Wednesday's Child (23 page)

“I told you the truth.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Terry touched the two metal clips together and the air sparked blue with electricity.

Liam swallowed hard.
Lord, God, help me.

Terry moved over to him. “Let’s see if I can change your mind.”

Liam closed his eyes. No matter what happened he’d remain quiet. He wasn’t going to betray Jacqui or Patrick. He focused his attention on the Lord, starting to sing ‘Jesus, lover of my soul’ in his mind. He could do this, he had to, and if he were to die here, then he’d leave it up to God to save Jacqui.

****

Jacqui stood there, the dead phone in her hand. How could Patrick cut her off? Didn’t he care about his brother at all? It wasn’t her fault she didn’t know what the code was? There was no one else she could call. She shook her head. Of course there was. Closing her eyes, she prayed hard. Then rubbing away the tears, she took a deep breath.

With God’s help, she could do this. The man she loved depended on her, on them, and she wasn’t going to let him down.

Now think. Liam has to be here somewhere. You know he hasn’t left the country. Start by searching the outbuildings.

Jacqui started walking back towards the compound. She had taken three steps when the phone in her hand vibrated. It didn’t recognize the number, but she answered anyway. “Hello?”

“Jacqui, this is Patrick. This is a secure line this time, so the number won’t be traced. Can you talk?”

She swung around and started pacing again, looking as if she were working. “Yeah.”

“Where’s Liam?”

“I don’t know. We got separated. Vince wanted to talk to me alone, so he dragged me off, despite Liam’s objections. I assumed Liam was going to snoop a bit, but I haven’t seen him since. First Vince said Liam had gone shopping, but he didn’t take his wallet or any ID. So I put them with mine to keep them safe. Then just now Vince said Liam had flown home because of a family emergency, but his bag is still here, or at least it was, and I know he didn’t take a commercial flight like Vince said as I have Liam’s passport. But in the three minutes I was in the shower, his bag has gone and mine was broken into and—”

“Slow down, you’re babbling and I can’t understand you. Leave out the circumstances for now and stick to Liam. When did you last see him?” Patrick’s no nonsense tone cut her off.

“About five hours ago. He was finding it really hard, being back here. When he didn’t show for dinner...I thought you should know.”

“Why didn’t you send a message via the other channel?”

“I did…well at lunch I mentioned the chicken dish to the cook, but then Vince appeared so I made a random comment about Liam having abandoned me figuring you’d get the message.”

“I haven’t heard anything since yesterday when you arrived. Where’s Dennis now?”

“According to the server at dinner, he went home because his mother was sick.”

“I see.” Patrick’s voice tightened. “I’ll get things rolling from this end. Had either of you found anything yet?”

“Vince wants to marry me, and it’s definitely not an orphanage he wants built out here. Other than that…oh, hang on—Liam was hiding under Vince’s desk and stuck a note in my shoe. It said Liberaté.”

“Liberaté? Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Spell it for me?”

“L-i-b-e-r-a-t-e. It has one of those slant things over the e. A forward slash one, I think.”

“OK, thanks. Was there anything else on the note?”

“No. Just the one word. Liberaté. I have no idea what it means, but Liam must have thought it was important.”

“I’ll look into it and get back to you. I need you to do something for me.”

“What’s that? Other than don’t marry Vince.” She laughed nervously. “You need to get me out of here before sunset tomorrow. Or I need to get myself out.”

“Well, yeah. Keep your head down. Don’t do anything to arouse any more suspicion. And don’t call me again. I’ll call you.”

The line went dead. Jacqui closed the phone and slid it into her pocket. She wasn’t expecting to hear back from Patrick. It was up to her to find Liam and get them out of here. First port of call was the outbuildings on the edge of the compound.

She walked back towards them, waving at the guards. She smiled as they waved back. As she walked, Jacqui pulled out a notebook and counted aloud, as if she were measuring the distance. Every so often she’d scribble the numbers down on the paper. She shone the flashlight at the door on the first outbuilding. They were single story, one room buildings, which she expected were storage sheds, and all were in complete darkness.

Pushing the door open, Jacqui moved the torch around. Empty. One down, six to go. She moved on to the next, feeling more confident in her ability to do this. If this took all night, so be it. Ten minutes later, she had six buildings crossed off her list, and she moved onto the next row.

“Memsahib?” Jacqui closed her eyes at the intrusive voice and turned around to see Simeon running across to her. “Memsahib…”

Forcing a smile to rival his, Jacqui moved over to him. “Yes?”

“Sahib Devlin, he have need of you now. Urgent.”

“I’m busy. It will have to wait.”

“No, can not wait. He say you come now. Very, very important you come now.”

“Then lead on.” Jacqui followed Simeon across the compound, tuning out his chatter. What did Vince want that was so important? It wasn’t news of Liam—that much she was sure of. Even if Vince had used a private plane to fly Liam home, he wouldn’t get far without the passport sitting in the pouch wrapped around her stomach.

Vince stood in his office.

“What is it?”

Vince turned and smiled, holding out a glass of wine to her. “I wanted to see you.”

“And I’m trying to work.”

“It’s late, sweetheart, and I want to see this ring on your finger tonight. You’ve had plenty of time to consider my proposal, and I’m sure you’re in agreement with me, that is really is for the best. For everyone.”

“What do you mean by
everyone
?”

Vince held her gaze. “It would be a terrible shame if Liam’s flight met with an accident or he was detained by customs for importing something illegal. Wouldn’t it?”

Chills ran down her spine. “OK,” she whispered.

“I didn’t hear you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” The words were torn from her soul, ripping the heart from her. She’d do it to save Liam. Her heart belonged to the tall, Irish gentleman who’d thrown flowers over her laptop. She cleared her throat. “Yes, Vince. I’ll marry you.”

He slid the ring onto her finger. “There, was that so bad?”

Jacqui stood still and closed her eyes, turning her head at the last moment as he leaned in for a kiss, his lips brushing her cheek. She tried not to shudder, her whole being repulsed by his touch.

Vince’s fingers slid under her chin, tilting her face back towards him. “What were you doing by the storage units?” The glint in his eyes belied the silky voice and smile on his lips.

“Measuring.” She held his gaze, refusing to be intimidated by him. Not anymore.

“I don’t believe you.”

Jacqui pulled out her notebook and thrust it at him, grateful for the forethought to have taken notes. “Here, check it then.”

His fingers brushed hers as he took it. “Why measure in the dark when you can’t see what you’re doing?” He studied the book. “And this is a mess. It looks like random numbers. How can you make any sense of it?”

Jacqui sighed. “It’s called pacing the area out. It makes perfect sense if you know what you’re doing—which I do.” She took the book back. “Now, if you don’t mind, I want to do the rest of that side before it gets any later.”

Vine’s hand caught tight hold of her wrist. “Actually, I do mind. You haven’t touched your wine.”

“I don’t drink. You should know that.”

“Tonight you will.” His tone left her in no doubt that it wasn’t an option, with its veiled threat. “Here.”

Jacqui took the glass he offered, her fingers white against it.

“To us. May we live long and prosper.”

“Deuteronomy chapter five, verse thirty three,” she told him, reluctantly chinking her glass against his. She forced herself to drink, wrinkling her nose and trying not to gag.

“Interesting.” He sat in his chair, pulling her down onto his lap. “One drink, a cuddle and you can go.”

Jacqui closed her eyes as the smell of alcohol washed over her. It was clear this wasn’t his first of the night. She stiffened as his fingers caressed her arm and his lips pressed into her hair.
Now what? I don’t want to anger him, who knows what he’d do, but I can’t do this. I won’t do this.

The phone rang. Vince picked it up. “Devlin. Yeah I’m in the middle of something…” He straightened and pushed Jacqui off his lap. “What? When did that happen?” He pulled the pad towards him. “Well of course I do.”

Jacqui set the glass down and made a quick exit while he was distracted.
Thank you, Lord.
She headed back across to the storage sheds, and reached the ones she hadn’t already checked. She found each one empty and unlocked. The final one contained a pile of crates.

As tempting as it was to look inside them, Jacqui knew she didn’t have time. She had to find Liam, assuming he was still here, before it got light. Leaving the building, she slowly made her way through the ruins to a large building that had caught her attention that morning. Half destroyed by the fire, it had a brand new door on it. Hefting the flashlight in her right hand, she tried the door.

It was locked. Why put a new door on a ruin if not to keep something safe, or to stop someone getting in?

Or out
came the voice inside her.
Perhaps Liam is in there.

She reached up and pulled a hairpin from her hair. This couldn’t be that hard. She’d seen it on the TV loads of times and been shown how to jimmy a lock during the few days training she’d been given.

She slid the grip into the lock and jiggled it. She reinserted the hairpin, and this time there was a faint click. Trying the handle again, she allowed herself a small smile when it moved. She pushed the door open, gritting her teeth as it creaked and shone the flashlight around the room. She caught her breath as a pair of eyes reflected at her.

****

Liam still had the same splitting headache and nausea in his gut he’d woken with several hours ago, when he realized he was tied to a chair in the dark. Now the pain was infinitely worse. He assumed he had burn marks where Terry had attached the electrodes. Terry had kept going until he passed out.

He tried moving his hands, but Terry knew how to tie knots, as his hands and feet wouldn’t move, despite his wrists being slick with blood. His gaze followed the creaking door as it swung open. His stomach plummeted, and a sickening fear filled him. Maybe Terry was coming back to finish the job. This time adding the second bucket of water he’d threatened.
Let it be swift. Just please get Jacqui away from here unharmed.

A light shone in his face, blinding him. Liam wished he could fling a hand over his eyes to protect them instead he turned his head to one side. His breathing sped up and his heart pounded. He tensed automatically, waiting for the blow or gunshot that would send him to heaven. Or a drenching in cold water followed by the worse kind of pain he’d ever known.

“Liam?”

He didn’t react. It couldn’t be her. He sat still trying to work out why she was here. Only when the voice repeated his name and footsteps crossed the room, did he open his eyes. He squinted against the light. “Jacqui?”

“Yes.” Her voice was a gasp, and her arms folded around him, her lips seeking his in sheer desperation.

He kissed Jacqui back, but her hug hurt, and he stiffened, stifling the gasp of pain. He didn’t want to worry her.

Jacqui pulled back, concern in her voice and eyes. “Liam, what’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

“No, my love, you didn’t. I’m just stiff. Can you untie me, please? Then I can hug you back.”

“Of course.” Jacqui moved behind him.

He flexed his hands as she undid the knots, wondering if he were dreaming again. Pain and pins and needles shot through them as the blood circulated. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
Just deal with it.
Once his feet were free, she pulled him upright.

Liam staggered, his knees and legs too weak to support him.

“Take it easy, big fella.” Jacqui steadied him. “All right?”

He nodded and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her deeply.

Her hands curled around his back, pulling his battered body against her soft, yielding one.

After a minute, Jacqui broke off, her breath coming in soft gasps. “We have to go, Liam.”

“I know, the question is where to and how. We won’t get out of here easily. Vince has a thick file on me in his office. He knows who I am, and that I know what he’s up to here. I’m a threat to him. He’s already killed Dennis and I’m next.”

“Oh, ye of little faith. God won’t leave us here. We’ll go back to your room. It’s the last place they’ll look. I’ll contact Patrick again.”

“You rang Patrick? But you don’t know the code.”

Jacqui’s laugh was short. “Yeah, been there, done that and won the dunce’s cap for messing it up. But I gave him the message from the note you slid into my shoe. I wondered why they were so uncomfortable.”

“You’re pretty resourceful for a gardener.”

He loved the way her eyes sparkled. “No more so than you are, Mr. English Teacher.”

He pulled her close and kissed her again. He didn’t think he’d ever see her again, and now he never intended to let her go.

Her fingers moved through his hair, and he stiffened, letting out an involuntary cry of pain as they found the lump on the back of his head.

She pulled back, looking at her blood covered fingers. “You’re bleeding.”

“That’s the least of my injuries. We need to get out of here. Maybe we can steal a truck. If I hide in the back and you drive. You could say you’re going to pick up supplies for the work you’re doing.” He took her hand and led her to the door.