She saw the knife and shuffled away from him, whimpering behind the tape that covered her mouth.
‘Love, if I wished you harm I’d have left you on-board. My boss wanted you dead and believe me, he gets what he wants. Your brother’s proof of that, don’t you know. Now, I’m going to cut you loose and take off the tape and while the blood’s getting back into your hands and feet I’m going to talk and you are going to listen. I don’t have time for argument, you understand. I’ve bought us a bit of time but we ain’t out of the woods yet.’
She hesitated and then nodded. He reached out and cut the tape that bound her ankles and then, cautiously, not really trusting her not to kick out, he moved behind her and cut the cable tie at her wrists.
‘Let me do the tape now. I’m sorry, lass, but this isn’t going to be like on the telly, it’s going to hurt.’
She was already in pain, he could see that in her eyes, he knew what agony she’d be in for the next few minutes as the flow of blood returned to her hands and feet. ‘Try and sit still,’ he said. ‘Then as soon as you can bear it, start to flex your fingers and move your feet about, OK?’
He tugged at the corner of the tape, wincing as it pulled skin. No easy way of doing it. He tugged hard, removing it in a single pull. Her lips were bleeding and little sore patches round her mouth started to ooze blood. She whined softly, sounding, Stan thought, like a beaten dog, misery increased by the freezing cold.
Stan crawled back to the boat and hauled the tarpaulin into the cave, wrapped it around the shivering girl.
‘Are they following us?’
He shook his head. ‘The Spirit can’t come in this close to shore but we’ll have to move soon. They’ll know where to come looking.’
‘They killed my brother?’
He nodded. ‘And I’m sorry, love, I’ve more bad news.’
‘My dad,’ she said with a nod, tears starting. ‘They told me. They said they didn’t need me any more ’cos he was dead now too. What did they do to him?’
‘It weren’t them. His car got hit by a lorry coming the other way. That’s all I know.’
He watched as she took that in. ‘Why did you get me off the boat? What am I to you?’
He shrugged. ‘I saw your brother die,’ he said. ‘I didn’t see why I should watch you, but right now we’ve got other things to worry about. First, we’ve got to get out of here and that won’t be easy. Then I’ve got to try and find a way to stop two little kids ending up like your brother did.’
She stared at him. ‘I don’t understand.’ She whimpered suddenly, closing her eyes and squeezing out the tears, the blood flow returning properly now, her hands and feet feeling like they were ablaze.
‘It’ll soon be OK,’ he told her. ‘Try and move them if you can. I need you up and running as fast as you’re able.’
She nodded. ‘Tell me about the kids. Ow, fu … Sorry, Dad didn’t like me to swear.’
Stan smiled wryly. ‘I reckon he’d have understood,’ he said.
He told her about the twins, what he planned to do, how he didn’t want their deaths on his conscience as well. He wasn’t sure how much she was taking in. She seemed too calm, too controlled when he’d expected shouting and screaming and protest. Maybe, he thought, that would come later when all of this really began to sink in.
‘Where are we anyway?’ she asked at last.
‘Near a place called Frantham. Your dad might have mentioned it.’
She nodded eagerly. ‘He said he’d met a policeman and some old woman. He liked her. Rina something.’
‘Rina Martin, that would be,’ he said with a nod. ‘I heard her mentioned. The boss wondered what the hell she was up to.’ He frowned thoughtfully. The Martin woman might be able to look after the girl. That would be one problem solved.
‘Right,’ he said. ‘First we have to get up this flaming cliff, then we have to steal us a car from the hotel car park and then we need to drive to Frantham, see this Martin woman. She might agree to look after you, get you to the police.’
‘And then what? Will you tell the police about the girls?’
He shook his head. ‘Frankly, love, I don’t have time for all the explanation that would take. I want to make sure you’re safe and then go after them. It won’t take long for Haines to regroup.’
Twenty-Three
Joy was not exactly dressed for adventure. She had lost her shoes and her short skirt and cream raincoat offered little protection against the freezing wind. Just to add to her misery, it began to rain; slashing and cold, it took her breath away.
‘Take it slow,’ Stan said.
Was there any other way? He held the light for her but she still couldn’t see. Her bare feet slipped on mud and the rocks cut painfully into her soles. She dug her fingers into the earth trying to get purchase, felt her nails break, her fingers bruising as she rammed them between stones. ‘I can’t do this!’
‘Yes you can,’ Stan told her, but it was her brother’s voice she heard. Pat’s voice in her ear, telling her that it would be OK.
Desperate, she dug deeper, hauled herself up, slipped again, felt his hand on her back. ‘Keep going girl, we’re nearly there. You can do it now.’
Stan chafed at how long it had taken them. He knew she was doing her best but every minute lost was a minute Haines gained.
Finally, they made it to the top. Joy fell on to the cliff path. ‘We’ve made it. Oh God, we’re there.’ She laughed, an edge of hysteria to her mood.
Stan shushed her. ‘Now,’ he reminded her, ‘we’ve got to get ourselves a car.’
‘One with a good heater.’ Her teeth were chattering and she was shaking. Joy hugged herself, trying to keep from shivering quite so violently. ‘So, where now?’
Stan pointed. ‘The DeBeer hotel,’ he said. ‘Look, love, they’re bound to have a night porter, I could—’
‘No, take me to this Rina Martin. She might know more about what’s going on. Dad might have been able to tell her something and I want to hear. She might even know about the twins.’
Stan sighed. He could insist, but that would just waste more time, besides, hopefully this Rina woman could be relied upon to keep it shut until he got away; a night porter would call the police at once and the place would be crawling within a half-hour. He led the way over the stile and into the car park, glad now of the storm which, along with the lateness of the hour, would keep everyone safe inside and hopefully ensure they remain unobserved.
‘What are we looking for? Something fast?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing too new, nothing flashy. Newer cars are harder to wire, posh cars attract attention, especially this time of night and especially when they’re being driven by a couple of drowned rats.’
Self-consciously she pushed her sodden hair back from her face. ‘I scrub up well,’ she said.
He grinned. ‘I’ll bet you do.’ Cautiously, he touched her arm. ‘You OK, lass?’
She nodded, just a bit too hard. ‘Scared as hell,’ she said, ‘and I can’t even bear to think about my dad yet. If I do, I’ll fall to bits and then you might have to thump me again.’ She pointed. ‘How about that car over there, can’t get much more bland than an old Fiesta.’
‘Good thinking, lass,’ Stan approved. ‘You watch the hotel and hope the alarm system’s as old as the car.’
Joy found a plaid rug on the back seat. It smelt of dog and was covered in hairs but, frankly, she didn’t care. The heater in the car still hadn’t hit its stride as they pulled up on the promenade and Stan got his bearings. He knew more or less where Rina Martin’s house was, but he’d never been there and he hoped he could find the right building.
‘Me dad said it was something lodge. Sounded like Peril,’ Joy said. ‘He thought it was a bit of a laugh.’
They cruised slowly down Newell Street, studying the houses. ‘Peverill,’ Joy said. ‘That’s got to be it.’
Stan nodded. That sounded right. He pulled up just a bit down the road and t
hey ran back through the pouring rain. The house was in darkness, as was every other house on the street. Stan rang the bell, hoping it was working and he wouldn’t have to hammer on the door. Really draw attention, that would. A second ring and a light went on upstairs. He could hear movement and then another light on the floor above the first. Then a light in the hall.
‘Who’s there?’ a woman’s voice demanded through the door. ‘Have you any idea what time it is?’
Joy opened the letter box and spoke in a loud whisper, not wanting to rouse the street either. ‘Mrs Martin? I’m Joy Duggan. Jimmie Duggan’s kid. I need help. Please open the door.’
There was an almost audible pause and Stan could imagine the woman considering her options, then the sound of a bolt sliding back and the door opened. Rina Martin, in fluffy pink dressing gown and plaid slippers took in the scene that presented itself and then stood aside and let them in. Behind her Tim stood poised at the foot of the stairs in striped pyjamas and a crimson robe.
‘Stanley Holden, is it?’ she said. ‘I saw your picture. You keep some very strange company, Joy Duggan.’ She took in the girl’s bare feet and the smelly plaid blanket and the state of Stan’s clothes and then she took control.
‘Tim, take Mr Holden through to the kitchen. You’d better come upstairs and use my shower, young lady. Get you warm and I’ve got a spare dressing gown.’
‘Best not to argue,’ Tim told Stan. ‘Take off your coat and stick it next to the range, it’s still hot. Then sit yourself down and tell me what the hell is going on.’
The entire household had been woken by the commotion and assembled in the kitchen. Stan eyed them all warily, wondering where he’d landed up. To his surprise, Rina knew about the twins and knew also about the man called Randall, a figure whose existence Stan had been ignorant of until only a short time before.
Joy, wrapped in another of Rina’s dressing gowns and with a pair of stripy socks on her feet, told how she’d been snatched close to her home and how Stan had got her off the boat.
‘They’ll be looking,’ he said. ‘I’ve got to get on my way. I thought you could take care of her.’
Rina nodded. ‘You can’t accomplish anything alone,’ she said.
‘Take Rina and Tim,’ Bethany told him. ‘They’re ever so brave. They’ll soon sort out the bad men.’
‘You ought to tell Mac what’s going on,’ Matthew Montmorency observed.
‘I would agree,’ Rina said, ‘but I think that might not only lose us valuable time, but he would then feel obliged to arrest Mr Holden and I don’t think that would help anyone right now. Joy, your father’s man, Fitch, was he in the car when it crashed? Is he still down here?’
Joy nodded, suddenly relieved. ‘I didn’t know whether he was dead as well. I know his mobile number, Dad made us memorize important numbers.’
‘Good. Get hold of him, arrange for him to meet us en route. Tim, get dressed. Bethany, Eliza, do you think you can sort out something warm for our guest to wear?’
‘To wear?’ Stan objected. ‘I was going to leave her here.’
‘Oh, I don’t think she’ll want to be left behind, not now,’ Rina told him. ‘Besides, she and Fitch might be able to get their heads together and call on more back-up. I think we might need any help we can get. Matthew, Steven, once we are gone, barricade the doors and then call Mac. Tell him I said to get you all to a safe place and then explain to him what’s going on and that he should let them know at Hill House.’
‘Right you are,’ Matthew told her.
‘Oh, we can take care of that,’ Steven added.
‘You’re worried about George?’ Tim asked. ‘Why would this man go after him?’
‘I don’t think he would, but you never know. George seems to have found himself mixed up in this right from the start. But my other thought is that, if Stan is right and Haines guesses where he’d choose to make landfall, then he might also wonder if he’ll hole up somewhere close by. I doubt he’d think of Joy being as brave as she has been, he’ll be thinking of her as a liability, slowing Stan down.’
‘I hope he does think that,’ Stan said. ‘The further his resources are stretched, the better for all of us.’
Rina nodded. ‘We’ll take Tim’s car. Right, everyone get ready. Time is short.’
Stan glanced at the kitchen clock. It had been just after two when they had arrived, it was now two thirty-five. Only two thirty-five, he reminded himself. They were making good time. His only worry was that Haines was making better.
Twenty-Four
In fact Stan’s delaying tactics had more impact than he could have known. The coastguard boarded the Spirit twenty minutes after Stan made his dramatic exit. Haines had been furious but Coran and the rest had persuaded him to stay calm. He had managed, just, and slipped into the Mr Eric Williams persona under which the boat was registered. A businessman, who travels frequently between the south coast and the continent, in the import business. Mr Williams’ paperwork was immaculate. His boat too, if you ignored the smoke damage and the burnt carpet.
‘A really stupid mistake,’ Williams said. ‘One of my men lit a cigarette and dropped the match into the bin. Obviously, it hadn’t fully gone out and there was paper and plastic and a lot of smoke as a result. Someone panicked and thought we needed help.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m really so very sorry but you know how non-sailors can get so het up when something goes wrong on-board. Think we’re going to sink.’
‘Funny how the burn mark stretches right across the door, sir.’
‘I suppose it is. I imagine someone must have tipped the bin over when they were trying to put it out.’
They would be escorted into harbour, Haines was told. Better safe than sorry and he must realize, that while they were responding to his call, other lives might be in danger. Had they not been on hand then the lifeboat would have been launched. Time wasted …
Haines listened to the lecture, not making a scene, hiding his rage. He had no real option but to agree to the escort and bite his tongue until the officials had gone.
‘Coran, your friend is dead,’ Haines told him.
Tim didn’t like other people driving his car but he didn’t think he’d argue in this case. Rina rode in front, of course, and Tim joined Joy in the back seat. The Peters sisters had found her some trousers – cinched in by a belt so they stayed up – a T-shirt and warm jumper, topped off by a dark-blue fleece and one of their hand-knitted scarves – Tim wore the other half to the pair. Fortunately, she and Eliza took the same size in shoes and sensible lace-ups completed the outfit. They were almost new; Eliza rarely went anywhere that warranted sensible shoes.
In the driving seat, Stan was hoping he could find his way back to the farm. He consulted frequently with Rina who, considering she was a non-driver, had a surprising knowledge of the local roads and settlements.
Tim found himself looking at Joy. Her red hair was dry now and curled about her face. She had tied it in a ponytail and it hung in waves down her back. He wondered if it was as soft to touch as it looked, a thought which didn’t seem quite appropriate, given the circumstances. He wondered if he’d ever have the chance to find out and then told himself that she was far too young for him anyway. What was she? Eighteen, nineteen? His mother would never approve. He smiled, the thought amusing him. His mother’s disapproval was usually so theatrical that he never could take it all that seriously.
Joy looked pale and tense and tired. Tim felt the same but with far less reason. Stage fright in his case, he thought, just on a rather grand scale. She had every right to be upset.
As if she felt him looking at her, she glanced his way, smiled thinly. ‘This doesn’t seem real,’ she said. ‘None of it. It’s like I’m going to wake up in my own bed and Mum’s going to be calling, telling me I’m late for college.’
‘What do you study?’ Tim asked.
‘Joy, is that Fitch’s car in the lay-by?’ Rina asked.
‘Looks like it, yes. Oh thank God for tha
t.’
They pulled in just behind and Fitch got out, a large, welcome presence. Joy almost fell out of the car in her hurry to get to him, flinging herself into his arms like he was a family member rather than one of her father’s employees.
‘Thank the Lord you’re safe,’ he said. ‘I’ve let your mum know. She and Brian are OK, but I’ve not let her tell me where they are. Best no one knows that doesn’t have to.’
He scrutinized the others, studying Stan with great attention and not a little hostility.
‘Fitch, leave it,’ Joy said. ‘He’s made up for the wrong by doing right. You two have got to work together now. The rest of us are here just to make up the numbers.’
Fitch nodded. ‘I’ll follow,’ he said. ‘You want to ride with me for a bit?’
Joy nodded, much to Tim’s disappointment. Then they were off again, trailing through the narrow lanes and hoping they were going the right way, that they would be in time.
‘What exactly did Rina say?’ Mac asked. He still only felt half awake and PC Andy Nevins was even less than that.
‘That we should tell you to take us to a safe place, that she would be in touch but they’d gone to rescue the twins.’
‘They, she and Tim?’
‘And Stan and Joy Duggan and, of course, they were going to meet Fitch on the way. Stan said that you’d have to arrest him if they waited and that would slow things down. He was on that boat, the one with the kidnappers, but he rescued Joy and now he’s off to try and save the twins.’
Mac and Andy exchanged a glance.
‘Oh, and you should tell Hill House, just in case,’ Bethany added. ‘Don’t you think we’d better go? We’ve got our things packed.’ She held up a small case. ‘We’ve all packed.’
‘One case each, I told them,’ Matthew added.
‘We could take them to the Palisades,’ Andy suggested. ‘They’ve only just opened, so I know they’ll have rooms. You won’t rouse anyone at the DeBarr tonight.’
Mac nodded. ‘Good thought,’ he said. ‘Andy, you take the Montmorencys, please. Ladies, if you could get into my car?’
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