21

 

The morning dawned gray, cold, and threatening more snow. Sara dressed warmly, piling on the layers. Going downstairs, she made coffee, surprised Luke wasn’t up. She took his coffee upstairs to him. The room was dark. She put the mug down and pulled the curtains back.

Luke moaned, flinging a hand over his eyes.

“Close them.” Pale and drenched in sweat, his eyes were gaunt and sunken with dark circles under them.

Sara’s heart pounded and leapt into her throat. Closing the curtains, she ran across the room and sat on the bed. “Luke?” She put a hand on his forehead. “What’s wrong?”

Luke groaned. “Head, neck. Hurts. Can’t see or move.”

Her stomach plummeted. He really was sick. “What do I do?”

Finding the thermometer, Sara took his temperature. It was a couple of degrees above normal. Panic filled her. Major headache and unable to tolerate bright lights or move his neck. That added up in her mind and equaled only one thing: meningitis. She’d known someone with it, and that person had died. Luke could, too, and it’d be her fault.

“Luke, what do I do?”

There was no answer. She got up, ran into her room, and picked up the phone. She hit the speed dial button for the doctor. She got a recorded message as it was too early for the surgery to be open. Sara grabbed a pen and wrote down the emergency number. She cut off the call and rang the mobile number she had been given.

The call was answered on the second ring. “Dr. Scott.”

“Dr. Scott?” She’d forgotten he was their GP.

“Aye, who’s speaking?”

“It’s Sara Nemec.”

“Hi, Sara, what can I do for ye?”

His calm voice did nothing to reassure Sara, who could only think of one thing. “Luke’s sick, and all his symptoms match the ones for meningitis.”

“Sara, calm down. I hardly think it could be that serious.”

Sara took a deep breath. “Luke can’t move, can’t stand the light, has a headache, and says he can’t see. I don’t know what to do. He wasn’t well last night, so we left the party early. Dave suggested getting you to check him over, but I didn’t want to bother you, and now he’s really sick. What have I done?”

“Take it easy, Sara. I’ll be with ye in a minute. I stayed at Toni’s last night, so I’m right next door. Give me a minute tae get my bag, and I’ll be there.”

“Bye,” Sara whispered. She put the phone down and ran from the room, almost slipping on the stairs in her haste to reach the front door. She flung it open before Scott was even halfway up the path. She stood there breathing hard, waiting, and praying.

Scott smiled at her. “Hey, Sara.”

“Thank you for coming. He’s upstairs.” Sara shut the door and took Scott up to Luke’s room. “He’s in his room.”

Scott went over to the bed where Luke lay curled up in a ball. Scott sat down on the bed and took hold of his wrist. “Luke?”

A moan came in response.

“I’ll leave you to it.”

Sara headed out of the room closing the door behind her. She went downstairs and sat in the kitchen, her cold coffee in front of her. She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked back and forth. What if she’d killed him by waiting too long to call? She couldn’t imagine life without him. Please, God, don’t let him die. Not now. I love him.

Footsteps came down the stairs. “Sara?”

“I’m in the kitchen.” She got up as Scott came in. “What’s wrong with him? Is it meningitis?”

Scott shook his head. “He has a migraine.”

Relief flooded Sara, and she sank back down onto the chair, letting out a deep breath. “A headache?”

“It’s a lot more than a simple headache. I’ve given him a strong painkiller and a sedative. I’ll give ye a prescription for some migraine tablets for him.”

“Will he be all right?”

“He needs quiet and rest for twenty-four hours, but he’ll be fine. How are ye doing?”

“I’m fine now that I know he’s going to be all right.”

“That’s not what I meant. Yer pale.”

Sara rubbed her hands over her arms. “I’m all right.”

“Have ye got yer notes? I have a few minutes before I’m due at the surgery. I’ll check ye over.”

“I don’t want to take up any more of your time than I already have.”

“Yer not, Sara. This is a home visit, and it just so happens I can see two of my patients at once. Now, notes?” He held out his hand.

Sara got up and pulled her notes out of the kitchen drawer. “Here.”

Scott swapped the folder for a sample bottle. Sara pulled a face and headed up to the bathroom. When she returned, Scott took her blood pressure. “It’s up a fair bit.”

Testing her urine, he frowned. “Have ye eaten yet this morning?”

Sara shook her head. “I didn’t even drink my coffee. Why?”

“There’s protein and sugar showing up.”

“Is that bad?”

“It’s no’ good. Can you lie down somewhere for me?”

“On the couch?”

“Aye, that’s fine.”

Sara walked through to the lounge, lying down on the couch.

As he checked her over, Scott asked, “So how are ye really? Any more dizzy spells, headaches, blurred vision?”

“No,” she began, then as he raised his eyebrows at her, she owned up. “All right, if I’m honest, two maybe three times a week.”

“Are the twins moving regularly?”

She shook her head. “Not as much as they have, but there’s not much room in there.”

“Can ye remove yer ring?”

“It’s Luke’s ring, not mine. But thinking about it, it was loose and now it’s not. It wouldn’t move at all yesterday.”

Scott measured her twice. “Are ye eating properly?”

“Yes, and I have the most awful indigestion to prove it. Feels like I’m being stabbed, takes my breath away sometimes.” She accepted his hand to help her up. “Why?”

He glanced down at her ankles and then grasped her hands, turning them over, trying to remove her ring. The ring refused to budge. “How long have yer hands been this swollen?”

She shrugged. “I’m pregnant, Doctor. Swollen ankles, stuck rings and indigestion are all par for the course.”

“I want to do some blood tests.”

Sara held out her arm for him. “Are the babies all right?”

“The twins have nay grown since yer last check up two weeks ago. I want ye tae have another scan. I’ll arrange that and get these bloods sent off.”

“Dr. Scott, what’s going on?”

He wrote in her notes. “I’m afraid yer showing several symptoms of pre-eclampsia.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a serious complication of pregnancy. It’s caused by a defect in the placenta and is a lot more common than people think. I’m not going to lie tae ye. If I’m right, yer pretty sick.”

“Could I lose the twins?” Her voice shook.

“The only treatment for this, other than bed rest, is tae deliver the babies.”

“I’m barely six months. They’ll die.” She could hear her voice rising with fear.

“I ken it’s early, but they’ve made great advances in neo-natal care. If need be we can put ye on bed rest and a course of steroids tae boost the babies lungs.”

Sara swallowed hard, her heart sinking with dread for her babies. “All right.”

He packed away his things. “I must head off tae the surgery. I’ll come back this afternoon. I want ye tae pack a bag, in case I need tae admit ye. Let Luke sleep. Ye have to rest as much as possible.”

“I’ll go to the chemist and get the prescription for Luke, and then I promise I’ll rest.”

“Make sure ye do. I’ll see ye this afternoon.”

Sara saw him out and then went back up to Luke. Sitting on the bed, she pushed his hair back from his face. “I was wrong, about a lot of things. I’m sorry. I made things so hard for you, for the both of us. I have to go out. Doctor Scott left a prescription for you, so I’ll go and get it. I won’t be long.” Standing up, she went over to his jacket and took his mobile phone out. “I’m taking your phone, and I’ll leave you a note.”

She reached the door and turned. She was tempted to tell him how she felt about him, while there was nothing he could do about it, but she shook her head. This was neither the time nor the place.

Heading downstairs, she picked up the phone and dialed Carole’s number, copying it from the pad next to the phone.

It rang several times before the answering machine picked up.

“Hi. This is Dave and Carole’s fridge. I’m afraid the answer phone canna take yer call right now. Please, leave a message, and I’ll attach it tae myself with a magnet.”

Sara laughed. “Hi, it’s Sara. Love the message. Best one I’ve heard. It’s nine in the morning. Luke’s not well. I’ve got to go and get a prescription for him. I won’t be long, so we’ll do coffee later. Speak soon. Bye.”

She hung up. There was no point asking Carole to ring Dave and let him know because she’d only want to know why. She didn’t have Dave’s work number as Luke wouldn’t leave it or any of the others written down for someone else to find.

She wrote Luke a note in case he woke before she got back. She put the notebook against the kettle, so Luke would see it, and she shoved his phone into her bag. The doorbell rang, and she grabbed her bag and went into the hall. She opened the door to find Antonia standing there. “Hello.”

“Hi. Steve said ye needed tae go tae the chemist. I’ve got a hospital appointment in forty minutes. I could drop ye in the High Street on my way if ye like.”

“That would be great.” Sara put her coat on, put her bag on her shoulder, and pulled on her hat.

“Ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go.” Sara glanced up the stairs and shut the front door behind them. The snow crunched beneath her feet as she made her way down the drive to Antonia’s car. She glanced at DC Collins in the car in front of the house. He started the engine as she got into Antonia’s car.

 

****

 

Sara dropped off the prescription. Rather than wait an hour, she told the pharmacist she’d come back for it later. Walking down the High Street, listening to the Salvation Army playing Christmas carols outside the bank, she relished the small piece of freedom being outside brought her.

At the same time, she was aware of DC Collins walking beside her, but his escort and polite conversation wasn’t the same. She missed Luke’s constant presence, his teasing, his nagging, and most of all, his hand in hers. She’d told DC Collins that Luke was sick and assumed he’d call back to the station at some point and let Dave know.

Sara hadn’t gotten Dave or Carole anything for Christmas, so she went into the department store and spent half an hour choosing presents. Then her eye fell on a jumper. It was an Aran knit and would suit Luke to a tee.

She picked it up, knowing he had very little else in the way of clothing with him, and she grabbed some other things, including a bottle of the cologne he wore and an angel for the top of the tree. She paid and went to the chemist to collect Luke’s prescription.

Coming out of the chemist, she glanced overhead. The sky was dark and threatening. There was another blizzard brewing. Her stomach rumbled. She’d skipped breakfast, what with worrying over Luke. “Can we stop for coffee? I need to boost my energy levels.”

“Sure, a few minutes won’t hurt.”

“Thank you. We’ll go to the café Luke and I went to at the weekend.”

DC Collins held the door open for her, and she went inside, the warmth of the café hitting her like a furnace blast after the cold chill of outside.

Sara glanced around the café. Luke would make loud objections to this, saying the place was far too busy and they should go home. She half expected DC Collins to do the same, but before he had a chance, Sara headed over to the last empty table and sat down. She shrugged her coat over the back of the chair. They placed their orders.

Sara pulled out her notebook and wrote a list of what she had bought and whom it was for. The food arrived, and she tucked into the pastry with enthusiasm. She drained the coffee and looked at the cup. She could do with another.

“Mrs. Nemec, isn’t it?”

She glanced up at the familiar voice. It was the creep from the party. She hid her shiver and forced a smile. She could be pleasant. “Mr. Baines.”

She took the offered hand and shook it. He smiled and held out his hand to DC Collins. “You must be Mr. Nemec. We didn’t get chance to meet at the party last night.”

DC Collins shook his hand. “Eric Collins. I’m Sara’s brother-in-law.”

Phil’s smile set Sara’s nerves on edge. “May I buy you both a coffee?” It wasn’t just how very much he resembled Jamie, there was something else—

Sara glanced at DC Collins. Was she related to every single cop in town all of a sudden? She didn’t wish to appear rude. This Baines guy may be a creep of the first degree, but perhaps he was being nice. “Thank you, I’d like that. Eric, what about you?”

DC Collins nodded. “Sure, thanks. Do ye want to join us?”

Horror shot through Sara. He hadn’t said what she thought he had, surely.

“No, thank you, I’m with a friend. Let me get your coffee.”

He went to the counter, and Sara shook her head at DC Collins. “Lucky for you he said no. He’s a creep. And also lucky he didn’t query how I have an American husband, and a Scottish brother-in-law, while I’m English.”

He raised an eyebrow. “It would have been rude to accept the coffee without asking him tae join us. Besides, yer perfectly safe with me here.”

Sara shrugged and carried on with her list. She was safe with Luke. She didn’t know who else she could trust. She glanced up as the cups chinked down beside her. “Thank you.”

“Welcome. Merry Christmas.”

Sara turned back to her list, drinking the coffee and finishing the pastry as she wrote. Wiping her hands, Sara checked her watch. It was eleven twenty. Where had the time gone? She’d meant to get back to Luke with the meds quicker than this.

“We should make tracks. Yer been out long enough.”

She got to her feet and put her coat on. “Sounds good. I’m tired. Where are you parked?”

“In the car park at the back of the war memorial.”

Sara pulled the phone from her bag and put it into her coat pocket. The words war memorial echoed in her mind. Why was that important? She picked up the bags and left the café, allowing him to open the door for her. He walked close by her side. She was more than tired. She was exhausted. All she wanted to do was get the meds home to Luke, sit down, and put her feet up. The town hall clock chimed the half-hour.

DC Collins lost his footing and stumbled into her. She caught his arm. “Are you all right?”

He looked at her, his eyes taking a moment to focus, and then he nodded. “I’m fine.”

Not convinced, Sara’s head swam. Was she really that tired? Her eyes burned, and she rubbed a hand over them as she drew level with the war memorial. A tall figure with long hair in a long black coat with a newspaper under his arm stood next to it. She’d forgotten he was going to be there. In her concern for Luke, she’d forgotten all about the man who knew where she was. Nor had she told anyone.

Turning to DC Collins, she pulled off her hat and shoved it in the bag. “There’s something I need to tell—” She broke off as someone bumped into her, pushing her forwards. She tried to go another way, but the man behind her kept pressing her onward.

The tall figure turned and leered at her. “Hello, Sara.”

Sara’s heart stopped. It was Austin. He’d found her.

No.

Fear surged through her, and she started to turn away. Her hand slid into her coat pocket, desperately pushing buttons on the phone, trying to hit the right ones in order.

Where was DC Collins? She caught a glimpse of him being grabbed and searched as strong arms gripped her from behind. Someone pressed against her back, preventing her from escaping.

“Long time no see.” Austin’s eyes flicked past her to the man holding her. “Put her in the car. Get the phones from them both.”

Sara glanced down at the hands restraining her and glimpsed a tattoo of a dragon on the left wrist. Fear turned to panic.

“No.” She started to struggle, but her legs buckled beneath her. All her resistance vanished, and she felt incredibly lightheaded, her vision swimming.

“Did you enjoy the coffee I bought you?” a familiar voice whispered in her ear. “Coffee á la Phil. Guaranteed to make you do whatever I want.”

Rough hands searched her and pulled the phone from her pocket. “Don’t…” she began.

Phil held both of the phones in front of her and pulled off the back before removing the battery and putting it in the bin by the memorial. What was he doing? Why take the phone away? None of this made any sense. DC Collins was forced into the waiting car. Strong arms led her over to it and pushed her inside. Someone fastened the seat belt around her. Sara tried to move, but she couldn’t even do that. Her eyes closed, and everything started to go dark. The car door slammed behind her.