Never Ever Leave Me (13 page)
Read Never Ever Leave Me Online
Authors: Elly Grant
“I’m the victim here,” he screamed. “That mad old woman broke my wrist and smashed my knee.”
“Is that true, Granny? Did you break his wrist?” the older policeman asked with a smile. All the police officers knew Granny Alison in this area. She was a legend in her own time.
“It was self defence,”
she stated stubbornly. “He attacked my friend in her own home and he would have attacked me too if I hadn’t defended myself.”
“Once a cop always a cop,” the officer said
, his voice full of admiration.
“I want to press charges for assault,” Gordon spluttered. “I’ve a right to be here, she’s my wife,” he said nodding towards Katy.
“He forced his way in,” Katy said. “He beat me.”
“Why don’t we all go
back inside and see if we can’t sort this out,” the older cop said. “From what I can see, you’re in serious trouble, Sir. You could get years inside for attacking a woman in her own home and causing actual bodily harm and as for threatening an elderly lady, well, who knows, they might throw away the key.”
“That old bat broke my wrist,” Gordon protested.
“That sweet old lady is over eighty years old,” the cop replied.
They all entered the flat.
Katy was shaking with shock. Quickly she explained about the abuse and the divorce papers and before very long the policeman gave Gordon an ultimatum.
“If you want to avoid serious charges, Sir,” he said, “You will sign these divorce papers for you
r wife. I’ll witness your signature. Afterwards, my colleague and I will drive you to your hostel to collect your belongings and we’ll put you on the first train heading south. Then you’ll never appear in this jurisdiction again. Do I make myself clear?”
“I can’t get a train. I don’t have money for a ticket,” Gordon sneered. “I don’t have any money since
she left me.”
“I’ll give him the money,” Katy offered
, “Anything to be rid of him.”
Before very long the policemen left taking Gordon with them.
“I can’t thank you enough, Granny,” Katy said. “You saved my life.”
“Never underestimate the power of a mad old woman,”
her neighbour replied laughing. “It’s lucky I work out at the gym.”
Granny stayed with Katy until they both calmed down then the two women turned in for the night. Katy
lay in her bed clutching the divorce papers in her hand. She was battered and bruised but she was free.
CHAPTER 18
During the next few weeks Katy and John grew closer and closer. From a chance meeting on a train, she had found the love of her life and he discovered that happiness can return if you open your heart.
Christmas came with a flurry of snow. As Katy lay in the comfortable, king-size
d bed that she and John had chosen together she heard him moving about downstairs. She could hear the sounds of him working in the kitchen. He wanted this Christmas to be special for her. He wanted to look after her, cherish her. Her heart melted at the thought of him rising at the crack of dawn to toil in the kitchen preparing the food for their Christmas lunch while she slept. He treated her like a princess and she loved him for it. She stretched lazily and was about to get out of bed when she heard John coming upstairs. He entered the bedroom carrying a tray.
“Good morning, Darling, merry Christmas,” he said. “The turkey’s in the oven and everything else is in hand. I’ve made us breakfast,” he added placing the tray on the bed.
“I love you,” Katy replied, “Merry Christmas you lovely man.”
They kissed tenderly then John reached into his pocket and produced a small box.
“I love you too,” he said.
John opened the box and Katy’s heart skipped a beat.
“Is this what I think it is?” she asked softly.
She
stared at the beautiful engagement ring. Catching the light, the diamond sparkled almost as brightly as her smile.
“I know we’ll have to wait a while, but will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?”
he asked.
“Yes, John, I will,”
she replied, sighing contentedly. “I’ve waited my whole life for you.”
Once again they kissed tenderly.
John slipped the ring onto Katy’s finger.
“I’ll love you for the rest of my life,” he said and
she knew that what he said was true.
“You are my life,” she replied.
And, as the snow fell silently on the ground outside, John and Katy gazed happily into each others eyes as they planned their future together.
End
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Other books
by Elly Grant
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Purchasing Links
Below are links to amazon pages where you can access Elly Grant’s other books
Palm Trees in the Pyrenees
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
Grass Grows in the Pyrenees
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
Red Light in the Pyrenees
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
Dead End in the Pyrenees
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
Deadly Degrees in the Pyrenees
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
Death in the Pyrenees
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
(the first three books in one volume)
The Unravelling of Thomas Malone
Twists and Turns
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
(compilation with Zach Abrams)
Waiting For Martha
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
Billy – an irreverent black comedy (co-authored with Angi Fox)
About Elly Grant’s books –
From the Death in the Pyrenees series
‘Palm Trees in the Pyrenees’ is the first book in Elly Grant’s series ‘Death in the Pyrenees’.
The story unfolds, told by Danielle a single, downtrodden , thirty year old, who is the only cop in the small Pyrenean town. She feels unappreciated and unnoticed, having been passed over for promotion in favour of her male colleagues working in the region. But everything is about to change. The sudden and mysterious death of a much hated locally based Englishman will have far reaching affects.
‘Grass Grows in the Pyrenees’ is the second book in Elly Grant’s series ‘Death in the Pyrenees’.
The story unfolds, told by Danielle, a single, thirty year old, recently promoted cop. The sudden and mysterious death of a local farmer suspected of growing cannabis, opens a ‘Pandora’s’ box of trouble. It’s a race against time to stop the gangsters before the town, and everyone in it, is damaged beyond repair
‘Red light in the Pyrenees’ is the third book in Elly Grant’s series ‘Death in the Pyrenees’.
The story unfolds, told by Danielle, a single, thirty-something, respected, female cop. The sudden and violent death of a local Madame brings fear to her working girls and unsettles the town. But doesn’t every cloud have a silver lining? Danielle follows the twists and turns of events until a surprising truth is revealed. Hold your breath, it’s a bumpy ride.
‘Dead End in the Pyrenees’ is the fourth book in Elly Grant’s series ‘Death in the Pyrenees’.
The story unfolds, told by Danielle, a single, thirty-something, highly-respected, female cop. A sudden and unexpected death at the local spa brings to light other mysterious deaths. Important local people are involved, people who Danielle respects. She must quickly solve the case before things get out of control
‘Deadly Degrees in the Pyrenees’ is the fifth book in Elly Grant’s series ‘Death in the Pyrenees’.
The story unfolds, told by Danielle, a single, thirty-something, senior, female cop. The ghastly murder of a local estate agent reveals unscrupulous business deals. Danielle’s friends may be in danger. She must catch the killer before anyone else is harmed
All these stories are about life in a small French town, local events, colourful characters, prejudice and of course, death.
For a moment he flew horizontally as if launched like a paper aeroplane from the mountain top then an elegant swan dive carried him over the craggy stone face of the mountainside. There was no thrashing of limbs or clawing at air, he fell silently and gracefully until a sickening crack echoed through the valley as bone and flesh crunched and crumpled on a rocky outcrop. The impact bounced him into the air and flipped him in a perfect somersault, knocking the shoes from his feet. Then he continued his descent until he came into contact with the grassy slope near the bottom of the mountain, where he skidded and rolled before coming to a halt against a rock.
His body lay on its back in an untidy heap with arms and legs and shoulders and hips smashed and broken. The bones stuck out at impossible angles and blood pooled around him. He lay like that for almost three days. During that time the vultures had a feast. There are several species of these birds in the mountains of the Pyrenees and all had their fill of him. Rodents and insects had also taken their toll on the body and, by the time he was discovered, he was unrecognisable.
A hunter found him while walking with his dog and, although he was used to seeing death, the sight of this man’s ravaged face, with black holes where his eyes should have been, made him vomit.
Jean-Luc still wore the suit that he’d carefully dressed in for his meeting three days before. It looked incongruous on him in his present condition and in these surroundings. His wallet was still in his pocket and his wedding ring was still on his finger, nothing had been stolen.
The alarm had been raised by his business partner when he failed to turn up for their meeting but of course no one had searched for him in this place. This valley was outside of town and on the other side of the mountain from where he’d lived. He wasn’t meant to be anywhere near to this place.
His wife hadn’t been overly concerned when he didn’t return because he often went on drinking binges with his cronies and he’d disappeared for several days on other occasions. She was just pleased if he eventually came home sober because he had a foul temper and he was a very nasty drunk. Indeed she knew how to make herself scarce when he was drunk, as more often than not, she would feel the impact of a well -aimed punch or a kick. Drunk or sober he lashed out with deadly accuracy and he was quick on his feet.
When he was finally discovered all the emergency services were called into action. The pompiers, who were firemen and trained paramedics, the police and the doctor, all arrived at the scene and an ambulance was summoned to remove the body to the morgue.
Everyone assumed he’d died as a result of his rapid descent from the mountain top and the subsequent impact on the ground below. But what they all wanted to know was whether his death was a tragic accident, or suicide, or perhaps something darker and more sinister, and why was he in this place so far from his home or from town? Many questions had to be answered and, being the most senior police officer in this area, meant that I was the person who’d be asking the questions.