Half Moon Bay (18 page)

Ellie knew what fear felt like. It was a visceral gut-churning reaction to a threat and she’d experienced it before. This time it was due to the gun pressed to her temple. It was not the first gun she’d had waved at her, but in the past Nina had been there bluffing and charming and scheming their way out. Now she was on her own and her knotted stomach wasn’t going to let her forget it. Her heightened senses were in overdrive. She could smell the heated perfume on her body mingled with the stale sweat of the two intruders. No deodorant, no aftershave, no manners. Her muscles were locked as she fought to keep control of her voice. Where the hell was Shadow?

The mobile phone stopped ringing and she glared at her captors. ‘We’ve been over and over this. I’ve already told you I don’t have a Toshiba computer. I only have a Mac.’ She jerked her head at the slim case sitting on the kitchen table. ‘Tell O’Sullivan I will not be intimidated.’

The rumble of laughter held a menace that raised goosebumps all over her body.

‘Missy, we’re here to make sure you stop poking into matters that are way bigger than you. If the computer’s not here, then you know where it is. You have no option but to do it our way. Did I forget to mention your dog’s dead? So don’t be waiting for it to rescue you.’

Ellie clenched her jaw, fighting the prickle in her eyes. The pain must have showed on her face and the younger man giggled. Ellie wondered what drugs he was on to give him courage. Her phone beeped. Whoever had called had left a message. Maybe they’d come looking for her since she hadn’t answered? It bolstered her courage.

‘Yeah, well, they can pin that charge on you as well.’ Her voice was steady. ‘I’ll say it again. I don’t have a Toshiba laptop. You’re wasting your time. Ron’s going to be here soon and he will raise the alarm.’

Both men laughed again. The younger one spoke. ‘Hey, Critter, I think she likes us.’

Critter? Ellie tried not to react. Shit . . . She pushed her chair, edging away from the rough hand that held the gun.

‘Sit, little missy. You’re not going anywhere.’ Critter leered at her, his breath stirring her hair. She felt tiny pieces of spittle fleck her face. Revulsion gave her strength and irrational courage.

‘Get out now and I’ll forget I’ve ever seen you.’ She barely got to her feet before Critter lashed out with an open hand. The force of the slap knocked her backwards into the chair. Quick tears flooded her eyes, but she ignored her stinging cheek. ‘Fuck off out of my house,’ she hissed at him, her vision misting with rising rage. She surged to her feet again, ready to fight back.

‘Yeah, right.’ He laughed in her face. ‘Funny, I’m the one with the gun here. Who’s going to make us leave?’ His sycophantic sidekick giggled again.

‘That’d be me. You heard what Ellie said. Get out.’ The words were low and slow, but the undercurrent of anger was unmistakeable. Both men froze, the older man with his face centimetres from Ellie’s. Neither of them spoke. Ellie half turned. Nick, water dripping from his sodden clothes, stood in the front doorway. Relief flooded her. Like an avenging warrior with hair slicked flat, his eyes burning in a face all angles and shadows, he dominated the room. But her relief was short-lived. What was he doing here?

‘Move, arsehole. Now.’ Nick’s words were soft, but the gun in his hand added to their menace. The younger man was the first to stir and he edged towards the back door.

‘And you.’ Nick motioned with his gun. ‘Out!’ He steadied the weapon aimed at the man’s chest and Critter’s resolve gave too. He leaned away from Ellie and she broke clear.

‘This is bullshit. O’Sullivan’s not going to be happy. You’ll be seeing us again. Both of you.’ He hawked and spat on the floor at Nick’s feet. ‘Haven’t got the balls for a man’s job, sonny? Pussy-whipped, are you?’

‘Ellie, over here.’

She shook her head and skirted around the kitchen table, putting space between all of them. If her heart beat any faster it would blow a valve. If Nick was in partnership with the mayor, why was he now waving that gun around and rescuing her?

Nick and Critter were still eyeballing each other, although Critter’s gun was slack in his hand. Ellie was ready to hit the floor if the shooting started. She touched her cheek, feeling the raised weal from the slap. She couldn’t stop her legs shaking.

‘Come on, Critter – out. Now.’ Nick’s face was stony. ‘Take your filth away before I forget all my manners.’ The knuckles on the hand holding the gun were white and his finger moved the trigger a fraction. The intruders finally capitulated, the younger one diving out the door while Critter walked away with a string of curses. Nick followed them and Ellie heard the lock on the back door snap closed. She steadied herself against the benchtop as Nick returned.

‘Did they hurt you, Ellie?’ He moved towards her, but she snatched up her computer and backed up as she shook her head.

‘No.’ She couldn’t banish her fear or suspicion. He knew the two men. He’d called Critter by name.

He stopped short, the gun still loose in his hand, still radiating urgency, but he didn’t try to touch her. ‘Ellie, I’m sorry. They’ve baited Shadow.’

She couldn’t stifle her cry of distress and he flinched.

‘Where is he?’

‘In the yard. He’s still alive. Ring your vet while I call the police. Tell him I think it’s strychnine. Shadow’s convulsing. And grab some blankets. Go. It’s our only hope of saving him.’

She didn’t need telling twice. The vet’s number put her in a queue for an operator at a call centre.

Nick too was on the phone, talking as he hurried through the house locking windows and doors. ‘Bob? Yeah. Sorry to bother you, mate, but there’s been a situation out at Ellie’s place. No . . . No, but I let down a tyre so they shouldn’t be far away. Pretty sure you’ll be able to tie it into the hit-and-run on her this afternoon.’ He was still talking as he went out the back door.

Ellie pulled a blanket out of a camphorwood chest, phone tucked under her chin. Her call was finally answered. She left details for the vet and shoved her laptop into her bag. If someone was keen enough to be searching for it and the missing Toshiba, she wasn’t going to make it any easier for them. Grabbing her coat and keys, she headed after Nick.

The cold rain came as a relief from the overheated air in the kitchen. She turned the outside light on. Nick crouched beside a black shape on the ground. Shadow! Before she reached them Nick scooped the dog up in his arms and strode for his car. Ellie managed to get a hand on Shadow’s nose. It was burning hot.

‘Back seat.’

Ellie slid into the car with the blanket in her arms and Nick handed her the dog. She wrapped the fabric around Shadow, feeling shivers racking his lean body. His warm tongue touched her hand and the tears she’d held on to so tightly spilled down her cheeks. She bent over the dark head, dropping kisses between his ears. ‘Shadow, baby, you can do this.’

The car door slammed and Nicholas started the engine. ‘Can you give me directions?’

‘Okay.’ She stroked her dog’s sodden fur, rubbing limbs that were too stiff. They drove out of her front gate, already in second gear. Up the road they passed the Commodore. Critter and his mate were arguing on the side of the road. Ellie didn’t care if they broke into her house again. Shadow was all that mattered right now. Nick muttered something under his breath but she didn’t catch the words.

Shadow went rigid in her arms, his back arching like a bow. ‘Oh God, he’s fitting.’

Nick focused on the inky blackness ahead, his headlights reflecting off the curtain of rain. He should have seen the danger coming and pre-empted it. He knew what stakes these guys were playing for.

‘I’m almost at the main street. Where to now?’

‘Left. Red building with white paw prints on the outside.’

He pulled up in front of the surgery and had barely turned off the engine before the back door was yanked open by a waiting figure.

‘Here, hand him over, Ellie. Yep, I’ve got him.’ The middle-aged vet gathered the big dog into her arms. She didn’t stop to check who was following, her skirt flapping round her legs as she swept into the surgery.

By the time Nick was at the passenger side, Ellie was out, her face pale, her eyes red-rimmed. His arm went instinctively around her. ‘Come on.’ He could feel her shaking.

The harsh surgery lights illuminated Shadow’s obvious distress. The vet barely glanced up. ‘I’m injecting him with drugs to stop the convulsions first. I think it is strychnine. It just depends how much they gave him. Temp isn’t too high yet so that’s a plus and he’s a big dog with plenty of muscle mass. We’ll know by morning.’

‘Oh, Liz, please . . . I couldn’t bear it . . .’ The sob caught in Ellie’s throat and this time Nick turned her into his chest. She didn’t resist. He stroked her hair and his eyes met the vet’s in mute appeal.

‘You can stay if you want. There’s coffee in the kitchen – strong black and two sugars for me.’ Liz’s words were gruff.

Nick nodded and steered Ellie to the kitchen. He sat her in a chair and crouched down in front of her.

‘He’s in the best possible hands, Ellie. But what about you? Do I need to track down your doctor? Someone else for you to talk to, to be here with you?’

‘I’ll be fine. I’ve seen worse, much worse.’ Her face was taut. Her hands trembled, but she’d stemmed the tears.

He folded her close and rested his chin on her head. For a moment she was stiff, resistant. He ran soothing circles over her back and with a tiny hiccup of a stifled sob she relaxed against him. God, he wished she’d just break down properly. She had to crack some time. He wanted to take away her hurt, kiss the pain from her eyes. He wanted desperately to tell her the truth, but now? It wasn’t possible.

If she realised that he’d been there when Nina was shot, had been involved in the clean-up and he hadn’t admitted it, she’d hate him, and who would blame her? Bad enough the other lies he’d told her about his business in Half Moon Bay, but if she knew they’d met before, in Afghanistan?

‘Kettle boiled yet?’ The vet’s voice brought Nick back to the present. Ellie pulled away.

‘Sorry, I think it just clicked off.’

‘I’m Liz and you’re Nick.’ The hand that grasped his was firm.

‘Shadow?’ Ellie asked. She looked dead on her feet.

‘He’s as well as can be expected, love.’ Liz busied herself with the coffee. ‘Here, drink this, Ellie. The caffeine will give your heart a quick shot. And how do you have yours, Nick?’

‘White and two, but I can get my own.’

‘NATO standard issue, huh,’ she joked, eyeing him up and down. ‘I was in the military once. Started life as a doctor before deciding I’d seen enough of the horrors humans inflict on each other. Animals are much more appreciative.’

‘Is there any point in us sticking around or should I get Ellie home for some rest?’

Ellie bridled next to him. ‘No. I’m not leaving.’

The vet shrugged as she handed him his mug. ‘It’s good for the dog to know his humans haven’t deserted him so maybe wait till I’ve got him sedated. After that it’s in the lap of the gods. Sorry. All you can do is stop the convulsions and then pump their stomach out. Temperature control can only really work once the unabsorbed chemical is out of the body.’

She patted Ellie on the back. ‘I do know how much Shadow means to you. Come on, let’s go and hold his paw for a couple of minutes.’

The big dog shook with his rapid, shallow breathing. When Ellie sat at his head stroking his muzzle, the brown eyes ghosted opened for a moment. She bowed her head over him and Nick had to shove his hands in his pockets. He felt so useless, overpowered by Ellie’s grief. How much more did she have to endure?

The vet shot a sympathetic look his way as she brushed past him. She took Shadow’s temp again. ‘Still no higher. That’s good. The next procedure isn’t going to be pretty, Ellie. Stay if you want, but I’d probably advise you not to. Cleaning out stomachs is not pleasant – for me or the animal – but it should save his life.’ She paused with the pump in her hands.

Nick answered first. ‘I think we’ll wait in the kitchen, Ellie. Call when it’s clear to come back in?’

Liz nodded as Ellie got to her feet reluctantly.

‘It’s better for Shadow too, Ellie.’

The younger woman nodded, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

She walked into the kitchen and flopped into the chair again. Nick leant against the sink opposite, apprehension making him grind his teeth.

‘Ellie, talk to me. What do
you
need?’

She raised distressed eyes to his. ‘The truth would probably be a good start, Nicholas Lawson. How did you happen to be there? How did you know about Shadow?’ Her voice cracked at the dog’s name. ‘What gives you the right to wave a gun around my kitchen?’

He couldn’t stop a glimmer of a smile. ‘Well, thank God. Your voice is back.’ His smile vanished as quickly as it had come. ‘I promise I’ll tell you the truth tonight, but not here.’ He crouched down in front of her. ‘Somewhere without walls with ears.’

‘Liz is an old family friend.’ Her voice was flat.

‘Yeah, and we want to keep her that way. The fewer people who know, the sooner my job is done. And the fewer people whose lives will be affected. Trust me.’

She laughed but there was no mirth. ‘You rescue me from something you helped to set up and now you want me to trust you?’

‘No!’ The word exploded from him and he stood up. ‘I didn’t set any of this up. Ellie, please, I promise I’ll explain it . . .’

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he reached in. He didn’t miss Ellie’s eyes widening. Was she expecting the gun again? It was the local police.

‘Hello. Yes, Bob . . . Shit . . . Great . . . See you shortly.’

He snapped the phone shut. ‘Your local copper thinks the two guys were picked up by someone. They got the rego so there’s an alert out for them now. I’ll go and give him a statement, but you’ll need to talk to him tomorrow morning too.’

‘I’ll talk to him, but I’m not making an official statement.’

‘You have to!’

‘No, I don’t. I’ll be forced to tell and retell what went on. I’ll be called as a witness. I’m not doing it. They win again if I go down that line. I’ll become a victim and it will rule my life and that’s not why I’m here. They haven’t scared me off, they’ve just made me more determined to fight their bullshit.’

‘We need to talk, Ellie.’

‘Nothing to talk about. My decision won’t change. Justice isn’t always about a court case.’

She wasn’t making sense but he’d talk her around. ‘I’ll be back shortly.’

She gave a sharp nod. He didn’t want to leave her, but there was nothing else he could do. Surely no harm could come to her in a secure veterinary clinic?