Monday's Child (29 page)

Jamie tried to pull it off her finger. Sara fought not to show the pain. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction. “That hurts.”

Jamie twisted harder, finally forcing the ring from her finger. He tossed it across the room. “You are mine, Sara, mine. Not his. Never his.”

“I’m not yours. Luke was protecting me.”

Jamie smirked. “And he did such a good job. I really should thank him sometime.” He kissed her hard, his fingers digging into her arms.

Sara froze in his arms, not kissing him back. She turned her head away, his kiss cold, unfeeling and unwelcome. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Jamie pushed her hair back from her face. “All these questions. Aren’t you pleased to see me?” He went to kiss her again, glaring at her as she moved her face away. “Well?”

“Are you Oscar?”

“Yes, doll. I always have been. Stalked little gullible you. I ran the entire operation for years. Turning Queen’s evidence was one of my better ideas. I got a new name, new start, police protection, a wife and all the time, running the drug operation right under their noses. It was a stroke of genius, even if I do say so myself. Of course it’d have been better if you’d not insisted on holding out until the wedding night.”

“Sorry?”

“We could have had so much more fun. You know that’s what hurts the most. You held out on me, but you’re sharing a bed with the cop.”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a reply.”

His voice turned into a hiss. “Save it. I’ve been watching you for weeks.”

Sara pulled out of his arms. “You’re a murderer, a thief, an arsonist, and a liar. You killed your parents.”

“Yes, I killed them,” he snarled. “And I’ll do the same to anyone who gets in my way or hurts my brother.” His tone changed, becoming softer, beguiling. “But everything’s going to be all right, babe. We’re together now. You, me, the baby, and Phil. One big happy family.”

He glanced behind him at Phil. “Leave us for a bit, bro. I want to spend some quality time with my wife. We have a lot of time to make up.”

“Sure thing, RJ.” Phil winked and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

Jamie wrapped his arms around Sara, his lips running kisses down her neck. His fingers tangled in her hair. “What did you do to it? I don’t like it this short.”

“Well I do. It was too long. Besides I hoped Austin wouldn’t recognize me with short hair. Guess I was wrong.”

“Guess you were. I missed you so much. And I know you missed me.” He kissed her.

Sara turned away. “Don’t.”

“You’re my wife. You can’t refuse me.”

She struggled. Oh, yes, she could. “I’m not your wife. I got an annulment.”

“I’ll contest it. You need my signature as I’m not dead.” He kissed her again.

She pulled her arms up between then, locking them across her chest. “No, I don’t feel so good. I’ve got a really bad headache.”

He pushed her back down on the bed. “Then let me kiss it better. I read that intimate relations are actually good at getting rid of headaches. Then afterwards, we can get out of here and start over.”

“I said, no.” He’d betrayed her. Her heart belonged to someone else.

His hand slid down her arm. “I love you, Sara Barnes.”

“It’s Sara Daniels. I changed my name.”

He buried his face in her neck, kissing it. “We’ll change it back.”

Sara struggled, trying to pull away, but he held her too tightly. Her wrist caught on something tucked into his waistband. “No. Stop...Luke.”

A sharp slap made her jump. Her eyes sprung open filling with tears. “What did I do?”

“What did you do?” Jamie glared at her, his eyes sparkling with anger. “What did you do? You called Luke’s name. How dare you lie here in my arms, in my bed, and think of him? You are my wife, Sara,” he told her, spitting out each word emphatically. “Not his. Mine.”

Sara’s cheek hurt, but she refused to touch it. “I am not your wife. Not legally, not any more. You never loved me. You left me and pretended you were dead. Austin was right. I am just a possession to you.” She folded her arms tightly across her chest.

“You shouldn’t believe everything Frank tells you. Maybe I loved you a little. I’d have loved you more if you’d been a bit more responsive from the beginning. And I did change my mind over having you killed in Blackpool. I know you want me, babe, as much as I want you. Once I kill your cop friend, there will be no one to come between us.”

“No.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow. “No? So you do love him then?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. You don’t want him dead. You call out his name when I’m kissing you. You wear his ring. You don’t really think he could love someone like you, do you? You’re only alive for one reason, Sara.” His hand rubbed her stomach and laughed. “And once he’s born, you have a choice. Work with me, as my wife, or die.”

Sara shook her head, bile rising in her throat. “No. And that’s when she’s born.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “You have to admit, babe, we are pretty good together. We make a good team, Sara, you and I. Now be a good girl and kiss me.”

Sara looked at him, a plan forming in her mind. “Say please.”

He smirked. “I like this game. Sara, please kiss me.”

She closed her eyes, raising one hand to his face, her fingers entwining in his hair. As she kissed him, her other hand slid down his back, untucking his shirt. She moved her fingers slowly up his back, bringing out goose bumps on his flesh.

Jamie moaned into the kiss as she touched him. Sara’s hand slid down to his waist, her fingers trailing along it, searching for what she’d so briefly touched.

Jamie’s eyes sprung open as Sara pulled the gun from the small of his back and pointed it at him. “What are you doing, Sara?”

Her hands trembled. “I want to go home.”

“Don’t be stupid. Give me the gun, Sara.”

“No.” Her finger tightened on the trigger as she held the gun at arm’s length, aiming at his chest.

“I said, give me the gun.”

“And I said, no.” She pulled the trigger, but all that happened was a loud click. She looked at it and tried again. Nothing. “It won’t work.”

Laughing, Jamie snatched the gun. “It helps if you remove the safety.” He flipped it off and pointed the gun at Sara. “Now it’ll work.”

Sara pushed back into the bed, terrified. “Jamie.”

Jamie grinned. “Love you, babe.”

He aimed, and fired.

29

Sara sat on the bed, unable to move, her heart thudding so loud she was convinced they could hear it downstairs. The bullet had missed her by an inch and thudded into the wall behind her.

Phil burst into the room, gun out. “What the…”

Jamie raised a hand. “Everything’s under control, bro. I’m teaching my wife an object lesson in obedience.”

Sara shook hard. She knew she was going to die, but wanted the chance to tell Luke she loved him first. The cold metal handcuffs snapped around her wrists again.

Jamie snatched the rope and fastened her to the headboard. “What do I do with you? I can’t trust you. Maybe I should kill you. But…lucky for you there is something I have to attend to first. Think carefully, babe. I want you, but my patience is limited.”

Sara let out a deep breath. “Luke will find me.”

“Luke?” Jamie’s eyes blazed fire. “I come back after six months, and all you care about is some babysitting cop.”

“You left me. I loved you, fool that I was. You let me think you were dead. You never loved me. You stalked me, set me up. And yes, I’ve given my heart to Luke. He’s more man than you’ll ever be.”

“He doesn’t care about you one way or the other. Your emails made that abundantly clear. The only reason he stayed with you is because he was paid to.”

Sara shook her head. “No. He’ll come.”

“No, he won’t. Why should he? No one knows where you are. No one cares.” He spun on his heel and left.

Sara shuddered as her stomach churned and her chest tightened. She didn’t want to die; she wanted to live. She wanted her babies. She wanted Luke. She wanted to go home. She closed her eyes as tears filled them. She didn’t want to cry either. Crying just made the constant throbbing inside her head worse.

The door slammed behind him. Sara twisted her head and focused on the small crack in the curtains. She could make out the full moon shining in the dark sky. “Luke, if you’re coming, come quickly…”

****

Dave stood. “Come on. It’s time tae go.”

Luke glanced from the pile of pictures and reports he had in his hand. There had to be a clue in here somewhere. The team from Inverness had arrested Shepherds and was interviewing him. Teams were scouring the area looking for Jamie. “Go where? What time is it?”

“Five thirty and we need tae leave now for the carol service. Put yer coat on.”

“What if Sara rings again? I should stay here in case something turns up.”

“I have my phone. They’ll ring as soon as they know where Sara is. Meanwhile, we have plenty of time for church, coffee, and mince pies, before yer Dad’s plane gets in. It’s nine lessons and carols, well worth going tae.”

Luke rose and put his coat on, following them to the door. The last thing he wanted was coffee, mince pies, and small talk with the old lady who sat in front of them.

As he stepped outside, the crispness of the night air took his breath away. The snow lay deep and crisp and even, like in the very British carol Sara kept singing as soon as the snow began to lay—Good King Wenceslas. Stars twinkled and shone in the black sky, the full moon reflecting off the snow.

He turned to Mary. “Do you suppose she’s out there somewhere looking at the same moon?”

“I can guarantee it. You can almost hear the angels sing.” Mary’s breath hung in the air. “There is something about Christmas Eve.”

Luke glanced back at the house. “I left the tree lights on. Be right back.”

In the lounge, he bent to turn off the tree lights, and his gaze fell to the pictures on the coffee table, the ones he had taken of the beach. The top one was the rainbow reflecting off the sea, with a tumbledown cottage on the shoreline.

He glanced at Sara’s painting then peered at it. In the window of one of the cottages a pair of shoes had been left on an upstairs windowsill. Why on earth would she paint that? He compared it to the photos, but no shoes.

He stared at the painting for a moment then snapped off the tree lights.

****

The church was ablaze with candle flame. A tree covered in twinkling lights stood on one side of the pulpit, with a wooden nativity scene underneath it. Holly, ivy, and Christmas roses hung from the pillars which supported the gallery.

Luke led Mary towards their usual seats and slid into the pew. He read the service sheet, half listening to the older lady on his other side greeting him. The words beach, rainbow, cottage, shoes kept turning over and over in his mind. The link had to be there, but where?

Lord, show me the link. We’re running out of time.

“Hello, Mr. Nemec. How are ye?”

“I’m fine, Mrs. Urquhart. How are you?”

“I’m doing fine. I thought Frank might have been here. He usually brings me, but I had tae get a lift with Dr. Scott tonight.”

“Frank?”

“Frank Williams. Nice young chap, even if he’s a bit of a loner. Tall chap, long dark hair. I’m surprised you have nae bumped in tae him. He moved up here several weeks ago from down south. He or his friend walks the dog for me. Not seen him this week, which is odd because he has been at home. Probably tae busy with all the people he’s had coming and going at all hours, tae bother with an old woman like me. He even had that policeman off the television visit. Ye know the one who does all the interviews. And he has a lady friend staying.”

Luke’s interest piqued at the mention of the police officer. That could only be Shepherds. But a lady friend? “Why do you say that?”

“He brought a young lassie back on Tuesday, and I have nae seen her leave. She must be staying for Christmas. I caught a brief glimpse as they helped her in from the car.” She lowered her voice. “But she was in the family way if ye get my meaning. And he never said anything about being married. You know, she keeps her shoes on the window sill.”

Luke sat up straight.
Shoes on the window sill?

“In fact, he was asking about ye and yer wife the other week. Have they found her yet?”

“Not yet. Where does Frank live?”

“Drover’s Cottage.”

On a hunch Luke pulled the photos from his pocket and showed them to her. “Is this him?”

“Yes, dear, that’s Frank. I thought ye said didn’t know him. His friend has one of those tattoo things.” She pointed to the other photo. “That’s him.” She paused then pointed to the photo of Jamie. “He helps with the dog.”

Luke leaned forwards and hugged her. “Thank you.”
And thank you, Lord, for giving me the clue right when I asked for it.

Luke motioned to Dave and filled him in on the conversation. Dave rose. “Luke, ye get Dr. Scott. I’ll call for backup. Carole, I’ll need ye to take Mary home after the service.”

Luke headed across to Scott, just as the service began. “Doc, we know where Sara is. We got to go.”

He walked down the aisle and out of the church, praying they’d get there in time.

****

The church clock chimed six. Sara counted each stroke of the bell, the clanging chimes of doom forcing her mind to concentrate. As the last chime echoed across the still, snowy town, the door swung open.

Phil strode across the room. “Time to go.”

“Not going anywhere with you. You’ll have to kill me.”

“If that’s what you want.” Phil grinned at her. “Pity though. The three of us could have had so much fun together.”

Sara rolled her eyes. “You’ll regret that.”

“Not as much as you will.” As he took a step closer, Sara screamed as loud as she could, pulling on the rope tied to the head of the bed.

“Shut up.”

As defiantly as she could, she screamed again.

The bedroom door burst open. Jamie ran in. He took the situation in at a glance and pulled Phil away. “Leave her alone. She’s making too much noise.”