Move, Vince. Get to Lyndall. Get the gun.
His legs were lead.
His heart was stone.
A lifetime of memories was burning into nothing.
Vince stumbled, his heart jumping as he barely managed to keep on his feet. The ground was soggy and slippery. He moved to the very edge of the driveway where it was grass and just a bit firmer underfoot.
He sucked in air and forced himself to go faster, his muscles screaming abuse at their treatment. Visibility was low in the dark and the rain except those seconds of lightning. He had to avoid being seen yet try and pinpoint this madman.
Think it through.
Almost at the path leading to Susie’s little orchard, Vince came to a halt, hard against a thick bush almost his height. From here the view of the driveway was unencumbered. He made himself to keep his attention on it but in his peripheral vision red and orange flames grew taller.
Melanie must be at Lyndall’s, if not then very close. She’d need to find a way to wake her from outside and with all the thunder what if Lyndall didn’t hear her? This wasn’t helpful. He slid off the backpack. It could be left here behind bushes. His phone vibrated. It was the first time he’d noticed. If he could call for help…
Zig-zagging across the sky, lightning hit something not far away with a loud crack. Just as fast, darkness fell again but Vince had seen the man jogging up the middle of the driveway, rifle in hand. Pickering’s right-hand man.
Glancing at Lyndall’s house, he estimated his chances of getting there before Farrelly caught him. He was almost within easy shooting range already.
I’d be leading him to Melanie and Lyndall.
If he stayed here out of sight, he might have the element of surprise. A quick look around offered no potential weapons. No loose branches or heavy rocks. The backpack might knock the man down if Vince swung hard enough but was unlikely to keep him down. Nevertheless, Vince picked it up.
Surely Lyndall would call the police immediately. Help would come. All he had to do was keep Farrelly away from the house until then.
I’ll protect her Susie. I’ll protect her with my life.
Vince ran to the path and when he reached it he waited.
With the next strike, Farrelly had closed the gap by half. Aware he was visible, Vince screamed in the direction of the orchard.
‘Melanie! Come back.’
And with that, he tossed the backpack down and ran for his life.
‘Hush, little one. We have to find Lyndall.’
Melanie was at the house, on the back deck. She had no idea how to find Lyndall and pounding on the front door only hurt her hand. Robbie was restless. Tears poured down her face and sobs caught in her throat, but she wasn’t going to give up.
Grandad needed her to wake up Lyndall and ask for the rifle.
He’d be here soon.
She tucked Robbie in a bit more. He was almost as wet as she was but it didn’t matter. She had to keep him safe from the angry man.
The back door was a big sliding glass window. She’d been in and out of it a few times during the day, following Lyndall as far as the steps then retreating to the railing to watch her tend to the donkeys.
She tried to slide it open but there was a lock. She banged on the door. ‘Lyndall! Lyndall, open the door!’
On the brickwork beside the lock was a button and she pushed it. A loud bell sounded, and she shrieked and jumped. Robbie clawed at her skin, and she began to cry in earnest. Her good hand went to his head to stroke him and he calmed down but she hurt and she was so very frightened.
The light came on above her and the door slid open.
‘My poor little child…’
All of a sudden Melanie was lifted up into Lyndall’s arms. The world spun around a bit and the door closed and clicked. They were inside.
‘Melanie, what’s happened?’
‘Grandad…’
Now she was on a chair and Lyndall was kneeling in front of her, undoing her dressing gown. Robbie leapt out and tore away.
‘Robbie.’
‘He’s fine. He’ll go find his mamma so let’s get you out of this wet thing.’
Melanie stood and helped.
‘Darlin’ you are soaked through. Where is Vince?’
‘He was behind me. The angry man came. The angry man is after us.’
‘I’m going to call the police. Come with me.’ Lyndall took Melanie’s hand and they ran to the kitchen. Melanie liked it in here with its big benches and windows looking down on the cottage but now, she screamed and pointed at the fire.
‘Oh, my sweet lord, don’t look there, Melly. Come here while I phone.’
Held against Lyndall’s dressing gown which smelled of roses, Melanie tried to remember what Grandad needed. She was shivering and the tears didn’t want to stop but Lyndall was talking to someone and saying their address and asking for police and fire trucks and ambulances.
‘Listen to me, Melanie, everything will be fine. I’m going to take you to a special room I have where nobody, and I mean nobody will be able to find you. You will be able to see out and when you feel safe, there’s a button I’ll show you and you can press it to let the right people in.’
Again they were moving. Melanie looked everywhere but couldn’t see Robbie.
‘He’ll be okay, I promise.’
‘Lyndall, Grandad needs to borrow your rifle.’
They stopped outside a door. ‘Is that right? Well, little miss, I’d better get you settled and make sure he gets what he needs.’
The door slid open and Melanie peeked in. There was a bed and a table and chairs and a sink and another door to a bathroom. A bookshelf was against one wall next to a refrigerator and there were three televisions on another wall.
‘Let’s quickly run through this and turn on the monitors then I’ll go find your grandad.’
A moment later Lyndall kissed her and as she stepped out, Robbie and his mother and sibling bounded in. Scooping him up in relief, Melanie looked at the first screen. Lyndall was unlocking a high cupboard built into the wall across from this room. She pulled something long out. A rifle. And a small box. And then she was moving through the house. The next monitor showed her at the back door, throwing on her big coat and hat.
Once she went outside, Melanie couldn’t find her on the last monitor, which showed some of the garden. She hugged Robbie. ‘Let’s find a towel for you.’