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 brother 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.”

“Pfft. She chats every bloke she sees up. Don’t know how Fraser puts up with it. Hey…” She winked at him. “What if old Miss Wright gets you?”

Cal laughed. “She’s eighty-seven and in a wheelchair.”

“You could take her dancing. Waltz the chair around the ballroom floor. It’d really make her day.”

Cal nodded. “Take her to a tea dance. I might just do that anyway, even if she doesn’t win me.”

Hattie laughed. “Wonderful. Oh…that’s it. Where to take all the dates. A huge tea dance at the Palladium with their orchestra. That way everyone wins the same thing and no one can get jealous.” She reached for the phone. “You’re brilliant.”

He pretended to tip his non-existent hat at her. “I do my best.”

She laughed and turned her attention to the phone.

 

****

 

Cal kissed the top of her head and let her talk on the phone as he went back to work. It had been touch-and-go the last three weeks and he’d feared he’d lose her on more than one occasion. She’d spent twenty days in hospital, sixteen of those fighting for her life in intensive care. This was the first time Laurie had left her alone, and only because he’d promised to watch her.

Once out of ITU, Hattie had planned the fundraiser from her hospital bed. He had to admit, she did have a flair for organization and the flyers she’d designed were fantastic. Getting his old friends to agree to help was a piece of cake. They’d all seen the news of the bridge disaster and the loss of the lifeboat and were glad to do something to help—even offered match tickets as another prize for the auction. And convincing his longtime friend, Kevin, to help out was a doddle. The hard part was going to be keeping who he was from Hattie.

So much money had already poured in to the Bridge Disaster Fund and the new lifeboat fund that they really didn’t need Hattie’s fundraiser, but he wasn’t telling her that. The money raised from it would go to the RNLI regardless. She needed something to focus on to take her mind off everything else.

He answered the doorbell and let in the two police officers. DS Johnson, he knew as he’d been to the hospital several times. The other officer, tall with dark hair, he didn’t know.

Hattie appeared at his side. She smiled and moved to the other officer, hugging him. ”Nate. Fancy seeing you here.”

Nate hugged her back. “Hey, Hattie. How are you doing? I hear you’ve been pretty sick.”

“Yeah, I’m better now. It’s nice not to have to eat hospital food.”

“I bet.”

She turned to Cal. “Cal, this is DS Nate Holmes from Headley Cross. He’s also an elder from my church.”

Cal shook his hand.

She turned back to Nate. “Why are you here?”

“This ties into a case in Headley Cross I was working on.”

“Oh.” Hattie took a deep breath. “Hello, Sgt. Johnson.”

“Miss Steele. Can we talk?”

“Sure.”

Cal started back to the den, but Hattie grabbed his arm. He looked at her, worried by the fear in her eyes. “Love?”

“No more secrets, Cal. Come with me. I need you.”

“Sure.” He held her hand and went into the lounge with her. He sat on the couch.

Hattie sat as close to him as she could and didn’t let go of his hand. She shook and swallowed hard, a sure sign she was uncomfortable and overly anxious. He’d keep an eye on her and if it got too much, he’d call a halt to this interview.

DS Johnson looked at her. “We arrested both your brother and Markus Kerr yesterday.”

“Arrested?” she whispered. Her hand tightened on Cal’s, turning his fingers white. “You found them?”

“We’ve known where your brother was for some time.”

“Why wasn’t I told he was all right?”

“Steve was in protective custody. We couldn’t tell anyone. As for Markus, we got a tip off and followed it. They’ve been charged with kidnapping, fraud and theft. Markus has also been charged with murder and attempted murder.”

“I don’t understand. Murder?”

“Hattie, I’m sorry. Penny’s dead,” Nate said gently.

“What? She can’t be…”

Cal put his other arm around her, holding her firmly. He could feel her whole body trembling.

“The lodge had been shut for the past two weeks. Yesterday it was destroyed in an explosion. Early indications are that it was gas—probably where it has been left turned on somewhere in the building. The firefighters found her body in the basement. She’d been there some time by the looks of it.”

Hattie swallowed hard and the color drained from her face. “I’m going to be sick…” She got to her feet and bolted from the room.

Cal gave her a few minutes then got up. “I’ll be right back.” He headed out to the downstairs bathroom. Huge sobs came from within. He tapped on the door. “Hattie, love, it’s me. Let me in.”

She opened the door and he gathered her into his arms, holding her securely. “Why…?”

“I’m so sorry, love. I wish I knew.” Her knees buckled and he gathered her into his arms. “I’ve got you.” He carried her back through to the lounge and sat on the couch with her, his arm protectively around her.

“Sorry…” she whispered.

“It’s OK,” Nate said gently. “It’s never easy news to give or receive.”

Hattie shook her head. “Was she…how did she?”

“She was shot. It would have been quick, she wouldn’t have known anything.”

“It’s my fault.”

Nate frowned. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I told Steve that it was Penny who brought in the accountant.” She sucked in a deep breath. “If I hadn’t left and quit working there because he kept cancelling my holidays and not paying me, she wouldn’t have tried to get the money for me.”

“It’s not your fault.” Nate’s voice took on a firm tone. “They’d been under investigation for a while. It was only a matter of time before we caught them.” He paused. “They have been laundering money through the guest house for years.”

Hattie looked at him and then at Cal. “That’s why I wasn’t paid,” she whispered.

He ran his fingers over her arm as he hugged her.

Nate carried on speaking. “When Penny got the accountant in to try to pay you, he audited the accounts and raised the alarm.”

Hattie paled so fast, Cal feared she’d pass out. “Hattie?”

“I’m OK,” she whispered. She shook in his arms and he pulled her closer.

He kissed the top of her head. “Just take your time, love,” he said. “I’m sure the officers will go at your pace here.” He shot them a warning glance. “She’s only been out of hospital three days. This is her first day out of bed. If need be we can do this another time.”

Hattie took a deep breath. “Steve wanted me to marry Markus. He kept going on and on about the money and needing it back. I didn’t understand why the money was so important. Why don’t I remember anything?” She paused. “I remember bits and pieces, but nothing concrete.”

“There was a vast amount of rohypnol in your bloodstream when you got to the hospital. Which is why you don’t remember.”

“Oh... Maybe he was waiting for me to accept being married to him before he did anything. Or just hoped I’d drown and solve the problem that way.” She pushed a hand through her hair. “If he couldn’t shut me up by marrying me, he’d shut me up by killing me. A wife can’t be made to testify against her husband, right?”

Nate nodded. “She can give evidence voluntarily, but we can’t subpoena her to testify, no.”

“So why didn’t he…?” she broke off, not wanting to think it, never mind say it.

Cal looked at her. “Least he had some morals then. Or he just wanted you to remember it.”

Nate shook his head. “Steve stopped him. He agreed to the kidnapping, but it was simply to get what he assumed was the laundered money back from your account. He wasn’t going to let Markus touch you without your consent—which you were in no position to give after Markus drugged you. Steve even put you in the car, so you couldn’t be traced to the house. But from Steve’s testimony, Markus shot him. When Cal turned up and confronted Markus, Steve had a change of heart and tried to call this all off. However Markus had already rigged the boat you were in to sink.”

Hattie shivered. “How could he even go that far?”

DS Johnson resumed the questions. “Is there anything you can remember? Anything at all, no matter how small?”

She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No. It explains a lot. Why there always seemed to be a lot of money around, but stuff never got done. Or why he never let me see the accounts.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Is there anything left of the lodge?”

“It was completely destroyed. I’m afraid the insurance won’t be valid as the building was bought using illegally gained funds.”

The rest of the color drained from her face. “So, the money sitting in my account, that he was so desperate to get back…? Is that laundered as well? Am I under suspicion too?”

“No,” Nate said. “There are two sets of accounts. The money from the paying guests and then the other. Penny only knew of the one account and paid you from that. And gave back your original deposit.”

“So it’s from legitimate guests?”

Nate nodded. “Yes. Literally the seven years wages he owed you.” He shrugged. “It was even in the books as Hattie’s wages. He just hadn’t paid it to you.”

Cal could see and feel the relief filling her as Hattie slumped against him. He hugged her securely. “So she can keep it?”

“Yes. And if she wants to press charges over not being paid…”

Hattie shook her head. “No. What’s going to happen to Steve and Markus now?”

“They’ve been remanded in custody until trial.” Nate looked at her. “For what it’s worth, Steve isn’t being charged with attempted murder or Penny’s death. Both he and Markus agree he had no part in that. When Steve regained consciousness in the hospital, he reported what had transpired, but by that point Cal had found the remains of the boat and called in the coastguard and police.”

“I don’t remember much after dinner. When I woke up on the boat, the water was already coming in. There were holes in the pump room. The radio was gone, except a few wires. I found a box of flares. Lit a couple then there was a huge explosion. I thought I was dead.”

Cal hugged her tightly. “I’m glad you’re not.”

“Me too.”

“You’re safe now,” Nate told her. “They’ve been refused bail and won’t be getting out any time soon. Are you prepared to testify in court if needed?”

“Yeah.”

The two officers stood. “If there is anything else you remember, let us know.”

Cal saw them out and then went back into the lounge. Hattie sat curled up on the sofa, crying. He sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. Her whole body shook with the force of her sobs.

Finally, she calmed down enough to speak. “How could my own brother do something like this?”

“I wish I knew, love. “

“Everything was a lie.”

“Not everything,” he said, rubbing her back gently. As she raised her face to him, he smiled, wiping away her tears with his thumb. “He still loved you enough to protect you from Markus.”

She shook her head. “He went along with it. He didn’t care about what I wanted, he never did. Just the money. I don’t want any of it. Despite what the police said about it being legitimate funds, I don’t want it.”

“What will you do with it?”

“Give it away. I was going to do that anyway, at least some of it…” She broke off and smiled wryly. “Maybe a third to the church, a third to the fund for Trevor and the rest to the fundraiser, if that’s OK with you.”

“Whatever you want to do with it, love, is fine with me.”

She leaned against him. “How can you still love me after all that he’s done?”

“Because you are not your brother and even he isn’t beyond saving. Just keep praying for him. We can do that now if you like.”

“I would,” she whispered.