27

 

Luke stood there as Dave prayed. Afterwards, Luke took a deep breath. “So how are things going otherwise?”

“Could be better.” Dave shook his head, following Luke into the kitchen. “Hi, love,” he said, taking Carole into his arms and kissing her.

Luke gave the view from the window his full attention for a couple of minutes then he coughed.

Dave laughed. “Nasty cough ye got there, Luke. Ye should get it checked out.”

“I have seen enough doctors to last a lifetime, thank you.” Luke poured the coffee and handed one to Dave.

“Thanks.” He glanced at Carole.

“I’ll leave ye to it. I’ll go watch the telly with Mary.” She left the kitchen, taking two mugs with her.

Luke leaned against the counter, holding the cup to his face. He studied Dave over the top of it. “What gives?”

Dave sat down and took a mouthful of coffee. “Collins is dead. Coastguard found him and the phones floating in the harbor about an hour ago.”

Luke closed his eyes. “No...”

“He’d been shot, close range. They’re going tae rush the post mortem for us. We canna locate Phil Baines. I checked out Stafford myself. The phone number they gave me is a dead end. A virus wiped the hard drives on all their computers, so there are no records on anyone. And they no longer keep paper ones. Or so the woman I spoke tae tried tae have me believe.”

Luke snorted. “That’s convenient.”

“Och, aye. Baines moved out of Daniel’s place on Tuesday and willna be back in work until January second. The firm is shut from tomorrow anyway as it’s Christmas Eve, and he was off sick today.”

“Doesn’t Daniel know where he is staying?”

“Nay. He told them he was renting a holiday cottage. We’ve checked them all.”

“Let me guess. Nothing.”

“Got it in one. I canna believe he was next door, and we missed it.”

“You and me both.” The phone rang, and Luke grabbed it. “Nemec. Yes, he’s here.” He passed the phone to Dave. “For you.”

“Thanks. McArthur. Hi, Stacie, thanks for getting back to me. What you got?” As Dave listened, his face passed through the whole spectrum of emotions, ranging from shock to incredulity to anger. “Are ye sure? Are ye absolutely positive?”

Luke put down his cup. What had upset him so?

“Nay, ye did the right thing, lassie. Aye. Leave it with me. Everything is to be fielded through me. Nay, no one else. I dinna care if he doesna like it. It’s the way it has tae be.”

He listened again. “Aye, I understand that, but if the department is compromised, we have nay choice in the matter. Thank ye. Aye. Nay, nay, I’ll do it now. All right, bye.” He hung up.

“What’s wrong?”

Dave grimaced. “We have another problem. The tape Shepherds’ gave them is totally blank. Not even yer greeting was on it. Fortunately, I gave the second one tae her myself. That tape was fine. The other tape had been wiped with a magnet.”

“A magnet means it was deliberate. Who handled the tape other than tech?”

“Shepherds gave it to them direct. It was bagged and processed immediately.” Dave’s voice tightened. “Means only one thing.”

Luke’s gut twisted. “Shepherds is the leak?”

Dave sighed. “I’ve ken and worked with him for years.”

“It happens. Everyone has their price; some of us value our integrity more. For every good cop out there, there’s a bad one somewhere. But the boss?”

Dave finished his coffee. “I’ll set things in motion this end. I hate doing it, but there’s nae choice. We have tae clean our own house as well as the streets. I just hope it doesna go any higher up the chain of command than him. Inverness will send a team tonight tae take over the case, but I’m staying on it nay matter what they say.”

Luke smiled, exhaustion kicking in hard. “Thanks.”

“Hey, it’s what friends are for.”

Luke rubbed his hands over his face. “They’ve been using us like pawns to get Sara where they wanted her, and we played right into their hands.”

“So, we take their king. Then we take our queen. We will get her back. On our own if need be.”

“When?”

The clock in the hall chimed. “I wish I could tell ye, but we will. It’s getting late. I’d better make that call and get Carole home.”

Luke pushed away from the counter. “Stay here the night. You can use my room again.”

“Are ye sure?”

“Would I have offered otherwise? It’s what friends are for,” Luke replied. “There are pajamas in the second drawer and clean shorts, socks and shirts in the next one. Borrow anything you need. I’ll find some of Sara’s things for Carole.”

“Thank ye.”

 

****

 

The key rattled in the door, and Sara watched it open with a good deal of trepidation.

Austin came in and crossed the room. He untied her and sat her up. “Are you awake?”

“No, I’m asleep. What do you think?”

“I think you need a civil tongue in your head. You’d better change your tune before he arrives or you’ll be sorry.”

“He? Who’s he? Are you going to set your pet thug on me again?”

Austin sneered. “Phil? No, this is the boss.”

“Now I’m confused. I thought you were the boss.”

“Oscar is the boss. He has plans for you and your baby.”

Fear shot through Sara, but she refused to show it. “No way, no how. Over my dead body, in your dreams, and whatever other clichés you can think of.”

“It’s your choice, but there’s enough evidence out there to convict you. You come and you live. Stay and you rot in jail.”

“I don’t know. Rot in jail sounds fun.”

“Speaking of jail...” He moved over and opened the door.

As she gazed at the man standing there, Sara’s eyes widened in recognition. Her heart leapt. He’d found her. It was over, and she was free.

Austin smirked. “Sara, I believe you know DCI Shepherds?”

Sara’s heart plummeted. No, it couldn’t be. He was here to free her. Surely he wasn’t involved in this. Her eyes flitted desperately from Austin to Shepherds. The smirk on Austin’s face matched the one on Shepherds.

“But I thought…” The words died on her lips.

Austin’s harsh laugh echoed in the small room. “Everyone has their price, Sara. You should remember that.”

“Not everyone.” Sara took a deep breath.

Shepherds looked at her. “Just thought ye’d like an update on yer case. It’s closed. Lieutenant Nemec is on a plane back tae the States. Yer aunt is arranging yer funeral.”

Sara shook her head. “You can’t do that.”

“Och, I can and I have. If ye dinna like it, take it up with the boss. He’ll be here after breakfast.” He paused, running his eyes up and down her body. “Ye should get some sleep. Ye’ve a long day tomorrow.”

Sara watched them leave. Sleep? How was she meant to sleep now? She leaned back against the bed. Luke wouldn’t leave her. Closing her eyes she handed everything to the One person she knew was in control, no matter how messed up things were.

 

****

 

Luke woke before five, not having got into bed until after three. He got up, showered, dressed, and sat on the window seat, waiting for the daylight. The creased photo of Jamie lay beside him. When it came, the sky was gray, overcast and threatening more snow. His attention was caught by the shoreline and the houses along the harbor. They gave him pause. He had seen that view somewhere else...Of course. It’s Sara’s painting.

Distracted by a knock on the door, he turned. “Come in.”

Dave opened the door. “Morning. Have ye been there all night?”

“Most of it,” Luke replied honestly. “I couldn’t sleep. My mind is too active. I have never felt this way about anyone, and the first time I do, this happens. What if we don’t get her back?”

“I told ye last night, we will. Emphasis on the will. Failure is not an option.”

Luke rubbed his arms. “And what if she doesn’t feel the same way about me? I never realized how much of a risk love is. Or how vulnerable it makes you feel.”

“She does feel the same way.”

“How do you know?”

“Ye’ll have tae trust me on that one. She’s afraid ye don’t like her.”

Carole stuck her head around the door and glanced out of the window. She frowned. “What’s going on over at the Drover’s place?”

“There are new people in there.” Dave answered.

Carole peered out of the window. “That’s a lot of cars though. They must have visitors.”

Luke shrugged. “It’s Christmas Eve. What are your plans for today?”

“If yer dad’s here for Christmas, ye’ll need a turkey and more food than ye’ve got. Dave’s working this morning. I’ll take Mary food shopping.”

That hadn’t even occurred to Luke. Grocery shopping wasn’t high on his list of priorities. “Why don’t you two come here for the day tomorrow? We were meant to be coming to you, but with Dad coming and Sara…”

Dave shook his head. “Ye spend the day with yer family. Give me the flight details, and I’ll arrange for someone tae pick him up from the airport.”

“Thanks.” Luke pulled the piece of paper from his shirt pocket and handed it over. He picked up the creased photo and looked at it. “Wait a minute…” He bolted to his feet and ran from the room.

 

****

 

Sara opened her eyes and jumped as she saw Phil sitting on the bed next to her. He frightened her, but it was more than that. Maybe it was his resemblance to Jamie.

Phil tucked her hair behind her ear. “Sleep well?”

Sara jerked her head away. “No.”

Phil untied her, pulled her to her feet, and took her to the bathroom. “You should shower and change. Leave what you have on in here.”

“I have nothing else to wear.”

Phil pointed to a dress and change of underwear on top of the cistern. “Make yourself pretty for him. He’d like that.”

“Can I have the door closed?”

“Can I trust you?”

“What do you think?” she snapped. She held out her hands. “I can’t change or shower with my hands like this.”

Phil ran a hand down her arm. “I could always help you.”

“I bet you could, but I can manage.”

Phil undid the handcuffs. “The door stays open. You have ten minutes then I’m coming in to get you.”

“Promises, promises.” Sara pulled free and went into the bathroom. She pushed the door closed behind her.

“You lock that door, and I break it down.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Why don’t you go away for a bit?” She stood there for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. Who was this boss they kept referring to? She turned on the shower and stripped quickly, glad to be out of the dirty clothes.

Sara stood under the steaming water. She pushed her hands over her face and through her hair. Finding soap, she rubbed it over her skin and hair, trying to scrub every last trace of this place off her.

“Hurry up. One minute, and I’m coming in there.” Phil’s voice echoed through the door.

“All right.” She switched off the water. Grabbing a towel, she dried and dressed.

“Time’s up,” Phil said, pushing open the door. His eyes moved slowly and greedily up and down her body. “That color suits you.”

Put your eyes back in your head. “Does it now?”

“Yes, it does. He said it would.” Taking firm hold of her arm, he led her back to the bedroom. He cuffed one of her wrists to the headboard. He turned and headed to the door. “I’ll be back in a bit. Your breakfast is on the side.”

Wishing she hadn’t cut her hair all those weeks ago and had a hair pin with which to pick the lock on the handcuffs, Sara ate the bread. She picked up the cup and drank the coffee, her mind running over what Phil said. He said it would. Other than Luke, there was only one person who knew her that well. And he was—

The door opened, and Phil came in. Sara glared at him. “I thought I told you to go away.”

“I thought I told you to learn some manners.”

There was someone standing behind him. She couldn’t make him out as he was in the shadows. Was this the boss they kept mentioning?

“Sara, I’d like you to meet the boss of the whole operation. The man who holds your life, and your fate, entirely in his hands. And the man who spent months grooming you and setting you up so well. Oscar.”

The other man stepped into the light. Sara’s eyes widened as she saw him. Her heart stopped, and her stomach plummeted. It couldn’t be. For a moment she thought her eyes were deceiving her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the sound dried in her throat.

Jamie smiled at her. “Hey, babe. Long time no see. Missed me?”