by Clare Revell
Taking some cotton wool from the box, he headed into the small bathroom to dampen it under the cold tap. Her toiletries were arranged on the glass shelf above the sink in a neat row: shampoo, conditioner, shower crème, and shaving foam all lined up with labels outermost, with toothpaste, toothbrush, and a razor in the glass at the end.
As he came out of the bathroom, there was a knock on the door.
Lou started to get up.
“I’ll get it. You keep still, and don’t let go of that hanky.”
Evan strode to the partly closed door and opened it. Two uniformed officers, a couple of paramedics, and a rather agitated hotel manager stood there. “Sergeant Drake, do come in. I’m afraid the suspect will need medical attention as it was necessary to shoot him in order to save Dr. Fitzgerald. It is a mere flesh wound; he is in no immediate danger of dying. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I will tend to Dr. Fitzgerald’s injuries while you speak to her.”
He tuned out the two officers and shifted his concentration to Lou’s neck, trying not to let his mind run rampant. His fingertips burned as they grazed her skin as he worked to gently clean the wound. He applied the steri-strips, finding four were ample. He took his time, each gentle touch sending powerful surges of electricity through him, making his taut body react in a way he didn’t expect or want.
Something akin to relief surged through him as he finished attaching the small dressing to her neck. Touching her shoulder briefly, he smiled. “All done.”
“Thank you.”
“Welcome.” He went into the bathroom to wash his hands. He caught sight of Ira in the mirror watching him. “Before you say anything, I’m being careful. And thank you. Your aim, as always, is excellent.”
Ira nodded.
“Bring the car around. Dr. Fitzgerald will be staying at the manor house for the duration of her time in Dark Lake. This place isn’t safe.”
“And the fact you can keep a close eye on her—”
“Will be an advantage,” Evan finished. “I know what I’m doing. Trust me.”
Ira hesitated as if he were about to say something, then changed his mind, and nodded. “I’ll go and get the car.”
Evan dragged his gaze away from the woman and dried his hands before heading back into the other room. He moved protectively to Lou’s side, but didn’t sit.
Sergeant Drake put his notebook away. “We’ll be off, Dr. Fitzgerald. It all seems fairly cut and dried, but if we need you again, we’ll let you know.”
“Who is he?” Evan asked, noting that the intruder was no longer in the room.
“Bart Manchester. He escaped from Tanmoor in the laundry van this morning.”
Lou frowned. “But the sirens only just went off.”
Sergeant Drake shook his head. “They went off this morning.”
“But we heard them only a short time ago in the fog.” She shifted her gaze to Evan. “You said that’s what they were.”
“I must have been mistaken. Perhaps it was a fog horn from somewhere.”
The two officers left as the hotel manager spoke for the first time. “I’m really sorry about this, Dr. Fitzgerald. We’ll move you to another room.”
“There is no need,” Evan told him in a no-nonsense tone. “Dr. Fitzgerald is coming to stay with me.”
Lou shook her head. “Evan, that’s very kind of you, but you don’t have to put yourself out on my account. I’m perfectly fine here.”
He shoved aside the thrill he got from hearing his name fall from her lips. “I have to disagree. There is every need and you are quite evidently not fine. Besides, the manor is closer to your work, and I won’t be charging you exorbitant rates for somewhere that isn’t safe.”
“I have a colleague arriving tomorrow. He’ll be here mid-morning.”
“Then he is more than welcome to stay as well. It’s been a while since I’ve had guests. We’ll collect your car in the morning rather than you getting lost in this fog. I’ll help you pack your things. Ira is waiting out front with the car.”
“I really…”
“I insist, Lou. I wouldn’t sleep tonight knowing you were here alone.”
Not giving her time to object any further, Evan turned his attention to the hotel manager. He tugged out his wallet and handed the manager three twenty pound notes “This should cover this evening. Even though I’m sure you weren’t going to charge Dr. Fitzgerald for tonight after this. However, you will need to get the room cleaned and blood can be very difficult to remove.”
The manager pocketed the money and left.
Evan gave Lou his full attention. Her eyes had narrowed and her lips pursed into a thin line. She wasn’t happy about this arrangement. He held up a hand. “Let me guess. Your mother told you never to sleep with someone you hardly knew.”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it like that.” Colour tinted her cheeks, and it was all Evan could do not to smirk.
“Let me assure you, sleeping with you isn’t on the agenda now or later. At least, not until after marriage. I do have some morals after all.”
“Married?” she spluttered.
“A turn of phrase,” he insisted. “My mother always told me to keep myself pure for my future wife and that is what I intend to do. Whether you eventually become the aforementioned wife or not, only time will tell. But right now, what I’m offering is a place to sleep where no one will break in and try to kill you. Or worse.”
“What could possibly be worse than being murdered?” she demanded, sticking her hands on her hips.
“My, my, you’re pretty when you’re angry.” He raised an eyebrow. “You really wish me to go into detail as to what a serial rapist, who tortures his victims for hours at a time, might have planned for you?”
He noted her squirm. “I didn’t think so. Now, I’ll help you pack up and then take your case for you. Ira will be waiting.”
8
Lou sat in the car, Evan beside her. Half of her was glad to be out of the hotel and somewhere there would be an armed guard. The other part of her, the daring, do-it-alone part, reminded herself of her childhood and what they’d done without adult supervision and survived intact. Well, more or less intact.
Every part of her agreed on one thing. What she objected to was the strong-arm tactics Evan had used and the way he’d made the decision and didn’t give her a choice to say otherwise.
She glanced at his profile, but it was too dark to see him. The power had gone out as they’d left the hotel, plunging everywhere into a thick choking fogginess. The miasma ahead glowed yellow in the headlights as the car crawled along the road.
Lou rubbed her throat gingerly. It hurt, but not as much as she expected. She could still feel Evan’s touch, the gentle way he’d calmed and treated her. She hadn’t expected that, given his offhand way of speaking and the way he’d talked to her before.
“We never did get you any dinner,” Evan said. “I’ll ring the house and get Mrs Jefferson to rustle something up.”
“Please don’t disturb her at this hour.” Lou had lost any appetite she may have had long ago. “A cup of tea will be fine.”
His fingers ran over the top of her hand, setting her nerve endings on fire. “Nonsense. You need something more than tea after a fright like you’ve had. How about hot chocolate and a slice of whatever I can find in the cake tin? Mrs Jefferson’s cakes are the best.”
She smiled. “Thank you. That sounds good. I don’t mind the sofa tonight.”
“Nonsense. Ira rang ahead, and Mrs Jefferson will already have made up a bed. She will organize one tomorrow for your colleague. Assuming you want separate rooms.”
Lou snorted. “Too right I do. He’s not my type. And I am most certainly not his type.”
“I see. Does he prefer—?”
“Blondes.” She cut him off before he could develop that thought. “He prefers blondes. One in particular. In any case, he’s not the type to get involved with a co-worker or his boss.”
“I see. And you? What do you prefer?�
�
“I don’t know really. There was someone I liked a long time ago. But he thought of me like a sister and never returned the feelings I had for him. He married someone else ten years ago now. We’re still friends, always will be. We talk a couple times a week when he’s not deployed somewhere remote and silly.”
The dull swish under the tires was replaced by a crunch of gravel, and Lou assumed they had arrived at the manor house. The car halted a few seconds later, and the engine fell silent.
“We’re here.” Ira spoke from the front, before getting out and opening the door for Evan.
“Stay here,” Evan told her as he climbed out of the car.
Not wanting to wait, Lou tried to find the door handle but couldn’t. Panic set in for an instant before Evan opened the door for her. She got out, shivering in the cold, clammy fog.
His hand touched the small of her back protectively, and a torch shone at their feet. “Let’s get you inside.”
The huge hall was cavernous, lit only by paraffin lamps and a few candles. Obviously, the power was out here as well. A rather tall, well built, forebidding lady, dressed entirely in black, appeared carrying a candle. “Good evening, Mr. Close. I made up the blue room for your guest.”
“Thank you, Mrs Jefferson.”
“Will you be needing anything from the kitchen or anything else?”
“No. I’ll make myself and Dr. Fitzgerald a drink before I go up.”
“I don’t mind doing it.”
Evan shook his head. “We’ve kept you up far later than usual as it is. Besides, I’m more than capable of boiling some milk and raiding the cake tin. Oh, before I forget, Dr. Fitzgerald’s colleague will be joining us tomorrow. Perhaps you could make up the green room for him at some point in the morning before midday.”
Mrs Jefferson nodded. “Very good, sir.”
Evan picked up a candle from the hall table and handed it to her. “This way, Lou. Ira will already have taken your bags up for you.” He took another candle for himself and headed to the stairs.
Lou followed him, hoping there was nothing on the floor she could trip over. She wished she could stop and take in the décor and paintings. Maybe tomorrow in the daylight.
“The blue room overlooks the gardens and the maze. It’s meant to be better than the one at the hotel, but I couldn’t swear to it.”
“Really? I’ll have to try it,” she replied. “Not in the dark, obviously. Or the fog.”
“That wouldn’t be a wise move. No one has used the maze in a long time. I should probably get the gardener to clear the paths.”
“Why mention it if no one uses it?”
“Because you’ll see it in the morning when you open the curtains and are bound to ask about it.”
“Have you been in it?”
“Not since I was eight. I got lost in there. It was dark before someone found me. I was told that I’d been there all day.”
“Must have been scary.”
Evan stopped in front of a wooden door. “I remember being very scared and very alone.” He opened the door. “This is you.” He lit the lamp on the table by the door.
Yellow light glowed in one corner of the room. “There are more matches and candles on the side. As you can see, we’re used to the power going out here. The bathroom is across the hallway. Give me ten minutes, and I’ll bring that drink up for you.”
She yawned. “That’s very kind, but honestly I’d rather sleep. My eyes just don’t want to stay open any longer. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Breakfast is at eight. I’ll knock for you on my way downstairs. Good night, Lou.”
“Good night, Evan.” She sank onto the bed as he shut the door. Was this really such a good idea? Muffled voices came from the landing and she crept to the door to hear better.
“Is the library locked?” Evan asked.
“Yes, sir.” That was Mr. Miles, the security man/bodyguard. “Here’s Mrs Jefferson’s key from her set. She wasn’t happy about handing it over. She wanted to know who’d be cleaning in there. All your papers are in the safe. Along with the journal. The cameras are also on in the hallways and common areas.”
“Good. And I’ll speak to Mrs Jefferson in the morning about cleaning.”
The voices faded along with the footsteps, and Lou twisted back towards the centre of the room. A long-muted whistle from outside made her jump. But nothing happened, except the manic racing of her heart. She shook her head and unpacked her few things.
She sat on the bed and removed the prosthesis then rubbed the stump, for an instant feeling her toes itch. She’d expected the phantom pains to stop long ago, but every so often they’d come back to haunt her. Literally.
She lay on her side, her mind whirling. Had it really been a random attack back at the hotel? Surely, she’d simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Why was the library locked and the key hidden? And why the need for CCTV? Was it for her benefit or did Evan have something to hide? Maybe he was just naturally paranoid—he did have a bodyguard after all.
It was like a jigsaw puzzle with several pieces misplaced. And if there was one thing she hated, it was a puzzle with a bit or three missing.
9
Lou woke and sat bolt upright in the same moment. She stared across the pale grey morning lit room, her heart pounding. Sweat sheened her body, her damp nightgown sticking to her skin. The same dream once again, swallowing her whole each night.
What had woken her? It hadn’t been the alarm she relied on to wake her as that hadn’t gone off yet. She glanced around. Nothing seemed amiss, not that she’d really seen the room in the dark the night before. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table and then shook her head. Of course, it was flashing. At least that meant the power had been restored. Dawn seemed to be coming later and later, and the clocks had yet to change.
A knock came from the door. Was that what had woken her?
“Just a minute,” she called. She twisted her leg out of bed and reached for the prosthesis.
“No rush,” Evan replied through the door. “It’s seven thirty. I’ll come back a few minutes before eight.”
“OK. Thank you.” She rubbed her hands over her face, the nightmare still on the edges of her mind.
Twenty-five minutes later, she was dressed and ready when Evan knocked on the door again. His intent gaze ran the full length of her body, and when he glanced up she saw appreciation in his eyes. She wasn’t sure why. It was only jeans, a shirt, and sweatshirt.
He wore black from head to foot, with the exception of a white shirt collar peeping over the top of a cable knit jumper. He smiled, smelling of toothpaste and cologne. His beard had been neatly trimmed and his short hair was either not brushed or gelled into place standing up. “I trust you are well rested.”
“I slept no worse than usual. Same nightmares, but then I expected that.”
“You get nightmares a lot?”
She closed the door and began to walk with him along the corridor to the stairs. “This time of year I do. Especially when my work involves swimming of any kind.”
“Ah. You are diving the lake this morning?”
Lou nodded, taking in the gilded paintings as she passed them. The stairs were far more ornate than she’d expected. A centre carpet protected oak boards edged by a wide bannister. “Yes, and every day until I’m done here.”
“I thought you enjoyed swimming. You do still hold the world record.”
She sighed. “It’s a long story.”
“Perhaps you will tell me some time.”
“I’m sure you already know if you knew about the world record.”
Evan smiled as he reached the foot of the stairs. “That is a matter of public record. And as you said, the Internet can sometimes tell you the how without mentioning the why.” He showed her into the dining room. “Food is on the side. Help yourself. Tea and coffee are on the table.”
“Thank you.” She picked up a plate and stared in awe at the vast selection
of food. Was this really only for the two of them? She could have fed four people for a week on this one meal alone. She took some of the eggs and sausage and a slice of toast.
She pivoted and tried not to gasp at the size of the table. It virtually filled the wooden panelled room. Only two places had been laid, and she took the seat to the side, assuming the one at the head of the table was for Evan. She set down her plate and then slid into the chair.
While she waited for Evan, she poured some tea. It was too early in the morning for coffee, despite the fact her American stepfather lived and breathed coffee. Besides, she had to be able to think straight today, and coffee wouldn’t help on that front. She found coffee only served to addle her brain if she drank it first thing—way too much caffeine for her.
Evan piled his plate high with food. How could he eat that much and stay in such good shape? It really wasn’t fair. He glanced over at her. “So, what are your plans for this morning?”
“I need to pick up my car and hope the dive gear is delivered to the dam by ten. Then I start work. Alone, as I don’t fancy a team of two blokes from the pub who may or may not have diving experience.”
Evan sat down. “Please, eat. Don’t let it get cold.”
Lou nodded and picked up her knife and fork. “Charlie is organizing a boat, so that’s one less thing to do. I take the boat out and dive.”
“You aren’t planning on diving alone, I hope.” He frowned.
She shook her head. “I told you my colleague is arriving this morning. I have other things I can do before he gets here. He’ll be partnering me on all the dives. It’s one of my unbreakable rules.”
“And a very sensible one, too.”
She watched in amazement as he smothered his food in tomato ketchup. “It’s much safer that way. I know how unforgiveable water can be. I found that out first hand.”
“Oh?”