17

 

The moon shone brightly from a cloudless sky, as Jason parked outside the guest house. Freddie glanced up. Her stomach plummeted. “Jason, the light’s on in my room.”

“Did you leave it on?”

“No. It was daylight when we went out.” She sighed. “I hate being right all the time. The question is, is it Nick Steele, or someone else?”

“Stay here.” Jason got out of the car.

Freddie followed him up the path. “Jason…”

“I thought I told you to stay put.” He paused as he opened the front door.

“I’m not going to let you walk in there alone. You might need back up, unless you’re armed.”

“No, I’m not. I never carry unless I have to.”

“I can go first if you like.” She ignored the look he gave her.

“What I’d like is for you to do as you’re told and stay put.”

“Just because I’m a woman—”

“This has nothing to do with that. Let me handle things for once. You want a reason, other than a “macho bloke thing”, how about you’re only just out of hospital and I’m the boss?”

“Fine, after you, then.”

Jason took the stairs two at a time. Freddie gave a count of ten before she followed. She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed the emergency services. “Police, please.”

She gasped as Jason put a hand on the door knob, opening it and bursting inside in the same movement. “Yes…someone’s broken into my room…Daybreak Guest House, Victoria Drive.”

Jason flew across the room towards the masked figure standing by her dresser, going through her things. He grabbed the intruder and swung him around, lashing out with a left hook.

Standing in the doorway, she watched Jason spin and fight, returning the punches and kicks. The two men whirled around the room, smashing, thuds and grunts filling the air. “He’s attacking my friend...Please hurry.” Freddie caught her breath as she ended the call.

Mrs. Bowman arrived on the landing, flustered and out of breath. “What’s all the noise?” She jumped and cried out as the rose jug flew from the room and smashed at her feet. “Gracious. Miss Price, any breakages will have to be paid for.”

“Someone’s in my room. He attacked Mr. North. The police are on their way.”

A loud crash turned Freddie’s attention back to the room. A lamp lay broken on the floor, next to Jason, the assailant hitting him with his fist. Something glinted in the light. A knife.

Freddie gasped. “Jason...knife.”

Jason pushed off his assailant and scrambled to his feet. The two men whirled and moved as if taking part in a macabre dance, Jason trying to avoid the outstretched knife.

The front door burst open. Running footsteps and loud voices preceded the two uniformed officers up the stairs.

Freddie stood to one side as they ran into the room. “He’s got a knife.”

 

****

 

Jason sat on the bed in his room after the police left. His left eye had swollen shut. He winced as Freddie pressed a cold cloth to his jaw. It felt broken, but probably wasn’t. “Agh.” He reached up to hold the cloth in place.

“I’m sorry. I’m being as gentle as I can.” Freddie dabbed cotton wool on the cut above his eye. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to the ED?”

“I’m fine.”

“Uh huh. You look anything but fine.”

“I’m fine, honestly. The last thing I want is for them to admit me, keep me in overnight and leave you alone.” He paused and glanced around his room. It hadn’t been as badly wrecked this time. “At least it wasn’t someone we knew.”

“Doesn’t that make it worse? I’d almost rather it was.”

“I can’t find any steak.” Mrs. Bowman came back in, holding a pack of peas in her outstretched hand. “Will this do?”

“That’s brilliant, thank you.” Freddie wrapped the bag in a towel and placed it over Jason’s eye.

“That’s cold.”

“It’s meant to be.”

“I really am sorry. I feel this is my fault. I don’t know how they got in. I’ll find you both new rooms.” Mrs. Bowman started trying to tidy up.

Jason shook his head, his face creasing as the pain upped a notch. “There’s no need. We’re leaving, as soon as we can pack up. How much do we owe you?”

“But Miss Price is only just out of hospital and you’re injured. Where will you go?”

“We’ll head home.” He just didn’t feel safe staying any longer. “The food’s been wonderful, and I’m sure I’ve put on weight. I intend to recommend this place to my work colleagues. Could we have the bill, please?”

“The recommendation would be nice, thank you. Are you sure you don’t want to stay until morning? I can find a room in another hotel if you’d rather.”

“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Bowman, but we’ve made up our minds to go tonight. If we drive overnight we’ll miss the traffic and cut about an hour off the journey.”

“That makes sense. I was doing the bills this morning. Yours comes to six hundred and fifty for the three rooms, minus what Miss Price already paid, but I’ll reduce it to compensate for the troubles.”

“There’s no need for that. You’ve more than earned it. The break-ins were hardly your fault. Charge the rooms to Miss Price’s card. This is an extra fifty to cover breakages, new locks and so on.” Jason pulled out his wallet and held out several crisp ten pound notes.

“But Mr. North...” She looked at the money, not taking it.

“I’m not going to take no for an answer.”

“I’ve tried arguing with him before now and lost. He’ll only try to give you more if you do.”

“Thank you. I’ll go and do your receipt.”

Jason let out a deep breath as she vanished down the stairs. He closed his right eye, pain soaring through his stiff and beaten body. I must be getting old, Lord. I never ached like this from a fight before, and I’ve been in a fair few scrapes in my time. Thank You for preserving my life.

A gentle touch to his cheek caused him to look up into concern filled eyes. He tried to reassure her. “I’m fine. It’s not as bad as it appears.”

“It looks really bad. You should see a doctor.”

“If I can’t open my eye in the morning, then I will. Go pack. The sooner we leave the better. I want to go somewhere they can’t find us.”

“Are you sure you’ll be all right?”

Jason nodded, rubbing his jaw as pain from his split lip coursed through it. “Yes, I’m fine. Now go and pack. I’ll leave the door open.”

“Then I’ll come back and do yours.”

“There’s no—” He broke off as she hushed him and sat still as she left. Then he stood up and walked slowly over to the sink. He gazed at his reflection.

He certainly did a number on you. I can see why Freddie is so concerned. Maybe we can go to Debs place. She’s a doctor, and it’s safe there. Only problem is, Lord, I don’t want to put them in danger by staying there. Maybe they know of somewhere we can go.

He pulled his phone from his pocket. He held the phone in one hand, the other still holding the cold compress to his face.

The phone picked up on the second ring. “Hello.”

“Vic, it’s Jason.” Relief filled him at the calming tone of his brother-in-law’s voice.

“Hey. How are you?”

“Not good. I need a favor.”

 

****

 

Five minutes later, packed and everything sorted, Jason left his room for the last time and crossed the hall to Freddie’s. “All done?”

“Yeah.” She looked at him. “You packed? I told you I would do it.”

“I’m big enough to pack my own bags. Some things are best unseen by your fragile female eyes.” He shrugged, regretting the movement.

Freddie snorted. “I’ve seen boxer shorts before, mate. They advertise them on the TV. It’s your choice of tie that’s scary. Where are we going?”

Footsteps crossed the landing and he shook his head almost imperceptibly. “Home. I don’t know about you, but I’m going back to work for a rest.”

The footsteps paused long enough for a light tap on the door, and then came into the room uninvited. The lilting voice didn’t hide his identity for long. “I heard there was trouble.”

“You could say that.” Jason turned to face him, taking a little comfort from Nick’s shocked reaction.

“My goodness, are you all right?”

“I’ve been better. We’re leaving.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. You haven’t had much luck here.”

“Not really.”

“Have a safe trip back.” Nick offered a hand.

Jason shook it, the same feeling of foreboding flooding him as before. “You, too.” He turned to Freddie. “Ready to go?”

She nodded and picked up her suitcase, heading down the stairs.

Jason followed her, very glad they’d put the holdall and laptop in the car before they’d gone out for the evening. He unlocked the car and handed her the keys. The slight touch of her hand against his fingers sent warmth through his chilled body. “You can drive.”

“You sure you trust me with your baby?”

He laughed, regretting it. He put a rueful hand on his bruised and sore ribs. “I’m sure. Not that I have much choice as I can’t see out of my left eye.”

“True. That would make driving rather difficult. Are we really going home?” Freddie loaded the cases into the trunk.

“I wouldn’t ask you to drive that far the day you come out of hospital. No, we’re not going home. We’re going to Debs’ place in Penarth.” He shut the trunk. “I just don’t want anyone else knowing that.” He got into the car, each small movement jarring his battered body. He shut the door and did up his seatbelt.

“Is it safe to go there?” Freddie pulled the seat forward and adjusted the driving mirror.

“I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think it was. Besides Vic insisted, and he’s a hard man to say no to.”

“Just like someone else I know,” Freddie said as she started the car.

“Oh yeah? Who might that be?”

She laughed, not answering as she pulled away from the guest house.