have an armchair mechanic criticising me.” He threw his hands into the air. “You can sit there and argue that your car is perfectly fine, but I’m telling you it’s going nowhere until a new engine has been put in.” He hit his chest with one hand. “Since I’m the qualified mechanic, how about we take my word for it? Otherwise you can stay here in your perfectly fine car and I’ll go home. I have no intention of spending hours standing out in a storm, arguing with you.”
“Fine!” Callie thumped her steering wheel with a fist. She really didn’t have any choice but to listen to him. He seemed like the kind of jerk that would actually abandon her if she pushed him any further. “So, what do you suggest I do since I can’t drive to my destination?”
He glanced back down the road. “Where are you headed? About the best I can offer is to tow you to a garage close to your destination.”
Callie bit her lip and tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked rapidly. Crying wasn’t going to help. “I’m booked in at the Lazy Boy. It’s a bed and breakfast. It shouldn’t be too far from here. Do you know it?”
The man choked. It sounded suspiciously like laughter. Callie clenched her teeth, anger boiling in her gut.
“Seriously?” His eyes ran over her, disbelief shining from them. Callie’s cheeks heated and she shifted in her seat. “Well, if that’s where you’re staying, my garage is very close by. If you want, I can drive you to your accommodation and take your car to the garage until you decide what you want to do about it. You’ll need to give me a key for your car, if you want me to work on it.”
Callie sagged. She didn’t really want her car in his garage, but what choice did she have? She’d let him have his way for now and see if she could sort something else out later. “That would be wonderful, thank you.” She rummaged in her bag and handed him the spare key, which he pocketed.
“I’ll get you settled in the van and then I’ll hook up your car.” He opened her door and offered his hand.
Callie grabbed her bag and umbrella. She opened the latter as she slid out of the car. A strong gust of wind caught hold of the bright blue contraption and turned it inside out. It knocked her off balance and her foot slipped on the wet mud. She stumbled forward with no way to save herself. Her bag and umbrella tumbled to the ground.
A strong hand grabbed her before she could hit the concrete. She shrieked and clung to his solid strength. Rain pelted her, running in cold rivulets down her face. She was soaked within seconds. Callie stared into his dark eyes and wondered what colour they were. It was too dark to tell. Amusement tugged at the corners of his mouth and her face heated. She glanced away, completely mortified. Why did she have to make a complete idiot of herself in front of him, of all people?
Her saviour bent down and swept up her bag and broken umbrella. He held her elbow as he guided her to his van. Her feet slid around under her as they crossed the muddy layby. Despite herself, she was grateful he had a hold of her or she was sure she would have landed on her backside. By the time they reached his van, her clothes were stuck to her like a second skin and her hair hung down in rats’ tails. Callie couldn’t remember the last time she’d been such a mess.
The man opened the van door for her and helped her settle into the vehicle. He slammed the door shut and hurried around to the driver’s side. He climbed in.
“What are you doing?” Callie stuttered, staring at him in shock. “My car!”
“Don’t worry,” he shot her an exasperated glance, “I am only turning the van around. I’m facing the wrong direction to get your car hooked up.”
Callie felt stupid. It wasn’t something she was used to. In most aspects of her life, she was in control. She was renowned for being cool, calm and collected at all times. She’d never blushed as much in her whole life as she had in the last half hour with him. She hoped it was too dark for him to have noticed.
“Oh, of course. I should have realised.” She drew her hair together in one hand and swept it to the side. Cold drops of water slid down her neck and she shivered. “Could you possibly turn on some heat or something? I’m freezing.”
The man cas
t a quick glance her way as he turned on the engine. A long, drawn out sigh escaped his lips, but he leaned forward and turned on the heating.
“You’ll have to wait for the engine to warm up. This van doesn’t have heated seats and I don’t have anything you can wrap around you for warmth,” he said as he threw the van into reverse.
Callie bristled at his tone. He’d obviously noted her car had heated seats when he’d stuck his head in through her window. She was tempted to cut him down to size, but wasn’t sure the Neanderthal was worth the effort. A naughty idea floated through her mind and she couldn’t quite talk herself out of it.
“It’s fine,” she replied smoothly. “I just hope you don’t mind that I’m getting your van rather wet.”
Callie drew her hands around her hair once more and this time squeezed the excess moisture from the long strands. A stream of water splashed down onto the floor and the edge of her seat. She smiled innocently at the shock in his eyes as he whipped round to stare at her. It gave her a tremendous surge of power, after having made such a fool of herself earlier. She could feel the material of the seat beneath her slowly getting damper by the minute. She was sure if she moved, she’d emit a satisfying squelch.
His eyes glittered with annoyance. “Don’t worry about it. The van has had worse. Kids, for example.” He turned the vehicle around with expert precision. Callie squirmed in her seat. Her behaviour had been somewhat childish. Somehow, he brought out the worst in her.
“I’m sorry. I’m wet and cranky.” She sighed, wanting to put the whole silly business behind her. “To be honest, I’m just looking forward to getting to the Lazy Boy. The thought of a hot bath, food, and a warm bed feels like heaven right now.”
“Then maybe I ought to take you somewhere else to book in.” The man stopped the van and pulled on the hand break. He turned to regard her, his eyes serious. “Did you actually research the Lazy Boy at all before you booked?”
Shadow of Suspicion (Haunted by the Past) Page 3