By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Tania Russell stared in dismay at the muddy water splattered over her coat and turned to watch the car, whose driver had been responsible, turn into the underground carpark.
Furious, she sped along the path, keeping a tight grip on her leather carrying tube containing the plans for her interview. Turning into the underground carpark, she ran down the slope just in time to see the driver get out. She noted the smart, expensive suit he was wearing and her anger grew.
Dashing forward, she confronted his rear as he leaned into the back seat to bring out his briefcase. ‘Excuse me! Do you always drive without considering pedestrians when you’re out in your fancy sports car? Perhaps you don’t realise there are lesser mortals like me who have to work bloody hard to keep a half decent wardrobe. The least you could have done was stop and apologise for ruining my coat!’
Grant Blake slowly turned around to discover who was giving him such an angry tongue-lashing. A hint of amusement trickled into his eyes as he faced Tania’s flushed face. Never before had anyone spoken to him in that tone; no one would dare. But here stood a little scrap of a woman, ranting away, not caring who he might be.
Now she’d got it all out, Tania’s eyes dropped to the sludgy mess on her coat. How could she go to her interview looking like this? Already knowing she had no choice, her anger changed to despair in an instant. This all happened under the gaze of this obnoxious man standing in front of her.
She looked at her watch and gasped. ‘Now I’m going to be late,’ she cried out. What sort of impression would she be giving? Not a good one. Late, and looking a mess. She sighed and gave the cause of her problems one last enraged glare, then, without waiting for a reply, she turned and ran. Her only hope was the interviewer would believe her when she tried to explain.
Grant frowned as he watched her disappear out of the parking lot. He’d been about to apologise and offer to have her coat dry-cleaned. He shook his head. I’ve got no time for this nonsense. He was late, too, which was something he abhorred in people. Slamming his Ferrari car door, he marched over to the lift.
Once inside the offices, she took her coat off and draped it over her arm. Fortunately, Tania was relieved to be told the appointments were running late and she was second on the list.
‘Did you know you have mud on your nose?’ the receptionist said softly as she reached for the box of tissues on her desk. 'Here, take one.’
Taking a mirror out of her handbag, Tania felt the heat spread over her face as she looked at herself. Gratefully, she took a tissue, wiping it over her nose and the rest of her face.
No wonder he was so amused. How ridiculous I must have looked and sounded. Oh, how I wish I could just go home and begin this day again.
Tania went to sit down opposite the other applicant sitting waiting to be called in. The woman, who oozed professionalism, just raised a shapely eyebrow and ignored Tania’s amiable smile.
Ignoring her, Tania took a handkerchief from her handbag and, while she was waiting, checked to see if the leather tube had been splashed. Satisfied it was clean, she then turned her attention to her coat. It was still wet. Realising she’d only make it worse if she tried to wipe it off, she left it alone.
Glancing surreptitiously from under her long eyelashes at the other woman, she noticed how confident she appeared. She’d obviously taken great care with her appearance before coming here—which she had, too. But it wouldn’t have made a shred of difference if she’d taken the whole day. She couldn’t compete with this lady. All of which wiped away every last bit of confidence she’d tried to hold onto. She could only hope her credentials and designs would work for her.
Her fingers gripped the handle on her tube; she’d worked hard putting these designs together and was proud of what she’d achieved.
Tania's best friend, Monica Fox, had told her about an upcoming multi-billion-pound project. The plan was to turn a huge, derelict building site into one of London's most exclusive residential areas. Thistlegate Enterprises was the company investing the money for this project. Tania had heard of them. Who hadn't? They were a worldwide conglomerate. Tania did some research on Google to find out more.
Grant Blake came into the company after his grandfather had his first stroke. Leaving his Army career in Special Forces, he’d then worked hard to build the company into one of the largest in the world. His grandfather eventually handed him the reins and retired, living a sedate life up until his recent death.
There was a small photo of Mr Blake at the side of the page, not a very good, but she could see the pride in his stature. She noted the date this had been posted; six years ago.
Tania sent off her CV because this was just what she wanted. It could launch her career if she was successful. After three gruelling interviews, she was delighted, and somewhat nervous, to be told she was one of the final four candidates. It was only then she was told what they wanted, and that she had two months to come up with something spectacular. Whoever came up with an extraordinary design would get the job.
With so little time to put something special together, she’d taken herself off, complete with voice recorder and camera, to the proposed site. It was a huge project, but she was confident she could create something incredible.
Finally, the day of the interviews arrived, and after working almost around the clock, she’d left home with hope and a strong belief in her heart that no one could better her designs. It was certainly her finest work to date.
The other woman was called in for her interview first. Armed with her portfolio case, she marched in, head high and with a confident smile on her face. Some forty-five minutes later she reappeared … minus her portfolio, but with her smile intact. As she walked over to the receptionist, she took a card from her handbag, handed it over, and left.
Tania watched as she departed. I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it does. I won’t be at all happy about leaving my designs here. Not after what’s been happening to mine over the last year and a half.
When her name was called, Tania jumped, and was almost tempted to turn and run. What the hell? The decision can only go one of two ways. Standing up, she straightened her shoulders, raised her head, and walked towards the door.
Continued...
| Author Notes | Written in UK English. I'd be very happy if you could tell me of any errors you find. Thank you! |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 1
Tania watched as she departed. I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it does. I won’t be at all happy about leaving my designs here. Not after what’s been happening to mine over the last year and a half.
When her name was called, Tania jumped, and was almost tempted to turn and run. What the hell? The decision can only go one of two ways. Standing up, she straightened her shoulders, raised her head, and walked towards the door.
Part 2
Her day had just gone from a bad dream to wide-awake living nightmare. Tania closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she heard the click of the door closing behind her. How could this be possible? Of all the men in the world to be in on the final interview, it has to be him. I don’t believe it! Sitting in front of her was the very man whose inconsiderate driving had splattered her coat with muddy water!
Grant had received just as big a shock, but had managed to hide it, unlike Tania. Now he was quite content to sit back and study her. His eyes travelled down to her shoes and back up to her face. Unlike the previous applicant, this lady was not made up to the nines, but wore a smart two-piece. Her make-up was kept to a minimum, just enough to highlight her eyes and cheekbones.
But those eyes! I’ve never seen any quite that expressive. Today is getting better by the minute.
Grant and Lorna never came to the early interviews. Instead, these were left to members of staff who had been trained to search for the right candidates. This could take a few weeks due to the number of applicants that applied for such a prestigious job.
Now the best of the best had been creamed off and they were down to the final four, it was time for Grant and Lorna to take over and make the final decision. After the previous applicant had left the room, they had glanced over her plans. They were reasonable, but not exactly awe-inspiring. Now he wondered what this lady’s would be like.
With a defiance she didn’t know she possessed, Tania thrust her chin out and tried her best to ignore him. Instead, she focused her complete attention on the woman sitting beside him.
‘Good morning, Miss Russell. Please take a seat.’ The attractive, middle-aged lady smiled. Her eyes were warm and friendly as she pointed to the chair in front of them. ‘My name is Lorna Main, and this is Grant Blake, the owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises.’
Tania had to force her feet, that felt as if they were being sucked into quicksand, to move across the room and sit down. Mortified, she realised her hopes had just flown out the window.
‘Good morning, Miss Russell, I believe I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting you,’ Grant said, adding a smile as he watched the expressions flit through her eyes and then over her face. He wondered if she knew how revealing they were.
The smile had surprised her, but she wasn’t fooled. If you want to play daft games then you can want on. You won’t get me playing with you.
‘Yes, I believe we have, Sir.’ Tania kept her tone neutral. She wasn’t going to grovel, especially not to him.
Lorna’s eyes went from one to the other. It was obvious there was history here, and she intended to find out what it was. ‘Well.’ She looked down at the paper in front of her. ‘Tania … is it alright for us to call you Tania? Such a charming and unusual name.’
Tania smiled, beginning to relax a little. She wasn’t upset with Lorna. ‘Yes, of course. And, thank you. It was my mother’s name.’
Grant noted the ‘was’ her mother’s name as he listened to her interaction with Lorna. When she smiled, her face lit up, and those same olive-green eyes that had fired daggers at him earlier were now soft and gentle. As she flicked back a lock of long, fair hair, he continued to watch her until a painful kick on his calf from Lorna brought him back to the interview.
He gave a little cough to clear his throat. ‘So, Tania, could you tell us a little about yourself, and why you think we might be interested in your design?’
Although her eyes presented an outward calm as she stared into his, they were contrary to the feelings running amok in her stomach. She frowned and gave herself a mental shake. ‘I’m a qualified architect, and have a few successful designs to my name, which I’ve mentioned in my C.V. As to why I think you would be interested in mine for your project, I think the proof would be in the blueprints. Nothing I could say will tell you better than that.’
Grant nodded. ‘I agree with you on that point, but what I’m interested in now is how you approached your plan, how you decided on the layout in the first place? Did you go and view the area in question? And, why do you think we should choose yours above anyone else’s?’
Tania hadn’t been prepared for this, and it took her by surprise. Most of her clients had just wanted to see the plans as soon as possible. She couldn't recall any being bothered about how she went about drawing them up. They told her what they wanted, and she went away to do the job. Okay, if that’s what you want, who am I to disagree?
‘Yes, of course. First off, I went to the site; which I believe all architects do on a job as large as this one.’ She frowned. ‘I like to get a feel for the project before I begin. How I approach the work is easy. I visualise it all in my head first; where I would put the luxury apartments with underground parking, the shopping centre, the recreation facilities, medical, everything.
‘Then, I take dozens of photos of the plot and surrounding area; take measurements and walk around to see how it would be approached by car and other modes of transport. Once I’ve done that, I can start my first draft. When I’m satisfied with that, I begin in earnest, and the results are here in the tube I’m holding.’ When Tania glanced down, she noticed her knuckles had turned white from her tight grip on the handles.
Raising her head, she gave Grant Blake a challenging glare. In return, he tilted his head and raised a questioning eyebrow. He’d been listening to this little wildcat with increasing interest. He was already wanting to look at her blueprints but couldn’t admit to that, not yet, anyway.
‘You ask why I think my blueprints will be better than any others you’ll look at? I’m so confident, I’d be willing to put my career on the line knowing no one could do better than the ones I’ve drawn up for you. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be here.’ She looked at them both, not giving anything away.
WOW! Lorna’s eyes widened as she listened to this young woman in front of them. She exchanged a quick glance with Grant and was surprised to see amusement in his eyes. That giveaway tick at the corner of his mouth confirmed what his eyes were saying.
‘We will study your designs, Tania,’ Lorna told her. ‘We still have three other finalists' work to examine, but we’ll let you know as soon as a decision has been made, even if yours are not the ones we use.’
‘You can be sure we'll take good care of them while they are in our hands,’ Grant promised her. This woman’s attitude was beginning to get to him. Normally, he would have dismissed her by now, but he wanted to know more.
Tania surprised them both when she stood up. ‘I see. I thought that might be the case when I saw the lady before me leave without her portfolio. I’m sorry, but I appear to have wasted your time. I can’t leave my drawings with you for reasons I don’t wish to discuss. I know you’ll think I’m being unreasonable, and to overcome that, I would be prepared to come in as many times as you wish, but they will stay with me until a contract is signed.’
Seeing the look that passed between Grant and Lorna, Tania bent to pick up her coat from the floor, then turned to face them once more. ‘Again, I’m sorry I’ve wasted your time. Thank you for seeing me.’ She picked up her carrying tube and turned to leave.
‘Confound it! You just hold on there!’ Grant was up and around the desk in a flash, startling both Lorna and Tania. ‘You appear to enjoy running off without giving me a chance to reply. Lorna … clear the desk and let’s take a look at these so-called, better than anyone else’s, designs of Miss Russell’s. I think I’m a good judge of what is or isn’t what I want!’
A sudden weariness came over her. Today had been one disaster after another. Tania realised she had antagonised this man, but she couldn’t help it. The fact that he had been a major contributor to it hadn’t helped. When Grant held out his hand for the tube, she hesitated, stared him in the eyes, and felt herself drawn into those intense black orbs. Her willpower faltered. She handed it over.
Because of the size requested, the plans had been carefully rolled. Now they were laid out, Lorna put weights on the corners to stop them curling up again. Grant lifted an appreciative eyebrow, recognising immediately this was just what he wanted. The plans accommodated everything he’d asked for, and more. They were perfect. She was right, if anyone could better these, it would be a miracle. But there was something familiar about the style. He frowned, trying to fathom it.
Tania stood back watching their faces, especially his. Lorna was quiet as she stared at the drawings, her eyes taking in every perfect detail. She muttered something to Grant, and he made an equally quiet response. A feeling of satisfaction spread through Tania. It was all she could do not to say, 'told you so!'
Grant rubbed his hand over his stubbled chin before turning to look at Tania, his eyes now dark, cold and angry. ‘It’s easy to understand why you don’t want to leave them with us, Miss Russell. They aren’t yours to leave, are they? Every architect we’ve used has had his or her own distinctive style. These belong to a person we’ve used several times before. So, what I’d like to know is, how did you come to be in possession of them?’
Continued…..
Characters.
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Colin Burnside: Grant’s unscrupulous half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading chapter 2. If you find any mistakes, I'm always happy to be told. This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 2
Tania stood back watching their faces, especially his. Lorna was quiet as she stared at the drawings, her eyes taking in every perfect detail. She muttered something to Grant, and he made an equally quiet response. A feeling of satisfaction spread through Tania. It was all she could do not to say, 'told you so!'
Grant rubbed his hand over his stubbled chin before turning to look at Tania, his eyes now dark, cold and angry. ‘It’s easy to understand why you don’t want to leave them with us, Miss Russell. They aren’t yours to leave, are they? Every architect we’ve used has had his or her own distinctive style. These belong to a person we’ve used several times before. So, what I’d like to know is, how did you come to be in possession of them?’
Part 3
Tania’s stomach heaved, leaving her to battle hard against the urge to throw up. That would be her final humiliation. What have I done to deserve this?
A sudden outrage, combined with an unrestrained rush of adrenaline, had her fiery temper kicking in. She glared at them both, her olive-green eyes sparking dangerously.
Tania marched up to the desk, her anger now exploding. She pulled the plans roughly from under the weights and unfortunately tore a small corner off one of them. ‘How dare you! How dare you accuse me of stealing my own plans!’
She threw Grant another murderous look as she quickly rolled them up, not giving him a chance to stop her or say anything else. ‘I guess I shouldn’t be surprised after our first meeting. You might have a highly respected company, Mr Blake, but it appears as a person you are morally defunct! Shame on you! I warn you now, after being conned before, this time I’ve had my plans copyrighted. If I find out you’ve managed to remember any part of my design and used them, if it takes every penny I have, I’ll sue!’
Unable to hold back the tears a moment longer, Tania spun around and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her. She blindly ran past a man who was now waiting, and the open-mouthed receptionist. She didn’t stop, even after she’d left the building, but continued running down the road until she could run no farther.
Why? Why is this happening to me? After all the hard work and long hours that I’ve put into this project, just to be accused of stealing them from someone else.
Back in her small townhouse, Tania kicked off her shoes and put the tube, with her plans inside, on the table. She threw her coat on the chair, and collapsed on the sofa, her despair now engulfing her.
*****
It might have been the shock of her reaction that had Grant staring at the door long after it had been slammed. It wasn’t what he’d expected from someone who’d just been caught out. He shook his head. It was a good act; she’d even managed to turn on the water-works. But he was one hundred percent certain that they couldn’t possibly be hers, because he knew the architect personally. These plans belonged to his half-brother. Yet he couldn’t get that look of utter disbelief and hurt out of his mind.
‘You should talk to your brother, Grant. Ask if he’s done any work lately. Did you tell him what you wanted?’ Lorna was also upset by Tania’s reaction. Somehow, she couldn’t believe the young woman would be guilty of stealing someone else’s work.
‘I would, if we were on speaking terms, but you know what he’s like. If it wasn’t for his unexpected genius in coming up with the exact plans I wanted, I’d be happy never to see him again. Those he did for our Japanese and Australian contracts were nothing less than superb.’ Grant rubbed his forehead before running his fingers through his hair. ‘There is something not quite right here.’
Lorna silently agreed. What she had just witnessed convinced her that Tania was not a thief. ‘Shall I get Margaret to send the next applicant in?’
‘Hmm? Oh, yes. Although having seen those other plans, I doubt theirs could come anywhere near them. So damned annoying!’ And now Lorna had mentioned it, there was also that other niggling thought. He hadn’t told his half-brother anything about this project, although he might have seen the advert he’d placed in the national papers. Then again, if he had seen it and gone ahead and drawn those plans, why would he give them to Miss Russell? He wouldn’t. Had she seen the plans and stolen them? If that was the case, then how? This whole thing had him foxed.
The door opened and the man who'd been waiting, came striding into the room. Time to put those thoughts to bed, for now.
‘Good morning, Mr ....’
*****
After Tania had finished her cup of tea and calmed down enough to look at her coat, she took it through to the kitchen and tried to sponge off the mud. It wasn’t ideal, but it would have to do. Then she took a shower and gave her hair a thorough wash after seeing splashes of mud on her fringe. She cringed at the thought of how ridiculous she must have looked standing there shouting like an old crone.
When her telephone rang early that evening, she checked the caller’s name and picked it up. A single word was all she managed and the dam burst. Ten minutes later, Monica was banging on her door. She took one look at Tania, and told her to sit down while she poured them both a glass of red wine from the bottle she’d brought.
Once her tears were under control, Tania sat and told Monica all about her disastrous day. ‘I just don’t understand why he would think I’d stolen someone else’s work.’
Monica sat there listening to Tania as she spoke, squeezing her hand each time her voice faltered at a particular bad point. Now that she had the complete story, Monica erupted with as much fury as Tania had.
‘The rotten swine! After all the work you put into this, I’ve a good mind to go and give that ego-inflated lamebrain a piece of my mind!’ With a comforting arm draped around Tania’s drooped shoulders, Monica took a calming breath before continuing. ‘You must be the unluckiest lady on the planet, love. What with your thieving toe-rag ex-boyfriend taking all the credit for your last set of plans; and I’ve been wondering about those others that mysteriously went missing.’
‘We don’t know that for sure, Monica.’ Tania sighed miserably. ‘I’m just glad I found out he’d stolen the plans I’d drawn up for Eastover Council’s new leisure centre. There was no way he could hide that when they started building. I know I should have reported him, but again, I didn’t have any evidence to prove they were mine. It’s all a mess. At least he won’t be able to steal any more of my work. I’ve changed my password on my laptop and I’ve encrypted the other password into my work file. Let’s see him try that again.’
‘Have you considered the possibility that those so-called ‘practice’ plans Colin mentioned to you were sold to Thistlegate? If I remember rightly, he was very specific about what you should do. That would explain how they would be able to identify your work and say it wasn’t yours.’
Tania chewed on the inside of her cheek. She had to admit the idea had come to her as she stood in that office, but she’d quickly dismissed it. Surely Colin would never have approached a company as large as Thistlegate’s with her plans? He was a liar, and a thief. She couldn’t see him taking such a big risk.
But now Monica had also thought of it, it would make sense. Did Grant Blake know? Was he in on it? Perhaps that was how he’d made his company, if not the best, then definitely one of the best in the world. She groaned and slumped back into the sofa, her chin falling onto her chest. She no longer trusted any man when it came to business, or anything else, come to that.
‘Come on, cheer up. I think we have to do a bit of detective work. I’ll come here straight after work tomorrow.’ Monica looked at her watch. ‘Gosh, look at the time, I’ve got to be up early in the morning. We’ve got a meeting at ten o’clock.’ Standing, she collected her bag and coat from where she'd dumped them on the table.
Tania also rose and helped Monica on with her coat. ‘Thanks for coming over, I feel a bit better now we’ve had a chat about it all.’
‘Not a problem. Shall I pick up a Chinese take-away on my way over? It’ll save time, and then we can Google Thistlegate and see what they've done since your plans disappeared.’
‘That's a good idea. You know what I like. Hang on.' Tania grabbed her bag and took some money out of her purse. 'Here you go ... my treat.’ After giving her friend a hug, Tania watched from the doorway until Monica got into her car and drove away.
Continued...
Characters
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading chapter 3, I do appreciate your kind support. This is written in UK English. I'm very pleased to have my mistakes pointed out. :)) xx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 3
‘Come on, cheer up. I think we have to do a bit of detective work. I’ll come here straight after work tomorrow.’ Monica looked at her watch. ‘Gosh, look at the time, I’ve got to be up early in the morning. We’ve got a meeting at ten o’clock.’ Standing, she collected her bag and coat from where she'd dumped them on the table.
Tania also rose and helped Monica on with her coat. ‘Thanks for coming over, I feel a bit better now we’ve had a chat about it all.’
‘Not a problem. Shall I pick up a Chinese take-away on my way over? It’ll save time, and then we can Google Thistlegate and see what they've done since your plans disappeared.’
‘That's a good idea. You know what I like. Hang on.’ Tania grabbed her bag and took some money out of her purse. ‘Here you go ... my treat.’ After giving her friend a hug, Tania watched from the doorway until Monica got into her car and drove away.
Part 4
Grant let the hot water flow over him as he stood in the shower. The muscles in his shoulders felt tight and ached abysmally.
Why am I letting her get under my skin? Should I have stopped her taking those plans away with her? But what if she was telling the truth? What if they were hers and nothing to do with … No, don’t even think to go down that road! He scrunched up his eyes and tipped his head back to let the water run over his face.
But if it was true, then what about the other plans, were they hers, too? She mentioned being conned out of some of her plans, and others had been stolen. Grant let out a loud groan. That would be his worst nightmare. It just couldn’t be true. But everyone knows what a charmer my half-brother can be. Then again, I know from personal experience just how manipulating and cunning women can be when they want something bad enough. It still hurt to think about it, even after all this time. Never again!
With another groan, he turned off the shower and reached out for his towel. After a quick rub down, he tied it around his waist and went into the lounge to pour himself a large malt whisky. Swirling the rich amber liquid in the glass, he took a large sip before turning to go into his study. Two heartbeats on, he retraced his steps and picked up the bottle to take with him.
Not able to concentrate on his mail, Grant turned on his laptop. Let's see what you've got, then, Miss Russell. He entered Tania's name into his Google search and soon found her web page. After poking around for a while, reading her reviews, and the sample designs, he had to agree, she was good ... more than good! What he didn’t like was the similarity to plans he’d paid his half-brother for. He put his cursor on each plan, enlarging and studying them as he went through her portfolio.
There has got to be another reason … there’s got to be! One of them is lying, and I can only hope it’s her.
Grant picked up his glass and downed the whisky in one gulp, then poured himself another. He went back to Tania’s profile page and stared at her picture. Those fiercely blazing eyes that had looked too large for her small, cute, face, now gazed at him from the screen, so soft and gentle. He could drown in those liquid orbs. For crying out loud! Grow up, man, isn’t that just what women do? Use their wiles to get under your skin, and then wham! Haven’t you learnt your lesson yet?
He shook his head, and recalled the scene with her standing in his office. She had given him quite a tongue lashing which had been enhanced tenfold with some extremely venomous looks. Even when she knew who he was, there was no fawning and fluttering of eyelashes. She’d actually ignored him, talking to Lorna as if he wasn’t even in the room.
Grant slammed the lid of his laptop down, grabbed his glass and bottle and left the room.
*****
The early dawn light filtered through the curtains in Tania’s bedroom. She woke with a slight headache, and looked at the clock. 6:30 am. A moan slipped from somewhere deep inside and, pulling the cover over her head, she tried to go back to sleep. A few minutes later she kicked the duvet off her body and stretched. Sleep had forsaken her; there was no point in lying there thinking. She needed to work.
Coffee! First, she needed to go to the bathroom and splash some cold water on her face; a strong cup of coffee would be her next stop.
Half an hour later, after drinking her first coffee of the day, Tania put her refilled cup on the coffee table and curled up on the sofa with her laptop open on her knees. She scrolled through her messages; there were over sixty, most of no interest. But one did catch her attention. She held onto her laptop as she swung her legs off the sofa and sat up straight.
‘I don’t believe this!’ Tania moved the cursor across and clicked open. It was true. A message from Grant Blake himself! ‘Why the hell would he be e-mailing me?’ Her eyes flew across the message, leaving her more flabbergasted than ever. She glanced up to see what time he’d sent it. Two-twenty this morning. Crikey, did he have a guilty conscience then?
The message was short and to the point; he wanted to talk to her. Tania’s eyes narrowed. ‘Well, if you think I’ll be bringing my plans with me, you’ll be sorely disappointed.’ She picked up her coffee and, holding it between her hands, stared over the rim at the message again. ‘What are you up to, Mr Grant Blake? And why am I talking to myself?’ Tania grinned and shook her head. ‘What do I do now?’
A few minutes later she was speaking to Monica. ‘I’m sorry to wake you so early, but I just had to tell you. Grant Blake sent me a message. He wants to meet me.’
‘Bloody cheek! What are you going to do? Personally, I would tell him not terribly politely where he can go.’
‘Mmm, I don’t know. I’m just so bloody angry and upset. What if he does know Colin? What if they planned this together and he’s scared I’ll file a complaint?’
‘Without coming straight out and asking him, how can you find out? I have to agree with you. Something fishy is going on here.’ When Monica paused, Tania could hear her tapping her finger on the phone. ‘Okay. Tell him you’ll meet him. I’ll come along as well if you’d like me to. I can easily get off work for an hour or two.’
Tania thought for a couple of seconds. ‘No, I think I’d like to hear him out on my own first. If I have you as a support crutch, he’ll get the impression I’m scared of him, and that’s something I do not want him to think!’
‘Hmm, you could be right there,’ Monica replied. ‘Well, e-mail him back and tell him you’ll meet him. I’ll still come over this evening with a take-away and you can tell me how it went … that’s if you see him today.’
‘I’ll text you if I do, and then again when I get home. Thanks for listening.’
After Tania had ended the call, she sat back with the laptop on her knees. She had already decided she wouldn’t go to his work place; she wanted somewhere less intimidating. Staring into a place unseen, she remembered the hotel not too far from his office. It had a nice tea-room and was open to non-residents.
She wrote her reply, suggesting they meet there. He could choose a time that was convenient to him. She read it over to make sure it sounded professional, not grovelling, and then pressed the send key. That done, she decided to have her shower and get ready for the day ahead, whatever it produced.
By the time Tania had showered and dressed, she found a reply message waiting for her. They would meet at midday. She looked at her watch, it was a quarter to nine. She didn’t have much time. A little disloyal fluttering in her stomach caught her short. He might be gorgeous looking, but he’s not the type of man I would want in my life. Most definitely not!
Continued....
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegate
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend
Margaret Jones: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading my chapter 4. I do so hope you enjoyed it. If you do happen upon some errors, please be assured I am happy to be told about them. Fanstorians are amazing when it comes to helping authors be the best they can be. I am so humbled by your many offers to help me. Thank you. This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 4
After Tania ended the call, she sat back with the laptop on her knees. She had already decided she wouldn’t go to his work place; she wanted somewhere less intimidating. Staring into a place unseen, she remembered the hotel not too far from his office. It had a nice tea-room and was open to non-residents.
She wrote her reply, suggesting they meet there. He could choose a time that was convenient to him. She read it over to make sure it sounded professional, not grovelling, and then pressed the send key. That done, she decided to have her shower and get ready for the day ahead, whatever it produced.
By the time Tania had showered and dressed, she found a reply message waiting for her. They would meet at midday. She looked at her watch, it was a quarter to nine. She didn’t have much time. A little disloyal fluttering in her stomach caught her short. He might be gorgeous looking, but he’s not the type of man I would want in my life. Most definitely not!
Part 5
Tania looked at her watch. One minute to midday. Perfect timing. Move yourself, Tania, let’s get this over with.
The lounge bar in the Park Hotel was the perfect place to meet. Elegant, yet informal. Tania spotted Grant as soon as she walked through the reception hall. He'd chosen to sit by the large picture window overlooking the hotel's ornate gardens.
As if he knew she was there, he turned and their eyes met. The shock waves that charged through her body stunned her. Chastising herself for being so weak, Tania took a deep breath, lifted her chin and marched over.
Grant had seen that momentary display of what he thought had been doubt, and admired the way she instantly changed her posture. He now watched her walk, with renewed confidence, across the room and quickly stood up as she approached the table.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Russell, thank you for agreeing to meet me. Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?’ he asked as she placed her bag on the table. ‘Or perhaps you’d prefer something cold?’
Tania sat down after removing her coat and hanging it over the back of the chair. ‘A coffee will be fine, thank you.' Pushing her cardigan sleeves up to just below her elbows, she loosely clasped her hands together to rest them on the table.
Deciding to cut out the small talk, she jumped straight in. ‘I was surprised, and somewhat curious, when I read your e-mail, Mr Blake, as to why you would want to talk to a thief again. Perhaps you can enlighten me?’
Before answering, Grant caught the young waitress’s eye and ordered two coffees. After she’d moved off, he casually settled himself back in his chair, his elbows on the arms, and his fingers church-steepled together. He chose to ignore her stinging remark.
‘I checked out your web-site to see if you'd posted samples of your work. After looking at your designs, I felt you should have the opportunity to explain why your work is so much like another architect we’ve often used.’
How I would love to punch you on the nose, you supercilious man! ‘You have me at a disadvantage, Mr Blake. Who is this architect whose plans are so similar to mine? You accuse me of plagiarism without even considering it could be your architect who is the guilty one. Perhaps I’ve heard of him ... or her, as the case might be?’
Her eyes flashed like fork lightning. Grant had the strongest desire to grin and struggled to keep his face in neutral gear. He could imagine some heated debates with this young lady. It was with a start he realised she was waiting for an answer. ‘I think I would rather keep that to myself for now.’
‘In that case, we have nothing to discuss.’ She stood up and turned to retrieve her coat.
Grant was out of his chair in an instant. With his anger just about ready to burst, he knew he had to tread with care. This was not going the way he'd planned, and he didn’t like it one bit. ‘I suggest you sit back down, Miss Russell,’ he told her. ‘And perhaps we can have a grown-up conversation.’
Stunned at being spoken to that way, Tania turned on him, keeping her voice low so as not to bring attention to them. ‘If you want a grown-up conversation, I suggest you act like one. Try saying please for a start and then maybe I might!’
Grant's conflicting emotions revealed just how hard it was for him not to give her a good shake. Slowly, he calmed. ‘You’re right, of course. I apologise for being such a prat. Please, would you sit down so we can continue?’
Tania looked into his eyes to see if he meant it, and nodded. ‘Okay.’ She returned her coat to the back of her chair and sat down.
Grant followed suit. ‘I’ve never met such an unreasonable woman before, always on the run. Do you ever stay long enough to finish a conversation?’
Tania fumed. The nerve of the man! ‘Are you always this arrogant? Never mind, you needn’t answer that. As for finishing a conversation, those I have are usually two-sided. You expect answers to questions but refuse to reciprocate. And while we’re on the subject, I am not one of your little minions running around doing your bidding, and as such, I would appreciate you not treating me like one.'
‘Excuse me? Minions?’ Grant’s voice had dropped to a level somewhere below freezing. His dark eyes discharged iced spikes. ‘Where the hell did that come from?’
‘Just that I haven’t come here to be ordered around. If you wish to discuss my plans, then either treat me with respect or forget it. You seem to think you can cross-examine me ... what was it you said … you felt I should have an opportunity to explain why my work is so much like another architect you’ve used? Yet you continue to protect that architect’s identity. I’m beginning to wonder if there might be another, deeper reason for that.’
Touché! Before he could respond, the waitress came to their table with a bright cheery smile, which slipped away when she looked at their angry faces. ‘Your coffees, Sir, Madam. Is there anything else I can get you?’
Grant forced a smile as he thanked her. ‘This will be all for now,’ he told her. I might be needing something stronger in a minute.
He turned back to Tania. ‘I think we should start again. I’m sorry if I’ve come across unfairly, but I hoped you’d at least try to understand my dilemma. If you were offered something and knew, without a trace of doubt in your mind, that it was too much like the style of another architect, wouldn’t you question it?’
Tania sat silent for a moment, digesting what he’d said. ‘Yes, if such a thing happened, I most probably would,’ she reluctantly conceded. ‘Perhaps you wouldn’t mind answering this. Why did it take four interviews to discover this strange situation? It sounds rather shoddy to me.’
‘Not shoddy at all. As you know, Miss Main and I did not sit in on the previous interviews. We have people especially qualified for that job. We take over when the applicants have been whittled down to the final four. Once we’ve finished our interviews, getting to know what makes you tick, we look at each person’s work and make our decision.’
‘Okay, that makes sense but, I’m sorry, had I been you, I would have gone straight to that architect and dealt with him from the start. Why, if his are as good as mine, would you advertise for others to try out? Why would you even want to? Did you even ask that architect?’
Now considerably calmer, Grant nodded. ‘Good questions. I thought I was doing a good thing by giving new architects a chance to get on the ladder. Perhaps I’ve made a mistake.’ Not to mention the fact he and I have had a big falling out.
Colin kept popping into her head; she was sure it was him. I’ll have to be careful here. I can’t go accusing someone until I’m a hundred percent sure of my facts. Tania looked Grant straight in the eyes.
‘You’ve seen my plans, Mr Blake, which, I’ll remind you, I’ve had copyrighted. Might I suggest you ask your architect if he has any plans ready to use, stressing you need them in a hurry. If I have stolen his, then he will still have a copy on his computer.’ Now I’ve changed my password on my laptop, let’s see what that piece of work comes up with this time. Tania gave Grant a sweet smile. There was no way he could refuse, could he?
Grant thought about it for a moment, his eyes narrowed. She seems so sure of herself. No, she’s up to something … But what? Answer that, big man! ‘Okay, I’ll do that,’ he replied stiffly. ‘The plans you showed me are just what I wanted. If he has, and they’re identical, then more questions will have to be asked.’
‘Fair enough,’ Tania replied. ‘But there’s one stipulation, which I would expect to have your word on. You don’t tell the architect anything about me or my design. I think that would be only fair since you won’t reveal his identity to me. If you agree to that, then I’m willing to face whatever the outcome is.’ She picked up her cup and took a sip of her coffee, staring at him over the rim.
Grant stared back. If he’d expected her to back down, he’d been sorely mistaken. She never so much as blinked. ‘Fine. You have my word on it. Now that’s all sorted. Did you manage to get the mud off your coat? I notice you are wearing it today. I was going to offer to have it dry cleaned for you, but you ran off before I had a chance.’
‘What? Oh, no. Thank you, there was no need, I managed to clean it off myself.’ Tania gulped down the remainder of her coffee and put the cup back on the table. ‘Seeing as we’ve discussed what we met up for, I’ll be on my way. I’ll wait to hear from you.’
This time, when she stood up, he didn’t stop her. Instead, he quickly came over and helped her on with her coat. She picked up her bag, then looked up at him. ‘Oh, here.’ She opened her bag and took out her purse. ‘For my coffee,’ she said, putting a five-pound note on the table.
Grant immediately picked it up and offered it back. ‘I believe it was I who asked for this meeting. I don’t expect those I invite to pay.’
‘Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean I have to let you pay for my coffee!’ she told him, refusing to take the money and hoping her stinging retort hit home. “The only reason I accepted your invitation was because you slandered my name, and I want to prove my innocence. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t even be talking to you.’ Before he could do or say anything else, Tania had swiftly turned on her heel and was walking away.
My God, what a cantankerous woman she is. I don’t envy any man who tries his luck with her. He looked at the fiver in his hand, then stuffed it in his pocket before going to pay the bill himself. If I find out my half-brother is the thief, there’ll be hell to pay. There was already a niggle of doubt in his mind.
‘Give me strength!’ He walked out of the hotel ignoring the strange looks he received.
Continued…
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading this part. I'm so sorry it's such a long one, there was nowhere I could reasonably stop. I would appreciate being told of any nits you come across. Some spellings will be different as this is UK English. Thank you. :)) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 5
‘Oh, here.’ She opened her bag and took out her purse. ‘For my coffee,’ she said, putting a five-pound note on the table.
Grant immediately picked it up and offered it back. ‘I believe it was I who asked for this meeting. I don’t expect those I invite to pay.’
‘Be that as it may, it doesn’t mean I have to let you pay for my coffee!’ she retorted, refusing to take the money. “The only reason I accepted your invitation was because you slandered my name, and I want to prove my innocence. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t even be talking to you.’ Before he could do or say anything else, Tania had swiftly turned on her heel and was walking away.
My God, what a cantankerous woman she is. I don’t envy any man who tries his luck with her. He looked at the fiver in his hand, then stuffed it in his pocket before going to pay the bill himself. If I find out my half-brother is the thief, there’ll be hell to pay. There was already a niggle of doubt in his mind.
‘Give me strength!’ He walked out of the hotel ignoring the strange looks he received.
Part 6
Back in his office, Grant put the papers his secretary, Margaret, had given him with the others waiting for his attention. He’d go through them later. At the moment he had other things on his mind. First, he poured himself a coffee.
With his mind still buzzing, he sat down, switched his computer on and mulled over the meeting he’d had with Tania. The promise he’d made was gnawing away at his conscience. He brought his elbows up to rest them on the highly-polished mahogany and leaned forward to massage his forehead, which was promising to deliver a thundering headache.
What do I do? Do I phone him? I can’t not phone him—not after saying I would. So, what’s the problem? You know he’ll have those plans on his computer, don’t you? The question hung, dangling in the air like an embarrassed afterthought, not sure if there was an answer he’d like. ‘Of course, he has!’ he growled, angry with himself at his own uncertainty.
He pushed himself out of his chair and went to pace the floor. She was so sure of herself, not what you’d expect from someone who’d lied and cheated. That’s what he’d do … Damnation, that’s exactly what he’d do!
He stopped his pacing and returned to his leather swivel chair. With his hands laid flat on the desk and fingers splayed, he stared at the intercom; a soured expression airbrushed his face as he realised he had no other choice. ‘I have to phone him.’
Decision made, he pressed the intercom through to Margaret, and asked her to call Mr Harding. Moments later, the door opened and Lorna walked in.
‘You’re going to talk to him, then?' When Grant raised a surprised eyebrow at her question, Lorna explained how she'd been talking to Margaret when he'd called through. 'What’s brought this on?’ she asked, moving across the room to sit in the chair facing him.
Grant told her about his meeting with Tania. ‘I’ve promised not to mention her name, or anything about the plans--’ When the intercom bleeped, Grant was told Mr Harding was on the line. ‘Put him through, please, Margaret.’ He put the call on speaker, so Lorna could listen in.
‘Colin? How are you doing?’ He glanced over at Lorna, who had a wry smile on her face, and scowled.
‘I’m fine, thanks ... I have to say I was very surprised to hear from you. I’m sure it’s not a social call,’ Colin’s voice revved up to full throttle suspicion. ‘I’m guessing I have something you want. So, what is it?’
‘Okay, I’ll get straight to the point. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I recently bought a decent-sized plot of derelict land. I’ve a few ideas floating around in my head, and now I need your unique talent to draw them up. This is an area that’s screaming out for something special. Are you up for it? I’ll pay well.’
There was silence at the other end of the line.
‘Colin? Are you still there?’
‘Um, yes. I was just thinking. How much are you talking?’
‘I’m prepared to pay a lot more than usual.’ Once more, Grant was left waiting.
‘How long have I got? I’d like some idea of what you’re looking for and where this plot is.’
‘Of course. That’s not a problem. I’ll e-mail you the details. As for how long, as soon as possible. So, it’s a yes, then? You’ll do it?'
‘I … I’m actually very busy at the moment,’ Colin muttered slowly. ‘But I’ll go and look at the plot and give you my decision in a few days.’
Grant winked at Lorna. ‘Fair enough, I’ll send the e-mail now. Talk later!’ After he’d hung up, he grimaced. ‘What do you think?’
‘Honestly? He obviously knew nothing about it. I’m convinced Tania’s plans were her own. That means you’ll have to do a lot of grovelling to get her to work with us now.’
‘I’m beginning to agree.’ Grant threw his head back, covering his face with his hands, and groaned as another thought came to him. ‘If it is true, and he is the thief, I’d have to ask myself that other unavoidable question … What about the other plans we bought from him? Were they hers, too?’
He raked his fingers through his dark-blond, wavy hair, where the only sign of grey was at his temple and above his ears. At this moment, though, he felt as if he'd earned everyone. Grant took a deep breath and released it with an audible sigh.
Lorna had remained quiet as she engaged her practical mind. ‘I think it’s time to be honest with her. You must tell her about Colin.’ She tilted her head and frowned. ‘If she did draw up those designs, you owe her the truth—and an apology.’
Grant drummed his fingers on the desk, his eyes staring to the point of glazing over. Lorna waited, knowing he was deep in thought. After a couple of minutes, he came to a decision. ‘I will, but not yet. I want to see what Colin comes back with.’
Lorna frowned, unable to understand the logic in this. ‘You can’t still believe Tania has stolen those plans, surely? Not after that phone call.’
‘What? Oh, no, I don’t. But I have to be a hundred percent sure before I call him a thief. It could be a gigantic fluke that Tania has the same style as Colin. I want to see whether he can produce some plans, and if so, what they’ll be like. If he can’t come up with any, I’d like to hear his excuse. As he didn’t know where the site is, or what I want, those Tania showed us were obviously hers. I accept that now. The price I normally pay him is too good to turn down just because we’ve had a bust-up. And I’ve offered him more this time.’
Grant stood and went over to the coffee machine. ‘Would you like a cup?’ he asked her. ‘Mine’s gone cold.’
‘Yes please.’ Lorna also stood, but she went to gaze out the large picture window overlooking the Thames. Grant chose this office especially for the spectacular, panoramic view it afforded him. ‘So, what will you do if it’s proven that he did take Tania’s plans?’
Grant walked back and put the two coffees down on platters. He cringed at the thought and shuddered. ‘I really don’t know. If Colin has taken them from Tania, and at the moment, I just can’t figure out how, then I’ll ... Actually, I don’t know. It’s all a bloody mess.’
Continued...
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex-boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 6
Grant stood and went over to the coffee machine. ‘Would you like a cup?’ he asked her. ‘Mine’s gone cold.’
‘Yes please.’ Lorna also stood, but she went to gaze out the large picture window overlooking the Thames. Grant chose this office especially for the spectacular, panoramic view it afforded him. ‘So, what will you do if it’s proven that he did take Tania’s plans?’
Grant walked back and put the two coffees down on platters. He cringed at the thought and shuddered. ‘I really don’t know. If Colin has taken them from Tania, and at the moment, I just can’t figure out how, then I’ll ... Actually, I don’t know. It’s all a bloody mess.’
Part 7
‘That smells good.’ Tania took the bag holding the containers of Chinese take-away from Monica, leaving her free to take off her coat, and went into the kitchen. The table was set, and all she had to do was retrieve the plates warming in the oven. ‘Do you want a glass of wine? I’ve a nice red Rioja waiting.’
‘Oh, yes! Just what the doctor ordered.’ Monica kicked off her shoes, and followed Tania over to the kitchen table to sort out their meals. “Yours was chicken in black bean sauce, right? Here you go. There’s your egg fried rice and … and these two … are mine.’
While Monica dished out their meals, Tania poured them both a glass of wine. Before tucking in, they clinked glasses. ‘Cheers!’
‘Mmm, this is good. So, how did the meeting go? I want to hear it all.’ Monica put her glass down, picked up a prawn ball with her chopsticks and dipped it into her favourite sweet and sour sauce. With a look of blissful anticipation, she took a large bite.
Tania had already started eating and now waved her empty chopsticks in the air. Putting her other hand in front of her mouth, she nodded and mumbled. 'Hang on.’ She finished what she'd been eating and wiped her mouth with the serviette.
‘There’s not much to tell. Mr Blake is going to get in touch with the architect who drew up his last lot of plans. He hadn’t spoken to him.…’ Tania was trying to pick up some rice with her chopsticks, but failing miserably. ‘How on earth do the Chinese use these for rice? Damnit, I’m getting a spoon.'
She continued after she’d sat back down. ‘Where was I? Oh yes. Grant hadn't spoken to him, so he wouldn’t know anything about this project. I’m almost sure it’s Colin.’
‘Huh? That doesn’t make any sense at all. Why on Earth wouldn’t he use his tried and tested architect? If he was so pleased with the work he’d already drawn up for him, you'd think he would be the first person he'd turn to. It all sounds pretty weird to me.’
‘That’s what I said. He told me he wanted to give an up-and-coming architect a chance. I know some major companies do that, but the usual practise is to start them off on small projects until they’ve proven themselves. They definitely do not let them loose on a project of this scale. But I let that slide because whatever his reasons are, it’s none of my business. All we can do is wait and see what happens next.’
Once they’d finished and cleared away, they took their glasses and the rest of the wine, into Tania’s small lounge and flopped on the sofa.
‘I’m stuffed! I didn’t realise how hungry I was,’ Monica patted her stomach. ‘Now tell me the rest.’
‘Do you want a coffee first? Or would you prefer me to top up your glass?’
‘No, to the coffee. Let’s finish off the wine. We can’t waste it now it’s opened.’ Monica picked up the bottle and grinned as she refilled their glasses. ‘There we go. I’ll make us a coffee later. So, what else happened?’
‘Nothing, really. I did ask him not to mention me, since he was reluctant to tell me the name of the other person, and he agreed.’ Tania leaned over to the coffee table and picked up her glass. ‘If it is Colin, as I suspect, I’m sure he’ll either make an excuse, or … No, forget that. This is what I really think will happen. When he finds out he can’t get into my computer again, he will try to get in touch with me.’
‘And what will you do if he does?’
‘Hmm, that’s the problem, Monica. I don’t know.’ Tania was quiet for a moment. Her frown appeared to be a permanent feature these last couple of days. ‘Should I be nice and see if I can find out something? Or do I tell him to go and ride a bike off a cliff? The thing is, I want to clear my name.’
‘Too bloody right, you do! You can’t let Colin get away with it this time. Enough is enough!’
‘Yes, absolutely. Now that it’s affecting my career chances, I have no choice but to do this.’ Tania reached over and squeezed Monica’s arm. ‘Thanks, love, for always believing in me, and having my back. I’d be lost without you.’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Monica told her, turning away and sniffing.
Tania changed the subject, while hiding a grin. ‘Another thing I’m somewhat anxious about is, I don’t know what Mr Blake’s like as a person. If he’s the type to spread it around that I stole someone else’s work, I’m done for! My reputation will be so badly tarnished, no one will want to work with me again. I just wish I’d never laid eyes on that unscrupulous man.’
‘We don’t know yet if that Blake chappie is an unscrupulous—’
‘No, I didn’t mean him, although I’m still reserving judgement on that point. I’m talking about Colin. In those few months we dated, he … Oh, you know. He’s not worth getting myself worked up about.’
‘Yes, sorry. I’ve been thinking; if Colin does get in touch with you, it might be a good idea to consider a meeting, just to hear what he has to say. If he once mentions plans, well … Take your digital voice recorder with you. It’s voice activated, isn’t it? With any luck, he’ll drop himself right in the cesspit!’
Tania burst out laughing. ‘Now, that I’d love to see. But, being serious for a moment, I think taking my recorder would be a good idea. If Mr Blake keeps his word, I will be the one Colin will want to speak to. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.’
The sudden ringing from the phone caused Tania to jump, and her wine spilt over Monica’s skirt.
‘Omigosh! I’m so sorry. Quick! Take it off and run it under cold water.’ She turned and stared at her phone that was now vibrating, as well. ‘Who on earth can that be at this time of night? There’s no name on show.’
Monica had removed her skirt and was making her way into the kitchen. ‘You’ll find out if you answer it,' she called over her shoulder.
Grabbing her phone, she clicked on accept. ‘Hello? ... Who? … Oh, hi Rachael … Calm down and tell me what happened … Yes, from the beginning. … I see. No, you did nothing wrong ... of course I don’t … Look .... No … Rachael, stop! I know what he’s like ... Yes, I will. ... Okay, I’ll do that, Rachael … Yes, I promise. … Don’t worry about it anymore. I’ll handle him.’ Tania finally managed to calm her friend and promised to meet her for a coffee the following week.
Monica had just put her skirt into the sink and was filling it with cold water when she heard Tania trying to reassure the person on the phone. Pushing the skirt further into the water, she turned off the tap, grabbed a towel to wipe her hands, and went back to see what was going on.
Tania was sitting with her back pressed into the sofa, her knees drawn up under her chin. She lifted devilish eyes to meet Monica’s. ‘That was Rachael. You remember—her husband was Colin’s mate. He knew she was a friend of mine and told her he’d lost my new telephone number. She didn’t want to give it to him, but he told her it was most urgent he contact me. She said he sounded desperate, so she caved in. Then she was worried about what I’d say, and rang me.’
‘She gave it to him? That was a bit off!’
‘I know. But I couldn’t blame her … we all know how good he is at wheedling things out of people. I’m a classic example.’ Tania stood up and walked towards the kitchen. ‘Anyway, as I told her, if he’d got half a brain, he could have found my new number on my webpage. It wasn’t as if I was hiding it from him. At least we know what he’s after and can be prepared. Now, let’s see how that wine stain is doing.’
Back in the kitchen Tania went straight to the sink and began squishing and wringing the skirt. ‘It’s almost out ... Look.'
Monica looked over Tania's shoulder. ‘That's good. Have you any thoughts, yet, on how you’ll play it when Colin phones you? I bet he threw a wobbly when he found out he couldn’t get into your laptop anymore.’
Tania giggled. ‘Do you remember how he would sulk if he couldn’t get his own way? The more I think about him, the more I’m coming around to the idea he must have hypnotised me. How else can I explain his hold over me? He’s the most obnoxious man I know.’ Stretching her neck, Tania rotated her head, trying to ease the pressure on her shoulders.
‘As for how I’ll handle him, I haven’t a clue. A lot depends on his approach. We haven’t spoken for such a long time now so it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.’ Tania shuddered. ‘He gives me the creeps. I hope it’s sooner, rather than later. I want to get this matter cleared up so I can decide what to do next.’
‘Let’s go and finish our wine,’ Monica said, drying her hands on the towel. ‘I can just picture him, standing by the phone right now, trying to figure out a way to worm himself back into your good books again.’
As if on cue, the phone rang...
Continued ….
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading chapter 7, I hope you enjoyed it. This is written in UK English, if you find any errors, I'll be happy to take them on board. Thank you. xx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 7
Tania giggled. ‘Do you remember how he would sulk if he couldn’t get his own way? The more I think about him, the more I’m coming around to the idea he must have hypnotised me. How else can I explain his hold over me? He’s the most obnoxious man I know.’ Stretching her neck, Tania rotated her head, trying to ease the pressure on her shoulders.
‘As for how I’ll handle him, I haven’t a clue. A lot depends on his approach. We haven’t spoken for such a long time now so it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.’ Tania shuddered. ‘He gives me the creeps. I hope it’s sooner, rather than later. I want to get this matter cleared up so I can decide what to do next.’
‘Let’s go and finish our wine,’ Monica said, drying her hands on the towel. ‘I can just picture him, standing by the phone right now, trying to figure out a way to worm himself back into your good books again.’
As if on cue, the phone rang..
Part 8
Tania and Monica stared at the phone, and then at each other. ‘I bet it’s him,’ Tania whispered, then grinned. ‘Why am I whispering?’
‘I don’t know,’ Monica whispered back. ‘But you’d better answer it. It could be Rachael again.’
Tania gingerly picked up her mobile, and cringed as she slowly put it to her ear.‘Hello?’
‘Hello, Sweetheart, long time no see. How are you?’ Colin’s exaggerated, rich-kids, boarding-school voice assaulted her eardrums, causing her to flinch. She held the phone away while her lips curled in disdain.
Now Tania fumed. ‘Firstly, don’t call me sweetheart, Colin, and secondly, how I am is none of your concern.’ Tania had lowered the phone and put it on speaker so Monica could listen in.
‘Well, that’s a nice greeting, I must say!’ Colin said, trying his hardest to sound wounded. ‘Aren’t you even a little bit pleased to hear from me?’
Tania looked at Monica and rolled her eyes. ‘What do you want, Colin? I’m busy right now.’ She reached over to pick up her glass, holding it out as Monica topped it up before emptying the last of the wine into her own.
‘Well, to be honest, I was in the neighbourhood, and thought it would be nice to look you up. Would you fancy meeting for a drink for old times' sake?’
‘Now why on earth would I want to do that, Colin? I’d be mad to put myself through all that again.’
‘Look, I know I don’t deserve a second chance, and I am sorry. That’s what I really wanted to say, I’d like the chance to make amends. What I did was despicable and inexcusable, but I promise you, I have changed.’ Then with a little chuckle he added, ‘You might even find you like this new me. Please, Tania. Look, if after a drink I haven’t managed to change your mind about me, I’ll admit defeat and take you home.’
Monica had her thumbs up and was nodding. Tania chewed on her lip as a look of distaste covered her face. She was about to agree to do something she’d vowed never to do again. ‘Well … I’m not sure it would work, but … Okay, just one drink, and that’s all. But don’t think this will get you back into my life, Colin. I’ll listen to what you have to say, and that's it.’
The change in Colin’s voice was so full of relief, the two women grinned at each other.
‘Thank you, Tania. You won’t regret it, I promise. If we can just be friends, it would be more than I deserve. I know that. How about lunch tomorrow at Heathcotes? It’s just around the corner from you, so you can walk there and I’ll meet you outside.’
‘I said I’d come for a drink; you didn’t mention lunch.’ Tania didn’t want to spend any more time than was absolutely necessary with the creep.
‘Okay, that’s your choice. I have to be in Salisbury tomorrow night and since it’s a fair drive, I thought it would be a good idea to eat before I go. You can sit and have a drink if that’s all you want?’
Tania loosened up a bit on hearing that. If she wanted him to talk, having a light lunch was a small price to pay. It might be worth swallowing her dislike for the man. ‘Fine. I’ll have a spot of lunch and we can chat while we eat. What time?’
‘That’s great, Tania. You’ll be pleased you did when you see what a changed man I am. Shall we say twelve-thirty?’
‘Yes, that’s good for me. I’ll see you there. Bye for now.’ Tania broke the call. ‘Well, that was quick! Mr Blake must have phoned him as soon as he got back to his office.’
Monica moved further back into the sofa and brought her legs up. ‘Hearing his voice again brought back all the worry. 'I just don’t trust that man. I hate the idea of you being alone with him.’
‘Look, I’ll be a five-minute walk away, sitting in a hotel restaurant with people all around me. You can hardly call that being all alone. What could possibly go wrong?’
The expression, famous last words, flashed through Monica’s mind. As much as she'd been the one to suggest the meeting, a sudden chill filled with a sense of unease, wormed its way inside and quashed any confidence she'd previously held.
She looked so gloomy, Tania put her arm around Monica's shoulder and pulled her in for a hug.
‘Do you honestly believe I’d do this if I thought I was in any danger? It’s only a few designs he’s after. I’m sure he’s not going to murder me for them.’ Tania searched Monica’s face, and tried to transfer some of her own fragile confidence into her friend.
Monica stared back, her eyes narrowed. Finally, she nodded and gave a whisper of a smile. ‘Okay, I’ll stop with the alarmist mindset and think about this meeting.’
‘Hopefully, taking my digital recorder with me will catch him out. Once I have him discussing my plans, all I’ll have to do is hand over the complete conversation to Mr Blake. He’ll have to apologise to me then, won't he.’
Monica patted Tania’s arm. ‘We’ll get him, girl, and I can’t wait. I wish you’d let me come with you, though.’
‘Absolutely not. You’ve taken enough time off work for me already. I’ll be as safe as ... as a platypus up a tree!’
Monica howled with laughter at that. ‘A platypus up a tree?’ Laughter choked her again, and she thumped the back of the sofa. ‘They can’t climb trees! You are so funny sometimes.’
Tania smiled. Everyone with problems should have a Monica in their life; she was such a tonic. ‘What time do you have to be at work tomorrow? Only, I’m wondering if you’re safe to drive now after all that wine. And, you don't have a skirt to wear. I could lend you one of mine, but that doesn’t solve the alcohol levels the police would find if they pulled you over. I’m thinking it would be a good idea for you to stay here, I’ve got some spare pyjamas you can use.’
‘That’s a point. I don’t need to be at work early because I’m up together with my next project. In fact, I can have tomorrow off. So, thanks, I’ll take you up on the sleepover.’ A smile brightened her face. ‘I can nip home after breakfast and get changed, and since you’ll be eating with him, I’ll eat before I come back. I’ve a couple of things to do, but that won’t take me long. I can’t wait to hear how you handle git-features.’
****
The following morning, Monica and Tania checked to see if the recorder was working properly, then put it in the hidden pocket of Tania’s skirt.
‘Let’s try it out. Sit at the table and I’ll sit opposite. That will be the same as in the restaurant … Oh, hang on, let me put the radio on. Background chatter.’ Tania shot over to the radio and found a channel that would be suitable. ‘Okay, then. Let’s get it switched on and start with the chatting.’
After much giggling and lah-di-dah chatter, Tania took the tiny recorder out of her pocket and pressed replay. It was hilarious. The two girls were falling about laughing.
‘Well, that worked fine,’ Tania gasped, catching her breath after all the laughter.
After they’d calmed down, Monica stood up and collected her coat. Tania followed and helped her, then gave her a hug. ‘Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.'
Monica stood back and gazed at her friend. All fun and laughter now forgotten. Her eyes clouded as she fought a losing battle to hide her apprehension. ‘Please be careful, Tania. I don’t trust him.’
Continued….
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading my book. If you find any nasty nits, you already know I'm delighted that you tell me. This is written in UK English, and we do spell some words differently to the American way. (And we have some strange expressions! LOL) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 8
‘Let’s try it out. Sit at the table and I’ll sit opposite. That will be the same as in the restaurant … Oh, hang on, let me put the radio on. Background chatter.’ Tania shot over to the radio and found a channel that would be suitable. ‘Okay, then. Let’s get it switched on and start with the chatting.’
After much giggling and lah-di-dah chatter, Tania took the tiny recorder out of her pocket and pressed replay. It was hilarious. The two girls were falling about laughing.
‘Well, that worked fine,’ Tania gasped, catching her breath after all the laughter.
After they’d calmed down, Monica stood up and collected her coat. Tania followed and helped her, then gave her a hug. ‘Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.'
Monica stood back and gazed at her friend, all fun and laughter now forgotten. Her eyes clouded as she fought a losing battle to hide her apprehension. ‘Please be careful, Tania. I don’t trust him.’
Part 9
With a critical frown, Tania looked at herself in the mirror, turning sideways, then full-face. She didn’t want him to think she’d gone to a lot of trouble on his account, but at the same time, giving him the idea that she had let herself go since they’d split up was a definite no-go as well.
The navy and red, softly-pleated skirt, with its essential hidden pocket, was one of her favourites. She picked up her small digital recorder and put it on pause mode before slipping it inside the pocket.
Putting on her navy, three-quarter-length jacket, red high-heeled shoes with matching shoulder-bag, she’d left her blonde hair to fall casually over her shoulders. Her make-up consisted of a light touch of beige eye-shadow, and a pale-rose shade of lipstick. With a satisfied nod, she picked up her door keys and left.
A chilled breeze pinched her face, and glancing up at the overcast sky, Tania wondered if wearing her warm coat would have been a wiser choice. She shivered and pulled her jacket closer. Since the restaurant was just a short walk from her flat, she quickened her step, minding the traffic as she crossed the road.
Colin was already outside the restaurant when she arrived and immediately greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. ‘You look amazing!’ he said, steering her through the restaurant door.
Instead of finding the restaurant bustling with activity, which was usual at this time of day, Tania was surprised to discover the complete opposite. While Colin spoke to the waiter, she slipped her hand inside her pocket and pressed the button that put the digital recorder onto voice activation.
Outwardly, Colin hadn’t changed much since she'd last seen him. She remembered he liked going to the gym every other day, spending at least an hour doing weights. His white hair, and pale blue eyes against his artificial tan had a striking affect on anyone who saw him for the first time.
The waiter picked up two menus and a wine list, then led them to a quiet window table. Colin asked him to wait as he chose a bottle of crisp-white, fruity wine. Perfect for a lunchtime meal. A quick look at the menu, and they both ordered the sea-bass.
‘So, tell me what you’ve been up to since I last saw you. It’s been … how long?’ Colin frowned as if trying to think back.
That particular day was one that Tania remembered vividly. It was the moment she’d finally woken up and kicked him out of her life. For Colin’s benefit, however, she just shrugged dismissively. ‘It was some time ago, two and a half, maybe three years? Time goes so fast, and I’ve been busy with many new projects. What about you? What have you been up to?’
Colin’s lackadaisical expression said more than words as he picked up his napkin, flicked it out and put it on his lap. ‘Oh, this and that. I recently had a very lucrative job offer. It’s quite challenging … In fact, I tried to email you. I wanted your advice, but…’ he paused, and searched her face so earnestly, Tania nearly laughed, but quickly covered it with a cough. His acting hadn’t improved at all. ‘Have you changed your email address? My mail kept coming back.’
My word, you don’t hang about. ‘Pardon? Oh, my email address, yes, I changed it a while ago. I was getting too much spam in my box; it was driving me mad. I also changed my phone number. That was why I was surprised to get your call.’
Just at that moment, the waitress came back with their meal, and the wine steward arrived to show Colin the bottle of wine, checking it was the one he wanted before opening it and pouring a drop for him to taste. At Colin’s nod of approval, the man went to Tania’s side and filled her glass.
‘We used to come here a lot back in the day, didn’t we? We were never disappointed, either,’ he said as he lifted his glass. ‘Here’s to past times and happier days ahead.’
Tania picked up her glass and clinked it against his, but didn’t comment. She took a sip and held the glass away from her. ‘I think they’ve changed hands,’ she remarked, thoughtfully looking around the dining room.
‘Oh, really? Well, let’s hope they kept the chef,’ he said, tasting a sample of the fish. ‘Yes, still as delicious as I remembered it.’ He smiled. ‘So, what about you? Are you still into architecture? You were good at it.’
Tania felt herself stiffen and forced herself to relax. This was, after all, what she was here for. ‘Yes, I’m still trying to create the perfect building. I’ve had a few small jobs, and I have to say, I do enjoy watching my designs constructed.’ She put another mouthful of sea-bass in her mouth and turned to look out the window.
‘Hmm, I can understand that.’ Colin picked up his fork and twiddled the handle nonchalantly between his fingers. ‘Have you done any lately?’
‘Yes, quite a few small ones, nothing spectacular. But that’s how it goes. It’s like everything, you have to build up a good C.V to get your name out there. It’s the only way the big boys notice you. It all takes time.’ She looked up and smiled. ‘This is excellent fish.’
‘Yes, it is. Have you heard of Thistlegates Enterprises?’
This is it! ‘Yes, of course I have. Who hasn’t? They’re one of the biggest building companies in Europe, if not the world. Why?’
‘No reason, just wondering if you’ve ever thought of trying to work for them. It would be a big feather in your cap if you could.’
‘Ha! You must be joking, Colin. They don’t take on small fry like me! I doubt they’d even look at a woman’s work.’ Well done! That was excellent. Monica would be so proud of me. Perhaps I should have been an actress.
‘You shouldn’t put yourself down like that … From contacts I know, Thistlegates most definitely is not sexist, racist, or any other ‘ist'. You’re good enough—in my books, anyway.’
‘Well, thank you, kind sir!’ Tania looked down at her plate as she thought out her next words. ‘As a matter of fact, I did hear they’d purchased some land on the outskirts of London, and were planning to build on it. Out of curiosity, I asked around and found out where the plot was. It wasn’t hard; most of my architect friends knew. I went along to look, and … well, you know what I’m like. I went home and did some designs. Not that I’ll do anything with them, of course, but it was a good exercise.’
‘Really!’ The excitement in Colin’s voice had Tania’s heart pounding. ‘What are they like? Can I see them? Why don’t you give them to me? Perhaps I can find a way to get Thistlegates to take a look. It’s worth a shot. I’d do that for you … if you’d like, that is.’
Methinks you are too keen, Sir, and unfortunately for you, I know why.
Tania gave a small chuckle. ‘No, I don’t think so, Colin. I’d be so embarrassed to have them turned down. Anyway, you’re going to Salisbury after we’ve finished lunch. I’ve not printed them off, and don’t have any intention of doing so. It was just an exercise, simply to see what I’d come up with.’ She let out, what she hoped would sound like a wistful sigh, before standing up and putting her serviette on the table. ‘Would you excuse me for a moment while I go to the ladies’ room?’
Colin watched her as she walked away; his facial muscles twitched as his mind went into overdrive. He couldn’t have wished for a better outcome than this! The gods are smiling down on me today!
To find out Tania had already drawn up some plans was beyond lucky. Soon he’d have them in his hands. All he had to do now was get hold of them—that might prove to be the sticking point. He looked at his watch. Time to put my plan into action.
Continued….
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading part 9. If you find any nits, please let me know. I'll be so grateful. This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 9
Tania gave a small chuckle. ‘No, I don’t think so, Colin. I’d be so embarrassed to have them turned down. Anyway, you’re going to Salisbury after we’ve finished lunch. I’ve not printed them off, and don’t have any intention of doing so. It was just an exercise, simply to see what I’d come up with.’ She let out what she hoped would sound like a wistful sigh, before standing up and putting her serviette on the table. ‘Would you excuse me for a moment while I go to the ladies’ room?’
Colin watched her as she walked away; his facial muscles twitched as his mind went into overdrive. He couldn’t have wished for a better outcome than this! The gods are smiling down on me today!
To find out Tania had already drawn up some plans was beyond lucky. Soon he’d have them in his hands. All he had to do now was get hold of them—that might prove to be the sticking point. He looked at his watch. Time to put my plan into action.
Part 10
Colin grunted as he struggled to keep Tania from slipping to the ground. His increasingly tenuous grip wasn’t helped by the fact she seemed to get heavier with each step he took. To further frustrate his attempt to hurry her along to his car, she now appeared to be completely incapable of walking, leaving her feet to drag along the ground, and slowing him down even more.
The drug he’d given her had taken effect faster than anticipated. How he’d blessed her habit of going to the ladies’ room to touch up her lipstick. He smiled, remembering how it had annoyed him immensely at one time. But not today. He’d relied on it heavily. Without that all important ingredient to his plan, he wouldn’t have been able to slip the powder into her wine. Now, as Tania plunged further into unconsciousness, he wondered if he’d used too much.
The cold breeze was whipping up into a gusty gale, nipping at peoples’ faces. Although Colin was heading straight into it, his own face was coated with sweat. He hefted Tania up when she started slipping again, and keeping his arm under hers and around her back, he settled her into a more comfortable position as he half dragged, half carried her along.
The looks from people passing by ranged from humorous to disgusted. Even though it worked well for him, he was irritated by people automatically assuming the worst.
By the time Colin finally reached his car, his arm had gone numb. He took out the car key from his jacket pocket and unlocked the doors. None too gently, he managed to get her inside, leaving her sprawled out on the back seat.
As the feeling came painfully back into his hand and arm, he stared down at the woman he’d used for a while. How fortuitous it had been when a friend introduced him to Tania. At first, he hadn’t been in the slightest bit interested. Women weren’t his scene. But when he’d discovered she was an architect, and a good one, that had been a different matter. He'd become very interested.
Looking at her now, flopped out on the back seat, Colin smirked. She was totally oblivious to what was happening. He stood and watched her regular breathing until satisfied she was okay. As far as he was concerned, she’d always been just a means to an end … to get money out of his tight-fisted half-brother. And now, my dear Tania, you are going to help me again.
A few months ago, after discovering that Tania had changed all her passwords and put in place a super firewall, he’d tried all ways to get back in. She’d very effectively blocked him. He’d had a good run, though, and had been quite happy to leave it at that.
But now, with Grant’s offer on the table, he’d had to think fast. The money was too much to turn down.
If you’d just left things alone. Now you and I will be having a little chat. I’m under no illusions that you’ll happily hand over your passwords to me.
He knew his only recourse was to frighten her, and that was exactly what he intended to do. What he’d do with her after he’d transferred all her files onto his laptop, he hadn’t quite decided yet.
Reaching over to pick up Tania’s bag, Colin noticed she had one shoe missing, and her toes had been grazed raw. There was blood all over her foot. He stood up and looked back along the way he'd come, but couldn’t see the missing shoe. Dammit! He looked at his watch again, and took a deep breath. There’s no time to go hunting for it now. Damn, damn it!
Knowing time was running short, he rummaged through her bag to find her keys. Once he had them, he flung it back on the seat. Minutes later, Colin was inside her flat, picking up her laptop.
Thanks, Tania, this will do nicely. Now let’s see how long it will take me to get the passwords out of you.
Colin was about to leave when he spotted Tania's artist carrying tube. He frowned as his inner, suspicious voice told him to check it out. He put the laptop back down on the table and picked up the tube. Giving it a little shake, he pursed his lips. Something was inside.
After opening it, he carefully pulled the rolled paper out. Treating it as if it was made of delicate rice paper, he rolled it out on the table. His breath caught as he realised what he'd found.
You lying little bitch! You didn’t print them off, huh? He stared at the plans in front of him. He could see at a glance these were the ones he wanted. You should have known better than to try and fool me. His face creased into a disturbing smirk. Let’s see what you have to say for yourself.
Back in the car, Colin checked that Tania was still out cold. ‘Time to go.’ He started the engine, his face twisted into a satisfied grin. ‘We’ve a long journey ahead of us.’ He flicked on the radio. Nothing was going to wake his passenger for a good few hours.
*****
Monica let herself into Tania’s flat and went to put the coffee on. She looked at the clock and frowned. A quarter past five. Tania should have finished her lunch with Colin hours ago; in fact, Monica had been surprised not to find her already at home.
Perhaps she’s gone shopping. ‘I’ll call her.’ Monica went to her handbag and took out her mobile, looking for Tania’s number as she walked through to the sitting room. She was about to call, when she noticed Tania’s laptop wasn’t on her desk any more. That brought about another puzzled frown. That’s strange. Why would she have taken it? She looked around the room, but couldn’t see it anywhere.
Monica was filled with a vague feeling of foreboding, and it was with a sense of dread that she rang Tania’s number. After a few rings, it went through to the answer phone. Monica left a message, asking her to phone back as soon as she could.
‘I’ll give her another half an hour,’ she mumbled to herself. Perhaps the waiters at the restaurant will remember them, after all, it’s not like it’s been days. There’s bound to be a simple explanation.She grabbed her jacket, picked up the door key and her bag, then rushed out the door.
The restaurant was almost empty, and she could see the tables were already being laid up for the evening diners. She caught the attention of one of the waiters and asked if he could recall what time her friends had left. When he frowned and said he couldn’t remember, Monica began to panic.
‘Look, it’s urgent that I get in contact with them. My friend is short, about five-foot-two tall, slim, and has longish blonde hair. She was meeting a friend here for lunch. He's got very fair hair, almost white; and he's just under six feet tall. Does that ring any bells?’
The waiter called another over and asked him if he could remember. After Monica described them again, the other waiter nodded. ‘Yes, I remember them very well. After they had finished their main meal, the gentleman asked for the bill. There was something about the young lady’s eyes that had me worried. She didn’t look at all well, although it came on quickly. They were both enjoying their meal and chatting … do you know if your friend is allergic to anything? I know there weren’t any nuts in the meal they ordered, but the gentleman appeared to be in a rush to get her outside.’
Monica shook her head. ‘No, she can eat anything, and does, peanuts included.’ A niggle of fear chilled her inside. Her scalp tightened as tiny pinpricks danced over her head. This didn’t sound good … not good at all.
‘Anyway, they left here around half-past one. I remember it well because we were expecting a large party at that time, and they arrived just as your friends were leaving.’
Monica left the restaurant and began walking slowly back to Tania’s flat. Where are you, Tania? What happened? What did that creep say to you? Monica was becoming more concerned as the minutes ticked by.
As she walked miserably along the road, her head dropped in thought, she didn’t see the red stiletto-heeled shoe until it was too late and she stood on it.
That’s Tania’s! She bent down and picked up the shoe. It was very scuffed at the toe, and on one side, but it was definitely Tania’s. Spinning around, she looked up and down the street. She couldn’t see the other shoe, just the one she was holding. Fear squeezed her throat as she struggled to breathe.
Where the hell are you, Tania? Even without the answer, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Tania was missing--and worse still, she knew who’d taken her.
Continued…
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading part 10. I always appreciate your kindness when pointing out my nits! Lol. This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 10
Monica left the restaurant and began walking slowly back to Tania’s flat. Where are you, Tania? What happened? What did that creep say to you? Monica was becoming more concerned as the minutes ticked by.
As she walked miserably along the road, her head dropped in thought, she didn’t see the red stiletto-heeled shoe until it was too late and she stood on it.
That’s Tania’s! She bent down and picked up the shoe. It was very scuffed at the toe, and on one side, but it was definitely Tania’s. Spinning around, she looked up and down the street. She couldn’t see the other shoe, just the one she was holding. Fear squeezed her throat as she struggled to breathe.
Where the hell are you, Tania? Even without the answer, she knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Tania was missing--and worse still, she knew who’d taken her.
Part 11
It was the early morning light, filtering in through the curtains, that woke Monica. Although she’d tried to stay awake, she’d reluctantly surrended to the will of her body, and fallen asleep on Tania’s settee.
She lay still, luxuriating in those drowsy, quiet moments before the world awoke and the hustle and bustle began. Not until she opened her eyes did reality finally punch home. A sudden melting pot of emotions, the like of which she’d never known before, bubbled over and held her by the throat. It was as if someone had taken hold of her soul and squeezed the life out of it.
Taking deep, long breaths, Monica battled to take back control; it was so hard. Now, as she eased her legs off the settee and sat up, she willed her mind to come up with a plan of action. Bending forward to rest her elbows on her knees, she dropped her head into her hands. There must be something I can do. Perhaps Colin has taken her against her will to his flat. Perhaps she’s tied up and can’t escape!
A forlorn whimper clawed its way out from deep within. In the next instant, a sudden thought had Monica leaping off the settee, and dashing to Tania’s bedroom. After a small tap on the door, Monica turned the handle with slow, quiet movements.
Then, Monica's minuscule spark of hope that Tania had come home while she was asleep, shuddered and died. The bed hadn’t been slept in. Tears pricked at her eyes.
Pull yourself together, girl. Tania needs you now, and having a mini-breakdown won’t help her one tiny bit! She closed her eyes and drew on every ounce of strength she had. First things first; the police ... I have to call the police. If that slimeball harms one hair on her head, he’s a dead man!
A framed photo on the dressing table of Monica holding Tania’s hand as they went for a walk, made her smile. Monica looked closer, working out how old they were there. It couldn’t have been long after that tragic day when, at just three years old, Tania became an orphan. The eight-car pile-up changed their lives completely.
So many people died that day. Tania was so confused and frightened, but Monica’s mother had cradled her in her arms and explained as gently as she could, how Jesus needed her mummy and daddy in Heaven. It took a lot of love and patience; but they had that in bucketloads and as a family, they brought Tania through those dark times.
When it was discovered there were no other relatives, Monica’s parents tried to adopt her. The Social Services, however, had other ideas, and told them it would be in the child’s best interests to be placed with a white family. Nevertheless, on seeing how settled Tania was, they allowed them to foster her until the right family was chosen.
As the months passed and no white family emerged, Tania was placed permanently with Monica’s. But the Social Services still refused them permission to adopt her. Monica, being five years older than Tania, had always treated her like a kid sister and had sworn to protect her. They had a special relationship being each other’s best forever friend. A tear worked its way down Monica’s cheek. She couldn’t imagine her life without Tania in it.
‘There’s no time for this nonsense, my girl. Get your act together and find her.’
Monica picked up her phone and dialled the number for the police. When she told the person at the other end of the line that she wanted to report a missing person, she was asked a few questions. How long has her friend been missing? How old is she? When was she last seen? Where had she been going? When it came to who she was with at the restaurant, Monica gave Colin’s name, but when she answered the next question, how well did she know him, the interest dropped considerably.
‘I’m sure they have just gone on somewhere,’ the hollow voice told her. ‘Have you tried calling him? Perhaps they made up and she went home with him. There could be several reasons why she didn’t come back.’
‘Look, I know something’s happened to my friend. I’m not in the habit of wasting police time making up cock-and-bull stories. Colin Harding has kidnapped Tania Russell, and I want you to find her!’
Monica heard Hollow voice sigh. ‘Look, I know you think I’m being somewhat less than sympathetic, but we have so many missing person calls, only to have them turn up a few hours later wondering what all the fuss was about. Might I suggest that if Miss Russell hasn’t turned up by this evening, you come into the station, bringing with you a good photograph. Also, make a list of why you think this Mr Harding would have kidnapped her. Your assumption that it’s all over a few drawings doesn’t really make me feel I should put this on high alert.’
Monica caved in. When Hollow voice put it like that, it did sound ridiculous. But it was all true! ‘Okay, I’ll do that.’
Hollow voice grunted and ended the call.
It was a frightened, angry woman who stood like a statue in the middle of Tania’s sitting room, unable to take it all in. This is all your fault, Mr Bloody Blake.
It was as if her head had been slammed against a wall, leaving her reeling. Monica sat down as her mind tossed the thought around. ‘Of course, you stupid woman!’
*****
Grant was in his office having a board meeting when he heard a commotion outside his office. Excusing himself, he went to see what was going on.
‘I’m sorry, Madam, but Mr Blake isn’t seeing anyone this morning.’ Margaret was trying hard to pacify the lady standing in front of her.
‘What’s the problem here?’ Grant asked in a quiet calm manner, seeing the lady was clearly distraught.
Monica spun round to face Grant, her features strained with worry. ‘I take it you are the infamous Mr Blake?’
‘I don’t know about infamous, but, yes, I’m Grant Blake. What did you want to see me about, that was so urgent you couldn’t make an appointment?’
‘It’s Tania! What did you tell Colin? Tania’s missing now, and it’s all your bloody fault!’
Grant looked across at Margaret, raising an eyebrow, and received a tilted head and shrug back. ‘I’m not at all sure what you’re talking about, or even who you are. What do you mean, Tania’s missing?’
Monica was worn out; it wasn’t until she’d remembered Grant Blake that it dawned on her that he might know something. Her whole body sagged, tears welled as she tried hard to get a grip.
‘I mean exactly what I said, Tania’s missing. Gone. Vanished. I can’t put it any plainer than that!’ Monica had come to the end of her tether. She looked around for a seat before she made a complete fool of herself and collapsed.
Grant was ahead of her, and steered her over to the chair. He turned to Margaret and asked her to bring the lady a glass of water. A sense of unease now nibbled away at him as he noticed Monica's hands tremble on her lap. ‘Wait here. I’ll be back in a moment and you can tell me what you know.’
Returning to his office, Grant gave his board members a brief explanation why he had found it necessary to cancel the meeting. He was relieved and not at all surprised when the members showed remarkable understanding about it. He then brought Monica into the room and offered her a more comfortable seat.
‘Now, Miss? I don’t know who you are, so let’s get that out of the way first.’
‘Monica Fox. I’m Tania’s foster sister. I’m sorry to interrupt your day, but it suddenly occurred to me that you must know something about her disappearance.’ She lifted her head and stared vehemently into Grant's eyes. ‘You have to help her. It’s your damn fault this has happened.’
Grant’s face darkened. ‘That’s the second time you’ve said that. How on earth is it my fault? Anyway, what makes you think Miss Russell is missing?’
‘Of course it’s your fault. If you hadn’t all but called her a thief, none of this would be happening. We realised your secret architect was none other than Colin Harding, that thieving, toad-face rat, when he phoned Tania the night before last. Well, I believe he’s kidnapped her.’
After years of training in the SAS, Grant was able to control his outward expression, but it did nothing for the sinking feeling in his stomach. He went over to his desk and sat down.
Grant searched Monica’s face, taking in her drawn features, the pain and fear in her eyes. ‘Tell me what you know ... and let’s try to be rational about this. Kidnapping is quite a serious accusation. You can begin by telling me how Tania knows Colin.’
Continued...
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes |
I want to thank Nancy Davis for adding a Member Pump to my post, that was incredibly kind, and I feel so humbled. xxxx
Thank you for reading part 11. This is written in UK English. The background picture is from Pixabay, and the couple are my step-grandson and his fiance. If you find any nits, please let me know, I seem to be good at leaving the around!! :)) The SAS is an elite British military force organized and trained for special operations, surveillance, and counterterrorism. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 11
Grant’s face darkened. ‘That’s the second time you’ve said that. How on earth is it my fault? Anyway, what makes you think Miss Russell is missing?’
‘Of course it’s your fault. If you hadn’t all but called her a thief, none of this would be happening. We realised your secret architect was none other than Colin Harding, that thieving rat, when he phoned Tania the night before last. Well, I believe he’s kidnapped her.’
After years of training in the SAS, Grant was able to control his outward expression, but it did nothing for the sinking feeling in his stomach. He went over to his desk and sat down.
Grant searched Monica’s face, taking in her drawn features, the pain and fear in her eyes. ‘Tell me what you know ... and let’s try to be rational about this. Kidnapping is quite a serious accusation. You can begin by telling me how Tania knows Colin.’
Part 12
Monica looked down at her hands clasped together on her lap as she considered the best place to start.
‘I’m not sure how they met,’ she said, having made up her mind to begin at the beginning. ‘But I do know one thing for certain, he’s a bad apple, rotten all the way through. In fact, I couldn’t understand why Tania put up with him for so long.
‘When she discovered her work was being stolen from the files on her laptop, she knew deep down it was him, but didn’t want to believe it. Instead, she tried to convince herself she’d deleted them by mistake.
‘After a while, Colin started asking her to do some work for him, very specific jobs. He said he’d pay her. Tania did them, of course, but she never received a penny for all the extra hard work she’d had to put in. No surprises there!’
‘When you say, specific, what do you mean?’ Grant was not liking this one bit.
‘Hmm, I don’t remember the whole story, but I do recall her saying that Colin was adamant the plans conform to different building regulations.’
That was not what Grant wanted to hear. The plans sounded very much like his foreign contracts. If I find out those plans were Tania’s, I’ll wring his scrawny neck! ‘How long ago was this?’
‘Oh, let me think. It had to be at least three years. By chance, Tania later discovered he was selling some of her older designs and calling them his own. It took her ages to finally see sense and end things with him. When she told him this, he turned nasty, calling her some terrible names. If it had been me, I would have called the police!’ Monica stopped to take a sip of water.
Grant had heard enough to convince him he’d made the biggest blunder of his life. He couldn’t even come up with a good excuse. He’d always known Colin was a thief and a liar, so why did he think he’d changed?
‘How long were they seeing each other? The mere idea of Colin being with Tania … well it just doesn’t compute.’ Grant frowned. It appears my dear half-brother will go to any lengths to get what he wants.
‘From the way you went at Tania, I suspect there’s a lot you don’t know about him.’
‘Yeah, I’m beginning to see that now.’
‘The strange thing is, he never took Tania out. It was like he didn’t want to be seen with her. I wondered if he was actually married, with half-a-dozen kids, and leading Tania on.’
Grant scowled. ‘I can assure you, Colin isn’t married.’
‘Anyway, it didn’t stop. When more of her plans went missing, she realised he was somehow managing to get into her laptop and empty her portfolio. Now she’s changed all her passwords and put a super firewall on to protect her work. What happened here,' Monica said, indicating the area around the room. ‘Damn near destroyed her.’
A heavy silence filled the room, both lost in their own thoughts. It was so quiet, that when Grant pushed his chair back and stood up, Monica gave a startled gasp.
‘Sorry. Would you like a coffee?’ he asked, as he went over to the coffee machine. On her reply, he poured two without sugar.
Back at his desk, he cradled his cup in his hands and took a sip. ‘I bought two of his designs, which were perfect for my overseas projects, and some others for some smaller projects. I’ve now got a horrible suspicion they all belonged to Tania--Not Colin?’ At Monica's shrug and raised eyebrow, he scowled and tightened his mouth. ‘Why do you think Colin has her?’
Monica told him what had happened, starting with the phone call the same evening after Tania's meeting with him. ‘She only went to get proof he’d taken her plans. She hid a recorder in her pocket, hoping he would slip up and say something to prove her innocence. Then there was her shoe … I found it, scuffed and muddied on the pavement. That in itself tells me Tania’s been kidnapped. How do you know Colin, anyway?’
The more Monica told him; the more disturbed Grant was. ‘He’s my half-brother,’ he replied, feeling decidedly uncomfortable now.
Just revealing that piece of information made Grant feel he’d be judged as an accessory. Although he wasn’t bothered about what people thought about him, for some reason, he didn’t want Monica to get the wrong impression.
‘Colin is a gambler, and was always getting into debt. Leaving IOUs everywhere. In the past, when the bondholders came after him for their money, he would come to me for bailouts. At the time I didn’t know about the gambling. I’d always felt he'd drawn the short straw and would help him out. About four years ago, when I discovered what was going on, I told him not to come to me again. He didn’t, in fact he completely disappeared, no one knew where he’d gone.’
Monica’s face lit up with sudden understanding. ‘That must have been the reason he never took Tania out. He didn’t want to be seen.’
‘You’re probably right about that,’ Grant picked up his coffee and swallowed what was left with one gulp. ‘When Colin only managed to scrape through to get his architecture license, I thought he’d given up completely. His work was mediocre at best, nothing that caught the imagination.’
‘I didn’t know that. I’m sure Tania didn’t either--she would have mentioned it.’
‘Yes. It was like he wanted to prove a point. But he never was good at maths or art.’
Monica shifted in her seat as a frown crinkled her forehead. ‘Weren’t you a bit suspicious when he came in with Tania’s drafts?’
‘Suspicious? No. Surprised? Very, but I never considered them to be someone else's work.’ Grant stared into space as he recalled the day Colin brought in the first set of plans. ‘When he handed them over, I remember remarking how much he’d improved as they were far superior to others of his I’d seen. I congratulated him on the hard work he must have put in to have improved to that degree.’
‘Ah, now it all makes sense,’ Monica remarked derisively. ‘He hadn’t spent the time improving his own work, he’d spent the time defrauding Tania. Using her friendship and naivety. To Tania, it was the final betrayal. After that first sale, Tania ended up losing all her best work and thousands of pounds. If she hadn’t stood up to you, she would have lost her credibility as an architect as well. When you stopped paying his debts, Colin needed another source of income. Meeting Tania and discovering she was a brilliant architect, well, he must have thought the Heavens had opened and dropped an angel into his lap. Your brother--’
‘Half-brother!’
‘Your half-brother’s new source was Tania.’ Monica let out a frustrated groan. ‘After you phoned him, Colin phoned Tania. She was half expecting his call. Although I know why you didn’t tell her his name, if you had, she wouldn’t have gone on that lunch date. If he hurts her, I’ll hold you responsible ... you and that creep.’
‘Look, I can understand your feelings, and I’m sorry. I had no idea Colin and Tania had even met, let alone anything else.’ Despite understanding Monica’s suspicions, just the mere suggestion he was in collusion with his half-brother made his blood boil.
‘I realise now, I should have delved deeper, but all I could see were these plans in front of me, which were exactly what I wanted, and more.’ Grant’s voice trailed away for a moment. ‘Knowing what a lazy, good-for-nothing so-and-so, he is, I should have realised it didn’t add up. Now Tania’s gone missing, and you’re right ... a lot of the blame falls right here.’
Tapping his fingers on the edge of the desk, he blindly stared at the pile of papers waiting to be read. He’d been so willing to believe Tania was the thief, and even more willing to believe Colin wasn’t. Had his distrust of women, born from one disastrous affair, gone to the extreme? It would seem so.
Monica made a small cough. ‘There is one other thing. Her laptop is missing. The more I discovered, the more worried I got. So where do you think Colin has taken her?’
‘To be perfectly blunt, I haven’t the foggiest idea. But I plan on finding out.
Continued…Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegates
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading part 12. This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 12
Tapping his fingers on the edge of the desk, he blindly stared at the pile of papers waiting to be read. He’d been so willing to believe Tania was the thief, and even more willing to believe Colin wasn’t. Had his distrust of women, born from one disastrous affair, gone to the extreme? It would seem so.
Monica made a small cough. ‘There is one other thing. Her laptop is missing. The more I discovered, the more worried I got. So where do you think Colin has taken her?’
‘To be perfectly blunt, I haven’t the foggiest idea. But I plan on finding out.’
Part 13
Colin looked at his mobile phone and, seeing Grant’s name, cursed under his breath. He glanced over at Tania lying on the makeshift bed, still knocked out from the drug he’d given her. She’d slept on through the night, which had worried him to the point where he’d often checked on her breathing. Even shaking her was futile. Although he’d almost followed the dosage on the bottle, just adding a tiny bit more, it was obviously stronger than he’d thought.
He looked back at his mobile and clicked on accept. ‘Well, this is becoming a habit, Grant. Twice in as many days.’
‘I was just talking to Lorna. We were wondering if you’d decided yet,’ Grant replied. He wanted to say a lot more, but held his temper. He looked up when Lorna came through the door and gave her a warning look.
‘I said I’d call you. But as it happens, yes, I will do the job for you. I went to the site and took a good look around. The ideas flowed straight away. In fact, I’m in the middle of them now. I congratulate you on getting your hands on such a plum site. It’s certainly going to secure your billionaire status and keep the bailiffs off your back,’ he remarked sarcastically.
Grant clenched his fists as the muscles in his face worked angrily. It took all his self-control to reply politely. ‘We can only hope, Colin. So how long do you think it will be before you have something for me to look at?’
‘Oh, not too long. I’m convinced you’ll like what I’ve come up with. So, stop worrying, big brother. You’ll get what you want ... and so will I. Just make sure you have my cheque ready.’
‘Okay. That’s great news, thanks, Colin, I knew I could depend on you. I look forward to seeing them. Where are you, by the way? There’s none of your usual background noise going on.”
‘Oh, er, no. Since this is such a big deal … for both of us, I decided I would get away where I knew I wouldn’t be interrupted. Don’t worry, I’ll call you in a few days. I might have something ready to show you then.’ Colin saw Tania move out the corner of his eye, and quickly brought the conversation to an end. ‘Gotta go. I don’t want to break the flow.’
Tania opened her eyes and groaned. There was a hammer banging around inside her head, and her eyes felt gritty. She brought her hand up to her brow and groaned again.
Colin put his mobile in his jacket pocket and walked over to the table where he’d left his hold-all.
‘So, you’ve decided to join the land of the living at last,’ Colin said as he rummaged through the bag and brought out a bottle of water. ‘Here, but be careful--just a few sips at a time. How are you feeling?’
Tania sat up, but didn’t answer. Instead she opened the bottle and drank thirstily. Now wide awake, she became aware of her strange surroundings. It was a shock to realise they were no longer in the restaurant. ‘Where are we? How did we get here?’ Her voice sounded alien, gravelly, and her mouth still felt sandpaper dry. Not getting an answer, she gave a quick glance around the room.
There were two doors, one at each end. The room was almost empty, apart from a table in the centre. Upon it was a laptop the same red colour as her own and opened up as if ready for use. Next to it was the holdall that Colin had taken the bottle of water from. Dropping her eyes to beneath the table, Tania could see what she thought was a metal rubbish bin. Two wooden chairs, and the narrow bed she was sitting on, were the only other things visible to her.
In the ceiling above her was a grubby skylight window that hardly let in any daylight. Further over, a single light bulb hanging on a wire gave out a dismal, flickering glow.
Without having him say it, Tania knew she was in trouble. How much? She wasn’t sure. But she knew she wanted to throw up.
‘You spiked my drink, didn't you, you ... you disgusting creature?’ she hissed, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing how scared she was. Her chest hurt. She needed to calm herself, so concentrated on slowing her breathing. ‘Where the hell is this place, Colin?’
‘Where you are doesn’t matter. What I put in your drink? You needn’t worry, it was only a mild sedative. I put it in your wine when you went to the ladies room. The fuzziness in your brain will soon fade. Drink some more water, that will help. I need you to be clear-headed.’
Although she wanted to throw the bottle at him, she couldn’t help but do as he said. Her tongue felt swollen. ‘What am I doing here? You know this is kidnapping and you can go to prison, don’t you?’ Tania attempted to stand, but her legs had been robbed of their bones. She wobbled and fell back on the bed. ‘For heaven’s sake, Colin, why have you done this? What do you want of me?’
‘First things first, I want the password to your computer. You can give it to me, or put it in yourself, if it will make you more comfortable.’
‘That’s my laptop? How did you get it?’ Tania looked over at the table again to confirm it was hers.
‘That was the easy part. You were fasto by the time I put you in the car. I just took your keys out of your handbag, let myself in and took it. Now I want your new password. That was a blasted nuisance finding you had changed your old one. I want all the plans you’ve drawn. I might need them in the future.'
Tania frowned. ‘Why would you possibly need my plans in the future? You’re not making any sense, Colin.’
‘I wasn’t going to mention him to you, but it doesn’t matter what you know now. I need them in case my sanctimonious half-brother asks me if I can do some more.’
‘Your half-brother? I didn’t know you had one.’ Tania hoped her voice sounded disbelieving. ‘Where did this sudden half-brother come from?’
The harsh laugh that Colin let out frightened her a bit. This was not like the man she’d once known. That one was a liar and a thief; this one was mad, as well!
‘There is nothing ‘sudden’ about him. He’s been on my back from the day I was born. You’ve not heard me mention him because I prefer to think he doesn’t exist. If it wasn’t for the fact that we share the same mother, I’d have nothing to do with the self-righteous creep. Grant Blake … of Thistlegate Enterprises, is my half-brother.’
‘What? How come you never mentioned him to me while we were seeing each other? Or is this another of your lies? I mean to say, you’ve told me enough over the last year.’ The last thing she wanted now was for him to guess she’d already met Grant.
‘Yeah, well, this time it’s true. Let’s stop wasting time and get this done. What is your password?’
‘What good will my plans do you? He’ll never believe they are yours. You have to study for years, and take loads of exams to become an architect. No, I’m not giving it to you, so stop wasting your time and mine, and take me home.’
‘You just don’t get it, do you?’ he snarled. ‘You’re not going anywhere, not until I get your password so I can download all your plans. As far as him not believing they are mine, I actually do have my architect licence, but was never interested in it. I only went for it to prove a point.’
‘You never told me that! Why don’t you draw your own? Why steal mine?’
‘Enough of this time-wasting crap. Give me your password. I know they’re there; you’ve already told me you have a file full.’ Colin yanked a chair over to the bed and sat down. With his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her closer. ‘I’m not a man who likes to hurt women, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. Do you understand me?’
Tania shuddered. ‘What would you do then? I mean, what would you do to me if I give you my new password?’
‘Nothing. I’ll take you home.’ Colin stood up again. ‘Look, I don’t want to hurt you, but those plans will come in handy when I need some extra cash. Everyone isn't a billionaire like him.’
‘I’m not giving it to you and that’s final. Let me go, Colin, I promise I won’t say anything.’
‘What do you take me for? I’m not a complete idiot, Tania. What about this, then? What were you going to do with it?’ He put his hand in his pocket, brought out the recorder she'd used to record his confession, and pressed play.
The conversation she’d had with Colin in the restaurant came over loud and clear. It wasn't enough to convince Grant of his guilt, but enough to cause doubt.
She felt the colour drain from her face, and Colin nodded. ‘Exactly! Enough of this, I want the password, now!’ He glared at her through eyes cold as death.
Continued….
fasto = fast asleep
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading part 13. This is written in UK English. I wish you all the best Christmas possible under these awful virus circumstances, and a much better 2021 |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 13
‘Nothing. I’ll take you home.’ Colin stood up again. ‘Look, I don’t want to hurt you, but those plans will come in handy when I need some extra cash. Everyone isn't a billionaire like him.’
‘I’m not giving it to you and that’s final. Let me go, Colin, I promise I won’t say anything.’
‘What do you take me for? I’m not a complete idiot, Tania. What about this, then? What were you going to do with it?’ He put his hand in his pocket, brought out the recorder she'd used to record his confession, and pressed play.
The conversation she’d had with Colin in the restaurant came over loud and clear. It wasn't enough to convince Grant of his guilt, but enough to cause doubt.
She felt the colour drain from her face, and Colin nodded. ‘Exactly! Enough of this, I want the password, now!’ He glared at her through eyes cold as death.
Part 14
Tania knew she’d lost her only means of proof when Colin threw her recorder on the ground and repeatedly stamped on it. He looked up; his face twisted into an evil grin once he was satisfied it was beyond repair.
She sat, frozen with fear, not daring to breathe as his eyes took control of hers, piercing them with a blistering look of hatred so intense, Tania feared for her life.
Oh, God, what do I do now? He’s insane! If I give him the password, there will be no reason for him to keep me alive. He’s not going to take me home; I just know it! What do I do? Oh, dear God, please help me!
Tania tore her eyes away from his, and released her breath, knowing she needed to be calm. Calm! That’s it, don’t let him see how terrified you are. If you want to stay alive, you’d best not tell him anything. But how long can I hold out before he snaps completely? Will anyone find me in time?
‘So, what’s it to be? You can tell me now and save yourself a lot of pain, or stay quiet and suffer the consequences.’
‘I’m not giving them to you,’ she told him, mustering up as much grit as possible. Having decided not to tell him, she steeled herself for any repercussions. ‘You can do your worst, but you’ll never get inside my laptop.’
Although she’d told Colin he could do his worst, she wasn’t prepared for the hard, stinging slap across her face. The violent strength behind it caused her neck to snap sideways and crack her head on the wall beside the bed. Tania could not stop herself from crying out as pain shot through her skull and face; the flashing lights that spiked her vision were only made worse when she closed her eyes ... as she found out to her cost.
The room spun, and the feeling of nausea made her swallow hard, not wanting to throw up in front of him. Tania opened her eyes and waited for the room to stop spinning. ‘My word, aren’t you a brave one? You must be so proud of yourself—hitting a defenceless woman,’ she spat out sarcastically.
Putting her hand to her head, she could already feel an egg-sized lump and the damp stickiness of blood in her hair. She blinked fast, hoping to keep the tears at bay. She tried her hardest to convince him she wasn't frightened even though she was far from being persuaded herself. Dropping her hands into her lap, Tania wiped the blood onto her skirt. She wouldn’t allow herself to rub her cheek, which felt as if it were on fire.
‘You can be as insulting as you want, Tania, I don’t give a damn what you think of me. But I hope now, at least, you might see the benefit of being a bit more cooperative. If not, there’s plenty more where that came from, and worse,’ Colin snarled, his lip curled in contempt leaving Tania in no doubt that he’d follow through with the threat.
‘And for your information,’ he continued, his expression transforming once again, this time into a smug smile, ‘Grant will believe they came from me because he’s already paid me for other works of yours ... No, he didn’t know they were yours,’ he said as Tania started to speak. ‘Even if you had the opportunity to tell him they were, he’d not believe you, not after I’ve given him the plans for the new site he’s just bought.’
Tania sat upright, her fear forgotten for a moment, and glared at the man she once thought she knew. ‘If you think I’m going to just hand over those plans, you can think again. Those are my best yet. I know I’ll be able to sell them to someone.’
Colin released a nerve-racking raucous laugh, sending chills down Tania’s back. ‘Oh, I’m not trying to get those plans off you. No, I want all the others.’
He turned on his heel and left the room, only to return moments later. In his hands, much to Tania’s dismay, were the plans she’d spent weeks drawing up for Grant’s new building site.
*****
Lorna marched into Grant’s office with a bundle of files in her arms. Once inside, she back-kicked the door closed and went over to his desk.
‘What’s all this?’ Grant put his pen down and sat back in his chair.
‘Copies of all the plans we’ve brought from Colin. I now believe Tania is the rightful owner of them; they never were your brother's to sell in the first place. I’ve also been thinking about what you’ve told me. Colin must need to return to his apartment at some point, even if it’s just for a change of clothes. I suggest we have someone keep an eye on the place—it might be our only chance to find Tania alive.’
‘That’s a bit over the top, isn’t it? Are you suggesting Colin is capable of murder?’ When Lorna didn't answer, Grant stood up and started pacing.
‘Well, think about it, Grant. What has he got to lose? Kidnapping is not a slap on the hand offence. He’ll go to prison when Tania is found. If she’s dead, there’ll be no one to testify against him. No one has any concrete proof that Colin does have her. All we know for sure is they were meeting for lunch.’
Lorna put the files on Grant’s desk, pulled out the chair from under it, then sat down and crossed her legs. ‘Look, I’m not saying he would—I’m just saying he’s got nothing to lose, and his freedom to gain, if Tania disappears.’
Grant walked over to stand by the large picture window and stared out across the Thames. He watched the boats move lazily through the water, carrying their tourists. He could see them with their cameras, most held on selfie sticks as they took photos of themselves with the famous buildings in the background. They were all in awe of things he barely noticed as the guide told them about the area and the famous people living here. A picture of life moving on, as life always will.
He turned and faced Lorna. ‘I don’t want to believe it, and I hope to high Heaven you’re wrong, but you have a point. He’s always been a waster, and there has only ever been one person in his life, and that’s himself.’ He groaned and went back to sit at his desk. ‘Right, we need to bring the team in.’
‘I agree. We need their special skills. Especially now,’ Lorna added, thinking aloud. ‘We have no idea what Colin will be capable of, not since he's got himself trapped in a hole of his own making.’
After a few phone calls, Grant turned and smiled. ‘They’re on their way. I’ll have a car waiting for them at Heathrow airport.’
Jefferson Horner, Reg Fielding and Carl Young had been in Grant’s elite SAS team. He trusted them all with his life. After Grant had two catastrophic attacks on his South American companies, and another shortly after on his Mexican branch orchestrated by rivals, he realised that his European holdings could be next. He needed help to protect his workers.
It was then he'd discovered his SAS mates felt they’d chanced their luck to the limit, and, fortunately for him, they'd decided it was time they got out. When Grant offered all three employment, they jumped at the chance of keeping the team together.
The men were told to choose their own security teams, and then Grant left them to it. Now he needed them, and he knew they’d do whatever it took to help him get Tania out of Colin’s clutches.
CHARACTERS:
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex-boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
| Author Notes | Written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of Part 14
Jefferson Horner, Reg Fielding and Carl Young had been in Grant’s elite SAS team. He trusted them all with his life. After Grant had two catastrophic attacks on his South American companies and another shortly after on his Mexican branch from rival companies, he realised that his European companies could be next. He needed help to protect his workers.
It was around this time that he discovered his mates had already decided they’d chanced their luck to the limit, and it was now time for them to get out. When Grant offered all three employment, they jumped at the chance of keeping the team together.
They were told to choose their own security teams and Grant left them to it. Now he needed them, and he knew they’d do whatever it took to get Tania out of Colin’s clutches.
Part 15
It was almost two days since Tania had gone missing and Monica was out of her mind with worry. ‘What have you done with her, you scumbag?’ As her pent-up anger and fear came to the fore, demanding release, so the urge to punch out and hurt Colin left her more frustrated than ever.
She’d gone to the police the previous evening, as per instructions, and came away none the happier. They’d put the photos of Tania in a basket, and bagged the shoe Monica had taken in. She’d also given them a photo of Colin, hoping that would be useful. After giving them the facts she’d been privy to, relating to the time Tania had been seeing Colin, Monica was told to leave things in their hands since it was now a police investigation.
‘I can’t stand not knowing!’ she cried out, venting her anger at the walls. The lack of news was driving her mad. Monica rapidly came to the conclusion if she wanted to see Tania again, she’d have to be the one to go out and look for her. Boosted by this decision, an idea that had been in her mind since leaving the police station, had her leaping into action. She looked at her watch. ‘Four-thirty. Just time to catch the shop before it closes.’
Two hours later, on the new waterproof camping blanket she’d spread out on the ground, Monica was lying on her stomach looking through her new binoculars. She couldn’t have found a better place if she’d tried. The gap in the hedge across the road gave her the perfect spy-hole to see all the comings and goings from the exclusive block of apartments where Colin lived.
You’ve got to come back soon, Colin, and when you do, watch out, I’ll be after you.
Her excitement, combined with the anxiety of failing, had her reaching for her coffee to calm her jittery nerves. But before her fingers had managed to wrap themselves around the flask, her attention was diverted by the sound of a car drawing up not far from her hiding place. The coffee was forgotten as the engine died and the lights went off.
Back in position, Monica stiffened and waited. Not sure if it was Colin’s car, she remained alert. Moments passed, but no one got out. Although it was nearly dusk, the streetlights hadn’t come on, so even looking through her binoculars, it was difficult to see who was in the car.
What the hell is he doing? Is it Colin? Should I just casually walk past and glance in the window? Hmm, that sounds like a plan. She started to rise, then dropped back again. But supposing it is him? What if he’s just being careful? Monica tried to make the binoculars zoom in, but it made no difference. If I go, and he sees me, he’ll guess I’m on to him and probably drive off. No, stay still and wait to see what happens next.
So engrossed in who was in the car and why the person wasn’t getting out, she jumped when the streetlights came on, and dropped the binoculars in her surprise.
‘Oh, for goodness sake!’ She rebuked herself for being so silly and picked the binoculars up again to resume her observations.
‘Don’t move or make a sound if you value your life!’
Monica froze. Terror flooded through her when she felt the end of a gun resting on the back on her head. ‘Please don’t kill me! I haven’t got any money with me … only this flask of coffee which you’re welcome to—’
‘Turn around, very slowly, and I wouldn't make any sudden movements if I were you. This gun has a very sensitive trigger.’ The man’s deep baritone voice sounded like he meant it.
Monica rolled onto her back still holding her binoculars, which were immediately whipped away. The black poker-face, barely visible in the dark, looked down at her from the height of a mountain … he was huge! Even more frightening were his emotionless eyes. She was left in no doubt that he’d kill her without a second thought.
‘Stand up and put your hands behind your head.’
Monica wondered if he was a robot, his cold voice told her not to push it. She had no choice but to do as she was told. Once in position, he ran his hands expertly over her body, and satisfied she had no weapon, he told her she could put her hands down.
‘Start walking!’ he told her, nudging her back with his weapon.
‘Where to?’ Her mouth had dried, and her raspy voice wobbled.
‘To the car you’ve been spying on.’
‘I wasn’t spying on you! You’ve got it all wrong. I was—’
‘Move. I won’t ask you again.’
And Monica believed him. Thrusting back her shoulders, she quickly marched over to the car. Her kidnapper leaned over her and opened the door. ‘Get in.’
Monica was near to tears. Not knowing what was going to happen to her was far more frightening than if she did. At least she’d be able to collect her wits and work out a way to escape. Two days ago, her life and Tania’s were just dull and ordinary ... and very safe. But now? Now she wished she could turn back the clock.
‘I said, get in,’ her abductor repeated, giving her a tap on the shoulder with his gun.
Monica almost tumbled onto the back seat of the car in her haste to get away from the gun sticking in her back. She pulled herself upright and tried to regain some dignity just as the man in the driver’s seat turned around.
‘Monica?’ Grant closed his eyes for a second, trying to compose himself. ‘What the hell are you doing here?’
‘I could ask you the same thing,’ she snapped back. Relief and shock collided head-on, creating havoc with her sensory system.
The gunman, who had gone around to the other side of the car, was now climbing in. Pulling the door closed after him, he looked from one to the other and saw their shocked faces. ‘You know her?’
‘Well? What were you thinking?’ Grant barked, ignoring his friend’s question for a moment.
Monica could feel the anger boiling inside. After the scare she’d just had, almost giving her a major heart attack, she was about ready to leap on Grant and punch him on the nose.
‘Not that it’s any business of yours,’ she told him, no longer able to keep her temper in check. ‘I’m trying to find Tania! It’s been nearly two days, and seeing as no one else is showing the slightest bit of interest in whether she’s dead or alive, I’ve decided to find her myself! I’m waiting for that lying slime ball to come home, and then I’m going to beat hell out of him until he tells me where she is!’ She glared at them, daring them to try and stop her.
Both men looked at her, wide-eyed with astonishment. Grant brought his hand up to rub over his stubble beard in an effort to hide his lips as they curled into a grin.
‘You’re going to beat ‘hell’ out of him? Monica, how in Heaven's name do you plan to do that? Colin would wipe the floor with you!’ Grant refused to be swayed by her affronted expression. ‘Look, although you might think it, we haven’t been idle. We already have the makings of a feasible plan. That's why we're here. It’s no good you rushing in and threatening him--he’d just laugh at you. All you’ll succeed in doing is putting yourself in danger.’
Monica lowered her eyes. ‘I’m stronger than you think,’ she mumbled. ‘So, what’s your plan then?’
‘Well, it won’t be charging in like a fox in a chicken hutch. No pun intended,’ he said, this time not hiding his smile. ‘Jeff, meet Monica Fox, Tania’s foster-sister.’
Monica turned to see Jeff was also grinning. He nodded, his smile spreading to his eyes as his mouth opened to show off a row of beautiful, even white teeth accentuated by his rich dark skin. He was gorgeous! Monica swallowed the lump in her throat and gave him a hesitant smile back.
‘Sorry about earlier, Ma’am, no offence intended.’
Monica couldn’t help but like him. ‘It’s okay. I guess you were just being careful. So, you were going to tell me about your plan, weren't you?’ she said, finally turning back to Grant.
‘We’re hoping he’ll come back just to make things look normal. Then, we’ll put a tracker on his car.’ Grant looked at Monica, and softened his voice. ‘I know you’re worried, and we are too, believe it or not. I’ve brought in some friends who have been trained at finding people and dealing with men like Colin. But I don’t want to be on his tail and worried about you at the same time. Go home, and when we have news, I’ll get in touch with you. Give me your number.’
‘You promise?’ Her eyes narrowed as she looked at them both and tried to read their faces. ‘No lying now.’
‘Promise,’ they both said at the same time.
‘Okay. I’ll go, but under protest.’ After the scare she’d just had, it didn’t take half a brain to realise she wasn’t up to the task. Monica gave Grant her mobile number. She was about to open the car door when another niggling thought held her back. ‘Do you think he’ll hurt her? I’ve never liked or trusted Colin, and I’m worried.’
There was a moment's silence before Grant spoke again. ‘To be honest, I don’t know. This is a side of Colin I’ve never seen before. Where are you parked, by the way?'
'I didn't drive, I came on the tube. It's not far from here, and the station where I get off is just a two-minute walk for my place.'
'Stay there. I’ll drive you home.’ He glanced up at Jeff. ‘Make yourself invisible and keep an eye out. I’ll be back as fast as I can.’
Jeff nodded, already getting out the car. 'I'll be over the road. Nice to meet you, Maam.' With a smile, he quietly closed the door, and watched as the car drove off.
Continued...
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Ex SAS Commander
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Former SAS under Grant Now working with him as his security guards
Jefferson Horner - Reg Fielding - Carl Young
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part, everyone, I've appreciated every single one of you. I couldn't have wished for nicer friends than the ones on here who I've got to know so well. I wish you all a healthy, happy 2021. Warm hugs and love to you all! |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 15
‘Okay. I’ll go, but under protest.’ After the scare she’d just had, it didn’t take half a brain to realise she wasn’t up to the task. Monica gave Grant her mobile number. She was about to open the car door when another niggling thought held her back. ‘Do you think he’ll hurt her? I’ve never liked or trusted Colin, and I’m worried.’
There was a moment's silence before Grant spoke again. ‘To be honest, I don’t know. This is a side of Colin I’ve never seen before. Where are you parked, by the way?'
'I didn't drive, I came on the tube. It's not far from here, and the station where I get off is just a two-minute walk from my place.'
'Stay there. I’ll drive you home.’ He glanced up at Jeff. ‘Make yourself invisible and keep an eye out. I’ll be back as fast as I can.’
Jeff nodded, already getting out of the car. 'I'll be across the road. Nice to meet you, Ma'am.' With a smile, he quietly closed the door and watched as the car sped away.
Part 16
Grant took Monica home and told her to stay put until she heard from him. ‘I promise you; we will find Tania and bring her back.’
Monica sighed heavily. She had no other option but to trust him. ‘Lock the door after I’ve gone and don’t open it to anyone unless you know them. I don’t want to worry you, but we don’t know just what Colin is capable of. The last thing I need is two missing women.’ Getting her agreement, Grant drove back to where he’d left his friends.
‘Anything?’ he asked as he dropped down on the blanket Monica had left behind.
Carl shook his head. ‘Jeff’s driven around the back, just in case he came in that way. But there’s been nothing yet.’
‘I didn’t think it would be that easy,’ Grant murmured, disappointment coating his words. ‘We’ll take it in shifts. Two on at a time. Front and back. Since you and Jeff are already in position, I’ll team up with Reg. Where is he, by the way?’
Carl nodded towards Colin’s flat. ‘He’s inside putting a bug in the phone and cameras in several places so we can listen in and see what he’s up to.’
Grant gave a quiet chuckle. ‘They don’t call Reg the ‘kingpin’ for nothing. That little gadget he invented to open doors would be a burglar’s dream tool.’
As they both felt droplets of rain, Carl looked up at the sky, and groaned. ‘I hope it’s just a short shower. I don’t fancy sitting here and getting drenched!’
*****
Tania woke up to the sound of scratching. Oh, please don’t let it be rats! With a speed she hadn’t known she was capable of, she sat up, tucked her knees under her chin, and wrapped her arms around them. She tilted forward, just enough to scan the floor to see if anything was moving, but the light was so dim it was hard to see clearly. Looking up at the small skylight window she could tell the sun was setting by the redness of the sky.
The scratching had stopped. She’d probably frightened whatever it was when she moved; or her imagination had gone into overdrive and she hadn’t heard a sound at all. Her head was itching. Fleas! Frantic, she leapt off the bed and stood glaring down at it. Oh, for crying out loud, rats and a flea infested mattress? You wouldn’t do that to me, would you, Colin? She already knew the answer.
A sudden need for the bathroom became another imminent worry for Tania. How long have I been here? The way my stomach’s aching, it’s quite a while. She looked at her watch and frowned. It has to be longer than an afternoon, making this the second evening. A day and a half? No wonder I’m desperate!
She looked at her watch again. As far as she knew there hadn’t been sight nor sound from Colin for at least a couple of hours, unless he’d been there while she was asleep. She must have water, but needed the bathroom first.
‘Colin!’ she called, then listened. Nothing. She shouted again, louder this time, still no response. Perhaps he’s just left me here to die. He’s got the plans; it could be he’s changed his mind about the others. Would he do that? She looked over at her laptop on the table. Can I get a message out? Send an email to Monica? She must be worried sick by now.
Tania could hear and feel her heart pounding. Is he still here and not letting me know? Maybe he wants me to use the laptop and then he’ll be able to get into my work. Tania stared hard at her laptop, and frowned. No. he still couldn't, not with the separate lock I've put on my plan's folder ... but he won’t know that. Now concentrate. What message can I send to let Monica know where I am?
Tania frowned. ‘Where exactly am I?’
Her shoulders slumped. Feeling quite wretched, she sat back on the bed and leant against the wall. Her head wound had stopped bleeding, but it was still tender. She didn’t even want to know what the rest of her head looked like. She put her fingertips up to her face and winced as they touched her swollen eyes and bruised cheekbone.
Glancing over at the laptop again, the thought returned. It was so tempting. The door would make a noise when he unlocked it, wouldn’t it? Perhaps if I hurried? ‘Sod it, let’s do it.’
Feeling a bit more confident, she moved off the bed and stood still for a moment, listening. Now to check the doors. Both were locked.
She called out again, just to make sure. Her need for the bathroom was now getting to the point of desperation.
Take a chance with the laptop, that should take my mind off other pressing things. She shook her head at her warped sense of humour.
After she’d put in her password, she cocked her head and listened again for any movement. Still nothing. Now she was in, she tried to get into her emails. A groan slipped from her mouth. In front of her on the screen was a message saying, ‘Not connected to the internet.’
‘Dammit!’ Now she wanted to cry, but that wasn’t going to happen! After signing out and closing the lid, she stood in the middle of the room and took stock. ‘Ok, you’re on your own, girl, so what are you going to do about it?’
She lifted her hand to her face, and instantly regretted it. ‘Wait a minute, if I can’t get in, he won’t be able to either. So what the hell am I here for? Surely he knows there’s no internet ... Oh, damn. He doesn't need internet.’
The pain in her stomach had now reached the critical stage. If I don’t spend a penny soon, I’ll burst. It’s no good, I can’t wait a minute longer, I’ll have to go on the floor. Her eyes fell on the rubbish bin under the table. That’ll have to do.
Minutes later, Tania breathed a sigh of relief, then moved the rubbish bin over to the corner of the room. Now to try and get out of here.
‘Let’s try the doors again. How strong are they?’ Tania tried the handle of the first door just in case it was only stiff, but it was definitely locked. She shook the door handle angrily; frustration and temper taking over. In a final attempt to get the door open she turned sidewards and charged at the door with her shoulder. Apart from adding another bruise to her body, the door was going nowhere. She tried the other one, and wasn’t surprised to get the same result. Okay, now what?
Going back to the bed, she sat on the edge and stared at the locked door. What I need is a weapon to defend myself. There’s no way he’s going to smack me around again!
She stood up and looked around to see if there was anything she could make a basic weapon with. Her attention fell on the only two pieces of furniture in the room. She smiled as an idea came to her. She couldn’t get out of the room, but she could get ready for when he came back.
If he comes back, a little voice popped into her head. Tania chose to ignore it and continued with her idea. Both the table and the bed had legs—one of those would provide her with a weapon.
The table looked to be the flimsiest, so, putting her laptop on the bed, she grabbed one side of the table and pushed it onto its side. Standing on one of the two legs that now lay flat on the floor, she pushed hard on the underside of the table trying to break the leg off. She was in luck! She heard a crack and pushed harder until the table broke away from the leg she was standing on.
‘Yes!’ She punched the air, excited at her little bit of success. Picking the leg up, Tania swung it around. Feeling a lot safer now that she had something to fight with, she just hoped Colin would return soon. She wanted to go home and forget all about this horrible nightmare she’d been living.
Continued...
Characters:
Grant Blake: Ex SAS Commander, now billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Grant's former army mates of now working with him as his security guards
Jefferson Horner - Reg Fielding - Carl Young
| Author Notes |
To 'spend a penny' UK slang to use the ladies' room.
Thank you for reading this latest part. This is written in UK English. If you find any nits, please let me know. I've got shingles around my waist and it's so painful my mind isn't 100% clear. Thank you. :)) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.
Kidnapped and beaten, Tania needs a weapon to defend herself, and if possible, to knock Colin out so she can escape. She manages to break a leg off the table. She now waits for him to come back.
Part 17
Tania sat on the edge of the bed. Try as she might, she couldn’t ignore the pain moving around her head. It was as if a snake with needles attached to its underbelly had made its home in her hair. To be able to give in to it; to lie on her soft, comfortable, feather bed, then pull up her duvet and disappear beneath it—what she wouldn't give to enjoy her one little bit of luxury right now.
But you can’t. And now is not the time to wallow in self-pity, my girl. You're going to get out of here … You will. Oh, please, dear God, please help me get out of here.
She kept her eyes on the door. Just the thought of being completely alone, isolated from the world, terrified her. Then, to make matters worse, the undeniable truth of her situation finally hit home. Regardless of whether or not she gave Colin her password, she was not leaving here alive. He couldn't let her go, not now; and there would be no knight in shining armour coming to her rescue.
‘Perhaps I should give him what he wants and get it over with.’ Tears welled, before streaming down her face. ‘But I don’t want to die!' she shouted, her anger taking over. 'I've got too much to live for. I want to get married, have babies, and I want to grow old with a man who loves me. I won’t let you take all that away from me, Colin!’ With the table leg still clenched in her hands, she was itching more than ever to put it to use.
It was at least another hour before the expected moment came; the sound of someone moving about on the other side of the door. Tania’s heart thumped brutally against her rib cage as foreboding held her in its grip and squeezed.
Subconciously realising she hadn't taken a breath, Tania sucked in air between her dry lips, chilling her teeth and filling her lungs. Giving herself a reprimand for her weakness, she pulled herself together. It was time. It’s what you’ve been waiting for, for crying out loud! With one more deep breath, she focused, her attention on full alert. Come on Tania, you can do this!
Leaving the bed, she moved quietly over to the wall, and, flattening herself against it, waited for the door to open. The wooden leg was raised in her hands, poised and ready to attack when he stepped inside. She heard the sound of the key in the lock. Beads of sweat trickled down her brow, the saltiness stinging her swollen eye.
The door opened. Then everything happened at once. Colin walked in; Tania swung her weapon, and, hitting him hard on the shoulder, she managed to knock him off balance—but not over.
Releasing an insane, chilling howl, Colin spun around to face her. Seeing the broken table leg in her hand, he made a grab for it. For a fleeting second, Tania stood, rooted with terror.
Whimpering softly, she made a last-ditch effort to stop him, and valiantly swung her weapon again. But Colin was too strong and too quick for her. He struck her on the other side of her already battered face. Her hands loosened on the wooden leg and he snatched it away, taking with it her last chance for freedom.
‘Ha! You thought you could kill me, did you? Well, I’ve got news for you; it’s not going to be me who dies today,’ he snarled, grabbing a fistfull of hair and raising the piece of wood ready to strike.
‘No! Get away from me ... you’re crazy … insane.’ Tania’s natural survival instinct took over, and trying to ignore the pain, she lunged into his body. Grabbing hold of his arm, she battled to fend off the blow she knew would come if she didn’t stop him. Using what little strength she had left, she continued to fight. But it wasn’t enough.
He knocked her hand out of the way, and, with a madness that frightened her, swung the table leg, smashing it against her arm. Tania heard the crack at the same time the pain enveloped her. She felt sick, as waves of dizziness threatened to bring her down. The last remnants of fight crumbled. She’d lost, and she knew it.
‘You effing bitch,’ he bellowed. Raising the wooden table leg again, he swung it, whacking it down onto her stomach, knocking Tania to the ground.
She whimpered, raising her good arm to protect herself as the wood came down again, she closed her eyes, waiting for unconsciousness to take her away. When it didn’t come, Tania opened her eyes a little and watched Colin through her lashes. He had pulled a rope from his holdall bag.
*****
‘What’s new?’ Reg walked into Grant’s office, followed by Carl and Jeff.
‘I’ve had a call from Colin. That’s why I’ve asked you all back. He won’t be going anywhere for awhile. He’s finished the plans and said he’ll drop them off later today for my approval.’
Grant studied their faces. ‘My thoughts are that he’s managed to get them from Tania. Either that, or he has drawn up plans that look nothing like hers, and Tania has gone off somewhere on her own for a few days. As that is most unlikely, we’ll have to wait until we’ve seen them.’
‘I’m surprised you’d even think such a thing. That Tania would go off without confiding in Monica first.’ Jeff shook his head. ‘Whatever is going on here, I know she wouldn’t do that to her best friend.’
‘No,’ Grant retorted. ‘You're right, of course I don’t believe it. Anyway, there’s no way he’s capable of drawing up quality plans as good as Tania’s. The others I paid him for were superb; but this set is simply far and away the best I’ve ever had put in front of me ... and I mean, ever. Tania is the most talented architect I’ve met. I just hope I’ve not blown my chances of getting her on board. I was a total idiot not recognising that in the first place.’ A look of self-recrimination clouded his eyes.
The silence that followed hung heavily in the room as each man was wrapped up in his own thoughts.
‘So,' Grant said. His voice cracked like a whip, startling them. 'With all that in mind, I’ve told him I’ll be out of the office this afternoon, and asked him to leave the plans with Lorna. I said I’d drop by his place tonight with the cheque if I liked them. He seemed satisfied with that.’
Reg went over to the coffee machine and turned to the others. ‘Anyone else fancy a coffee?’ On the chorus of yeses, he poured four. ‘Forgive me for sounding thick, mate, but why did you say you’d be out?’ He handed Grant his coffee, and put another on the desk for Carl before going to get the other two.
Grant took a sip of his coffee. ‘Two reasons. I thought about them last night. If I was to look at the plans while Colin's standing in front of me, and they are Tania’s, he would expect me to go into raptures the way I did with the others. I wouldn’t be able to control myself. I’d have my hands around his neck before he took his next breath.’
The others agreed. ‘Okay. So, what’s the second reason?’ Carl asked the question this time.
‘That’s the most obvious one. We already know Tania's not at his place. You've been inside, Reg, and we have been able to see with the cameras you've installed. Which is fortunate. I don’t want him to be where he's got her hidden away.’ Grant paused as if considering what he was about to say.
Jeff cleared his throat, breaking the silence. ‘And that’s because…?’
‘The plan I’ve concocted is to phone him with a query. It has to be complicated enough that he’ll have no other choice but to go and ask Tania.’ When he took a breath this time, Jeff jumped in.
‘I’m with you up to that point. I’m guessing we’ll be nearby so that when he comes dashing out to his car, we’ll be able to follow … right?’
‘Yes, Jeff. That’s it exactly. We’ll already be there. And while I’m talking to him on my mobile, one of you will put the tracker on his car so we can follow at a distance without being spotted.’
‘Sounds like a plan to me,’ Reg said. ‘Where’s the problem?’
‘My problem is, and this is the make-or-break part, I haven’t been able to come up with a good enough query!’ He released a sigh, heavily charged with frustration. ‘Unfortunately, it has to be a logical, believable query, which is nigh on impossible. Those plans were so damned perfect; Tania had the foresight to think beyond what was required.’
Continued...
| Author Notes |
Thank you again for reading my story, I do appreciate your support. This is written in UK English, so some spellings are different.
If I have made any errors, I would appreciate you letting me know. Even the most famous authors make mistakes and have to rely on editors to have them corrected. I'm practicing for when I'm famous!! LOL. Thank you in advance. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Kidnapped and beaten, Tania has just about given up on being rescued. Her plan to knock Colin out failed miserably, only getting another severe beating herself for her effort. Unbeknown to her, Grant has the makings of a plan to rescue her, but needs a question to give Colin in order for it to work. So far, he’s been stumped mainly due to Tania herself...
End of part 17
‘My problem is, and this is the make-or-break part, I haven’t been able to come up with a good enough question!’ He released a sigh, heavily charged with frustration. ‘Unfortunately, it has to be logical, something believable, which is nigh on impossible. Those plans were so damned perfect; Tania had the foresight to think beyond what was required.’
Part 18
Grant’s mates didn’t have a clue when it came to this line of work. Army tactics, and now security, were their speciality. No one spoke as they tried to come up with an alternative suggestion.
‘Hang on.’ Grant flicked through to Margaret, his receptionist. ‘Is Lorna in her office? … Good, put me through, please.’ He cut the connection and picked up his phone. Looking up, he grinned at the puzzled expressions of his mates. ‘If I know Lorna, she’ll think of something … What? … No, sorry, Lorna, I was talking about you, not to you. Can you spare a moment? … Great.’ He ended the call and put the phone down.
Carl looked thoughtful. ‘Have you any plans for when you’re out of the office? The reason I’m asking, if this works, we’ll have to be ready to go immediately. What hardware have you got … just in case?’
Grant released a deep, pensive groan. ‘Lorna had similar thoughts. I just couldn’t see Colin doing anything to harm Tania; he’s only got water in his veins, no gumption at all. But who knows what desperation will do to a man? He’s past the point of no return by kidnapping. How much further he’ll go if he does have her plans, I don’t know.'
A sharp knock, and Lorna walked in, taking everyone's attention. Her bright smile had Grant’s friends standing up.
‘Good morning, gentlemen,’ she said. ‘Please, don’t get up on my account.’
Jeff offered her his chair. ‘I’ll get myself another one.’
When they were all seated, Grant brought Lorna up to date. ‘I need a solid reason that will ensure he has to consult Tania, and in so doing, lead us to where it is he’s keeping her prisoner.’
‘Hmm, without looking at them again, I can’t think of anything. You say he’s going to drop the plans in this afternoon?’
‘Yes. When he does, have a good look at them and see if there’s anything I can work with. It’s our only chance to get Tania back.’
*****
Tania moaned when she moved. Somehow, she had been able to sleep, but had no idea for how long. Her body felt as if she’d been thrown in front of a bus. Every part of her hurt. It took awhile for her to remember where she was and what she was doing there.
Colin! She tried to sit up. You’ve tied my legs together! What the hell for? The desire to yell out disappeared as fast as it came. She wasn’t ready to face him again. Not yet.
Slowly, she shuffled her body to an angle that enabled her to pull herself up into a sitting position and drop her legs over the edge of the bed. From the pain she got just by breathing, she was sure she had at least one broken rib, and if she didn’t have some internal bruising, she’d be most surprised.
What was it I read about broken ribs? I know they don’t bind you up anymore. Her breath came in rugged short gasps, each one an agony to endure. Just stay still. I don’t want to puncture my lungs, or any of the other bits and pieces that keep me alive.
Her right arm throbbed from shoulder to fingertips. Gingerly, she put her left hand under her right elbow, alleviating some of the pressure. She could see it was broken by the way it twisted, and really needed to be put back in place.
Leaning forward, Tania tried to rest the arm on her lap while she attempted to put the bone back where it should be. The fiery pain was so unexpected, her teeth clamped down on her tongue, making it bleed. She tried once more, but the agony it brought forth was just too unbearable.
Almost blind in her left eye, due to the puffiness of the lid, her right eye wasn’t much better. It won't be long before I've got a matching pair.
Moving her head with short, almost robotic, jerks, Tania tried her best not to add to the pain her face was already giving her as she searched the room. Colin had gone. That was a relief, but it also brought on the beginnings of panic. The thoughts rushing through her mind were terrifying.
Get a grip, Tania. He told you he hadn’t finished with you yet. He’ll be back. But what does that mean? What do I do when he asks me again for my passwords? More to the point, what will he do to me if I don’t give them to him? Can I hold out anymore?
‘Oh, dear God, I don’t think I can,’ her voice wobbled, turning her tortured sobs into hiccups. ‘If I tell him, God, I know that will be my death sentence. He won't let me go now, anyway. Please, can you help me God?’ Her tears continued to fall free and unchecked. She couldn’t wipe them away, even if she wanted to, because it was too painful. Although self-pity was not an emotion she liked to give into, this time, she felt she had every right.
*****
Grant rang the doorbell and stood back. He’d arranged to meet up with the team at his town apartment at two o'clock that afternoon. That gave him enough time to give Monica a quick update. He heard movement the other side of the door as she pulled the bolt back.
‘I’m going to have a security camera installed,’ he told her when she’d opened the door just enough to see him. ‘So you know who's at your door before you open it.’ Grant waited until she’d removed the safety chain and opened the door wide enough for him to enter.
Monica looked up and down the road before closing the door. ‘Go on through. Your timing couldn't have been better; I've just made a fresh pot of coffee. Have you brought me some good news?’
Grant’s presence totally overwhelmed Monica’s tiny sitting room. ‘Nothing positive. Much as I don’t want to get your hopes up, though, we might know something later today.’ Grant wanted to tell her more, but, if things went wrong ... that can’t happen. Grant looked at Monica’s drawn, tired face. A glimmer of optimism sparked in her eyes, and he fervently prayed they would find her friend tonight. ‘How are you sleeping?’
Monica pulled a face and shrugged. ‘I have catnaps. When I close my eyes, I see Tania’s frightened face … I can’t stand it. I have to get up.’ Her shoulders drooped. Taking a deep breath, she gave a lopsided grin. ‘I’ll get the coffee. Milk and sugar?’
‘Milk, no sugar,’ Grant told her, and followed her through to the kitchen. ‘How long have you lived here?’
‘Three years. After my parents retired I decided it was time for me to get my own place so they could downsize and buy a bungalow. Tania left home a couple of years earlier.’ Monica turned to look up at him. ‘You will bring her home, won’t you?’
‘I’m going to try my very best. Once she’s safe, I’ll call you.’
Continued…
Grant Blake: Ex-SAS Commander, now billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex-boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Grant's former army mates now working with him as his security guards:Jefferson Horner - (Jeff)
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part. I appreciate all the help and encouragement you always give me. This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Tania is almost at her wit's end. How much more she could endure, she didn’t know. Left alone, terrified and in pain, she knew no one was going to be rescuing her. Only God could help her now.
Part 19
Jeff looked at the neat handgun he was holding. ‘When did you get this one? It’s new, isn’t it?’
Grant looked up at Jeff’s face, and then dropped his gaze to the gun his mate was turning over in his hands. He stood up and walked around to the front of his desk, then, leaning against it, he folded his arms across his chest.
‘When I heard about this model, I checked them out. I liked the size and feel of the gun compared to others I've owned.
‘Why would you want one? I’d have thought you’d had enough of this type of thing.’
'Before I left, I was asked if I'd sign up with the special ops reserves, strictly for major security breaches. I didn’t even know they existed. I’ve kept up my physical training. But I wanted to keep my reflexes sharp as well. So I decided it would be a good idea to have somewhere to practice at home. I had the basement tuened into a secure, soundproofed room. I’ve not been called yet, and hope I never will. But I’ll be ready if I am.’
‘You kept that quiet, didn’t you?’
‘It wasn’t intentional; it just never came up.’
Jeff frowned as he handed it back. ‘Perhaps it would be a good idea if I signed up, even if it’s just for the training. Got to keep this body of mine in shape.’
‘Yeah, why not? Go for it.’
Jeff nodded. ‘Yeah, I will! Anyway, putting that aside, Reg and Carl decided it would be better if they were watching out for Colin to get home rather than come here … Any news yet?’
‘No, but Lorna is studying the plans now. I’m just hoping she’ll be able to think of something complicated to ask Colin. He should be home any time now.’ After loading the gun, he lifted his jacket and tucked it away so it couldn’t be seen. ‘Come on, let’s go and see how she’s doing.’
When Grant and Jeff walked into Lorna’s office, she looked up from the plans she had spread out on her desk, and gave them a self-satisfied grin. From the quizzical look he gave her, Lorna couldn’t stop her smile widening.
Grant knew she had his question. ‘What?’ he asked, moving around behind her desk to look over her shoulder at the plans. ‘Show me what you’ve come up with.’
Lorna pointed to the corner of the plans. ‘First, I want to confirm that these do belong to Tania. Can you remember how angry she was when you questioned her? How she snatched the plans away?’
The two men stared at the torn off corner. ‘You’re right. These are definitely Tania’s. Colin has somehow persuaded her to give them up.’ Grant remembered the livid, hurt eyes that had glared at him, and her fury when she pulled the drawings away—the names she had called him. He shook his head and closed his eyes, hoping to rid himself of the vision.
‘Okay. I can’t go and accuse him just yet; he’ll deny it and we’ll never see Tania again. So, I know you've come up with my query. What is it?'
'I have. It’s simple, it’s believable and the answer isn't here. To get these through the planning regulations, the authorities have insisted the new buildings be completely carbon neutral. Your question is, can you show me how we’re going to achieve that?’
‘Perfect!’ Grant was elated and dropped a kiss on top of Lorna’s head. ‘I owe you a huge bonus.’
As he turned to go. Lorna placed her hand on his arm. ‘Keep me updated, won’t you?
He gave her a little smile. ‘Of course will. Let’s go, Jeff. I’ll get Richards to drive us. I don’t want to leave the Ferrari out all night,’ Grant said, already calling him to meet them outside. ‘Then I’ll phone Colin when we get there. Have they got the tracker with them? We need to get that on his car before I talk to him.’
‘Yes, Reg kept the tracker in the glove compartment. I’ll call them. Colin wasn’t home when we last spoke.’ Jeff got straight through and was given an update. He turned and grinned at Grant. ‘He came back about fifteen minutes ago, and yes, the tracker's in place. They’re now parked in the side-street around the corner from Colin’s flat. Come on, let’s go and sort this son of a bitch out!’
It didn’t take long before his chauffeur had dropped them off, and he and Jeff were sitting in the back of Reg’s Range Rover. ‘Any movement?’
‘Nothing. The only call he’s made was to some man, but nothing of interest.’ Carl removed his headphones, and tapped the screen to show the tracker was stationary.
‘Right then. Let’s get this started.’ Grant took his phone out, clicked on Colin’s number and put it on speaker. It rang a few times before he answered.
‘Hi Grant, have you seen them? What did you think?’
‘Hello, Colin. Yes, I’ve seen them, and they are just what I wanted. I knew I could depend on you. One query....’ Grant went off with his question and waited for Colin to reply.
‘Ahh, hmm, let me see. I know what you mean. Damn, I should have thought of that. Look, leave it with me. I’m doing something at the moment, but I’ll sort it out as fast as I can and get back to you. Is that okay?’
‘That’s fine, Colin. Thanks. I’ll wait for your call.’ The line went dead, and Grant grinned at the others. ‘Now to wait.’
With the turning back of the clocks, the evenings were drawing in and dusk was already upon them. The street lights had just come on. The four men watched the screen, impatience growing as they waited for the tracker to move.
‘We’ll give him a few minutes start. I don’t want him to spot us,’ Grant murmured.
As the time passed with still no movement, Grant began to feel uneasy. ‘I take it the tracker wouldn’t have fallen off?’
It wasn’t a question that anyone could answer, not without going to see. The road had got a lot busier, and, being the rush-hour, it could have been the worst possible time, but it was turning out to be a blessing. With the aid of the tracker stuck on the undercarriage of Colin’s car, the extra traffic would help them blend in.
‘I’m going to take a look,’ Carl muttered, about to get out of the car.
‘Hang on. It’s better I go. If he’s coming along the road at the same time you are, he’ll spot you. Dressed as I am all in black, he won't see me in the shadows.'
They watched him walk to the end of the road and turn the corner. Seconds later, he came running back. ‘He’s just leaving.’
They trailed Colin’s car out of London and into Kent, careful to keep their distance. Now off the main roads, Carl kept an eye on the tracker, while Reg concentrated on driving along the unfamiliar unlit roads. To lose him now would be disastrous.
They’d been travelling for about an hour, and still Colin showed no signs of slowing. ‘Where the hell has he got her?’ Grant looked for signposts as they continued through a couple of small villages and out again into the countryside. The narrow road showed no sign of ending.
‘Hold on. It looks like something’s happening,’ Carl told them. He tapped the glass just to make sure it was still working.
Reg eased off the accelerator, and, dipping his lights, slowed the car to a crawl. ‘These damned country lanes don’t exactly encourage parking.’
‘He’s stopped. Get ready, I think we’re there.’ Carl leaned closer to the window, but couldn’t see anything ahead.
‘What’s there?’ Grant leant forward and pointed over Reg’s shoulder. ‘Forget it. It was my imagination playing tricks. It’s so dark, you’d think a building would show up. He wouldn’t leave her without any light, would he? Carry on at a normal speed, and when we see his car, drive past and pull up farther on.’
As they rounded a corner, they almost missed Colin’s car. It was parked off road, in front of a flat-roofed building. There was nothing else to see because everything was in complete darkness.
‘Let me out here.’ Grant undid his seatbelt and had his hand on the door ready to go. Jeff did the same. Without making a sound, they closed the doors and walked back.
Jeff moved like a panther, fast and silent, up to Colin’s car. He crouched by the rear door, then cautiously raised himself to peer through the window before beckoning to Grant. ‘Empty.’ He flicked his head towards the building, and whispered. ‘He’s got to be inside.’
Grant signalled for Jeff to go on the left side of the building while he went to the right. Keeping his head down, Grant moved forward. There was a door on the side of the building, but no windows. A few minutes later, Jeff was back.
‘There’s another door at the back. It’s locked, though.’
Grant tried the handle. This one was locked, too. A job for Reg. He turned to see him creep up beside them with Carl at his side.
Continued…
Characters:
Grant Blake: Ex-SAS Commander, now billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex-boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegate
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Grant's former army mates now working with him as his security guards:
Jefferson Horner - (Jeff)
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes |
I'm sorry this part was so long, I didn't know where to stop! I hope to be reviewing properly again now my shingles are easing up, thank goodness. I'm sorry I've got so behind with reading and reviewing.
For those who don't know, this is written in UK English. Thank you for reading this part! |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Warning: The author has noted that this contains the highest level of violence.
End of part 19
Jeff moved like a panther, fast, and silent up to Colin’s car. He crouched by the rear door, then cautiously raised himself to peer through the window, before beckoning to Grant. ‘Empty.’ He flicked his head towards the building, and whispered. ‘He’s got to be inside.’
Grant signalled for Jeff to go on the left side of the building while he went to the right. Keeping his head down, Grant moved forward. There was a door on the side of the building, but no windows. A few minutes later, Jeff was back.
‘There’s another door at the back. It’s locked, though.’
Grant tried the handle. This one was locked, too. A job for Reg. He turned to see him creep up beside them with Carl right behind.
Part 20
Moving away from the building, Grant told them of the two locked doors. ‘But that’s never stopped you, Reg. Can you open this one first ... being careful not to make a sound?’
Reg gave him a cocky look. ‘You’re talking to the master extraordinaire, young man,’ he said, dropping his voice to just above a whisper. Taking the key he'd invented from his pocket, he waved it in front of Grant's face, and winked. 'Let's do this.' He crept up to the door and, within the space of a few seconds, he’d unlocked it.
Grant gave him the thumbs up. ‘Okay, you and Carl go around the back and come in that way. We’ll wait exactly two minutes, then Jeff and I’ll go in. Once you've got the rear door unlocked, see if you can get into a position where you can listen in, and then stand ready. I don’t want him to know you’re there to start with.’ They synchronised their watches, then Reg and Carl moved off.
The waiting felt endless. Grant had never known two minutes to take so long to pass. But, if he’d learned nothing else, he knew timing would be imperative to get the job done without it all going wrong. Even though this wasn’t like any operation they’d been involved in before, the mere thought of Colin hurting Tania made him sick to his stomach.
At last, they could go. Grant pulled out his gun, and, with careful slow movements, turned the handle and inched the door open. The room was almost pitch black, but he could see a faint glimmer of light coming through the gap at the bottom of another door. His senses were on full alert as he and Jeff edged their way towards it. He heard Colin’s voice filter through, angry and menacing. Grant put a finger to his lips, warning Jeff not to make a sound as he listened at the door.
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, will you take me home, Colin?’ Grant heard Tania say, and winced at the fear in her voice.
He turned to Jeff and nodded, then, putting all his force behind it, he used his martial-art training to kick-punch the door open. ‘Oh, no you don’t!’ Sprinting into the room with Jeff hot on his heels, Grant had his gun pointed straight at Colin’s head.
Colin’s reflexes were lightning fast; in a flash, he’d dragged Tania off the bed, an arm coiled around her neck. ‘What the hell are you doing here? Keep back!’
‘Let her go, Colin.’ Grant softened his voice, but the threat couldn’t be disguised. How he remained calm, he’d never know. The moment Grant’s eyes had fallen upon Tania, his mind had almost crashed. The shock, like a wallop to the gut, came close to overwhelming him. Calling on all his mental capabilities, he managed to pull himself together, enough to control the rage that itched to take hold of Colin, and give him as good a beating as he’d inflicted on Tania ... and more.
His jaw dropped at the sight of her face. Apart from the dark bruising around her swollen eyes and cheeks, the rest of her skin held a deathly pallor; her blood-matted hair caused him more alarm. But the sight of her arm, hanging at an impossible angle, horrified him the most. He couldn’t imagine the pain she must be in.
The thought of Colin hurting her had never entered his head. He had to remove her from his clutches without her getting hurt anymore. And he needed to do it fast!
Still keeping his voice calm, for which he thanked his military training, he tried to win his half-brother over. ‘This doesn’t have to end this way, mate. You’re just making things worse for yourself.’
‘Yeah? So what’s the gun for? Once I give in and let her go, you’ll put a bullet in my head. Do you think I’m stupid? You can have her when I’m in my car. Not a moment before.’
Grant moved back, spreading out his arms. ‘Okay, I’ll put the gun down … I’m not messing with you.’ He removed the bullets, and, keeping his eyes on Colin, crouched and put the gun on the floor. ‘There--now will you let Tania go?’
Colin’s eyes, narrowed into slits, had been shifting between him and Jeff. ‘I said I’d let her go when I’m in my car, so get out of my bloody way!’
Grant moved to the side, talking all the time. ‘Come on, you’re acting like a damn idiot. It’s not too late for you to walk away from all this. Let her go, Colin.’
Colin started to laugh … then stopped. A hesitant frown, turning to confusion, creased his features as he took a step back. Then, as if a switch had been thrown and a bright light flooded his mind, his whole demeanor altered, transforming his expression into something close to pure evil. Icy chills surged through the two men watching.
‘This was all a bloody set-up!’ Colin continued to tighten his hold on Tania. ‘How you must have laughed knowing I hadn’t a clue that you two were in collusion against me. Well, I've no reason to keep her alive now, have I? So you’d better tell your muscle man there to stand back and let me out of here, or, trust me, Grant, this one’s a goner. I’ve got nothing to lose now.’
He started walking backwards towards the door at the rear, dragging an almost unconscious Tania with him. He didn’t hear it opening behind him.
As Carl grabbed Colin from behind, the suddenness of the attack surprised him into letting go of Tania. She dropped to the floor, oblivious to what was happening around her. Jeff scooped her up as if she were weightless, moving out of the way, as the scuffling and shouting carried on around them.
Before slumping into blissful nothingness, Tania managed to lift one swollen eyelid long enough to watch Grant swing his fist under Colin’s chin so hard, it sent him staggering backwards before he crashed heavily to the floor.
Turning his head to see Jeff taking Tania’s unconscious body out of the room stirred Grant’s emotions into a maelstrom of unmitigated anger. With one hand, he pulled Colin’s head and shoulders off the floor and punched him, time and again, in the face, until Reg stepped in to try and pull him off.
Blood poured from Colin’s broken nose, and dribbled from the side of his mouth where Grant had knocked out his front teeth. From the shape of his chin, he might have caused a lot more damage than he realised.
Grant struggled against Reg’s restraint, wanting to lash out even more. He was far from finished dealing with the gutless monster, blubbering like a baby in front of him.
‘Leave it, mate. He’s not worth you going to prison for,’ Reg shouted, trying to get through the anger that now controlled his friend. ‘Jeff’s already called the police ... let them take care of him. An ambulance is on the way--go and see to Tania.’
Somehow, the mention of Tania’s name managed to penetrate Grant’s fury, and he released his grip on Colin’s shirt, letting his head drop to the floor with a thud.
‘Where is she?’ Grant’s voice came across like an angry bear’s growl. Not waiting for an answer, he marched towards the open door.
Reg glanced down at Colin, his lips curled with contempt, then grabbed his arms to pull him up before frog-marching him through to where the others were waiting for the ambulance.
The police and ambulance arrived at the same time, and straight away assessed the situation. Once the medics had checked the severity of Tania and Colin’s injuries, they stretchered Tania away. One of the policemen had handcuffed Colin and followed, getting into the ambulance with them. The other went ahead in the police car, lights and siren full on, and Reg took up the rear in his Range Rover.
No one spoke as they sped towards the hospital. Grant’s fixed expression was a mask of anger, mixed with worry. Something more disturbing now plagued his mind. He realised his anger had almost brought him to the point of killing his half-brother. Their mother would be sure to have something to say about the way he’d rearranged Colin’s face. For a moment, Grant’s face lit up with a satisfied smile.
Thinking of his mother, Grant’s memory took a trip back to the past, remembering the conversation he’d had with his grandfather. He’d wished afterwards he’d never asked him about her. Grant always believed she’d died, just as his father had. He’d listened to his grandfather talk about Grant’s father with such pride and regret, which was why he’d finally asked the question. The answer still burned inside, leaving a pain he could never describe or erase.
Continued….
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and share holder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Former SAS now working as security guards for Grant:
Jefferson Horner
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes |
I can't thank Pam(respa) enough for boosting my post by adding some pumps to this part. What an amazing friend and lady!! Thank you, Pam! xxxxx
Thank you for reading this part. If you find any nits, please let me know. As always, I really apprectiate your thoughts. :) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of Part 20
No one spoke as they sped towards the hospital. Grant’s fixed expression was a mask of anger, mixed with worry. Something more disturbing now plagued his mind. He realised his anger had almost brought him to the point of killing his half-brother. Their mother will be sure to have something to say about the way he’d rearranged Colin’s face. For a moment, Grant’s face lit up with a satisfied smile.
Thinking of his mother, Grant’s thoughts took a trip back to the past, remembering the conversation he’d had with his grandfather. He’d wished afterwards he’d never asked him about her. Grant always believed she’d died, just as his father had. Over the years, he’d listened to his grandfather talk about Grant’s father with such pride and regret, which was why he’d finally asked the question. The answer still burned inside, leaving a pain he could never describe or erase.
Part 21
Ten years earlier
Grant and his SAS team had just returned from a particularly harrowing stint and had been given a few days leave. Grant chose to spend most of it with his grandfather. Whilst away, he’d made up his mind to talk to him about an issue that had plagued him for years, but which, for some reason, he'd been reluctant to broach.
As he listened to his grandfather talking during lunch, the subject, as usual, turned to Grant’s father. This was the perfect time to get the answers he needed.
‘I wish I’d known my father. From what you’ve told me over the years, he was quite a man, someone to be proud of.’ He paused, seeing the sadness fill his grandfather’s eyes, again. Then quickly moved on before he changed his mind. ‘I’ve a question I’ve wanted to ask you for ages.
'A few years ago, I looked my father up on Google search. My mother was mentioned, but I couldn’t find anything else other than she was widowed when my father died in action. Since I’ve never met her, or at least, don’t remember meeting her, I take it she died, too. You must have known her, Grandfather. Can you tell me something about her? What was she like?’
The silence that followed fell like a leaden weight. Grant waited and watched as Randolph Blake laid his knife and fork on the side of his plate before raising his head to look at him. For the first time, Grant noticed how his grandfather's, once strong, vibrant eyes, were now a pale watery grey, sunken into features crinkled from years of grief.
‘You're the image of your father ... have I ever told you that? Yes, I'm sure I have.' His eyes glazed over, just for a moment. 'I’ve been expecting this question for a long time,’ he said softly. ‘And, to be honest with you, I’ve dreaded it.’ He dropped his eyes to his glass of wine and picked it up, running a finger around the rim.
Without taking a sip, he continued, ‘After your dear father was killed, fighting in Africa, your mother was devastated. You were just eight months old … I suppose it’s not easy to raise a child on your own,’ he added almost as if talking to himself. ‘I helped as best as I could at the time. But I was still struggling to get this business up and running again. About a year later, I received a phone call from your babysitter; she had to go home as it was way past midnight and she had school in the morning. Your mother hadn’t returned.’
‘What happened? Had she been involved in an accident?’ Grant’s stomach turned over.
Randolph took a sip of his wine, and, putting the glass down, reached out and patted Grant’s hand. ‘No, dear boy. Your mother is alive and well, as far as I know. Anyway, I hurried over and sent the girl home. Your mother arrived back at four in the morning. We had a bit of an argument, and it was then I discovered she not only had a new man-friend but that he’d asked her to marry him. Even though I was shocked she was marrying so soon, I understood. But a bigger shock was to come.
'That snake in the grass, Harding, Colin's father, told your mother his offer didn’t include someone else’s kid and she would have to choose—him or you.’ He looked up into his grandson’s eyes. ‘As you know, she chose him. Your mother wanted to have you adopted, because, according to her, it would be the simplest and easiest option. Without going into any more details, that’s how I became your legal guardian.’
*****
‘Grant?’ Reg nudged him. ‘Grant, we’re at the hospital. Are you alright, mate? You were miles away.’
Forcing himself back to the present, Grant nodded. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Let’s see where they’ve taken Tania, and then I must phone Monica.’
They piled out of the car and headed towards the main entrance. The police were waiting inside to take their statements. Grant faced them, his mood obvious by the set of his jaw and the frosty glare in his eyes. ‘I’ll answer all your questions, officer, just as soon as I’ve found out where they’ve taken Miss Russell, and know how she's doing.’
At the authoritative tone and stature of the man standing in front of him, the police officer nodded and stepped aside. Not for one moment, though, did he let him out of his sight.
It took some time before Grant was able to find out about Tania’s condition. A nurse approached him and explained that both Miss Russell and Mr Harding were in operating theatres. They could all sit in the waiting room, or the hospital would call him if he wanted to go home.
Grant and his mates opted to wait, at which point the two police officers came up and started questioning them. Having already been given some information about the pair from Monica when she phoned, and subsequently visited, the police station, the questions were soon dealt with.
After asking for Grant's address and telephone number and saying there might be more questions later, the two police officers stayed in the reception area so they could arrest Colin when he came around after the surgery.
Left alone, the men sat quietly, each wrapped in his own thoughts. Then Grant remembered Monica and pulled out his mobile.
‘I promised to phone her once we’d found Tania,’ he told the others. ‘She’s going to be devastated when she sees the state Tania’s in. How the hell could this have happened? Why didn’t I see what was going on underneath my own nose?’
‘None of this is your fault, Grant, so stop trying to convince yourself it is! You’d no idea what that bastard was really like,’ Carl told him. ‘He’ll go to prison, and that will be the end of it. You did what you could, and you did save Tania’s life, just remember that. Quite frankly, Colin’s only way out of what he’d done to her was to kill her.’
‘He’s right, Grant,’ Jeff told him. ‘So get that nonsense out of that thick head of yours. Now, if Reg’ll lend me his car, I’ll fetch Monica and tell her a bit of what happened on the way back.’ Jeff stood up with his hand held out for the keys.
Reg grinned. ‘Damned cheek! Here ya go. And drive carefully, it’s not a tank!’
Jeff grabbed the keys. ‘If you can let Monica know I’m on the way, Grant, I’ll explain the details when I get there.’ He waved the keys in the air, and marched over towards the lifts that would take him down to the main entrance.
As soon as the door opened, a middle-aged, well-dressed woman, with fair wavy hair, hurried out. She pushed past him, and on seeing Grant, her eyes hardened. She pinched her lips together into a hard, straight line and rushed straight up to him.
‘What have you done to my son?’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Grant looked at his mother as if she was a stranger, which she was. When he thought of the amount of time he’d actually seen and spoken to her, he really didn’t know her at all.
‘Don’t come the innocent with me, Grant Blake, you’re just as devious as your grandfather. Where is Colin? What did you do to him? You must have done something or you wouldn’t be here.’
Grant stared at his mother’s hard face, and wondered why he’d ever thought he’d wanted her back in his life. ‘Your son is in the operating theatre, but you won’t be able to see him until after the police have spoken to him.’ He was surprised at the pity he felt for his mother when he saw her flinch.
Carl and Reg moved away, not wanting to embarrass their mate.
‘What do the police want to speak to him about? You must know something about this. What happened? Was there an accident?’ Grant’s mother looked ready to drop; she moved back and sat on one of the chairs behind her.
Not wanting to sit, Grant stood in front of her. The only way he could answer her questions, was to be brutally honest. ‘There was no accident. There is a young lady also in an operating theatre having her arm reset, stitches put in her head, and much more besides. Your son was not only responsible for that, but he kidnapped her, as well. So, as you might imagine, you won’t be taking Colin home for many years.’
Mrs Harding looked stunned as her face drained of blood. Grant watched the changing emotions passing across her face, and saw the glistening of tears in her eyes. He was glad she was showing some compassion for Tania. But moments later, his appreciation turned to disgust.
‘Well, it wasn’t his fault,’ his mother snapped. ‘He didn’t know what he was doing ... she must have provoked him and I can prove it.’
‘What the hell do you mean? It wasn’t his fault? Of course it was his bloody fault. And how on earth do you think you can prove otherwise? You don’t even know her.’
‘Don’t you dare swear at me, young man. I’m your mother and I demand you treat me with respect! As for it being his fault, of course it wasn’t. He obviously forgot to take his pills again. There will be no going to prison for Colin; I’ll have the best lawyers making sure of it.’
If Grant had ever needed to get a good grip on his anger, it was now. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before allowing himself to speak. Keeping his voice low and controlled, he directed cold, hard eyes at his mother.
‘We shall see about that! And, if you’ll excuse me for correcting you, I don’t have a mother. You made that perfectly clear when you turned your back on me after Grandfather’s funeral. I have often wondered why you even came. Was it just to turn the knife? As far as I'm concerned, Mrs Harding, you only have one son, and he’s a certifiable monster who should be locked away. And if it costs me everything I own, I’ll make sure he is!’
Continued…
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Randolph Blake: Grant’s grandfather. Now deceased
Gloria Harding: Grant’s and Colin’s mother
Former SAS troop serving under Captain Grant Blake: now working as security guards for Grant:
Jefferson Horner
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading. This is written in UK English. If you find any nits, please feel free to tell me. :)) xx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 21
‘Don’t you dare swear at me, young man. I’m your mother and I demand you treat me with respect! As for it being his fault, of course it wasn’t. He obviously forgot to take his pills again. There will be no going to prison for Colin; I’ll have the best lawyers making sure of it.’
If Grant had ever needed to get a good grip on his anger, it was now. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before allowing himself to speak. Keeping his voice low and controlled, he directed cold, hard eyes at his mother.
‘We shall see about that! And, if you’ll excuse me for correcting you, I don’t have a mother. You made that perfectly clear when you turned your back on me after Grandfather’s funeral. I have often wondered why you even came. Was it just to turn the knife? As far as I'm concerned, Mrs Harding, you only have one son, and he’s a certifiable monster who should be locked away. And if it costs me everything I own; I’ll make sure he is!’
Part 22
Tania was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, not wanting to open them in case her rescue had been a dream. Had Grant been there? Or had that been her imagination? The throbbing ache in her head was real enough. She groaned, and attempted to raise her hand to try and touch where it hurt the most, but the effort, and subsequent pain, knocked the breath out of her.
A large, warm hand took hold of hers and laid it on the bed, but didn’t attempt to release its hold. The gentleness felt quite reasurring and helped her to relax a bit.
‘Welcome back, Tania. You must lie still, or you’ll risk hurting yourself again.’
Tania frowned. That was Grant. What’s he doing here? She tried forcing her eyes to open, but one wouldn’t and the other one only opened up enough to let a sliver of quivering light in. She waited as the room gradually came into focus. Out of the corner of her one eye, she thought she could see Grant. He was sitting in a chair pulled right up beside the bed. The effort to turn her head was immense; it was just too sore.
‘Where am I?’ Her voice sounded abrasive, as if her throat had been scoured with sandpaper. ‘Could I have some water, please?’
‘Here…’ He held the glass with the straw inside and guided it to her mouth. ‘Okay, steady now … just a sip … that’s it.’ Grant eased the straw away. ‘You’re in hospital. You’ve had a bit of a rough time of it, so don’t expect to be running around anytime soon.’
Monica came into the room, carrying two coffees she'd purchased from the hospital’s welcoming, but very noisy, cafeteria. Seeing Tania awake, she gave a wobbly smile and put the cups on the overbed table. ‘Oh, girl, you had me so worried! Don’t you dare put me through that again, you hear me?’
Tania tried to smile, but her whole face hurt. ‘Sorry.’
‘You’re forgiven,’ Monica said softly, wanting nothing more than to cuddle her foster-sister like she used to when Tania hurt herself as a child.
‘It was … Co … Colin, he wanted my new passwords. I … I was going to give them to him … I tried, Monka, I tried … but I hurt.…’ Tania closed the eye she could see from as a tear slipped out.
Monica stroked Tania’s shoulder, tears pouring down her own face. It had been years since Tania had called her Monka. How she’d like to get her hands on that monster. It had broken her heart to see Tania so badly beaten up. What type of person does that to a woman?
‘Oh, honey-child, you shouldn’t have put yourself through all that. You should have just given it to him. How are you feeling now?’
‘Like … I’ve been used as ... a punch bag. How long ... have I been here?’
‘Almost two days, Love. But you’re safe now, and that slimy snake won’t get to you again, I promise you that.’
‘Ditto that!’ Grant added.
Tania didn’t say anything else, nor did she open her eyes again. Monica and Grant waited until they were sure she had gone back to sleep, both realising she would heal better that way.
Grant had sat quietly, his anger raging inside. He wanted so much to take this fragile petal into his arms, hold her there forever and keep her safe. He surprised himself at the intensity of his feelings.
Was it just seeing her like this? What that psychopath had put her through? Or was it all the guilt he felt for his own part in this horrific affair? He didn’t think so. It felt too much like a place he’d been before … before his heart had been crushed to smithereens. Did he want to go down that path again? He’d sworn to himself, never again. Now? He looked closely at the battered face with a halo of blonde hair spread out over the white pillow … Now? He didn’t know.
Grant told Monica to go home and rest. She hadn’t left Tania’s side since Jeff picked her up and brought her to the hospital. ‘Have a good sleep, and come back tomorrow when you’re feeling rested. I’ve called Jeff and he’s waiting for you at the main entrance … I’ll take no arguments!’
Exhaustion drained the last ounce of strength from Monica’s body. It was a miracle she was still standing. Even though she wanted to stay, she couldn’t find the energy to argue. ‘Call me if there is any change, will you?’
‘Of course I will. Now go!’ He smiled. ‘I’ll stay until you come back. So don’t worry.’
After Monica had gone, Grant sat beside the bed and studied the gentle rise and fall of Tania’s chest. He was relieved to note her breathing was no longer laboured. He’d seen to it that she was given the best possible care in the most eminent private hospital in London.
The past few days had made him take stock of his life and life-style. That he’d become so embittered and distrusting of the women he met, was unacceptable. Even though Lorna, whom he trusted implicitly, had tried to show him what he was doing was wrong, he'd taken no notice.
To judge every woman the same because I was betrayed is just ludicrous. That's not who I am! And it definitely isn’t a label I should attach to all females. I have to sort this! Because of my bitterness, I’ve created a personality that’s as big a monster as Colin's. I have to get rid of it.
*****
The following morning, Monica came back, refreshed and with a bounce in her step, after having her first good night’s sleep since Tania’s disappearance. Seeing her dearest friend propped up against two overly large comfy pillows added to her buoyant mood.
Grant was still sitting in the chair he’d pulled up by her bed. He looked terrible. Monica was sure he hadn’t slept since he’d found Tania. It was his turn to go home and rest. She smiled when he looked up and nodded towards her friend. ‘How is she?' she whispered.
‘I’m awake,’ Tania murmured, managing to move her face enough to give a little smile. She opened her eyes, and was so thankful she could open one completely now, and the other one more than was possible before.
Monica came over and gently kissed the only unbruised part of Tania’s face she could find. ‘How are you feeling now?’ she asked softly.
Tania licked her dry lips and tried to smile. ‘I’m a hundred percent better now I’m not trapped in the horrid place anymore.’ She turned her eyes to Grant. ‘Thank you for coming for me.’
‘I only wish we’d found you earlier. I’m so sorry all this has happened, Tania. I realise I’m as much to blame as Colin, and for that, I’ll never forgive myself.’
Tania looked at him and could see he was genuinely remorseful. ‘It wasn’t your fault.’
Grant had hold of her hand and stroked it with his thumb. ‘That’s nice of you to say so, but that won’t remove the guilt I feel. Do you remember much of what happened?’
Grant had been feeling more than a little concerned that she might want to lock it away. The head wound had been his prime worry. When he’d mentioned it to the doctor, he'd been told the x-rays showed there was nothing wrong with her head. It would do her good to talk, though, but in her own time. When a person has been through this type of trauma, they sometimes prefer not to remember, and have been known to bury it for years.
Tania closed her good eye again as she thought about it. Everything was a blur. ‘Colin … he wanted my password and I wouldn’t give it to him. Then he … he hit me around the face and my head hit the wall.’ She went to put her hand on her head, but Grant kept it wrapped in his own.
‘There’s a bandage over it. How you managed to keep on fighting in the condition you were in none of us can begin to imagine,' Grant told her. ‘What with your broken arm, and battered body…’ He paused, trying hard to get his anger under control again.
Tania frowned. ‘If I’d told him, he would have killed me. He couldn’t release me, not after what he’d done. I had to hold on … I had to keep hoping someone would come … I think I must have bitten my tongue when my head hit the wall ... it’s so sore.’
Grant nodded. That she’d fought as hard as she did knowing Colin would kill her if she’d given in--he tried to put that thought aside for the moment. ‘That’s most likely it. I imagine that hurt like hell!’
Monica had been with him when Grant had asked the doctor what the extent of Tania’s injuries were, and because Tania had given her family doctor Monica’s name as her next of kin, the surgeon had been able to tell them all the facts.
Whatever had to be done, he’d foot the bill. Thankfully, there would be no lasting physical damage. He looked at Tania’s swollen face, and the realisation of how things could have ended sent a shiver through him.
Tania broke into his thoughts. ‘Why is it still so painful to breathe? And what else is wrong with me?’ Her worries were mainly about the possible hidden damage Colin might have caused.
‘You have a few stitches in your head, and some bruising to your face. The bruising will gradually fade; your arm will mend and be as good as new. The doctor assures me that there will be no long term damage to your spleen.
'It's the bruising that hurts the most, which I’ve been told will soon disappear. You do, however, have a broken rib. That, too, will heal, but you mustn’t go out kick-boxing for a while.’ He gave her a crooked grin. ‘That’s what’s causing you the pain when you breathe. But, I promise you, Tania, you’re going to make a full recovery.’ It’s your emotional side I’m worried about.
‘Thanks.’ She did try another smile, but groaned instead. Her eyes closed for a moment as she tried to make sense of it all.
It didn’t take long, it was like a curtain had parted and she was back in that room, reliving the nightmare. She saw again that wooden table leg coming down on her. Her one eye flew open, filled with fear and alarm. ‘Where is he now? Colin? Where is he?’
Continued…
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Former SAS now working as security guards for Grant
Jefferson Horner
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading this part. It is written in UK English. If you see any errors, please let me know. I'll be very grateful. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 22
‘Why is it still so painful to breathe? And what else is wrong with me?’ Her worries were mainly about the possible hidden damage Colin might have caused.
‘You have a few stitches in your head, and some bruising to your face. The bruising will gradually fade; your arm will mend and be as good as new. The doctor assures me that there will be no long-term damage to your spleen.
'It's the bruising that hurts the most, which I’ve been told will soon disappear. You do, however, have a broken rib. That, too, will heal, but you mustn’t go out kick-boxing for a while.’ He gave her a crooked grin. ‘That’s what’s causing you the pain when you breathe. The doctor will explain it all better than I can. But I promise you, Tania, you’re going to make a full recovery.’ It’s the emotional side I’m worried about.
‘Thanks.’ She did try another smile, but groaned instead. Her eyes closed for a moment as she tried to make sense of it all.
It didn’t take long, it was like a curtain had parted and she was back in that room, reliving the nightmare. She saw again that wooden table leg coming down on her. Her good eye flew open, filled with fear and alarm. ‘Where is he now? Colin? Where is he?’
Part 23
‘The police are watching him, Tania. When Mr Blake and his friends found you, they gave Colin a good thrashing. He was having surgery at the same time you were, but his was to repair a broken jaw and nose,’ Monica said with a delighted smile that spread across her face.
Due to the swelling, the smile Tania gave Grant was somewhat twisted. ‘I wish I could have seen it. I don’t remember much after you came charging into the room, only the incredible feeling of relief.’
Monica looked at him, sitting on the opposite side of Tania's bed. ‘I’m sorry I gave you a hard time … but you did deserve it,’ she told him with her usual blunt honesty. Although the twinkle in her eyes and the smile twitching the corners of her mouth, did take the edge off the reprimand.
There was no way Grant could dispute it. He was responsible and there was no getting away from it. What he and his half-brother had put Tania through was unforgivable.
‘I can only apologise for my part in this whole traumatic ordeal. I hope one day you’ll be able to forgive me.’
Tania looked him in the eyes. She could see he was genuinely remorseful. ‘It’s not your fault Colin’s your brother. You were bound to believe him,’ she whispered. ‘He deceived both of us. I won’t be so trusting again.’
Where have I heard those words before? Grant looked at what Colin had inflicted on Tania. He would never forget the shock that hit him when he first saw her after they'd broken into the room that held her captive. The blood matting her hair had scared the life out of him. But it was her face--she was almost unrecognisable. He tried a series of rapid blinks to rid himself of that particular image. All of that, and the way her arm was twisted.
When he’d seen Colin about to strike her again, he’d never known such rage. Had Reg not stopped him when he did, he was sure he would have killed Colin. He’d seen terrible things whilst in the SAS, but he would never in his worst nightmares have believed his own flesh and blood could inflict this on a woman less than half his weight and strength.
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part of the story, and all the support you've given me. I really have appreciated it. If you find any errors, please let me know. Thank you! This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 23
Without his three mates, he doubted he could have come through all the pain and humiliation. They had been with him when they came back from a particularly gruelling tour in Africa. He’d thought it would be nice to surprise Marilyn. She’d been surprised alright, but so had he. Finding her in bed with another man had made him feel sick. When she’d laughed, it took all his will-power to turn away and leave. He heard her laughter all the way to the car—and in his head for months after.
He’d put in for a divorce immediately. It cost him, but it was worth every penny to get her out of his life. From that moment on, he never allowed himself to be taken in again. The betrayal by the two women he should have been able to trust, his mother and his wife, had made sure of that.
But now? He’d somehow allowed Tania to break down all his defences and turn his long-held impressions of women upside down—and as much as he knew it was right, he wasn’t sure how to handle it.
Part 24
On the second morning after Tania’s rescue, Grant had gone to find out what had been going on with Colin. The surgeon informed him that after he’d wired his jaw, his half-brother had been transferred to the prison hospital. Grant’s relief could not have been greater. More so now Tania had told him she could go home.
‘I think you'll be needing Monica’s help more than you realise, Tania. One arm in a plaster cast, a walking stick that can only be held with your good hand,’ Grant told her, then raised a playful eyebrow. ‘What work had you in mind when you go home?’
Grant watched as Tania put her expressive facial muscles to use. At the moment she was on the defensive, and her chin jutted out with resolute determination. In the short time he’d known Tania, he'd been drawn to her eyes and the way they revealed so much of what was going on in her head. Now the swelling around her eyes no longer impaired her vision, he knew he’d enjoy being on the receiving end when the sparks flew each time they had differing opinions.
‘That isn’t the point,’ she told him haughtily. Then seeing the laughter dancing in his eyes, she gave him a twisted grin. ‘Anyway, I had the walking stick only because my legs were wobbly when I got out of bed. That will soon pass. The thing is, I’ll be home, and that’s where I want to be.’
‘Make way! Traffic coming through,’ Monica called out as she swung the wheelchair into Tania’s room. ‘Your chariot, m’lady!’
Jeff was right behind her, which was becoming the norm of late. He was clutching a holdall which Monica had filled with Tania’s clothes.
‘I spoke to the nurse, and as soon as your meds are here, we can go home.’ Monica couldn’t stop smiling. ‘As soon as you called me, I rang Jeff and he kindly picked me up.’ She looked up and flashed him a smile before turning back to Tania. ‘He found the wheelchair while I spoke to the nurse. Oh, honey-child, I’m so glad you’re coming home.’
****
After Tania had been safely taken home and settled in, Grant went back to the office to catch up with Lorna.
‘Oh, thank goodness, Grant,’ Lorna said as soon as he'd opened her office door. The worried frown she wore immediately removed Grant's smile. ‘I’ve been trying to get you … is your phone switched off?’
‘No.’ He took his mobile out of his jacket pocket. ‘Oh, it’s still on silent mode. What’s up?’
‘I’m not sure, but Roland called. He sounded quite worried about something and wants you to call him straight away.’
It was Grant's turn to frown. Roland Short had been Grant’s solicitor ever since he’d taken over his grandfather’s company, and his friend, even longer.
‘I wonder what he wants. Perhaps it’s got something to do with Colin’s trial.’ He sat down and put the call straight to Roland’s private number.
‘Grant! Glad you got my message, I’ve got news for you … not all good, though.’
‘Go on, what’s happened?’
‘It’s Colin. He’s been released into your mother’s care whilst awaiting trial. Now he’s back on his medication, the three psychiatrists that Mrs Harding privately paid to have Colin examined have told the court he was safe enough to be released on bail. Mrs Harding has also promised to ensure he regularly takes his meds. Did you know he has been diagnosed as having what they call a sadistic personality disorder?’
Grant could barely control his feelings. ‘No,’ he growled. His jaw set in a hard line as his fury overwhelmed him. He shook his head in disgust as everything Roland had told him sunk in. This latest bit of news was something he definitely hadn’t expected to hear. ‘No, I didn’t. I’m not surprised, though, after what he put Tania through. So what does that mean in a court of law? Can he still be prosecuted?’
‘An informal hearing is being set up for next month to discuss his possible confinement in a mental institution. His condition is controlled with medication, and until recently, he’s lived a normal life. Then, for some reason known only to him, he decided to stop taking them. I’ll argue that if he stopped once, he could do it again. The court has agreed to him being released in Mrs Harding’s care on the condition he attends therapy sessions at a psychiatric clinic.’
Grant took a deep breath as his free hand fisted in anger. This was a lot to take in. ‘I don’t like the idea of Colin being at liberty and able to get in contact with Tania.’
‘No, that shouldn’t happen. He’s been given a restraining order not to go near Tania again. If he does, he’ll be put inside immediately. Your mother reciprocated and put one on you coming near Colin, or her.’
‘Well, she can rest assured, I will not be going to see them!’
‘Good. Now, one other thing. As you know, Tania Russell will be called to be a witness for the prosecution. But what I’ll ask the court before the hearing is if she can give her evidence on video camera due to the amount of stress all this has put on her. What is her state of mind at the moment?’
This was getting worse by the second. ‘Not good … Do your best to convince the courts she’s not up to a face to face meeting at court. She is still having nightmares, and seeing him again will only make them worse. We have quite a few photos of her injuries; would that help? You can also call me. I saw enough to put him away.’
The expression Grant often heard, that silence was golden, was one he couldn’t understand, at least, not with the deafening quietness that he was experiencing now. It was triggering several alarm bells. It didn’t bode well.
‘Roland? Are you still there?'
‘Er, yes. Sorry, Grant. The photos will be of great help, but … I don’t know how to put this to you, but you won’t be called to give evidence on the grounds that you would be a hostile family witness.’
‘What! What do you mean, I won’t be called? I damn well better be! And what do you mean, I’ll be a hostile witness? Of course I will be after what he’s done.’
‘Calm down, Grant. Look, Mrs Harding has told the court how jealous you are of your half-brother because you weren’t allowed to live with her. She has accused your grandfather of forcing her to sign a document banning her from coming near you. Although there is no written proof, the court has been told that Mr Blake Sr. refused to allow you to be brought up by another man.
'She has made a compelling story, Grant, even though I know it wasn’t like that. The way the agreement she signed is written … and your grandfather wasn’t with this company then; from what I read, it certainly seems to agree with her.’
‘But that’s a load of garbage, and she knows it! She has twisted that story to suit herself, to get what she wants. Well, I’m not going to stand for it. I’ll go and see her … make her tell the truth.’
‘No you won’t! I just told you she’s taken out an injunction banning you from going anywhere near her. She’s a clever woman, Grant, and has this all thought out. I don’t want you doing anything that will impede the case I’m trying to bring against him.
‘When it does come to trial, I will need Miss Russell one way or another. Until then, don’t go anywhere near them. And if I might suggest; make sure Miss Russell is as safe as possible. Perhaps you can get her to go away for a while. I don’t trust your mother any more than I trust Colin.’
Lorna got the gist of the conversation just from listening to what Grant was saying, and from the angry look on his face.
‘Not good news, I take it?’ she said, sympathetically, after Grant had finished his call. ‘What happened?’
Grant explained what Roland had told him. ‘My grandfather told me the truth of what really happened when I was a toddler, and her twisting it to make him look the villain, and her the injured party, makes my blood boil! How on earth did this happen?’
Grant flopped down on the chair opposite Lorna. His expression now turned thoughtful. ‘It’s not as if she’d ever tried to see me after my grandfather died. She even turned her back on me at his funeral. I went over and spoke to her, to thank her for coming, but was soon put in my place.’ Grant massaged the short stubble on his face, and groaned.
‘Wait a minute!’ He thumped Lorna's desk, making her jump. ‘I’ve got a pile of documents, signed and witnessed, referring back to my adoption. I’ll get them over to Roland straight away.’ Feeling a lot more in control, a huge grin of satisfaction replaced his angry scowl.
‘That’s good, but that doesn’t help Tania now. She’ll not be happy to learn Colin is on the loose, just when she thought it was all over,’ Lorna said softly.
‘You're right. I’d better get over there. I’ll give you a bell once I know what’s happening.’
Continued…
Characters:
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Former SAS now working as security guards for Grant
Jefferson Horner
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part, I really appreciate all the support you have given me. This is written in UK English. Spellings can be different. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 24
Grant flopped down on the chair opposite Lorna. His expression now turned thoughtful. ‘It’s not as if she’d ever tried to see me after my grandfather died. She even turned her back on me at his funeral. I went over and spoke to her, to thank her for coming, but was soon put in my place.’ Grant massaged the short stubble on his face and groaned.
‘Wait a minute!’ He thumped Lorna's desk, making her jump. ‘I’ve got a pile of documents, signed and witnessed, referring back to my adoption. I’ll get them over to Roland straight away.’ Feeling a lot more in control, a huge grin of satisfaction replaced his angry scowl.
‘That’s good, but that doesn’t help Tania now. She’ll not be happy to learn Colin is on the loose, just when she thought it was all over,’ Lorna said softly.
‘You're right. I’d better get over there. I’ll give you a bell when I know what’s happening.’
Part 25
Once he was back in the car, Grant put a call through to Jeff. Reg had already left for his flight to France, and Carl was on his way back to Spain.
‘What’s up?’ Jeff answered the call immediately.
Grant put him in the picture while he was driving across London. ‘I’ve got to go home first and dig out the adoption papers and other contracts they both signed. I want to get them to Roland straight away. Can you meet me at Tania’s place?’
‘Leaving now! I’m taking it you believe Tania’s in danger,’ Jeff said, stating the obvious.
‘Yeah. I don’t know my mother that well, but well enough to know she’ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. I’m proof of that. So, yes, I do think Tania’s in danger. I’m not happy about Monica being left unguarded, either. Colin knows he can get to Tania through her. I need to get them both away.’
Jeff had thought the same. ‘Okay. Reg has left me his Range Rover to use. I’m just getting in. I’ll be there asap.’
Grant didn’t hang around. He drove through the traffic like a man possessed. It didn’t take long to get home and pick up all the documents he needed to give to Roland. Within thirty minutes he was standing in front of him.
‘I think you might find these interesting,’ he told his friend as he handed them over. ‘These are the real documents and prove that it was the other way round. She wanted to get rid of me so she could marry her rich lover-boy!’
Roland quickly scanned them over and whistled. ‘This is excellent! Right, leave these with me, and you go and sort Tania out. I’ll phone you as and when I know anything.’
By the time Grant was parking outside Tania’s flat, he’d already decided where he would take her. Running up the steps to her front door, he pressed the bell and waited.
‘This is a nice surprise … or is it?’ Monica said, raising her eyebrows when she saw the expression on Grant’s face.
‘It’s not good news, let’s put it that way. I take it Tania’s in the sitting room?’
‘No, we’re in the kitchen chatting while I make some muffins. Go on through.’ Monica closed the door and followed him.
When he walked into the kitchen, Tania’s wide smile tugged at Grant’s heart. How he hated to take away her newfound assurance.
‘I wasn’t expecting to see you today—’ her smile slipped. Creases appeared on her forehead as she frowned; her one free hand balled tight, causing her nails to press like knives into her palm. ‘Something’s wrong, isn’t it? I can tell by the colour of your eyes; they always darken when you’re either angry or worried.’
Grant gave her a bemused smile. ‘Really? I didn’t know that. Perhaps I'd better start wearing dark glasses. But no, it’s nothing we can’t handle. Jeff’s on his way over,’ he said, turning to Monica. ‘He’ll be here any moment.’
Monica’s face now mirrored Tania’s. ‘Oh? It has to be a bit more than something you can handle, or you wouldn't be here with that look on your face. I’d better be putting the kettle on, then.’ First, she cleared away the table and took her cakes out of the oven.
‘Mmm, they look and smell nice, Monica. Perhaps you’ll allow me to taste one, too?’ he asked with a warm smile, which helped to lighten the tension already settling over them.
Before she could answer, the doorbell rang, and Monica was out of the kitchen in a flash. Grant gave Tania a knowing wink that had her covering her mouth to smother the subsequent chuckle. The next minute they heard Jeff’s deep voice, and Monica’s soft laugh.
‘Oh, nice!’ Jeff ogled the cakes. ‘I take it you were expecting me?’ He grinned and reached his hand out—only to have Monica slap it away.
‘You can wait until they’ve cooled a bit,’ she scolded, although she was unable to stop the sparkle of amusement filling her eyes. ‘Now you’ve arrived, Tania and I want to know what’s going on, don’t we?’ she said, turning to Tania.
‘Absolutely.’ She stared at Grant’s face for a moment. ‘Something bad has happened, hasn’t it?’
Grant and Jeff each pulled out a chair and sat with the ladies at the table. Once settled, Grant found himself to be the center of attention. All eyes were focused on him.
He sighed as he faced Tania. ‘I had a call from my solicitor this morning.’ Grant went on to explain everything he’d been told. ‘I don’t need to tell any of you what I think of this ridiculous and unexpected state of affairs. But I do agree with Roland. I need to get you away from here … you, too, Monica. He knows of your close bond with Tania and will more than likely try to get to you. If he can whisk you away, he'll have the perfect weapon with which to stop her testifying.’
Tania shuddered at the thought. But when she turned to Monica and saw the hesitation in her eyes, her heart sank. She knew what was coming next.
‘I don’t think I’ll be able to take any more time off work. They’ve been quite happy for me to work part-time, and then do the rest on my laptop back here. But to not do anything, I could end up losing my job.’ She lowered her eyes and stared at her hands as she linked her fingers together. ‘I’m sure I’ll be fine.’
‘I’m sorry, Monica, but that isn’t an option, not when your life could be in danger.’ Grant was adamant.
‘I won’t go anywhere knowing you could be in danger, Monica. I know what he’s capable of now. I’m not sure that being back on his meds will change him that much.’ Tania had a sudden flashback of Colin’s twisted face and the table leg smashing down on her again. Her body shook. ‘You can’t stay here! I won’t let you, Monica. Please come with me.’
Jeff glanced at Monica and saw the indecision in her eyes. ‘Look, how about I stay with you until this is over? I’ll sleep on the couch. I have to agree with both Grant and Tania; you can’t stay here on your own. Either go with them, or I stay with you. Your choice.’
Monica started laughing. ‘You … sleep on the couch? It’s not even half your length! I do have a spare bedroom, though. If it’s okay with you, Grant, I don’t want to take him away from you.’
‘We don’t have that sort of working arrangement, Monica. He’ll stay here with you regardless, and with my thanks,’ he told her. ‘So, it’s settled?’
‘Um, where will I be going?’ Tania suddenly realised how everything was being taken out of her control again. Did she really want that?
‘You’ll know when we get there. Pack some lightweight clothes because you'll find it a lot warmer where we’re going. Jeff, can you hang on here while I go and sort the rest out?’
‘Sure thing. I’ll just help myself to one of these nice muffins here,’ he said, snatching one before Monica could stop him.
Grant got as far as the door, then came back. ‘I take it you have a passport?’
Tania stared at him blankly. ‘I … yes, I think it’s still valid.’ She went to get up, but Monica stopped her.
‘Where do you keep it?’
‘In the top drawer under the television. You’ll see a tin there with all my important bits and pieces in it.’ Tania turned when she saw the look Grant and Jeff shared. ‘What?’
‘You keep all your important documents in a tin under the television?’ Grant shook his head.
‘Well, some of us can’t afford bank vaults or home safes!’ Tania shot back. ‘Anyway, my other important documents are my birth certificate and rent book. And unless he wants to pay my rent, they won’t be much use to a burglar.’
Before Grant could say anything more, Monica came back, waving the passport. ‘Here it is. You have two years left on it.’
‘That’s fine. I’ll be back soon.’ And with that, he turned on his heel and left.
*****
Tania sat in a seat far more comfortable than her sofa and relaxed with the glass of iced tea the flight attendant had just given her. Never having been inside a private jet before, she took some time to admire her surroundings.
It was nothing like the Thomas Cook flights she’d used on her all-inclusive, cheapy, holidays a few years ago. This was pure luxury of the kind she’d never known. She turned her eyes and gazed out the small window at the white cotton-wool clouds.
Everything has happened so fast. One minute I’m laughing with Monica in the kitchen. Next, I’m being whisked off on a private jet to … to goodness knows where.
‘Are you going to tell me where we’re going? Or is it still a secret?’
Grant grinned. ‘No, it’s not a secret. We’re off to a little island in the Bahamas. Only a dozen of my most trusted friends know I own it. No one will know where you are except Jeff and my solicitor. Oh, and Lorna. I trust her implicitly.’
Tania gasped. ‘The Bahamas? As in …. the Bahamas! Oh! But I thought we were going to Spain or … or Greece. Not the Bahamas!’
Grant laughed at the surprise on her face and the shock in her voice. ‘Yes, the Bahamas. It’s perfect. It will give you the opportunity to recuperate after all you’ve been through. In fact, Colin and his mother have done me a favour.’
‘Oh, how’s that?’ Tania’s brow puckered trying to understand how on earth Grant had come to that conclusion.
‘Well, for one thing, it’s made me do what I’ve been promising myself for months, and that's to take a holiday. And, having my latest prodigy with me so that we can get to know each other better is a bonus!’ And that’s the part I’m going to enjoy most! Grant sat back with a satisfied smile.
Continued…
Characters
Grant Blake: Billionaire owner and company chairman of Thistlegates Enterprises
Tania Russell: Trying to make her name as a top architect
Monica Fox: Best friend and foster sister of Tania
Colin Harding: Tania’s ex-boyfriend and Grant’s half-brother
Lorna Main: Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret: The company’s receptionist
Former SAS with Grant now working for him as security guards.
Jefferson Horner
Reg Fielding
Carl Young
| Author Notes | Thank you again for your continued support. I hope you enjoyed this part. If you find those nits that have, so far, always managed to hide from me, I'll be most grateful if you would tell me where they are! This is written in UK English |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 25
Tania gasped. ‘The Bahamas? As in …. the Bahamas! Oh! But I thought we were going somewhere closer ... Spain or … or Greece. Not the Bahamas!’
Grant laughed at the surprise on her face and the shock in her voice. ‘Yes, the Bahamas. It’s perfect. It will allow you to recuperate after all you’ve been through. In fact, Colin and his mother have done me a favour.’
‘Oh, how’s that?’ Tania’s brow puckered trying to understand how on earth Grant had come to that conclusion.
‘Well, for one thing, it’s made me do what I’ve been promising myself for months, and that's to take a holiday. And, having my latest prodigy with me so that we can get to know each other better is a bonus!’ And that’s the part I’m going to enjoy most! Grant sat back with a satisfied smile.
Part 26
Coming from the cool interior of the air-conditioned jet, into the intense heat outside, was a body-punch encounter for Tania. They were quickly taken through customs, then back out to where Grant had a helicopter waiting. A trolley pulled up beside it, and the driver leapt off and quickly transferred their luggage.
Tania had never been on a helicopter before, but it was an experience she’d often said she’d like, although never in her wildest imagination had she ever believed it would happen. Her stomach somersaulted when they lifted straight up into the air and leaned over as the pilot executed a seventy-five-degree turn. With one arm still in plaster, she used the hand on her good arm to grab hold of the nearest thing, which just happened to be Grant’s arm. She closed her eyes.
Grant grinned when he saw the look on her face that betrayed her nerves. She still had faint bruising, a continued reminder of Colin’s barbarity. His eyes darkened with anger as images of Tania, alone in that room, terrified and in pain, filled his mind. He wouldn’t rest until the man was locked away for as long as possible, which would be forever if he had anything to do with it.
Once the pilot had levelled up and set a straight course, Tania began to relax. Looking down at the sea below, she was impressed by the varying shades of stunning blues and turquoises. What heartened her most was how clean and clear the water appeared, and how it beckoned her in. If only!
Grant enjoyed watching her features change from nervousness to delight. He began pointing out different islands and places she might be interested in seeing. When he pointed out a pod of dolphins, leaping and diving below them, Tania’s look of wonderment made him smile.
‘You’ll get to see more of them when you walk down to the docking bay. For wild mammals, they’re quite a tame bunch. Do you swim?’
‘Yes. But unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be doing that for quite a while.’
Grant glanced down at her plastered arm and scowled. ‘Well, I’ll have to bring you back when your arm has completely healed so I can take you snorkelling. The coral reefs around here are some of the best you’ll get to see.’
After a few minutes, he turned to look out the window on his side. ‘Hold tight; we're going to land.’
Tania looked over and saw the island with its empty beach of white sand. There were a variety of palm trees, yuccas, pines and many more unknown to her. She let out a deep sigh. If only Monica was here with me.
A lone car beside the helicopter pad could be seen as they swung round to land, with the driver waiting for his passengers. Once the pilot had touched down, Grant opened the door and jumped out. After helping Tania, he led her over to the waiting car. She was soon sitting in the luxurious comfort of cool leather seats.
‘Did you have a good flight, sir?’ the chauffeur asked, touching an imaginary cap in mock salute as Grant got in beside Tania.
He shook his head, raised an eyebrow and grinned. ‘Very smooth, thank you.' He waited until they were all inside out of the heat. 'Peter, let me introduce you to Miss Russell. She will be our guest for a while. Tania--meet Peter Shore.’
Peter smiled as he reached over and held out his hand. ‘Welcome to Paradise, Ma’am.’
‘Thank you, Peter, and please, will you call me Tania?’ she asked, feeling the firmness of his grip. Tania decided he looked to be about the same age as Grant. His tanned face had an easy smile that lit up his slate-grey eyes. She gathered from Peter's acceptance of her injuries that Grant had mentioned them when he'd phoned to tell him they were coming.
‘My pleasure, Tania.’
‘So what’s the news then? Anything exciting happened since I’ve been away?’
‘Oh, not a lot, really. We had some rain last week, that was a nice surprise.’ Although he tried hard to keep his face straight, Peter couldn't hide the rising excitement in his eyes.
‘Hmm, that’s good.’ Grant had picked up on Peter’s euphoria, even though he pretended he hadn't. Something had happened. ‘And how is the lovely Latifah? Is she well?’
At this question, Peter looked fit to burst with a smile that came out of every movable muscle in his face. ‘Very well, Sir, couldn’t be better,’ he replied. It was then he lost all his hard-won control. ‘We’re having a baby!’
‘What ... a baby! When? How?’ Grant leaned forward, slapping Peter on his shoulder.
‘I can tell you the when ... the baby is due in six weeks, but I’ll let you work out the how!’ he said, laughing out loud.
Grant laughed with him. ‘Yeah, right! But congratulations, mate! I know you’ve been trying for a long time. I’m delighted for you. If you need anything, you know you’ve only got to ask.’
‘I know. Thanks.’ Peter turned the car’s ignition and soon they were driving along a narrow coast road.
Grant turned to Tania, the smile from Peter’s news still very much in evidence. ‘I’ve known Peter most of my life. His father was the chauffeur up until my grandfather's death. I persuaded Peter to stay on as general manager after his father took early retirement and left the island.' Then he winked before adding, ‘For your benefit, he’s pretending to be a real chauffeur, that’s why he’s calling me sir in front of you. It won’t be long before he reverts to his normal rude, overbearing self.’
They both saw Peter roll his eyes in the mirror, although nothing was going to dampen his smile. Grant let out a delighted laugh.
Tania couldn’t help but like the different person Grant became once he was away from Thistlegate. He was funny, kind, and just so nice. She was going to enjoy getting to know this side of him.
It didn’t take long before Peter was pulling up outside a magnificent villa. Tania stared out the window, her jaw dropping in astonishment. Then Peter was opening her door and, putting his hand underneath her elbow, he helped her out.
Still in shock, she stood and looked in awe at the grandeur of Grant's home which was surrounded by an array of huge palms, pine trees, jacarandas and various coloured oleanders she’d recognised from her holidays in Spain.
The villa itself was a two-story building, with bougainvillaeas covered in glorious, bright red bracts, climbing up the side and framing the wide patio doors that led out onto the balcony above them. Pots of various coloured geraniums could be seen poking their trailing blooms through the white balustrade, creating a waterfall of intense colour against the white background. It was breathtaking.
Grant led Tania under the shaded canopy leading up to the main entrance of the villa. ‘I forgot to ask you,’ he said, ‘what are you like with dogs?’
Surprised, Tania looked up at him. ‘Fine. Why do you ask?’
‘I have to introduce you to my monsters, Sam and Ben. They’re a couple of softies … unless you’re a villain.’ He grinned, as the door opened and out dashed two huge German-shepherds. Tania watched as they paused for a moment ... then they saw Grant! With whines and howls of joy, they rushed up to Grant, almost knocking him over.
Grant was laughing and petting them, obviously as pleased to see them as they were him. Then, as if someone had pulled a switch, they dropped down and stared at Tania, both cocking their heads.
Tania wanted to laugh. They were like twins, each doing the same thing at the same time. It was so funny to watch.
Although she adored dogs, she was worried they’d jump up at her and knock her broken arm. Grant came over and told the two dogs to come. ‘Hold your hand out and let them get your scent. They’ll remember it and know you’re a friend.’ He could see she was concerned about her arm. ‘Don’t worry, they’ll be gentle with you.’
Tania smiled and held out her good arm. After they’d both had a good sniff of her hand, they went and sat on either side of her.
‘Looks as if you have your personal bodyguards,’ Grant told her. ‘They’re very sensitive to feelings, and they know something isn’t right.’ He smiled, watching her scratch first Sam, and then Ben behind their ears. They knew not to jump up at her.
‘Hello, boys, it’s so nice to meet you.’ She looked up at Grant. ‘They’re adorable!’
The door opened wider, and a heavily pregnant lady stood just inside in the cool, a dazzling smile highlighting the lovely bronze glow of her face. When Grant stepped into her outstretched arms, she stood on tip-toe and folded them around him with a delighted girlish giggle. Only five-feet-tall, her pregnancy bump appeared larger than it would on someone taller.
‘Look at you!’ Grant said, with a smile covering his face when he eventually held her at arm’s length. ‘How come you kept this to yourselves?’
‘We wanted to surprise you,’ Latifah told him, her face beaming with happiness.
‘You certainly did that! I’ll talk to you both later. Stay there in the shade, I want you to meet my friend.’ Grant went over to Tania, and, with his hand on the small of her back, he led her up to Latifah and introduced the two women.
After the introductions, and a rapid girlie chat, Grant told Latifah to go and rest while he showed Tania her room. Tania liked Latifah immediately and wondered if she would still be there when she had her baby. In one way, she hoped so.
Much to Tania's astonishment, when Grant opened a door and stood back for her to walk through, she found herself standing in an exquisitely furnished, small lounge with bi-folding doors leading out onto a balcony.
Eager to explore, she carried on into the next room and found herself gawking, gobsmacked at a stunning four-poster bed with, delicately patterned, mosquito netting draped around it. An en-suite bath led off to the left, and on the right, she wandered into a large dressing area that had enough space to hang every article of clothing both she and Monica owned, and more! My clothes are going to get lost in here! The bedroom also had bi-folding doors, and Tania walked through onto the balcony that overlooked an Olympic size swimming pool. So this is how the other half live, Monica would love this.
Grant had been watching her and could imagine what she was feeling. ‘I want you to relax and enjoy your stay here, Tania. If there is anything you want, just ask.’
‘Want? What on earth could I possibly want? The Queen of England would be happy here! You have a lovely home, Grant.’
‘Thank you,' he said as he came up to stand beside her on the balcony. 'As my Spanish friends always say, mi casa es tu casa. I want you to treat this as your home while you’re here, Tania.’
Continued…
Characters:
Tania Russell - White female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Black female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - White male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - White male, Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - White female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Black male, British, 33-years-old, 6’3 close-cut black-curled hair. ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica.
Reg Fielding - White male, British, 32-years-old dark hair, turning grey. ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - White male, British, 32-years-old, ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - Black male, British, 36-years-old. ex SAS named Shadow due to his ability to move rapidly and unseen.
Peter Shore - Grant’s long-time friend and handyman. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Caribbean, pregnant. Also, a friend of Grant’s.
Isobella Sanchez - Mexican, female, cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part of my book. I wonder if any of you can tell me if I've worded the descriptions right in regard to the characters skin colour. I don't want to upset anyone by doing it wrong but I need to get it right for the synopsis. Thank you in advance. If you find any nits, I'd be so pleased to hear from you. :)) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Because Colin is out on bail and in his mother’s care, Grant decided it was better for him to get Tania out of the way. Unsure what would happen if they stayed, and not trusting or liking his mother or half-brother, Grant is taking no chances after what Colin had put Tania through. Now in the Bahamas with Grant, staying on his private island, Tania has just been exploring her suite of rooms, never having had such luxury before, she is in awe of her surroundings.
Monica wanted to stay in London because of her job. Jeff told her he would stay with her and keep her safe.
Part 27
After the long nine-hour flight, and taking into account the mad rush to get away, plus the Bahamas being five hours behind London, Tania found herself walking around in a fog of fatigue for the next couple of days. Grant, on the other hand, was up and about as invigorated as ever. It didn’t appear to have affected him at all.
For the first time in three days, Tania woke up without the muzzy-headedness and more like a human being. She was surprised at how hungry she felt and was ready for a good breakfast. Grant was already at the table with his finished plate pushed aside. Cradling a steaming cup of coffee, he looked up as she came into the breakfast room.
‘I can see you slept well. You look so much better this morning,’ he told her, standing up and moving around the table to pull her chair out. ‘It takes time to recover from jet lag but you’re doing better than most.’
Tania gave him a bright smile. ‘I do feel more refreshed, thank you. I expect the hours I’ve been sleeping in the hospital, and at home, have helped. My body clock has been way out of sync for a while.’
Grant poured her a coffee and took the lids off the dishes of food on the hot tray. ‘What would you like today?’
When she leaned over to look, the mouth-watering aromas stormed her nostrils and made her tummy growl. Grant laughed while Tania blushed. ‘I take it a bit of everything would go down well?’ he teased.
Once Grant had served her up a good-sized breakfast of bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and mushrooms, he cut up the food Tania couldn’t master one-handed, then buttered her a slice of toast. ‘What would you like to do today?’ he asked, as he returned to his own chair and picked his coffee up again.
Tania gave it some thought. ‘I’d like a tour of your island, if you have time. Perhaps go down to see if there are any dolphins around.’
‘Okay, that’s easily arranged. If we start out directly after breakfast, we’ll have time to see most of the island before the sun is too high in the sky. You'll find sun-cream in your bathroom cabinet; bring it down with you and I’ll rub some on. We’ll save the dolphins for tomorrow. There's no need to rush because we've got plenty of time.’
Tania frowned. ‘I’ve been wanting to ask you about that. How long do you think I’ll have to remain here? Have you heard anything yet?’
‘I spoke to Roland yesterday. A court date has been set for the end of next month. He will stay in touch to let me know when we need to go back. Jeff is staying with Monica, and he has a team watching Colin’s every move.’ Grant took a sip of his coffee and looked at her over the rim. ‘I know you’re worried about Monica, but you have no need to be, she’s in safe hands with Jeff.’
‘I know. It’s just … I’ve never been in a situation like this before, and I’m hating it!’ Then, as if realising how that sounded, she went on to explain. ‘I don’t mean being on your island. This is the closest to paradise I could ever imagine. What you have here is perfect for that special holiday. And there’s the crux of the matter; that’s not why I’m here, is it? I have the fear of Colin hanging over me all the time. Will it ever end?’
‘Yes it will! Now you are here to relax, not worry yourself silly. Over the next two weeks you are going to be waited on hand and foot. I’ve arranged for my doctor on the mainland to come over and take your plaster cast off then.
Grant kept his word. Tania had no time to sit around moping. He’d made up a tight schedule of touring the island, and regular trips out on his speedboat. By the time the two weeks were up, Tania had a lovely golden tan, and looked the picture of health.
At last, the day came when Tania would be rid of the plaster cast, and the doctor could not have been made more welcome. She was forever poking her comb tail inside the cast to try and scratch her arm. The itching had been driving her mad.
Once her arm was free, it looked so white compared to the rest of her. Grant told her it would soon catch up. After the doctor had examined it, he said she could start swimming. It was the best exercise to strengthen the muscle in that arm again.
That evening, she had her first real shower since she’d been rescued from Colin. It was heavenly!
*****
Monica came home from work and flopped down on the sofa. ‘I can’t concentrate at work,’ she said when Jeff came and sat beside her. ‘I’ve been pulled up for errors I’ve made in clients' accounts, and if this keeps up, I can see my boss dismissing me.’
Jeff took hold of her hand and looked her in the eye. ‘I’ve been thinking about you being at work and … well, I can’t reach you if something happened. Sitting in the Starbucks across the road is hardly ideal for keeping an eye on you, and I suspect the staff are getting a bit nervous with me sitting there all day and drinking gallons of coffee.’ Rubbing her hand with his thumb, his eyes clouded for a moment.
‘I’ve had an idea that you might want to consider. Why don’t you start your own business? You’re a qualified accountant, a good one, too, from what Tania has told me. I’m confident you could do this. Who knows, perhaps some of your clients might want to stay with you.’
Monica stayed silent for a moment. Then a little smile pulled at her lips. ‘Actually, you’ve hit on the idea I’ve been tossing around my mind for months now but didn’t have the courage to put it into motion. This could be the push I need!’
Jeff’s arm had worked its way around Monica’s shoulders and he pulled her close. ‘You are the most courageous woman I know! Starting out on your own will be a challenge, but I think you will enjoy the experience.’
Monica’s face tilted up, and when she looked into his eyes, she was sure she could see the desire there. Before she could fathom it, Jeff’s lips brushed hers with a featherlike softness, just enough to send quivers of excitement racing up and down her spine, awakening emotions she’d almost forgotten. With a soft moan, she brought her hand up behind his neck and willingly joined her lips with his.
Somehow, Jeff had his hands placed around her waist and, with little more than a flip, she was sitting on his lap, snuggled in his arms. Cupping one hand under her chin, his mouth came down, and like a bee craving nectar from the mouth of a flower, he greedily plundered hers.
Monica thought her heart would explode at the rate it was thumping against her ribs. Coming up for air, both panting for breath, they stared at each other.
‘Wow! You’re some kisser!’ Monica gasped. ‘Do you do that to all the girls?’
Jeff smiled. ‘Only to those who have cute little noses,’ he told her, dropping a kiss on hers. ‘And have sparkles in their eyes, and who I fancy like hell!’ He kissed her again and then pulled away. ‘I think a pre-dinner drink is called for before I lose control, don’t you?’
Monica could only nod, half of her wishing he would lose control. Her feelings for Jeff had started shortly after he’d frog-marched her over to Grant’s car. What an unbelievable way to begin a relationship. She gave a giggle.
‘What’s tickled you?’ Jeff asked as he poured out two whiskeys.
‘I was just thinking about how we met. You frightened the life out of me when you stuck that gun to my head!’ She reached up and took the glass from him. ‘Thank you.’
‘I remember that day well. It’s emblazoned on my mind. It was after I’d made you get into the car and you saw Grant. You really blew your top … no, worse than that, you went ballistic, especially when you said you were going to beat the hell out of Colin! You more or less dared us to try and stop you.’ He laughed and dropped a kiss on her nose.
‘You looked so cute, wound up as you were, and blazing mad. Since then, I haven’t been able to get you out of my head.’ Jeff was back sitting beside her. He gave her another gentle squeeze before taking a sip of his whiskey.
Putting his glass down on the coffee table, he took a deep breath. ‘Now to get the serious stuff out of the way. I’ve got something to tell you. It’s the main reason I came up with the idea of you branching out on your own. I want you to listen carefully and do exactly what I say. Just before you finished work, I had a call from one of my men, and I don’t like what he told me.’
Monica sat up straight, her smile disappearing. ‘What? Tell me!’
‘The man who sent me this, who we call Shadow, for obvious reasons, has been watching Grant’s mother’s house. It seems that our Mrs Harding is playing dirty. I’m going to show you a photo.’ Jeff opened his mobile phone and brought up the picture Shadow had sent him. ‘I want you to take a good look at him.’
Monica took the phone and studied the man’s face. ‘Who is he? What’s he got to do with me?’
‘Nothing ... but, possibly everything. If he’s been hired by Grant’s mother, then he might be after you to get to Tania. He’s the worst kind of bastard I know and will do anything for the right price. I think it’s time for me to have a private conversation with your boss. He either gives you time off or lets me stay inside. It scares the hell out of me knowing he could get to you while I’m sitting here guzzling coffee. I’m not having you put at risk by that psycho family anymore … and that’s final!’
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isobella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part and for your constant support. I really appreciate you all. This is written in UK English. If you see any nits, please let me know. I am never upset when offered help. :)) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Part 28
In the end, Grant decided to take Tania to see the dolphins. He hoped seeing them come right up to her would take her mind off what was happening for a while. Watching her now, he knew he’d made the right decision.
Grant had taken his speedboat out a little way and then stopped the engine. He pointed towards some fast approaching ripples coming in their direction, and both watched as they came closer.
With her eyes shining with excitement, she hadn't noticed one of the ripples disappearing until it was close enough to the boat to poke its black shiny head out of the water just beside where she was sitting. Tania let out a squeal of delight. Soon, six or more dolphins were close enough for her to stroke. ‘They are so gentle!’ She laughed. ‘Monica will be so jealous when I tell her about this.’
As if knowing they had a captive audience, the mammals began leaping from the water, twisting then diving. Tania was enthralled, clapping her hands with pleasure. When she thought they’d gone, the mischievous creatures flew out of the water and over her head, leaving Tania laughing with delight, and soaking wet! She’d never had so much fun.
As Grant sat watching her, Tania didn’t realise how sexy she looked with her wet, clinging blouse, revealing the secrets of her toned and extremely desirable body. Even when she still had the slight bruising on her face, he’d seen enough to recognise the passionate woman beneath.
Now, there was no mistaking it. Shaking his head in an effort to rid himself of the feelings stirring in his loins, he quickly shed his clothes down to his bathers, and jumped in the water.
‘Come on in, the water’s lovely.’ He laughed as one of the dolphins came up and head butted him.
In an instant, Tania had stripped off her sundress to reveal her bikini beneath it. Grant stared, his jaw dropped. Good lord! Anyone would think I’d never seen a woman in a bikini before! I have, but they would all fade into insignificance beside this beauty!
Tania dived in, coming up right beside him. ‘Oh, it’s gorgeous!’
When a dolphin tried to come up between them, Tania laughed. She grabbed his fin and he pulled her around in the water. She’d never had such fun, ever.
Grant couldn’t take his eyes off her. The delight on her face warmed his heart. He knew he was beginning to have feelings for her.
He took a deep breath and reluctantly forced his attention to more mundane things. ‘I think it’s time to get back to shore. The sun is getting higher, and I don’t want you out here getting sunstroke. We’ll take a short stroll along the sand so your clothes can dry.’
Grant started up the engine and steered the speedboat the short distance back to the jetty. Jumping out, he grabbed the rope and made sure the boat was properly secured before helping Tania.
‘Thank you for this morning, Grant. I did enjoy it,’ Tania told him as they walked along the beach.
‘It was my pleasure. I don’t get to come here as much as I’d like.’
They'd only walked a short way, but with the sun getting hotter, Grant could see Tania was wilting. ‘Let’s head back and have some lunch. I think you’ve done enough for today.’
Tania hated to admit it but she was feeling tired now. ‘I’ll give Monica a call when we get back. What’s the time at home?’
‘I would think she’s just getting up. You might catch her before she goes to work.’ Grant helped Tania climb into his beach buggy, then went around to the driver's seat. ‘All set?’
‘Yes. I’m going to be cruel and tell her about the dolphins,’ Tania laughed. ‘That’ll turn her green with envy!’
Grant was going to have a chat with Jeff. The message he’d received from him last night had been on his mind all morning. He’d mentally gone over all the precautions he’d taken before bringing Tania to the island. He shook his head, hoping to remove any dark thoughts that might ruin what had been a most enjoyable morning.
Latifah came down the stairs just as Grant and Tania arrived back at the villa. She walked towards them with a wide smile on her face and told them she’d had Isabella, their cook, make up a cold lunch. When they were ready, she’d have it brought out onto the patio by the pool.
‘That’s great. We’ll just have another quick shower … the dolphins gave us one while we were sitting in the boat watching them,’ he explained, grinning from ear to ear.
He started to move away, then stopped and turned back. ‘How are you feeling? Shouldn’t you be resting more this far into your pregnancy, Latifah? Especially in this heat?’
‘Oh, I’m fine, Grant! Why do men think we are fragile just because we’re pregnant? Exercise is good. I was told it will help me have a much easier birth--and I am careful.’ She smiled up at him. ‘Now, go and get your shower and I will come and help Tania.’
Grant studied her a moment more. ‘Ok, but remember, when you start to feel tired, you stop!’
Latifah gave a melodic laugh and shooed him away. ‘Let’s get you ready for your shower, Tania,’ she said, putting her hand on the small of her back as she steered her towards the stairs. ‘I’m sure you can’t wait to get this plaster cast off.’
Tania laughed. ‘You’re right about that. I was astonished to discover just how many problems it’s caused me. It complicates everything I do--and it itches like crazy!’
After her shower, Tania asked Latifah a question that had been bothering her. ‘What happens when you go into labour? Does anyone else live on the island ... a doctor perhaps? Or a lady who can come and help you, like a midwife, for example?’
Latifah finished drying Tania’s hair and sat down. ‘My midwife comes to see me every two days now that I’m getting close to my time. And Peter will be taking me to the mainland a week before I’m due, sooner if the midwife tells him.’ She smiled and patted her bump. ‘This little one must behave until it’s the right time. All is prepared, and my case is packed and ready. Don’t you worry, Tania, all will be well.’
Tania certainly hoped that would be the case. But from what she’d heard, when a baby wants to come early, nothing, and no one, will stop it.
*****
Monica sat on tenterhooks when her boss, Mr Drake, pulled his spectacles off and rubbed his eyes. A mixture of shock and amazement shuffled across his features. He’d not spoken a word since Jeff explained to him what was going on in Monica’s life, and how he wanted permission to stay in the office so he could protect her if necessary.
Finally, he dropped his eyes to his glasses and, as he put them back on, he made his decision. ‘This has come as quite a surprise, Monica. When you told me you needed some time off to care for your friend who’d just come out of the hospital, you omitted to explain the real circumstances that led up to her broken arm.’
Monica could see the uncertainty in his eyes so, with her hands loosely clasped in her lap, she waited. As he’d not asked her a direct question she decided to remain quiet, not wanting to be the first to speak.
‘I’m afraid this puts a whole new perspective on your position here, Monica. You have to understand, it’s not only you that I have to think about. There’s the rest of the staff employed here who could, by association, be put in grave danger.’ He turned to Jeff. ‘I appreciate your ability to protect Monica; but should something happen that would put the rest of my staff in danger, would you be able to protect them as well?’
Jeff felt Monica’s eyes on him as he considered the question. ‘There’s a certain degree of risk in everything we do, Mr Drake. Life is full of dangers, even though we like to believe otherwise. But, I do appreciate what you’re saying, and if it’s any help, I have a team ready as a backup.’
Mr Drake shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, Monica. While I’m very sympathetic with what’s happening to you, I can’t have men in the office ready for … heaven knows what. It would be very unsettling for the staff to work under those conditions. Also, I’m sure our insurance won’t cover them if I knowingly put them in danger. Or our expensive equipment, if it comes to that. Should a fight break out--’
Monica held her hands up. ‘You’re right, Mr Drake, it’s too risky and I won’t put you, or my work friends, in this absurd and inappropriate position. I think it would be better for all if I leave today. I’ll clear my desk out now.’ She looked up at Jeff. ‘I won’t take long.’
‘I appreciate your understanding of my position on this, Monica,’ Mr Drake told her. ‘I’ll have a good reference posted on to you. Good luck with all this.’
Monica could see his regret was genuine and smiled. ‘Thank you, sir.’
Once she’d finished collecting her things, she went around and told each of her friends she would keep in touch. Outside, with her bag of personal belongings, Monica took a deep breath. ‘Well, that’s that! I’m now unemployed, and, for the moment, unemployable. So, what suggestions can you give me to call my business? How about Fox’s Financial Accountant?’ Thank goodness I have some savings to tide me over.
Jeff put his arm around her and nodded to the Starbucks coffee house across the road. ‘Come on, my treat. Sometimes these things have a way of working out for the best.’
After they’d found an empty table by the window, Jeff went off to get their coffees, leaving Monica to stare out the window. She let her mind wander over the past few weeks. If only I had Tania to talk to. Her body slumped. Her mind felt weary. With a deep sigh, she put her elbows on the table and dropped her face into her hands.
‘Big sigh, love.’ Jeff put their latte macchiatos down and sat opposite her. He knew exactly what was on her mind; she didn’t have to tell him. ‘Here, look at me.’ He reached out and put his finger under her chin so he could look her in the eyes. ‘It’ll be fine--I promise.’
Monica nodded. ‘I know.’ She sighed again. ‘Who’d have thought Tania’s interview with Grant, and the uproar with her blueprints that followed, would bring about all this chaos in our lives.’ She picked up her coffee and nursed it for a moment.
A sudden thought made her put the cup back on the table. She leaned forward over the table, her eyes beseeching. ‘If Grant gets in touch with you, please promise me you won’t mention this. Tania has more than enough to worry about. I won’t add to it. She’ll find out soon enough. Perhaps by then, I’ll have some clients.’ On his promise, she picked up her coffee again and took a sip. ‘Have you heard anything from Grant yet? Have they arrived at their secret hideaway?’
Jeff reached out and took hold of her hand. ‘Yes. Tania is safe so you don’t have to worry about her. Now I’m going to keep you safe. I don’t intend to let any harm come to you, either.’
Monica saw the grim determination in his eyes and couldn’t help but enjoy the warm feeling it gave her.
Continued...
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 28
A sudden thought made Monica put her cup back on the table. She leaned forward, her eyes beseeching. ‘If Grant gets in touch with you, please promise me you won’t mention this. Tania has more than enough to worry about. I won’t add to it. She’ll find out soon enough. Perhaps by then, I’ll have some clients.’ On his promise, she picked up her coffee again and took a sip. ‘Have you heard anything from Grant yet? Have they arrived at their secret hideaway?’
Jeff reached out and took hold of her hand. ‘Yes. Tania is safe so you don’t have to worry about her. Now I’m going to keep you safe. I don’t intend to let any harm come to you, either.’
Monica saw the grim determination in his eyes and couldn’t help but enjoy the warm feeling it gave her.
Part 29
It wasn’t until later that evening after dinner, when Tania was chatting to Latifah, that Grant had an opportunity to phone Jeff.
‘What have you found out?’ he asked, walking along the pathway that led to the swimming pool.
‘Not a lot. I could do with Reg and his housebreaking ability. I’d like to get some bugs put inside. Something is going down, and I hate not knowing what it is.’ Jeff kept his voice low. He didn’t want to worry Monica any more than she was now.
‘I’ll give him a call and tell him to return. I don’t care what it takes, do whatever you can to find out what they’re cooking up together. I can’t think of a more dangerous combination than my mother, Colin and that jerk, Rapier,’ Grant told him angrily. ‘So, is there anything else happening?’
‘Er, no. Can’t think of anything. How are Sam and Ben? I missed them this trip.’
‘They’re fine. They’ve well and truly taken to Tania, following her all the time. It’s strange, but I swear they know she’s in trouble.’
‘I can believe that. Dogs have an innate ability to sense when something is wrong.’
They spoke for a few more minutes before ending the call. Grant rubbed his hand over his stubbled chin; something was niggling at the back of his mind. Jeff wasn’t good at hiding things from him, no matter what the situation happened to be.
‘Is everything alright?’ Peter had been relaxing by the pool with a beer when he heard Grant’s low voice. Grant had given him a brief run-down on what had been going on in England. He knew Tania was here, not only to relax after what she’d been through, but also because she needed a place to hide for a while.
‘Have you got another one of those?’ Grant asked as he sat down in the seat next to Peter and nodded at the bottle in his hand.
Peter reached down and took one out of the cool box beside him. ‘Here you go.’
Grant twisted the cap off and took a long gulp before answering him. ‘That’s better. No. Well, I’m not sure. Jeff is holding something back, it’s unlike him.’ He turned to check the girls weren’t coming. ‘It seems my mother keeps unsavoury company. Do you remember me telling you about a scumbag the police have named the Rapier?’
Peter remembered him alright. He’d got his name after disfiguring three small-time crooks who had unwittingly made the ultimate mistake of breaking into the Rapier’s home. He’d used his sword on them, marking their faces and cutting off two fingers on each of their hands. Although the police knew who was responsible, without the crook’s testimony, there was nothing they could do. It was obvious to everyone they’d been too terrified to talk.
‘Well, somehow, my mother has acquired his services. I’m sure I’ve not left any clues as to our whereabouts, but I’m not taking any chances. I don’t want Tania to know.’ Grant took another swig of his beer. ‘I think you should get Latifah over to the mainland. Just as a precaution.’
Peter grimaced. ‘That will be easier said than done. She won’t go unless she knows why. And if I do tell her why, she won’t go and leave Tania. We’ll sleep on it and perhaps come up with a solution tomorrow. I take it you still have eyes on him?’
‘Absolutely. Jeff called Shadow in, and I’m getting Reg to go back. He’ll bug the place so we’ll know what they’re up to all the time.’
Peter chuckled. ‘I like Shadow. He spooked me out the first time you brought him here. But once I’d got used to him, I found him to be an okay guy. I liked his sense of humour, so did Latifah. On that thought, I’d best go in before she sends out a search party.’
‘And I’ve got to phone Reg,’ Grant said, taking out his mobile.
‘Good luck with that! I’m sure he’ll love being woken up at four in the morning.’ Peter laughed as he walked along the path back to the house.
After Reg had picked up his mobile and mumbled a disgruntled, ‘What?’ down the line, Grant went straight in and explained the situation knowing he’d soon have his full attention.
And he was right. Reg’s grumpy, sleep-deprived attitude was quick to change when he heard the name Rapier mentioned and had him leaping out of bed. ‘How the hell did she get involved with that slimy sonofabitch? Never mind, I’m sure Jeff’ll fill me in when I get there. I’ll be on the earliest flight I can get.’
‘Great. Ring me when you know more.’
Grant stared at his mobile for a moment after he’d finished speaking, then stood and walked over to the steps that took him down to the well-manicured lawn. It was a gorgeous moonlit night, but that and the scents of the jasmine permeating the cool night air were lost on him, as he continued walking. Being so deep in thought, he didn’t hear Tania coming up behind him, accompanied by her canine guards. Not until he heard her soft voice call his name was he brought out of his contemplative musings.
Get a grip, man! If Tania can creep up on me, I’m damned sure anyone else can. That can’t be allowed to happen again. I’ve got to keep a clear head and be alert at all times.
‘What a lovely evening.’ Tania sighed. ‘All those stars!’ She took a breath, inhaling the scents of the plants around her. ‘It’s so lovely out here.’
‘I’m glad you like it,’ Grant said, stopping to let her catch up with him. ‘When I was a young lad, my grandfather brought me to the Bahamas for a holiday. I’ve many fond memories of him here. That was one reason I bought this island. I can come here to relax and forget about work for a while. Only my team knows about it.’
Tania looked at him and smiled. ‘I can understand that ... Oh!’
‘What?’ The concern in his voice was immediately replaced by a chuckle. ‘It’s only a cricket, he won’t hurt you. Hold still.’ Grant knew he only had to touch it and it would fly off—which he did. ‘If you listen, you can hear them in the trees,’ he told her, leaving his hand on her bare shoulder.
Tania gave a little shiver. ‘Are you cold?’ Grant moved his hand, dropping it down and sliding it around her waist. Being careful not to nudge the broken arm, he drew her close.
‘No, it … it was just someone walking across my grave,’ she murmured huskily, dismayed at the way her breathless voice betrayed her with a short, but noticeable, tremble under his sensuous touch.
I should move away. Don’t encourage him. After all, once this is all over, we will be boss and employee--and that would be most awkward in a working environment.
But did she want it to stop? Do I really want to move away from his arms? No! No, I don’t!
She knew it was stupid having these feelings. But the delicate touch of his hand as his fingers crept deliberately up her spine continued causing havoc with her senses. Then, when his fingers reached bare skin at the top of her thin, cotton, strapless sundress, her common sense flew off into the ocean.
Her emotions exploded, reeling with all sorts of unknown, splendiferous, uncontrollable feelings, surging in the most delicious way through her body. She had to get away from his arms … but, her feet wouldn’t move.
With thoughts of what it would be like to be taken into his arms, to be kissed passionately, for him to desire her …. She thanked the heavens and stars for the cloud moving in front of the moon, shielding her face so that he couldn’t read her mind until she could get herself back under control.
Taking advantage of the dark, she tilted her head back a little--enough to look up at his face, only to see he was looking down at her.
Their eyes locked, neither appeared capable of turning away. Tania’s heart pounded as her face flushed with scorching heat. When Grant’s hand travelled up to the back of her head, knitting his fingers into the long folds of her thick, silky hair, she thought her jellied legs would liquefy and collapse beneath her.
His lips brushed across hers with such deliberate softness she could bear it no longer. With a soft moan, she yielded willingly as his tongue parted her lips and slipped inside, searching for the sweet ambrosia her mouth was offering him. Tania was lost in a haze of desire as her tongue found his. She was on fire and couldn’t drag herself away, nor did she want to.
With a groan, Grant found the strength to pull himself back, leaving them both gasping and wanting so much more. He stared into her eyes, seeing only hurt and confusion.
‘Oh, Tania, my dear, sweet Tania,’ his voice was little more than a whisper. He pulled her back into his arms. ‘You’re driving me crazy! But I can’t do this--not while you are still feeling so vulnerable. You have to be sure your feelings aren’t from the result of the pain you’ve gone through or you could end up hating me, and that is the last thing I want.’
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
| Author Notes | Thank you once more for all the encouragement and help you have given me throughout this book. I've appreciated you all. :)) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 29
His lips brushed across hers with such deliberate softness she could bear it no longer. With a soft moan, she yielded willingly as his tongue parted her lips and slipped inside, searching for the sweet ambrosia her mouth was offering him. Tania was lost in a haze of desire as her tongue found his. She was on fire and couldn’t drag herself away, nor did she want to.
With a groan, Grant found the strength to pull himself back, leaving them both gasping and wanting so much more. He stared into her eyes, seeing only hurt and confusion.
‘Oh, Tania, my dear, sweet Tania,’ his voice was little more than a whisper. He pulled her back into his arms. ‘You’re driving me crazy! But I can’t do this—not while you are still feeling so vulnerable. You have to be sure your feelings aren’t from the result of the pain you’ve gone through or you could end up hating me, and that is the last thing I want!’
Part 30
Tania pushed away from Grant’s arms and gazed up at him, bewildered and upset. She tried hard to blink away the angry tears welling in her eyes. ‘How do you know what I’m feeling? If this is just your strange way of saying you’re not interested, fine! But don’t lie about it. I’ve had enough of those to last me a lifetime.’
She turned to walk away, but Grant was faster. He grabbed her hand, and gently pulled her back.
‘You think I’m making excuses? You think I’m not interested? Oh, Tania, you couldn’t be further from the truth if you tried.’ He put his forefinger under her chin and tilted her face up so she had no choice but to look into his eyes; then, taking a handkerchief from his pocket, he dabbed at the few tears that had escaped onto her cheeks.
‘From that first moment I clapped eyes on you, standing there with mud splashed on your nose, giving me a right dressing down for splashing you with my car, something happened to me. Do you know how you made me feel? No, of course you don't. It was excitement; no one had spoken to me like that before. Even though it was obvious I had a few quid to spare, you didn’t back down with your tirade. You made me feel alive!’ He grinned at the memory.
‘And then, less than an hour later, you walked into my office for that interview--I was as stunned as you, but your eyes … have I told you how expressive they are? I wanted so much to come and wipe the mud away that was still in your hair. You’d wiped it off your nose … it did look so cute,’ he told her, his smile getting broader by the second.
‘And then you accused me of stealing your half-brother’s plans,’ she said, wavering, but not wanting to give way yet.
‘Well, yes, that too. So I can be an idiot as well, I’ll give you that.’ Grant looked at her plaster cast arm and scowled. ‘I swore I’d never again allow myself to get involved with another woman, not after my mother and ex-wife. Yet here I am, falling down that slippery slope once more. This time I don’t want to climb out.’
‘I didn’t know you’d been married before.’ Tania tried to remember what she’d read when she Googled his name. She couldn’t recall there ever being a Mrs Blake, only his mother who wasn’t even mentioned.
‘Not many people do. She wasn’t a person I wanted to be reminded of. I’ll tell you about her one day … if you are going to forgive me and stay?’
‘There’s nothing to forgive. It seems as if I’m not the only one who has excess baggage,’ she said, finally forgiving him. Standing on her tiptoes again, she dropped a kiss on his lips. ‘I’m not so vulnerable as you think, Grant. Angry, yes, simply because I’d been stupid enough to put myself in that position. I should have planned ahead and thought out all the possible scenarios. If it wasn't for Monica raising the alarm, knowing I'd not just walk off without a word, I might not be here today.’
‘And that’s one true fact that scares the life out of me. Neither of us knew how Colin would react--’ Grant frowned. His attention captured by Peter, frantically waving his hand. ‘Now what’s up?’
Tania turned in time to see Peter dashing inside, and felt Grant grabbing her hand as he rushed forward. ‘Do you think it’s Latifah?’ she asked, running beside him.
‘We’ll find out soon enough. But I hope not, it’s too early.’
Rushing into the lounge, they saw Latifah sitting on the sofa, and Peter standing behind; both with strained faces and eyes glued to the television.
Grant and Tania joined them. CNN news was flashing warnings as satellite pictures of a hurricane heading towards America were shown on the television’s large screen. What was glaringly obvious to them all ... their tiny island was right in its path.
*****
Reg’s flight had landed at Gatwick, and after checking through custom control, he went through and saw Jeff waiting at the barrier.
‘Sorry to drag you back,’ Jeff told him, clasping his hand and patting his shoulder. ‘Taxi’s waiting ... it was quicker than getting the Range Rover out.’
Once on their way, Jeff asked Reg how much he knew.
‘Not a lot, really, Grant left it to you to fill me in. All I know is our friend the Rapier’s been seen going into Colin’s mother’s place. That was enough to get me out of bed.’
Jeff grinned, knowing how bloody-minded he could be when woken early. ‘I hope Grant wasn’t lambasted when you answered his call?’
Reg gave him one of his hurt looks. ‘As if I would!’ he grinned back. ‘So what’re your thoughts?’
‘Let’s get over to Monica’s and then I’ll fill you in … I hope you’ve brought your miracle key with you because we’ll need it.’
Monica was watching at the window when the taxi pulled up outside. With a sigh of relief, she went and opened the door. For the first time in her life, she’d been nervous about being alone. She chided herself for being stupid, yet knowing, or more accurately, not knowing what was going on had left her worried, as well as frightened.
Monica had some toasted bacon butties on the go, and plenty of coffee ready for when they arrived, so they were now sitting around the table tucking in.
‘I’ve not had one of these since … let me think … it’s got to be when I was in training. That’s a few years ago! Bloody lovely!’ Reg told her, stuffing more into his mouth.
After they’d emptied the plates and Monica had cleared the table, she topped up the coffee pot and returned to her seat, letting Jeff refill their cups.
‘Now, down to business. What’s the story?’ Reg asked as he picked up his cup and took a sip. He nodded at Monica. ‘Good coffee.’
‘Two days ago, Shadow told me that he’d seen Rapier go into Mrs Harding’s house. How she knows him is anyone’s guess. But he’s there, and I want to know why.’ He frowned and scratched his morning stubble. ‘This is where you come in. I want bugs put inside. How we’re going to do that with them inside, I don’t know. Any suggestions?’
‘It might not be necessary,’ Reg said slowly. ‘I do have another useful gadget that will serve our purpose better, and with luck, remove the need to physically get inside.’ He got up and went into the passageway and brought back his holdall bag.
Jeff and Monica looked at each other, then back at the bag, as Reg emptied it out on the table. He picked up a small box and opened it. Inside were six tiny metal, very realistic, wasps with wafer-thin wings. This was getting curiouser and curiouser.
‘Broaches?’ Monica asked, squinting as she tried to look closer.
‘No, my lovely. These will be our spies!’ After fiddling about with one, he took out another box, this one containing a controller.
Jeff was smiling now. ‘Ok, let’s see it in action.’
‘I can show you how it operates, but until I’ve linked it to the laptop, you’ll not see anything.’ Reg set the wasp on the table, and then picked up the controller.
Monica laughed when she saw the tiny wasp’s wings spread out and start flying around the room. ‘So what else can it do?’
‘It will be our eyes and ears. The sensors are strong enough to pick up the quietest sounds. I’m banking on us finding an entrance to send the wasp inside the house. Then we’ll know everything they do.’
‘Great. I think we should do it now. I’ll give Shadow a buzz and let him know we’re on our way,’ Jeff told him, picking up his mobile.
*****
Tania couldn’t take her eyes off the television screen. Although there wasn't much evidence of it yet, she knew the hurricane was moving closer, and she’d seen enough on the television to know what would be coming soon--and that did worry her.
‘I’ll make a start on getting the garden furniture packed away,’ Peter said, turning towards the open bi-folding patio doors.
‘Okay, I’ll make sure everything is shut down inside, then meet you outside.’ Grant was already moving in the direction of the stairs.
‘Can I help?’ Tania asked, getting up and following him.
Grant glanced at the plaster cast on her arm and shook his head. ‘I think it would be better if you stayed with Latifah. Make sure she doesn’t start doing anything.’ He smiled at Tania. ‘Do you know how delectable you look?’ He laughed as her face reddened, and then took to the stairs two steps at a time.
Tania couldn’t wipe the smile off her face even if she tried, or stop the fluttering feeling in her stomach; not until she was back with Latifah and watching the hurricane building up over the Atlantic Ocean. Dear God, watch over Latifah and her baby, please!
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Grant’s receptionist for one year.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - Male ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold-blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for your continued support of my story. I'm always most happy to have you point out my errors. They tend to hide when I go looking! :)) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
Grant has brought Tania to his private island in the Bahamas to hide her away from his half-brother and his mother who want nothing more than to get rid of Tania so she can’t testify against him. The only problem now is the hurricane that is coming towards them. With his friend Peter to help secure everything down, their priority now is to keep Tania and Peter’s pregnant wife, Latifah, safe.
Part 31
Sitting in the passenger seat of his Range Rover, Reg set the laptop up to connect with his wasp-spy. They’d parked in the least conspicuous place but in an area that would still give them the perfect vantage point of the house belonging to Marilyn Harding, Colin’s mother.
Monica was sitting in the back seat, thoroughly enjoying the whole idea of a wasp-spy. It reminded her of the last James Bond movie she’d watched. I could be Moneypenny!
‘Hey!’ The car door opened and a man, Monica had never met, climbed in and sat next to her.
‘Mornin’ Miss.’ The stranger gave her a weird, curled-lip half-smile. ‘Mornin’ lads.’
Jeff looked over his shoulder. ‘It’s alright, Monica,’ he said, rolling his eyes. ‘You’ll get used to him and his appearing and disappearing act. Meet Shadow. Shadow, let me introduce you to Monica. You’d better behave yourself, too, she’s a force to be reckoned with!’While Jeff was doing the introductions, Reg looked at his watch, surprised that it was still morning. But he’d forgotten the hour difference between England and the rest of Europe. ‘Morning, Shadow. Anything happening?’
‘Not much on the outside. Rapier hasn’t arrived yet. He left at four o'clock yesterday afternoon. I had him followed and found out he’s staying at the Queen's Hotel. He’s still there.’
Reg looked at his watch again and frowned. ‘Still there? That doesn’t sound right.’ Then he went on to explain the wasp-spy to Shadow and what he hoped to achieve. ‘I think it’s way past time we test it out, and perhaps we'll be lucky enough to find out what the hell’s going on.’
‘Isn’t technology fascinating? So what do you want me to do now?’
Jeff knew exactly what he wanted Shadow to do. ‘For a start, get in touch with your man watching the hotel. If he hasn’t seen Rapier come out yet, I suggest he checks it out. His real name is Max Cannon. Let’s hope he used his real name and not a false one. I’ve got a nasty suspicion your man will find out he’s no longer there.’
Shadow frowned but nodded. He took out his mobile and quickly sent off a text message.
‘Okay then. We’re up and raring to go. Let’s see if we can find a way in.’ Reg opened the box and activated the wasp-spy. ‘Now we keep our fingers crossed they’ve left a window open. If not, it’ll have to go down the chimney.’ He pressed the switch to open his side car window and started the remote. The wasp-spy whirled into action, lifted, and flew out. ‘Now we watch and wait.’
The open laptop was put in position on the dashboard, making it easy for everyone to watch the wasp-spy as it toured the outside of the house. Reg manoeuvred it to check out every window it came to, and, much to their relief, they found an open one. ‘Here we go, gentlemen!’
All four had their eyes directed to the laptop screen, watching through the wasp-spy’s eye, as Reg moved it along with his controller. They finally found Colin and his mother in the morning room. Marilyn Harding was writing a note at the table and looked up just as the wasp-spy entered. The men and Monica all held their breaths, hoping she hadn’t seen it.
‘For heaven's sake, Colin,’ Marilyn said, flinging her pen down in irritation. ‘Do you have to sit there with a face as long as a wet weekend? I’m getting fed-up looking at it. Pull yourself together and do something productive.’
‘I don’t recall asking you to look at my face, Mother dear. If you had your jaw wired up, I’m sure you wouldn’t be brimming with joy and jubilation, so don’t keep on at me! Anyway, when are we going to hear something from that creepy friend of yours? Surely he would have found out where they’re hiding her by now.’
‘Don’t be so ridiculous. He only landed a couple of hours ago, and Grant will hardly have advertised his whereabouts. But from what I’ve been told, it won’t take Rapier long to find her, and for what I’m paying him, that had better be true. He said he’d be in touch when he has something to tell us.’
She pushed her writing pad aside and stared at her son. Her expression softened. ‘And for your information, he’s not a friend of mine, he’s an acquaintance of your cousin, whom, by the way, you can thank for letting us know that Grant flew off to the Bahamas with that little floozie! Look, as soon as he’s dealt with that stupid woman, then we can relax and get on with our lives. Until then, please at least try to be reasonable.’
‘If Father hadn’t been so tight with his money, none of this would be happening. It’s all his fault.’ Colin’s face darkened again.
‘Don’t you start that again. Your father has been more than patient with you. He didn’t make his money just for you to gamble it away. Grow up and try acting responsibly for once in your life.’
Reg had heard more than enough. He manoeuvred the wasp onto the top of the bookcase, and then put it in sleep mode before he slammed the laptop shut. ‘Well, I certainly didn’t expect that! Take us back to Monica’s, Jeff, I’ve got to warn Grant.’
‘Who the hell is the cousin that knew where Grant had taken her?’ Jeff started the engine and, after letting two cars go by, pulled out and drove off.
‘I don’t know. That's something we have to find out--and fast!’
*****
Grant stepped out of the shower, feeling a lot better. The strong winds had covered everything outside, including himself, in dust and grime.
Between them, Peter and he had secured everything that moved and made sure the windows and doors were all shuttered down. The winds were getting stronger, and he knew the hurricane would hit them in a few short hours.
The phone call from Jeff was one he really didn’t need at that moment. As it was, he told them to stay away until the hurricane was over. In the meantime, he could only hope Rapier didn't know where Grant's island is.
As much as I hate it, I can’t do a bloody thing until this storm is over. But once I get back into the UK, I will be wanting some answers!
A sudden crash against the shutters warned Grant the wind was intensifying. He quickly finished dressing and then dashed downstairs to see how the others were coping. He’d no sooner reached the ground floor when all the lights went out.
‘Give it a moment, ladies, I put the generator on standby just in case this should happen. We’ll have the power back soon,’ Peter assured them as he put his arm around his wife. Moments later, the lights came back on just as Grant walked into the kitchen.
With the stairs leading from the kitchen down to the underground bunkers, Grant knew that was the room Peter would have taken them. The bunker had been suggested to him when he was having the plans drawn up, and as hurricanes were a regular occurrence here, he’d readily agreed. Since moving in, he’d converted one of the rooms into a wine cellar.
The noise was growing louder and soon it would overwhelm them. He glanced across at Tania and could see she was frightened. The noise alone was terrifying. And it would get a lot worse. He moved over and sat next to her. No one spoke.
From what Grant could hear now, the force of the wind was far stronger, and the noise far louder than any they’d experienced before. He opened up his laptop, which was linked to the satellite, for a better idea of what was going on.
Peter was watching him, waiting for some reaction. When Grant looked up, he flicked his head, and Peter came over to take a look. He didn’t like what he was seeing. This was the mother of all hurricanes! And to make it worse, the images suggested its speed meant it would soon be right on top of them.
‘Take the ladies down to the underground rooms. I’ll go and fetch the new medical box I brought with me. We are not taking any chances, especially with Latifah as she is.’
Tania objected, wanting to stay with Grant.
‘Go! I’ll be down as soon as I’ve collected some emergency supplies.’ He put his hands on Tania’s shoulders and looked into her upturned face. ‘I will not let anything hurt you, love. Now go with Peter and Latifah and I’ll be down in a few minutes.’ He dropped his head and gave her a gentle kiss before letting her go. He glanced up at Peter and nodded.
‘Come on, Tania. I need you girls to stay together while I check everything down in the bunkers.’
Tania looked at Grant, then turned and followed Peter. Once he knew they were at the top of the cellar stairs, Grant dashed off to collect what he could. Coming back into the kitchen, he saw Peter filling a container with food and plenty of water bottles.
‘Just a few extras,’ Peter told him. ‘In all my years here, I’ve never heard such a row as this one's making.’
As if to add credence to what he’d said, a roar like neither had ever heard before made both men jump.
‘Move yourself,’ Grant shouted. ‘This will have to do. I don’t like the sound of this at all!’
Continued….
Characters...
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half-brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegate.
Margaret Lane -Grant’s receptionist.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of previous part.
‘Come with me, Tania. I need you ladies to stay together while I check on everything down in the bunker.’
Tania looked at Grant, then turned and followed Peter. Once he knew they were at the top of the cellar stairs, Grant dashed off to collect what he could. Coming back into the kitchen he saw Peter had returned and was hastily filling a container with food and plenty of water bottles.
‘Just a few extras,’ Peter told him. ‘In all my years here, I’ve never heard such a row as this one's making.’
As if to add credence to what he’d said, a roar like neither had ever heard before, made both men jump.
‘Move yourself,’ Grant shouted. ‘This will have to do. I don’t like the sound of this at all!’
Part 32
Monica stood stock-still. Hardly daring to breathe, she stared at the television showing the satellite pictures of a hurricane. The most terrifying aspect of it was the words she was hearing.
‘… picking up speed as it rampaged over the Bahamas leaving a trail of death and devastation in its wake ... In America, people are being told to find adequate shelter …. The Green party is blaming global warming, insisting the governments of the world sit up and take notice….’ The reporter’s words droned on and on, until Monica could bear it no longer.
‘Oh, my dear God, Tania and Grant are slap-bang in the middle of that!’ Monica set the tray she’d been holding on the table, then pulled out a chair to sit and watch as more pictures from the satellite were broadcast around the world.
‘Grant had the villa built to withstand hurricanes, but I think this one will be its greatest test.’ Jeff looked at Monica’s worried face. ‘Don’t worry, sweetheart, he’s put more precautions and safety devices in his place than we all thought was necessary. But now it looks as if he was right to do so.’
Jeff took hold of her small hand. ‘Beneath the villa he’s got an underground bunker, which he had fitted out for a long stay if necessary. I’m sure that’s where they’ll be right now, down there, sitting out the storm in complete safety. It’s fully equipped for any emergency so you have no need to worry.’
The impassioned intensity of his gaze went a long way to calm Monica’s quaking nerves.
‘At least Rapier won’t be able to get to them. And with any luck, he’ll be swept off with the winds and dropped in the ocean!’ Reg remarked flippantly, then chuckled, effectively lightening the mood.
‘We can but hope!’ Jeff reached out and picked up one of his favourite muffins. Since having tasted Monica’s a few weeks ago, he’d been badgering her to make more. ‘The best muffins in England,’ he told her before filling his mouth.
Monica pretended to be cross with him, ramming so much in at once, but inside, she was secretly pleased as Punch that he liked them so much. ‘Coffee, anyone?’ she asked as she lifted the pot and started pouring.
*****
Tania and Latifah were huddled together on a sofa-bed, terrified out of their minds. When Grant and Peter returned to the underground room, Tania thought of how she would have laughed had someone told her, just a few weeks ago, how pleased she would be to see him.
‘What was that awful roar?’ Her voice trembled, revealing how frightened she’d been. Her fear of Colin paled into insignificance compared to this new danger. At least she’d had a fighting chance against him, which was more than she’d have with this.
Grant crossed the room and sat beside her. ‘I believe we’ve just been hit by the inner wall of the hurricane. It's the fastest, most destructive part, which means we should soon be entering the eye.’
Peter’s eyebrows knitted together as he looked at Latifah’s ashen face. She’d lived through hurricanes many times, so he could only guess it was her concern for their child. A few long strides took him to her side. ‘You alright, love?’ Sitting next to her he placed his hand gently on her swollen stomach just in time to receive a hefty kick. ‘Well, at least Peanut’s fine!’ He grinned.
Latifah smiled, the strain on her features fading now that Peter was with her. ‘I think Peanut can sense my fear and knows something is wrong.’
‘Then, my dearest wife, it’s up to me to make sure you remain calm.’ He put a finger under her chin and looked her in the eyes. ‘I won’t let anything happen to you or our little Peanut. Okay?’
Latifah rested her head on Peter’s shoulder. ‘Okay.’
‘How much longer do you think we’ll be down here?’ Tania whispered to Grant. She understood Peter’s unease, because she’d been more than a little worried herself.
‘I’m no expert on these things, but, if I’m right, things are about to change. Once we’re in the eye, we’ll know we’re halfway through it. What we’ve experienced so far, will happen again, but in reverse. At least then we’ll know it will soon be all over.’ He turned to Peter. ‘I saw the fuel for the generator in the store room, you’ve kept it nicely stocked.’
‘Yes, I must be psychic, I brought more down last week.’
The four of them sat silently for a while, each with their own thoughts. Time slowed while waiting, as it always does. When Peter sat upright and cocked his head, listening, everyone else did, too. ‘Is it me, or am I right to say it’s gone quiet?’
They all remained still, hardly breathing. ‘Yes. It has. We must be in the eye.’ Grant stood up and waited a moment longer. ‘I’m going up to take a look.’
‘Be careful, Grant!’ Tania pleaded.
Grant smiled at her, and bending down, kissed her briefly. ‘I’ll be around for the long haul now, my girl.’ He smiled, and was about to move off when he saw Peter getting ready to follow. ‘No, you stay here with the girls. I only want to see if we’ve sustained any damage. I’m not going outside.’
By the time Grant was standing in the kitchen, the heavy silence following the thunderous roar of before, was eerie. He quickly moved through the rooms checking that all the extra safety measures he’d put in place when he had the villa built, including heavy metal shutters, had held up against the force of this violent, unprecedented hurricane. So far, each room he’d looked into showed they’d been well worth having done.
It was not the case in one guest room’s en-suite bathroom. The shutter had buckled under the immense strain and there was nothing he could do but hope it held against the next onslaught.
Closing the bathroom door, he carried on inspecting the rooms until he’d checked them all. He glanced at his watch, it was time to get back with the others. How long it took the eye to pass over, he hadn’t the foggiest idea. An hour? Two?
Joining the others, Grant was alarmed to find Tania comforting Latifah, and Peter standing, ashen faced, looking lost, and for the first time in his life, unsure of what to do.
‘What’s happened?’ Grant stared at Latifah, standing up, one hand on her stomach and the other pressing into her back.
‘She’s having contractions,’ Tania explained. ‘It is most likely a false alarm due to the stress she’s under. I’ve heard it’s quite common in such situations.’
She spoke lightly, but Grant could see she was trying hard to keep everyone calm, including herself.
Continued...
Although I use the words: Stock-still, to mean motionless, a lot, I didn’t know where the expression came from, so I investigated. This is what I found….
The expression stock-still originated in the 1400s. The word stock in stock-still means a tree stump; it is derived from the Old English word, stoc. In effect, the word stock-still means as immovable as a tree stump. So now you know!! Interesting isn’t it?
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Grant’s receptionist.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female, cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
I’m sorry this part is a bit shorter, and that it’s been a long time coming, but moving home is a nightmare at my age! Oh to be young again. We are nearly there, so hopefully I’ll be able to keep up again. I’m sorry I’ve not been around to do much reviewing, as well.
I know there is bound to be a few nits floating around this part, even though I’ve triple checked it. The brain has nose-dived again. If you would be so kind as to point any errors out, I will be so happy! (Happier still, if there aren’t any!)
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 32
Closing the bathroom door, he carried on inspecting the rooms until he’d checked them all. He glanced at his watch; it was time to get back with the others. How long it took the eye to pass over, he hadn’t the foggiest idea. An hour? Two?
Joining the others, Grant was alarmed to find Tania comforting Latifah, and Peter standing, ashen faced, looking lost and for the first time in his life, unsure of what to do.
‘What’s happened?’ Grant stared at Latifah, standing up, one hand on her tummy and the other pressing into her back.
‘She’s having contractions,’ Tania explained. ‘It is most likely a false alarm due to the stress she’s under. I’ve heard it’s quite common in such situations.’
She spoke lightly, but Grant could see she was trying hard to keep everyone calm, including herself.
Part 33
Grant’s jaw dropped. This was one situation he’d never had to deal with before. He stole a look at Peter hoping to see him more in control. He wasn’t—if anything, he was losing it completely.
Taking a deep breath, he waded in. ‘Peter, how about you take over from Tania so I can show her where everything is?’
Tania cottoned on immediately. ‘What a good idea. Yes, Peter, come and sit with Latifah. She needs your hand more than mine, and it will help to have you by her side.’ She looked at Latifah and grinned. ‘You can squeeze his hand as hard as you like.’
‘Oh, yeah ... right … okey-dokey—’ Peter stopped as he heard himself, and cringed, shaking his head. ‘What the hell is wrong with me? I’m acting like a frightened kid. Of course I’ll take over. Come on, love. Why don’t you lie down on your side, and I’ll give your back a massage?' He gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head, then helped her onto the sofa-bed to get into position. ‘That’s the ticket. Everything is going to be fine.’
Grant and Tania watched for a moment and then Grant turned and caught Tania’s eye. ‘If it’s alright with you, perhaps I can persuade you to make us all a nice cup of tea. I’d make it, but as Peter knows, I’m useless in the kitchen—I even manage to burn water—trust me, it’s true!’ he said when Tania gave him a look that spoke volumes. ‘Isn’t that right, Peter? I’m sure Latifah would love one, I know I would.’
If my memory serves me right, tea is not only refreshing it also helps steady the nerves. ‘Shout if you need us,’ Grant told them as he led Tania away.
There wasn’t much to show. When he had the underground room added to the plans, he’d prepared for the worst case scenario, that being the house collapsing upon them. He ensured they’d survive if they needed to be dug out. At a very early age, he’d always thought ahead of what might possibly happen rather than get caught out in any situation, and it had saved his bacon many times whilst in the forces.
‘This is the kitchen, such as it is,’ he said, grinning. He went on to show her the stocked cupboards of tinned food, and the freezer full of ready-made meals that Latifah had cooked.
‘She changes them over every few months so they will still be good in an emergency. So far, we’ve never had to stay down here longer than a few hours. Hopefully, that will also apply today.’
‘You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?’ Tania moved around the small kitchen checking out all the important items Grant had added before picking up the kettle and filling it with water from the bottles that were kept in the fridge. ‘I’m worried about Latifah,’ she said when she’d put it on one of the portable gas rings. ‘I don’t think those were false alarms. How long do you think this hurricane will last?’
‘I haven’t the foggiest idea. I’ve never been in one as bad as this. Thankfully, the house is standing up to it well. If it comes to it, what are you like at delivering babies?’
Tania nearly choked. ‘Me? I don’t think I’ve ever held a newborn baby, let alone delivered one! What are you like?’
‘I thought it would be natural for a woman.’ He realised he’d said the wrong thing when he saw her eyes spark with indignation. 'Sorry, that was a stupid, and very sexist, thing to say. But like you, I’ve never held a baby, either. Don’t worry, we’ll muddle through.’
‘Muddle through? Honestly! Anyone would think Latifah was baking a cake! Come on, let’s finish making this tea and get back. I want to time how long it is between contractions. I’ve watched quite a few hospital dramas on the television and it appears the closer they come, the closer the baby is to being born—’
‘Hell! What was that?’
Tania stopped what she was doing. The agonising cry of pain curdled her mind. ‘You sort the tea out, I’ll go to Latifah!’ she ordered, before spinning on her heel and dashing off.
Latifah’s head was cradled on Peter’s lap as he mopped her brow. Both heads turned, their eyes filled with obvious relief, as Tania came back in. Tania knew then she had to take control, even though she hadn’t a clue what to do. She tried to penetrate her memory box to search for a television scene that would help her through this.
‘I think we should start timing your contractions,’ she said, surprising herself at how calm she sounded. She checked her watch and made a note of the time. ‘It might be a good idea if we turn this into a bed now so we can make you more comfortable. Can you stand up for a while?’
Latifah nodded and smiled weakly, then Peter gently lifted his wife’s head off his lap and stood to help her up. ‘Ready, love?’
Latifah nodded again and held her arms out and Peter got into position. Tania moved forward to help as well, putting her arm under Latifah’s and around her back so she could take some of the weight. ‘Lean on us,’ she told her. ‘That’s it. Okay, Peter, let’s get your wife up so we can make this bed for her.’ She could see the effort was starting to tell on her. Beads of sweat glistened on Latifah’s forehead.
Just then, Grant came in with a tray of tea. He quickly took in the situation, and put the tray down. ‘Hold on, I’ll sort the sofa out.’ In less than a minute it became a bed. Pillows and sheets were underneath in the storage drawer, and soon it was ready for Latifah to lay on.
‘Let’s get you down, sweetheart.’ He took over from Tania, and she went off to get some cool water to wipe Latifah’s face.
Peter had no sooner puffed up the pillow for her to lay her head on, when she cried out, grabbing his hand as another pain shot through her.
Tania glanced at her watch. Five minutes. This wasn’t good. She quickly filled a bowl with water and grabbed a cloth before going back.
As if she believed Tania was able to deliver her baby, Latifah caught her hand just as she was about to wipe her forehead, and looked, pleadingly, into her eyes. ‘My baby … she will be good, yes? It is too early for her to be born, but she is a strong baby…’
Tania threw a glance at Grant. He and Peter were watching her, waiting for the answer. Dear God! Please help me do this right. Please, don’t let this baby die before she has had a chance to live.
‘I am going to do my very best to help this very impatient little baby girl come into the world. And if you haven’t already decided, perhaps you’d like to spend a few minutes thinking up a name. Patience or Storm, sound like good ones to me!’ Tania gave a chuckle, trying hard to lighten the nervous tension in the room, and was rewarded with a giggle from Latifah.
It would have been fine had the hurricane not decided to choose that moment to crash through the wall on the other side of the eye. The noise was horrendous.
Latifah screamed in agony as another contraction speared her body. ‘I think she’s coming!’
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Grant’s receptionist.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Lives on Grant’s Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
| Author Notes |
Thank you everyone for reading this part. I'm almost straight again, just have a ton or two of boxes to dispose of. What a nightmare this has been, but now we can see the light of day, I think it has been worth it. I am NEVER going to move again!
If you see any nits, please tell me. You know what my brain is like at the moment. :( xxxx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 33
‘I am going to do my very best to help this very impatient little baby girl come into the world. And if you haven’t already decided, perhaps you’d like to spend a few minutes thinking up a name. Patience or Storm, sound like good ones to me!’ Tania gave a chuckle, trying hard to lighten the nervous tension in the room, and was rewarded with a giggle from Latifah.
It would have been fine had the hurricane not decided to choose that moment to crash through the wall on the other side of the eye. The noise was horrendous.
Latifah screamed in agony as another contraction speared her body. ‘I think she’s coming!’
Part 34
Quickly grabbing one of the sheets Grant had dropped on the floor, Tania covered Latifah to give her some dignity before she checked out what was happening.
Thankfully, Latifah wasn't wearing any underwear so Tania could easily see what was happening. What she saw would stay with her forever, the baby’s head was already in the birth canal. This little girl is in a big hurry!
Suddenly, another thought sprung to mind. Tania looked up at Grant. ‘This baby wants to come now, so let’s get ready for her. Do you have any string down here?’
The look on both Grant’s and Peter’s face was priceless, and would normally have had Tania curled up laughing, but now wasn’t the time. ‘We’ll need something to tie the umbilical cord when she arrives so I can cut it. What have you got?’
Relief flooded both faces, but it was Peter who came up with the perfect solution. He turned to Grant. ‘Go into the laundry room, Latifah keeps her cloth pegs on top of the washing machine--will they be okay?’ The last he asked Tania.
‘Excellent idea. Well done, Peter. Grant? Is there any boiled water left in the kettle? They need to be sterilized.’
‘Leave it with me,’ he told her and rushed off.
Tania checked the baby again, just as another contraction hit Latifah. ‘Push, Latifah, push! Come on, give it all you’ve got!’
Latifah panted and pushed, squeezing Peter’s hand hard. He was bent over her, encouraging her with loving words. ‘My clever girl, you’re doing fine. I love you so much,’ he told her and Tania could tell he meant it, too.
Another contraction, this time a strong one. Latifah screamed out, her face scrunched up as she tried to push.
‘Come on, Latifah, I have her head in sight, she’s nearly here … PUSH! That’s it, now again! PUSH!’
The next moment a screaming little bundle was being cradled in Tania’s hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked into the baby girl’s tiny, angry face.
Grant had come back and stood in the doorway, his face registering awe at what he had just witnessed. He gazed at Tania holding the little baby. Her face was a picture to behold. In that moment he knew, without question, he loved her, and wanted to be in her life for the rest of his.
Peter snapped out of his trance first, grabbing the wrapped sterilized pegs from Grant and quickly handed them to Tania. She, in turn, handed him his daughter. Quickly putting a peg a few inches apart on the cord, Tania then took the scissors from Grant, who had fortunately had the forethought to bring them as well. Once she had cut the cord, she told Peter he could now hand the baby to her mother.
One thing Tania hadn’t thought of was what came next. When she checked to see if Latifah had torn during the birth, she saw something else coming. The placenta. ‘Oh!’ She looked up as she explained what was happening now. ‘I think we should keep it safe and take it with us to the hospital as soon as we can get off this island. Do you have anything suitable I can use?’
Again, Peter came to the rescue, this time rushing off himself. He was back in minutes carrying a cooler box. ‘I know it’s not what the hospitals would use, but do you think it will do?’
Tania smiled. ‘Under the circumstances, I’d say it was perfect. Well done!’ She then disappeared under the sheet, telling Latifah to get ready for one last push, and she did. The placenta was soon in the box, lid closed and ready to take with them.
Then she took a moment to gaze down at the baby. Latifah smiled up at her, her face radiant with joy. ‘Thank you, Tania. I will never forget what you have done for me today.’ Her voice was little more than a whisper. ‘I will make sure Peanut knows all about her incredible journey into the world when she grows up.’
Now it was Grant’s turn. ‘Peanut! For goodness sake, I hope you are going to give this baby a better name than that! The poor child will suffer acute humiliation in school.’
They all laughed and Latifah looked down lovingly at little Peanut. ‘Of course she'll be given a proper name,' she told them. 'We’ve already made a list of some we like; we've just got to decide which ones will suit her best.’
‘Thank goodness for that!’ Grant looked down at Tania standing beside him, and put his arm around her shoulders. ‘You did well, sweetheart.’
‘She certainly did! Thank you, Tania, there are no words I can think of that are adequate enough to describe our feelings.’ Peter’s eyes were welling up, and he quickly brushed them away.
‘It was my honour and pleasure,’ Tania said, flushed with emotions. She smiled down at the baby, sleeping in Latifah’s arms. ‘I’m going to get a bowl of warm water to clean you up, okay? You have a cuddle.’
‘I’ll get it,’ Grant told her.
‘No! No, it’s alright, I’ll be able to stretch my legs.’ Without waiting for him to argue, Tania rushed out of the room. Once in the small kitchen, all her pent up emotions were released. She leaned against the unit and covered her face with her hands as tears gushed out in a torrent.
‘I knew there was something up,’ Grant told her gently. He'd followed her realising she was in the throes of an explosion of emotions. He came over and took Tania in his arms, holding her close as she wept her heart out. ‘You were simply amazing, my dear, sweet Tania, I couldn’t be prouder.’ He stroked her hair as he spoke soft soothing words. ‘Without you here, I don’t think Latifah or the baby would have survived. You can hold your head up high, my love.’
That stopped the tears. Did Grant just call me his love? If only that were true. He’s just saying that to me because he’s being nice. Don’t go making a fool of yourself, that’s the last thing you want to do.
She extracted herself gently from Grant’s arms, not that she wanted to. ‘I’m sorry, it’s just me being foolish. That was the most awesome experience I’ve ever had! Never having seen a new-born baby up close before, let alone deliver one, which, I can tell you now, will be the first and last time! It was also the scariest experience I’ve ever had.’ She gave him a wobbly grin.
Grant gave a soft chuckle. ‘Well, I can tell you now, no one would have believed you’d not done it before. You came across calm and in control, just like a seasoned midwife. But let’s hope the next new-born baby you hold will be your own.’ And mine, if I have any say in the matter. Now, I have to approach this carefully. I don’t want to frighten her away.
They sorted out the hot water and towels and went back to what would now be referred to as the delivery room!
After laying out the bowl and towels on the small table, she turned to the men. ‘If you don’t mind stepping into the other room, I’d like to clean the new mother and her baby up now. I’m sure she’d like that, too. Is there anything we can use to put Peanut in for a while? At least until we can get her crib out for her?’
‘We don’t have a crib yet,’ Latifah replied. ‘My family believes it is bad luck to buy the baby things before it is born. If this awful hurricane hadn’t happened, I would be in hospital now, and my family would all be rushing out to buy her everything she needs, and more.’
Tania saw the wistfulness in Latifah’s eyes. ‘Well, it won’t be long before this is all over and we can get you over to the mainland and in the hospital. But that doesn’t solve our immediate problem.’
‘Hang on! I’ve just remembered what my grandmother told me, many times over the years. When my mother was born, they had to use a drawer for her cot. It was during the war and they couldn’t afford such luxuries.’ Peter smiled. ‘She’s going to be thrilled that her great granddaughter will start her life in the same way!’
‘That’s lovely!’ Tania told him with a smile. ‘Let’s do that, then.’
Peter kissed his wife on the lips and dropped another on Peanut’s head. ‘I’ll be right back.’
‘And I’ll leave to give you some privacy.’ Grant winked at Latifah. ‘Well done, sweetheart.’
Tania quickly set about washing mother and baby and then pumped up the pillows so Latifah could lie back and relax with little Peanut.
'I wish I had a camera or my phone with me so I could take a photo of you both.' Tania gazed down at the tiny baby nestled in her mother's arms, and a sudden unfamiliar feeling hijacked her emotions. To have a baby of her own one day filled her heart, awakening all her sleeping maternal feelings.
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Grant’s receptionist. She has been with the company for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Native pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
| Author Notes |
Thank you for reading this part. I really have appreciated you support and your patience while I've been moving. I will be back with you full time very soon!
This is written in UK English. |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 34
Peter kissed his wife on the lips and dropped another on Peanut’s head. ‘I’ll be right back.’
‘And I’ll leave to give you some privacy.’ Grant winked at Latifah. ‘Well done, sweetheart.’
Tania quickly set about washing mother and baby and then pumped up the pillows so Latifah could lie back and relax with little Peanut.
'I wish I had a camera or my phone with me so I could take a photo of you both.' Tania gazed down at the tiny baby nestled in her mother's arms, and a sudden unfamiliar feeling hijacked her emotions. To have a baby of her own one day filled her heart, awakening all her sleeping maternal feelings.
Part 35
The thought of having her own children made Tania smile. You have to find a husband first, my girl! Grant’s name popped into her head, and she quickly shook it away.
A shuffling sound behind her had Tania turning around. The smile, still full on her face, disappeared in an instant. She gasped, and moved instinctively to stand in front of Latifah and Peanut.
Slumped against the door was a man she had never seen before. Blood dripped from a gash in his head, and the bloodstain on his shirt was spreading. The main focus of her attention, though, was the knife in his hand. Mesmerised, she watched as he brought it up and pointed the blade straight at her.
Tania swallowed the scream before it had a chance to escape. Conscious of the new life behind her, and the baby’s mother, she knew that what she did now could have drastic consequences for them all. ‘H … who are you? What do you want?’
Her eyes wouldn’t leave the knife. She recognised it as the meat carver; he had to have taken it from the kitchen upstairs. She noticed how his hand shook--perhaps she could talk him out of whatever it is he was going to do.
‘There’s a mother with her new-born baby behind me … Surely you don’t want to harm them, do you? Please, will you put the knife down and let me see to your wounds?’
He swayed slightly to look behind her. ‘Listen lady ... I’m not here for them … only you. Move ... away and they won’t get hurt.’
His hands were shaking badly now, and sweat glistened on his face. Tania saw him wince and put his free hand where the blood was seeping through his shirt. It was plain to see that he was in a lot of pain.
‘Let me help you,’ she said, taking a step toward him.
‘Stay where you are! Get back!’ Stretching his arm out, he raised the knife, waving it at her.
‘Where’s Mr Blake and Mr Shore?’ he whispered. 'And don't lie to me.'
‘I don’t know. They left me when I was delivering the baby.’ Tania was astonished to hear how calm she sounded.
‘I said DON'T LIE!’ The man was becoming hysterical, then just as quickly, lowered his voice. ‘Mr Shore wouldn’t be far away while his wife was having his child. Where are they?’ His voice had risen again, and his eyes were darting wildly.
Tania could see how nervous he was, which made her fear greater. She wished she could reason with him, and get him to tell her what he really wanted. ‘If you know Mr Shore, you must know this is his wife behind me, for crying out loud! You wouldn’t want to hurt an innocent child, would you?’
Just for an instant the man closed his eyes but not long enough for Tania to try and make a grab at the knife. When he opened them, she was surprised to see tears well up in his eyes.
‘What is it you want? I don’t have any money down here. Shall we go up to the main living area?’ Again, she went to take a step forward.
‘I don’t want your money! I told you to move away from the bloody bed, not come closer to me!' As if realising he was losing control, he took a few ragged, deep breaths. Tania watched as he steadied his arm, and with the knife still pointed towards her, he took a step forward. His hand started shaking and his eyes showed how scared he was. ‘Look, I … I’m … sorry, I don’t want to do this … but--!’
‘Then don’t! Please, think about it, why do you have to kill me? Tell me!’
Tears had started rolling down the man's face. Tania was both scared and perplexed. ‘Why? Please, if I have to die, please, at least tell me why?’
The next second, she saw Grant, swinging a large china jug, come up behind the man, and smashed it on his head. The man gave Tania a startled look before he collapsed into a heap on the floor. Then Grant stepped over the man’s body in time to catch Tania as her legs went to mush.
‘He was going to kill me! Why? Why was he going to do that?’ Tania’s white face registered her shock and distress.
‘Oh God, if I’d lost you now …’ Grant’s voice broke as he crushed her in his arms.
‘What the hell!’ Peter had turned the stunned man over to see who it was. Then looked across at Grant. ‘It’s José!’
Grant frowned and looked over his shoulder at the man on the ground. ‘José! What the f…?’ He looked down at Tania, and corrected himself. ‘This is crazy!’
All this time, Latifah had been silent. Fear for her baby had made her incapable of speech, but now her whole body shook as the tears streamed down her face. Peter was up and over to her immediately. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he wrapped his arms protectively around his wife and baby, recognising how easily he could have lost them both.
Grant realised he hadn't told Tania how much he loved her. She could have died without knowing. He would rectify that as soon as possible.
‘How are you feeling now?’ Grant asked her.
Tania nodded, ‘I’m okay. I … It was the shock of suddenly realising I could die. Is that Rapier?’
Grant’s facial expression was grim. ‘No. Believe it or not, you’ve just met my gardener. Are you okay for a while? I want to find out what the hell is going on.’
'Yes, you go and see to him. Take a look at the wound in his stomach, as well. I didn't like the look of it.'
Grant gave Tania a strange look before settling her on a chair. After all he's put her through, she's still concerned about his wound! Is there any logic to this woman? He then went over, and none too gently, pulled the man up and shook him awake. The grogginess in his eyes soon cleared, to be replaced by fear.
‘I suggest you start talking, before I totally lose it! What in hell’s name was all that about? And don’t think you can fob me off with a pack of lies, either!’ The fury in Grant’s voice was enough to have José talking rapidly in his own language. Grant could speak fluent Spanish, but he was hard pressed to understand half of what the man was saying.
‘Stop! I think you and I had better take a walk into the next room.’ He turned to Peter. ‘Is Latifah okay? Give me a shout if anything else unexpected should happen.’
‘Yeah. You go and sort him out before I forget myself and put my hands around his scrawny neck!’ Peter was furious, and Grant was two hundred percent behind him.
When he’d gone, Tania went around the other side of the bed and stood by Latifah. ‘Are you alright? Is there anything I can do?’
Latifah gave a little smile. ‘No, I was scared for you and Peanut … I couldn’t do anything to help and … and …’ The tears started again as she tried to speak, but couldn’t.
‘You protected Peanut. That is your prime job now. You did well not letting your emotions spill out while you held her. She'll be fine and so will you.’ Tania’s eyes held Latifah’s and didn’t waver.
After a few moments, Latifah gave a shuddering sigh. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
Peter looked up at Tania from his uncomfortable perch on the side of the bed. ‘We seem to be forever thanking you, Tania. I can see why Grant loves you so much. I never expected to see that look in his eyes again.’
Before Tania could put Peter straight, Grant came rushing back into the room. All three turned, and were immediately alarmed at his livid expression.
‘What?’ Peter was the first to ask.
‘It seems all this is Rapier’s doing. A little thing like a hurricane wasn’t going to get in his way. It appears he knew José worked for me, and had his address. Now who in blazes told him that? Tania and I’ll be flying back to London and finding out who is betraying us as soon as we know that José and his family are safe. This is no longer a safe haven.’
‘Okay, but what has that got to do with what happened here? Why would José try to kill Tania?’
Tania held his gaze, waiting to hear how Grant would answer that question.
‘Apparently, he made some enquiries and discovered where Anna and the children would be waiting out the hurricane. At the same time, he found out José was still over here. Knowing no one would bring him across with the hurricane getting closer, or whether it would be possible to get over here after it had passed, he had Anna call her husband. In a nutshell, he told José if he wanted to come home and find his wife and children still alive, he had to kill Tania.’
Peter’s arm tightened around Latifah. ‘So what can we do? The hurricane is still too volatile to get over there.’
‘I’ve sent a message to the team. The jet is waiting for them and they’ll be flying out straight away. I just hope they’ll get to Ann and the children in time.’
Tania was distraught. ‘That poor man! All this is my fault; I shouldn’t have set that trap to catch Colin out. Everything has gone so wrong since then. This has nothing to do with those poor people! I have to do something.’
Grant was swift in taking hold of Tania. ‘Let’s get one thing straight. This is NOT your fault! Colin is a lying, cheating thief, and obviously he and my so-called mother are not against paying someone to commit murder for them! What you did was foolish, but understandable, given the position I put you in. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I knew what my half-brother was like, I should never have bought those plans off him until I’d thoroughly checked them out. Then you wouldn’t have been put in the position to prove yourself.’ He closed his eyes and groaned. ‘I’ve certainly made a mess of things.’
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Grant’s receptionist. 40-years-old. Came to work for him two years ago. Unmarried.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male, African ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, pregnant. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
END OF PART 35
‘...In a nutshell, Rapier told José if he wanted to come home and find his wife and children still alive, he had to kill Tania.’
Peter’s arm tightened around Latifah. ‘So what can we do? The hurricane is still too volatile to get over there.’
‘I’ve sent a message to the team. The jet is waiting for them and they’ll be flying out straight away. I just hope they’ll get to Ann and the children in time.’
Tania was distraught. ‘That poor man! All this is my fault; I shouldn’t have set that trap to catch Colin out. Everything has gone so wrong since then. This has nothing to do with those poor people! I have to do something.’
Grant was swift in taking hold of Tania. ‘Let’s get one thing straight. This is NOT your fault! Colin is a lying, cheating thief, and obviously he and my so-called mother are not against paying someone to commit murder for them! What you did was foolish, but understandable, given the position I put you in. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine. I knew what my half-brother was like, I should never have bought those plans off him until I’d thoroughly checked them out. Then you wouldn’t have been put in the position to prove yourself.’ He closed his eyes and groaned. ‘I’ve certainly made a mess of things.’
PART 36
Monica stared out at the devastation below. The hurricane had passed this area, and the private jet was coming into land. Fortunately, the runway had been cleared and it was a relatively gentle touchdown.
The flight had been long and tiring, but worrying about Tania had robbed Monica of any chance to get some reasonable shut-eye. Now, standing on the tarmac, sleep was forgotten as the buzz at seeing her foster sister again took over.
‘How far from here is Grant’s island?’ she asked Jeff, who had just come up to stand beside her.
‘You can’t see it, but it’s over there,’ he said, pointing in the direction where they’d be going. ‘There are several small islands and Grant’s is somewhere in the middle.’
Jeff stood for a moment taking in his surroundings. Had it not been for the damage the hurricane had left in its wake, you’d never have guessed there had been one. The sky was a calm, lazy blue, not a powder-puff of a cloud in sight. His thoughts turned to Grant. He had to get in touch and let him know they’d arrived.
‘Let’s get out of this heat.’ He put his hand under Monica’s elbow, and steered her towards the immigration terminal. ‘Have you got your passport ready?’
Monica waved it in the air. ‘How long before we get to see Tania and Grant? I hope everyone has survived the hammering they took--I have to admit I’ve been really worried about them.’
‘Likewise. I’m going to call him now,’ he told her as he took his mobile from his pocket.
Reg and Shadow appeared out of the hangar where some of the smaller sea-planes and helicopters were kept.
‘I’ve managed to get us a ride,’ Reg said, smiling. ‘The pilot is preparing to get it in the water now. Have you spoken to Grant yet?’
‘I’m just about to. Let’s get inside.’
*****
Grant put his mobile back in his pocket. ‘They’ve arrived at Nassau and have managed to get a ride on a seaplane. Do you want to come with me? I'm going down to the jetty to pick them up.’
Tania looked up from tending to José’s wounds. 'Of course! Did you even have to ask?' she told Grant with a grin.
She then turned her attention back to her patient. 'That'll do for now, José. You've stopped bleeding. Just stay still for a while.'
She’d cleaned and bound his wounds as best she could. He’d explained the gash on his head had come from a flying branch. The nastier wound was the one in José’s side which had been caused by a jagged piece of metal. He’d not had any time to get out of its way as it all happened so fast. Thankfully, he’d kept his tetanus injections up to date, so he wasn’t in danger of blood poisoning. But Tania told him she’d feel happier once they could get him to a hospital.
José had been quick to reply. ‘I’ll not be going to any hospital until I know my Anna and children are safe.’ The worry in his eyes was clearly evident.
Tania tried to assure him they’d be fine. But he wasn’t listening. He’d believe it when he could see them for himself.
It had been roughly three hours since the hurricane had finished battering Grant’s island and headed off towards the mainland of America. Grant hoped the force of the winds would have at least diminished before then, but very much doubted it.
The damage to his house was minimal, thanks to the extra safeguards he’d put in place. But the outside had been a different matter. The swimming pool had somehow gained a small, very damaged fishing boat, and lots of rubbish from neighbouring islands. Fortunately, the shrubs were so dense, they had survived, keeping the trees protected from the gales, as well. Most of the damage could be repaired or was of no consequence.
*****
Leaving José and Latifah settled comfortably in the large airy lounge and Peanut sound asleep in her proper crib, Tania went off with Grant and Peter to meet their friends.
The drive down to the jetty wasn’t without its mishaps. Grant had to stop several times on the way, but with Tania and Peter’s help, they soon had the debris moved to the side of the road.
When they finally reached the jetty, it was in time to see the arrival of their friends. Tania jumped out of the open-top jeep, and ran down to wrap her arms around Monica, both squealing with delight at seeing each other again.
Grant went over and shook hands with Jeff, Reg and Shadow. ‘Good to see you all. I’ll fill you in with the latest happenings once you’ve had a chance to freshen up. How was the flight? Bumpy?’
‘No. Surprisingly, it was as smooth as a baby's backside,’ Reg replied as they all headed towards the jeep. ‘I’m glad to get here, though. I’ve never been one for long distance flying. Going to France is bad enough!’
‘Hmm, I seem to remember that in the services.’ Grant grinned as his memory brought up an image of Reg’s sickly pallor whenever they flew. ‘Tania, come and meet Shadow, he’s one of the team.’
Tania smiled, her hand extended to shake his. ‘Nice to meet you,’ she said. Shadow gave her a warm smile, and Tania found herself liking him straight away.
‘Be warned,’ Monica laughed. ‘He's a cheeky devil, too!’
‘Moi? Don’t you listen to her, Tania. I’m a pussy cat … ask your friends here.’
When that was greeted with jeers, Shadow put on a hurt look, and everyone laughed all the more.
The drive back was straightforward, and much to their relief, they were soon entering the cool interior of the villa. It was only then the lads discovered the new arrival, and were quick to congratulate Peter and Latifah.
‘You kept that quiet!’ Jeff told Peter, slapping him on the back and laughing. ‘I’m relieved to see she has Latifah’s gorgeous looks and not your ugly mug!’
Peter grinned. ‘Thanks, mate! Yes, she’s a real beauty, alright. I still can’t get my head around the fact that I’m her dad.’
Both Jeff and Reg were soon making ridiculous cooing sounds to the baby girl, who was fast asleep, while Shadow stood back shaking his head. Latifah could only laugh, but enjoyed a hug from the pair of them.
Monica went over to see the baby, and went all broody, raising her eyebrows in a questioning look at Jeff. Of course, everyone saw it and laughed, giving Jeff a teasing nudge.
*****
They had finished a light lunch before Grant took the three men out onto the patio and got down to the problem at hand.
After putting them in the picture by explaining what José had told him, they settled down to work out strategies.
'We have to get Rapier away from Anna and the kids. This is priority one. They're innocents, I won't have their deaths on my conscience.' He gave Jeff and Reg a meaningful glance. ‘José has told me where they go for safety when there’s a hurricane coming, but now it’s passed; Rapier could have taken them anywhere.’
‘Agreed,’ Jeff muttered. ‘So if we make our first destination based on where we know they were last at, we can work from there. Someone might have seen something.’
They all agreed.
‘The sooner we get going, the better chance we have of finding them,’ Grant concluded. ‘Let’s get ready then, gentlemen.’
They were about to get up when José came out. ‘I’m sorry for eavesdropping. It wasn’t intentional. But once you started on about my Anna, I couldn’t help it. I’m coming, too,’ he told them firmly. ‘No,’ he held his hand up when Grant opened his mouth to speak. ‘I’m coming and that’s final. She’s my wife and they're my kids.’
‘Look, it’s not that we don’t understand what you’re going through, José. But look at yourself. What good will you be? All you’ll be doing is making it harder for us to track him down because we’ll be worried about you. Stay here, and I promise I’ll bring Anna and the children back.’
José stared at Grant. The sudden flare of anger in his eyes died away, leaving an overwhelming look of despair in its place.
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
| Author Notes |
This is written in UK English so some spellings will be different to those in US English.
Thank you for reading this part. It's a lot calmer than the previous two chapters, but don't let the fool you! Any error you find, as you all know, are gratefully received. xxx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 36
‘The sooner we get going the better chance we have of finding them,’ Grant ended. ‘Let’s get ready then, gentlemen.’
They were about to get up when José came out. ‘I’m sorry for eavesdropping. It wasn’t intentional. But once you started on about my Anna, I couldn’t help it. I’m coming, too,’ he told them firmly. ‘No,’ he held his hand up when Grant opened his mouth to speak. ‘I’m coming and that’s final. She’s my wife and they're my kids.’
‘Look, it’s not that we don’t understand what you’re going through, José. But look at yourself. What good will you be? All you’ll be doing is making it harder for us to track him down because we’ll be worried about you. Stay here, and I promise I’ll bring Anna and the children back.’
José stared at Grant. The sudden flare of anger in his eyes died away, leaving an overwhelming look of despair in its place.
Part 37
Because of the rubbish that had been dumped in the water by the hurricane, Grant drove his speedboat with care through the gently lapping waves. Looking at all the debris, he could see it would take quite a while to clean up, although the sea itself would most likely throw the majority of it back onto the shore.
When Jeff pointed out what appeared to be a seemingly undamaged, wooden house floating in the water, Grant wondered if there was anyone trapped inside. Not needing more than that fleeting thought, he turned his speedboat around, and went to investigate.
As they pulled up next to the structure, they heard a faint whimpering coming from inside. Stripping down to his boxer shorts, Grant jumped into the water and swam up to the front. It took some effort to open the door as he pushed against the water. He knew he had to be quick because, before long, the influx of water would cause the house to sink
Grant pulled himself up onto the doorstep and, after steadying himself against the sudden rocking, he went inside. ‘Hello! Is there anyone here?’ he called out, and listened. He called once more and was rewarded with the faintest whimper.
Grant cautiously moved, one step at a time, into the room. His forehead glistened with beads of sweat as he tried not to hasten the house's journey to the bottom of the sea. It was then he spotted a dog curled up on a wooden box. His tail thumped slowly when he saw Grant, but he didn’t attempt to get up.
Grant tried to get closer, but the house wobbled precariously. He needed the dog to leave the box and paddle over to him.
‘Come to me, boy,’ he said softly. ‘Let’s get you out of here and back to your owners.’ He watched as the dog tried to stand. It was then Grant saw his fur was matted with blood on the left-hand side. Keeping his voice soft and gentle, he continued to murmur his words of encouragement.
‘Come on, there’s a good boy. That’s it.’ The dog began dragging his rear leg towards the edge of the box, and then with a little whine, dropped into the water. He paddled with his two front legs until he was close enough for Grant to scoop him into his arms.
‘There you go. Well done, boy.’ Careful not to cause further injury to the dog, Grant made his way back to the door. Reg had managed to position the speedboat right up at the front.
‘Here, take him from me, will you?’ he called over to Shadow. Being the tallest, his arms were also the longest.
‘Okay, I’ve got him.’ Shadow looked down at the frightened dog, and saw the blood. ‘You know he’s hurt?’
‘Yeah, keep hold of him in case he tries to jump overboard.’ Grant poked his head back inside the door and called out one more time, in case there was anyone else in there. But no, it looked like it was just the dog.
Back in his boat, he restarted the engine and set off to shore.
‘What are you going to do with the mutt?’ Reg said, stroking the dog’s head.
‘If there’s a vet close by, we’ll drop him off there. If not … I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.’
Grant cruised into the harbour and shut off the engine. ‘Here, go and secure her,’ he told Jeff, as he threw him the docking line.
Five minutes later they were walking along a battered main road.
*****
Rapier congratulated himself on the success of his plan. He’d known from the start that José wouldn’t have the guts to get the job done. But he’d thought there was at least a fifty-fifty chance he would whilst under the threat of losing his family.
The spineless git! He couldn’t even do it to save his kids. What kind of father does that make him? Some people are just not worth spitting on. He gave a twisted smile at his own sick joke.
If he was completely honest with himself, he'd have to admit he wasn’t too upset that Tania was still alive because now he’d have the satisfaction of killing her himself. He’d kill José, too, but the fact that he knew he’d never find his wife and children again, at least, not until they were long dead, gave him far greater pleasure.
Oh you sadistic bastard! He allowed himself a chuckle at that thought. A picture of Anna and her kids came to mind. The smell of abject fear in Anna had permeated the air around them. How he’d delighted in taking large, deep breaths, gulping in the stench of fear. He covered their mouths with duct tape before tying them to the roof support beams; she knew what was going to happen.
She knew he wasn’t going to let José, or them, live. For all she knew, her husband could be dead already. And who would think to look for them in their own attic? Someone might knock on the door, they might even look through the window, but that would be all. It only took the look in her eyes to tell him all that.
Oh what joy these jobs give me, and I get paid as well!
He glanced down at his watch and smiled. There was plenty of time to do the deed and get off this God-forsaken island before Grant and his team came back. Such a pity he wouldn’t be around to see their faces when they returned to see the fruits of his labour. He checked his gun and made ready to go. ‘Time to get started, you lucky man!’
Anyone hearing the sound of his deathly-cold laugh would have been forgiven for turning and running as far away as they could.
Easing his way out of the shrubbery he’d been hiding in, Rapier stretched his protesting limbs to get the blood flowing again. The pain as his legs slowly came to life, was well worth the effort of staying hidden. Now he had a long walk to the house.
*****
The first thing Grant did was take the wounded dog to the veterinary practice he’d spotted. Luckily, it was open for business. Grant asked him if he recognised the dog, but the vet just shook his head, telling him there were too many strays around these parts to know if this one had an owner. If he wanted, he’d put him down, as it was cruel to keep him alive and in pain.
Grant was horrified and told the vet he’d pay for the dog's treatment. After the physician had checked the dog over, he told Grant the wound wasn’t as bad as it looked. A small operation and then he’d like to keep the dog under observation for the night. If he’d like to come back the next day, he should be well enough for Grant to take him home.
Pleased that one job had been achieved to his satisfaction, Grant now put all his thoughts and concentration into finding Anna and the children.
The next stop was the hurricane shelter, and the team studied it carefully. After checking, they were surprised to find there was only one entrance, a large, solid, storm door. It was shut tight and too thick to hear anything on the other side.
With his hand on the bolt, Grant slowly drew it back. It was quiet, not a sound came as he pulled it across. It had been kept well-oiled due to the many times it was used. Reg and Shadow moved in closer, while Jeff had his gun out, prepared. All watched their boss’s every move.
Gently, Grant pushed the door, and once it was open enough, they all took cover, waiting for a barrage of bullets, but none came.
‘I’m going in. Get ready. Follow me if you don’t hear any shooting.’
A few minutes later, it was soon confirmed the shelter was empty. They’d searched the entire area, but there was no sign of Anna or her children.
‘Now what?’ Shadow asked. ‘It doesn’t look good.’
Jeff thought the same thing. ‘You don’t think he’s taken them back to their home? I know it’s a long shot, but sometimes what you least expect, becomes the most obvious.’
‘We can try it,’ Grant replied. ‘We’ve nothing to lose. If they aren’t there, then we have to start talking to people. Someone must have seen something, even if it’s only the direction they took.’
‘Are there any places around that aren’t so widely known to tourists?’ Reg mused, and then continued, ‘A place where it would be possible to hide without being found. I don’t know how well Rapier knows the Bahamas.’
Grant nodded. ‘Good thinking. Okay, working on that theory, you and Jeff go and make some enquiries, while Shadow and I go and check out José’s home. If you come up with something, let us know immediately, and we’ll do the same.’
*****
Rapier’s adrenalin was bubbling, the excitement of the anticipated kill never failed to bring him that delicious buzz of expectancy. He could taste it already. Taking a deep breath, he decided now was the time to go.
He was about to stand up, when two dogs came out and sniffed the air.
‘Shit!’ The one hang-up Rapier had was German shepherds, and these two were big!
Having been cornered by one when he’d been burgling a house as a young teenager, he’d always steered clear of them after that. Those teeth, clamping on his calf, the pain as those same razor sharp, vampire fangs ripped through his flesh…. The memory made him break out in a cold sweat.
That incident had resulted in him being sentenced to six months in juvenile detention. The judge thought the experience with the dog would put him off committing further crimes. Little did he know. The time he spent with other thugs had been an education in itself.
Now, here he was, facing those dog-devils again. He couldn’t shoot them, that would give those inside time to drop those metal shutters, and he’d never be able to get to that blasted woman.
He eased back into the woods before they caught his scent. He’d bide his time.
Continued…
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading this part. I really appreciate all the support I've had. For those just joining me, this is written in UK English and there are many spelling differences. Should you spot any errors, I'm always happy to be told. Thank you!! |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 37
The one hangup Rapier had was German shepherds, and these two were big!
Having been cornered by one when he’d been burgling a house as a young teenager, he’d always steered clear of them after that. Those teeth, clamping on his calf, the pain as those same razor sharp, vampire fangs ripped through his flesh…. The memory brought him out in a cold sweat.
That had resulted in him being sentenced to six months in juvenile detention. The judge thought the experience with the dog would put him off committing further crimes. Little did he know. The time he spent with other thugs had been an education in itself.
Now, here he was, facing those dog-devils again. He couldn’t shoot them, that would give those inside time to drop those metal shutters and he’d never be able to get to that blasted woman.
He eased back into the woods before they caught his scent. He’d bide his time.
Part 38
Using the key that José had given him before they left, Grant carefully turned the lock. Stopping to listen for any sound on the other side of the door, he gently pushed it open, his hearing tuned for the slightest movement.
He turned to Shadow and nodded, then taking out their guns, they slipped inside the house. After listening for any unusual sound, they moved stealthily through each of the downstairs rooms until satisfied they were clear. Next, they moved to the bottom of the stairs.
Grant went first again, taking each stair gingerly, knowing how prone they were to creak. The last thing he wanted was to send a warning up to where Rapier might be waiting. Once on the landing, they separated, each taking one bedroom at a time. The four rooms were clear.
As far as he could tell, there was no sign that anyone had been here since Anna had taken her children to the shelter. Everything was neat and tidy, apart from the toys in the children’s room that, as to be expected, were scattered on the twin beds and the floor.
Back downstairs, they gave another cursory look around, and, confident that Anna and the children weren’t there, decided not to waste anymore time. They had just opened the front door to leave, when Grant thought he heard something.
He stopped and cocked his head. ‘Did you hear that?’ he asked Shadow.
Shadow stood still and concentrated. It remained quiet. Grant began to think he’d been hearing things, but not wanting to leave until he was completely assured, he stepped back into the room.
After a moment they both heard a muffled sound. Grant frowned. They’d thoroughly checked each of the rooms, but there was nothing there. What had they missed?
‘It could be the wind whistling through the gaps in the sides of the windows, or the roof itself could have been damaged by the hurricane,’ Shadow murmured just loud enough for Grant to hear.
The house was built of brick and mortar by José’s great, great-grandparents, at a time when they had money. Even in those days he was wise enough to build it strong enough to guard against the many hurricanes.
Now the house was a pale shadow of its former glory. It needed a lot of work, but the cost made it far too expensive for José to even consider.
Standing there, Grant wished he’d looked at the outer part of the building before entering. ‘Perhaps we should take another look just to be sure. I’d hate to think we came away and later found out we’d missed them. Just a thought, is there a loft? There’s got to be. I think we need to take another good look.’
Grant led the way back up the stairs taking his gun from the back of his trousers again as he went. He turned to look at Shadow coming up behind him, his gun already drawn. This time they looked for a way to get into the loft.
As if to convince them to continue looking, the muffled sounds came again. This time it was louder.
‘Where the hell is the way up?’ Grant was now as convinced as he could possibly be that what he was hearing was coming from Anna and the children.
Shadow went into one of the four bedrooms, and Grant checked out another one. It was Shadow who found it.
He fetched Grant, then whispered, ‘I think we should approach this with care. If Rapier is still up there … Well, we don’t want to risk Anna’s and the kids' lives by just barging in. Or ours, come to that!’
The door leading to the loft was neatly tucked away behind the main bedroom chimney. The only excuse Grant could mentally come up with for not seeing it the first time was because it had been set in the wood panelled wall. Unless you were looking for it, no one would have spotted it.
‘I can see why we missed it,’ Grant whispered. ‘Which begs the question, how would Rapier know it was there?’
Shadow shrugged and raised an eyebrow, then, with his gun at the ready, he led the way up the narrow staircase.
*****
Rapier had almost given up the idea that the dogs would move on. He lay in the woods staring up into the trees as the branches lazily moved back and forth. His mind slipped into the past ... to the day his life changed for the better. It was the day of his first kill. His father.
At fifteen years of age, Max had come home from school hoping his father wasn’t there. If he was, he hoped he’d drunk so much he’d be unconscious. The closer he got to home, the more nervous he became. Trying to be as quiet as possible, he opened the back kitchen door, and tip-toed in.
Once inside, he tried to close the door quietly--but it clicked … he’d never noticed how loud it was before. His face creased up, he stayed motionless for a moment, closing his eyes, his fingers crossed.
He knew his father was standing in front of him even before he’d opened his eyes. The stink of booze on his breath gave him away. When he looked up at him, he cringed. His father’s face glared down at him, his eyes wild, furious. Max had no time to move or speak before he felt his father's fist slam into his face, knocking him backwards onto the door before he slid down onto the floor.
He didn’t know how long he’d lain there, but he remembered the taste of blood and the realisation that he’d lost a tooth. The next moment, his father grabbed him by the shoulder and yanked him up off the floor.
‘Okay, you little mummy’s boy, where is it?’ His father’s face was no more than an inch from his.
Max had no idea what his father was talking about. He’d tried to ask, but just got another beating for the effort. He remembered closing his eyes as his father raised his fist again, but it was his mother who caught the brunt of his elbow as she came in to see what was happening. So tiny, she was knocked sideways and fell, hitting her head on the corner of the kitchen table.
Max stood transfixed as he watched the blood pour from her head. Her eyes were wide open, her expression shocked, but slowly that faded until they looked like his glass marbles, empty and lifeless. He knew she was dead.
His father knelt down beside her, shouting her name, but there was no bringing her back. His face appeared to shrink, and then paled. Max couldn’t cry, he couldn’t do anything, he stood like a slab of concrete, until his father hit him around the head, screaming at him, telling him it was his fault his mother was dead.
Something snapped in Max’s head. His eyes spotted the knife on the table, and before he’d had a chance to think, he grabbed it, and, with all the force he could muster, thrust it into his father’s chest. He remembered how good it felt, and did it again … and again. He didn’t stop until he heard the phone ring.
It was like someone had thrown a wet flannel in his face. He stared down at his father and grinned, then dashed upstairs, stripped and showered.
As soon as he was dressed again, he took his bloodied clothes out into the garden and placed them in the metal rubbish bin. It took a few minutes for the flames to take hold, but soon the clothes were nothing but ashes. Taking whatever money he could find in the house, he packed his small bag, remembering to take the knife with him, and left.
The sound of dogs barking brought Rapier back to the present. He lay there listening, hoping it wasn't what he was thinking!
*****
Shadow looked at Grant and nodded. With his hand on the latch, he lifted it and waited. Nothing happened, no shots, no sudden movements, nothing. He eased the door open; the light entering the loft from the gaps in the roof meant they couldn’t see much more than shadows. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could see the images of the three people tied to the beams and knew immediately they had found Anna and the children. He stepped inside and Grant followed. The first thing he checked was if Rapier was in there. There was no sign of him.
After they’d released Anna and the children, they very gently pulled the duct tape from their mouths. The children rushed into their mother’s arms, tears streaming down their faces. Grant had never seen such traumatised children, even in his tours abroad in the SAS. It would take time and lots of tender caring to bring them back to normality. Once they were all down in the lounge, Grant asked Anna if there was anyone who could come and be with them until José was home.
‘My José, he is still alive?’ Hope flared in her eyes.
‘Yes, the last time I saw him, he was with Latifah and Peter on the island. I’ll bring him straight home to you.’ Even as he was speaking, a thought flashed through his mind that chilled him to the bone. Keeping calm in front of the children and Anna, he asked her if she would be alright now. ‘I’d be happier if you had someone to come and stay with you. We need to go, but I don’t want to leave you on your own.’
‘Do not worry about us ... we will go to my parents. They live close by.’ Anna pulled her children closer, and smiled. ‘Thank you for saving us.’
Once outside, he put a call through to Jeff and Reg, telling them to meet him at the airport and get the helicopter ready. Without explaining himself, he then put a call through to Peter. The phone rang, but there was no answer. Grant left a message and then told Shadow to hurry, they had to get back.
At the airport, Jeff and Reg were already there. The helicopter blades were running with the pilot ready to go. As soon as they were in the air, Grant explained his thoughts.
‘I’m an absolute idiot! I should have left one of you on the island,’ he said, after he’d told Jeff and Reg that Anna and the kids were safe. ‘But it suddenly occurred to me that if Rapier wasn’t there with them, there is only one other place he would be ... on the island! I’ve left them on their own! Peter won’t be able to handle that psycho alone!’
*****
Peter walked out onto the patio, calling Sam and Ben to his side. ‘Come on boys, let’s have a little walk while the ladies are busy. They don’t want me around at baby feeding time.’
In answer, both dogs wagged their tails and barked, then dashed ahead, jumping and chasing each other as Pete walked across the lawns making his way towards the woods beyond.
Rapier twisted up into a kneeling position to see what was happening. The sight of Peter walking across the lawn with the German shepherds hit him like a cannonball to the chest. His head reeled, he had to get away! He couldn't break his gaze from the dogs. His heart raced as he watched them stop and look in his direction. They sniffed the air, then bared their teeth and growled….
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Lane - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
| Author Notes |
Thank you so much for reading. I'm afraid I didn't know where to stop with this part.
If you see any nits, please let me know so that I can make the corrections. I really appreciate it. xxx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 38
Peter walked out onto the patio, calling Sam and Ben to his side. ‘Come on boys, let’s have a little walk while the ladies are busy. They don’t want me around at feeding time.’
In answer, both dogs wagged their tails and barked, then dashed ahead, jumping and chasing each other, as Pete walked across the lawns making his way towards the woods beyond.
Rapier twisted up into a kneeling position to see what was happening. The sight of Peter walking across the lawn with the German Shepherds hit him like a cannonball to the chest. His head spun in all directions, he had to get away! His gaze was pulled back, reluctantly, and widened as he watched the dogs stop ... look in his direction. They sniffed the air, then bared their teeth and growled….
Part 39
Monica stood idly on the patio watching the dogs frolicking over the lawn, and smiled. She was about to turn away and ask Tania if she fancied joining her for a swim, when her curiosity was caught by a change in the dogs’ behaviour.
‘I wonder what’s upset them?’ Moving a few steps closer, she squinted, the smile leaving her face as her brow creased instead into an apprehensive frown.
‘What are you making faces at?’ Tania asked as she came alongside her.
‘Sam and Ben. Look at them.’
Tania tucked her hand through Monica’s arm and stared, her concentration building when she saw Peter turn to see what had disturbed them.
When the two women started to walk down the steps onto the lawn, Peter, catching their movement, signalled them to go back. This worried Monica more.
‘I think someone is down there,’ Tania said quietly.
‘Yeah. I think we should go inside. Come on.’ Monica grabbed Tania’s hand and pulled her back. ‘We can watch through the window.’
Peter’s eyes sharpened as he tried to see what had captured the dogs' attention. He couldn’t see anything, or any movement.
‘What’s up, boys?’ The dogs hairs stood upright as they bared their teeth and growled. Peter knew the only reason Ben and Sam would react that way was because someone was there who shouldn’t be, and with the women in the house, and his newborn daughter, it was left to him to protect them. He gave another piercing look into the woods before checking the dogs again. They were standing alert with their necks strained forward, he could see they were ready to attack. Without further ado, he gave them the command to go.
On that, they bounded into the woods. The next moment it seemed all hell was let loose.
A gunshot, barking, and then terrified screams brought Peter running to the scene, worried about the dogs. It was with relief that he found them unharmed.
‘Ben, Sam, stay!’ The two dogs turned their heads and stared at Peter, then, on his command, they remained in position and kept guard. Returning their gaze to Rapier, with lips bared, they revealed sharp, seriously frightening fangs.
Rapier scooted backwards on his behind, and thinking he was safe now, he jumped up and waved his gun around. ‘Get those devil dogs away from me, or I’ll kill them … and you!’
Although Peter had never met Rapier, he knew enough about him to recognise this interloper cowering in front of Ben and Sam was the man out to kill Tania.
He raised an eyebrow and gave a half smile. ‘I don’t think so, buster. You shoot one, and the other one’s teeth will be attached to your neck before you have a chance to take your next breath. Kill me and they’ll both rip you to pieces.’ He watched Rapier turn his fearful eyes on the dogs. ‘Personally, if I were you, I’d put that gun on the ground and any other weapons you might have hidden on you. Do that, and maybe I’ll call them off.’
Rapier stared at the evil looking dogs, glistening brow dripped salty sweat into his eyes as he considered his options. The idea of giving up his guns would leave him at an absurd disadvantage, and at the mercy of the savage dogs that looked to be desperate to get their teeth into him.
‘Oh, you’d like that, now, wouldn’t you? Take my guns away and you’d have me dead in a heartbeat,’ Rapier hissed while still keeping a wary eye trained on the dogs. ‘Thanks for the offer, but if it’s all the same to you, I’ll keep my gun firmly in my hand and take my chances. But, if you were to follow my orders, by calling those devils off me and taking them away, then I promise not to shoot them. You have thirty seconds.’ Seeing the look on Peter’s face, he lifted his arm. ‘You don’t think I can? Just you stand there and watch.’ He cocked his gun and pointed it at Sam.
As if Ben knew his brother was in danger, he leapt at Rapier, clamping his teeth on his gun arm. The gun went off just as Sam followed Ben’s lead and threw himself on Rapier. There was a squeal of pain and then a thud, as Sam dropped to the ground with blood pouring from his shoulder.
Fearing the worst, Peter dashed over to see how badly he was hurt. Fortunately, the bullet had passed right through, which was a tremendous relief. He quickly pulled his shirt off, and pressed on the wound to help stem the bleeding.
Unable to take his hand off Sam’s wound, he glanced over at Ben and was pleased to see he was standing right by Rapier’s head. He’d brought him down and now, with his bared fangs dangerously close to Rapier’s face, he waited for instructions.
Peter looked around. There was nothing he could do unless he took his hand off Sam, and he didn’t want to do that. But, something had to be done.
‘Senór Peter, what can I do? Let me help, por favor, he hurt mi familia! He is very wicked man.'
Peter looked up and a flood of relief swept over him. ‘José! Just in time. Can you come and take over from me here, while I sort that scumbag out?’
‘Sí, senór, it will make me muy feliz! Senór Grant, he call on the telephone to tell us he’s nearly here. He thought this evil monster was on the island.’ He turned to Rapier. ‘He found mi familia. They are safe now.’
*****
Grant looked at Rapier, nicely tied up and being well guarded by Ben. ‘I’ve got to hand it to you, Peter, you did a great job catching him.’
‘It wasn’t me. If these two terrors hadn’t caught his scent, we most likely wouldn’t be here. You trained them well.’
Grant knelt down by Sam and rubbed his head. ‘How are you doing, mate? You’re a mighty brave boy, aren’t you?’ To which Sam gave a small bark in agreement.
Monica had cleaned Sam’s wound and bound it tightly with the bandages that Peter had taken from the medical chest. It would serve until they had the vet check it over. Grant gave a wry grin since he was giving the vet a fair bit of business today.
‘So what happens to him now?’ Reg asked, looking as if he could easily answer his own question, although not in the way Grant would.
‘We are going to have a question and answer session. Every wrong answer and Ben gets to have a nibble.’ Grant directed his icy glare at an uncomfortable-looking Rapier. ‘It’s entirely up to you how you want to play it.’
Rapier stared back, his hate-filled eyes wavering just enough to show Grant a lot of it was bluster. Unable to outstare him, Rapier dropped his eyes to glare instead at his German shepherd guard. Ben gave a throaty growl, and Rapier’s act of bravado was immediately discarded and replaced by an expression of fear.
‘Ask away. It makes no odds to me,’ he sneered. ‘It seems you’re not mummy’s favourite little boy, are you?’ Rapier gave a gravelly laugh.
Grant ignored the gibe, and collecting his recorder, he sat down and asked Rapier to repeat all that Marilyn Harding had commissioned him to do.
*****
When Grant’s phone call had finally managed to get through to them, José had wept with relief when he was told his wife and children were safe. It was then he discovered something was going on with the dogs and that the two women had been told to stay back.
Learning that Grant thought Rapier might be on the island, he immediately rushed off in the hope he could be of some help to Peter if it proved to be true. He knew Sam and Ben well, and if they sensed danger, it was wise to take heed of their warning. Something had unsettled them, and José had a gut feeling he knew what, or rather, who it was.
At the edge of the woods, he slowed down, and moved quietly. Coming into a clearing, his heart thumped at the sight of the man he guessed was Rapier, on the ground with Ben leaning over him. His first instinct was to grab the gun that had been flung aside, and shoot him! But, he knew in his heart he wasn’t capable of taking another person’s life. That had already been proved to him. Although he was relieved he hadn’t killed Tania, he also felt a deep sense of shame knowing he’d let his family down. It was something he would have to live with.
Now, back in the house, with Grant and his team there, as well, he listened to what Rapier had to say. José was shocked that a mother could be so vindictive towards her son, especially a man as kind as his boss.
‘Finally, what I want to know now is,' Grant said in a low controlled voice, 'how the hell did you know where we were? Who told you?’ That had been niggling away at him since he’d first known Rapier was on his way to the Bahamas.
Rapier grinned. His face brimmed with pleasure. ‘Oh, now that is the billion-dollar question! How we laughed knowing what it would do to you; your mother most of all.’ His shrill, evil laughter echoed through the rooms, sending chills down the spines of everyone who heard it...
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Large - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading my latest chapter, and for all the help you have offered along the way. I've really appreciated you all. Any of those nasty nits you find, please let me know so I can destroy them. xxx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 39
‘Ask away. It makes no odds to me,’ he sneered. ‘It seems you’re not mummy’s favourite little boy, are you?’ Rapier gave a gravelly laugh.
Grant ignored the gibe, and collecting his recorder, he sat down and asked Rapier to repeat all that Marilyn Harding had commissioned him to do.
‘Finally, what I want to know now is,' Grant said in a low controlled voice, ‘how the hell did you know where we were? Who told you?’ That had been niggling away at him since he’d first known Rapier was on his way to the Bahamas.
Rapier grinned. His face brimmed with pleasure. ‘Oh, now that is the billion-dollar question! How we laughed knowing what it would do to you; your mother most of all.’ His shrill, evil laughter echoed through the rooms, sending chills down the spines of everyone who heard it.
Part 40
Tania jumped nervously at the sudden outburst of high-pitched, crazed laughter. She glanced over at Latifah who was holding Peanut to her breast. They made eye contact, both registering the same question that didn’t need to be voiced. But neither could satisfy the other with an answer.
The blood had drained from Latifah’s face and, as a new mother, her protective instincts kicked in. She covered the baby’s ears with the soft shawl she was wrapped in and held her closer.
‘What the hell was that?’ Monica gripped hold of Tania’s arm. They all looked towards the door, but none of them wanted to open it to discover the answer.
When they heard a knock, Tania and Monica immediately stood beside the bed hiding Latifah as she pulled the sheet further over her shoulder to protect her modesty. When the knock came again, it was accompanied by a soft voice.
‘Can I come in?’ It was José.
Relief came with the releasing of held breaths. Tania rushed over to open the door and, grabbing his arm, pulled him in.
‘José, thank goodness it’s you. What was that horrific noise? It scared the living daylights out of us.’
José rubbed his head, his tired eyes staring at the women waiting for an answer.
‘No entiendo, pero, Señor Blake, he … he angry! He go in jardin.’ José shook his head. ‘Señor Pete, he tell me come tell you stay here!’
Tania looked at Monica. ‘I’m going after Grant to find out what’s happening. Something is wrong.’ Without waiting for a response, she rushed off, not stopping until she spotted Grant staring into the swimming pool.
She slowed and walked up to him. ‘Grant? What’s going on?’ Tania reached out and touched his arm. ‘We heard that evil laughter. What did he say?’
Grant looked down at Tania with dark, cold eyes. Tania flinched as he shrugged her hand off his arm.
‘What he said, Tania, has brought me back to my senses. He eloquently reminded me that women are not to be trusted. I’m a fool to have forgotten, but it won’t happen again.’
With that, Grant turned and walked away, leaving Tania staring at his back, numb with shock.
She had no idea how long she stood there; it was Reg who came to find her. Taking in her pale face and red eyes, he knew she had been crying. He let out a deep sigh.
‘Tania, what did he tell you?’ With his finger under her chin he lifted her head so he could look into her face. He could tell at a glance whatever Grant said had really upset her.
‘I want to go back to England. Can you get me to the airport? Please Reg, I can’t stay here. Not now.’
Reg frowned. ‘I don’t think that would be wise, Tania. Look, it’s too late to go today. Think about what you’re asking, the danger you’ll be putting yourself in if you go back. Colin is still out on bail … it’s not safe for you there.’
Seeing her chin jut out defiantly, he knew she’d made up her mind. He rubbed his stubble and thought for a moment. ‘Okay, I’ll take you if you still want to go in the morning. But I'm not happy about it, Tania, and that's the truth. I want your promise that you'll think hard about this.' As he stared at her, he saw the harsh determination in her eyes. 'What the hell did he say to you that has set you on this course of action?’
Tania turned towards the house and started walking, then stopped and faced him. ‘He told me I wasn’t to be trusted. He said he had Rapier to thank for reminding him of that fact, and he’d never forget it again!’ She paused and stared down at her hands. ‘You won’t find me changing my mind, Reg. If I have to swim across, I’m leaving in the morning!’
****
Tania finished packing her suitcase and put it on the stool. She’d close it in the morning after packing her pyjamas away. She was about to start on her toiletries when Monica knocked and walked in.
‘Jeff just told me what happened--’ Monica looked at the packed case and frowned. ‘What’s going on, Tania?’
‘I’m leaving, that’s what’s going on. First thing in the morning. You can come with me, or stay. It’s up to you.’ She stopped what she was doing and went and sat on the bed.
A heavy emptiness engulfed her, something she’d never felt before. Her hands, now loosely folded on her lap, started shaking, then huge tears rolled down her cheeks.
Monica dashed to her side and putting her arm around Tania’s shoulder, she pulled her closer and let her cry herself out. When she’d stopped, she took a tissue from her pocket and gave it to Tania to wipe her face. When she was calm again, Monica wanted information.
‘Okay, girl, tell me what happened, and I mean tell me all of it!’
Tania repeated what Grant had said, and how he’d shook her off. ‘I don’t know what I’ve done to make him distrust me.’ She stared at the suitcase. ‘So you can understand why I have to leave here. I can’t stay now … I won’t stay now.’
Monica was seething. ‘It’s not you, Tania. Rapier told him that Lorna … I think you’ve met her, haven’t you?’ On Tania’s nod, she continued. ‘He told Grant she is his informant; she was the one who told Colin where you were.’
Tania frowned. ‘I don’t believe that for a second! And nor should Grant.’ Suddenly, Tania was furious. ‘He’s done it again! Just wait till I see him … in fact, I’m going to see him now!’
With that, Tania stormed out the bedroom and marched down the stairs. She had a good idea where he would be, and without knocking, she burst into Grant's study and slammed the door behind her.
‘How dare you! You sit there in your posh seat, so up your own backside, and take that murdering, lying, mental psychopath's word just like that? Does Lorna’s length of service, her loyalty to you and your grandfather count for nothing? That you would rather take that piece of cow dung’s word just because he’s a part of your pathetic male species? Without hearing what Lorna has to say? I can’t believe you’d even consider his accusation! You are not the man I thought you to be. No, slash that, you are the man I first thought you were. You treated me exactly the same when it came to believing me or that lying, cheating step-brother of yours. You don’t deserve Lorna in your company, in fact, women should be warned about you! I hope she gives you what for and leaves. And if I never see you again, it won’t be long enough!’ With that, she spun on her heel and slammed out of the room.
Seconds later, she burst back in. ‘And just so you know, I’m leaving here tomorrow at first light! I’ve asked Reg to fly me to the airport and don’t you dare try to stop him!’
This time when she stormed out she went straight up to her room and flung herself on her bed.
‘What did you do?’ Monica asked her.
‘I told him what I thought of him. And to think I was falling for him! Can you believe that? Well, there is no way I’ll forget this lesson. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted him. What was I thinking?’
Before Monica could say another word, the bedroom door flew open and Grant came storming in. ‘Excuse us, please, Monica.’ He opened the door wider to let her pass.
‘No! Don’t you dare go, Monica. MISTER Blake and I have nothing to talk about.’ Tania targeted her livid eyes towards Grant. ‘So please remove yourself from my room!’
Grant raised an eyebrow and smirked. ‘Actually MISS Russell, this is my property, and my rooms! Monica, please leave us!’
‘So it’s your room, is it? Okay, you can have it.’ Tania’s eyes were blazing, her face contorted with fury as she went to grab her case. When she heard her friend squeal, she spun around in time to see Grant lift Monica up and put her outside the bedroom door, after which he shut and locked it.
Tania glared at him as she tried to hold onto her composure. ‘What do you think you’re--’
Grant strode over and picked her up. With one arm under her bottom, he pushed her firmly against the wall, keeping his other hand free to hold her head. When she opened her mouth to protest, he brought his face close enough to claim her lips and let his tongue plunder her mouth, effectively cutting off further argument.
Although Tania gave a half-hearted attempt to push him off, her stomach was behaving with traitorous disregard to the anger she was attempting to maintain, doing a series of butterfly flip-flops. Then, when a surge of desire created even more havoc with her body, she gave up trying and gave in completely. Her arms came up and weaved their way around his neck, and, pulling him closer, she wrapped her legs around his hips.
She heard his soft moan as she kissed him back with an urgent wildness. An almost wicked, outrageous sense of pleasure swept through her when she realised she was affecting him as much as he was her. When he carried her over to the bed, it was like this moment was what she’d been waiting for all her life. She belonged with him.
Now at fever-pitch, all the pent-up feelings she’d hidden away for so long came plunging, headlong in a sensual wave of previously unknown sensations. More and more they came, sending excruciating pleasures to every single tingling, vibrating nerve end, until, at last, they ignited, bursting forth like a volcanic eruption….
Continued…
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Large - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part. I appreciate all your support and the help you've given me with the edits. xxxx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 40
Although Tania gave a half-hearted attempt to push him off, her stomach was behaving with traitorous disregard to the anger she was attempting to maintain, doing a series of butterfly flip-flops. Then, when a surge of desire created even more havoc with her body, she gave up trying and gave in completely. Her arms came up and weaved their way around his neck, and, pulling him closer, she wrapped her legs around his hips.
She heard his soft moan as she kissed him back with an urgent wildness. An almost wicked, outrageous sense of pleasure swept through her when she realised she was affecting him as much as he was her. When he carried her over to the bed, it was like this moment was what she’d been waiting for all her life. She belonged with him.
Now at fever-pitch, all the pent-up feelings she’d hidden away for so long came plunging, headlong in a sensual wave of previously unknown sensations. More and more they came, sending excruciating pleasures to every single tingling, vibrating nerve end, until, at last, they ignited, bursting forth like a volcanic eruption….
Part 41
Tania woke up to see the sun shining through the open patio doors, and the long lace curtains billowing in the light breeze. She lay there, hugging her pillow, and smiled.
To think, yesterday, I was hell-bent on going back to London to get away from Grant. Today, though, everything has changed.
Grant and Tania had sat talking through the night. He'd been mortified when she told him he was doing exactly the same with Lorna as he’d done to her. The worst part was realising she’d been right. In the cold light of day, he’d known without any doubt that it wasn’t Lorna, and felt the shame keenly for even allowing the thought to fester. It was then he realised he carried a lot of toxic baggage that needed to be sorted.
When the sky began to spike with red and grey streaks, Grant wrapped his arm around Tania’s waist, and she laid her head on his shoulders. A comfortable silence had settled between them, leaving both content to sit and watch the sun ease away the last remnants of night, creating a vivid display of fiery reds and burnt oranges that welcomed the beginnings of the new day.
They’d stayed that way, neither wanting to break the spell, until Tania could no longer prevent her yawns from breaking the silence. They both had their demons, and together they would overcome them. But for now, they had other more important things to sort out.
Tania jumped out of bed and went for her shower. She could smell the croissants and the fresh coffee wafting into her room, setting off a hungry rumbling in her stomach, reminding her she’d missed dinner last night.
She was getting dressed when Monica knocked and came into the room. With a smile she’d tried to hide, she moved over to Tania’s open case and, seeing it had been riffled through, turned to her foster-sister. ‘Has there been a change of plans, then?’
‘What? Oh, um, yes.’ Tania laughed and grabbed hold of Monica’s arms and danced her around in the room. ‘Yes! Oh, Monica, I’m sorry I was so … so--’
‘Upset, angry?’ Monica filled in for her. ‘Tania, it was understandable. I’m just so happy to see you like this. I was really frightened that you’d go to London and Colin would find you.’ She looked closely at her foster-sister, taking in her radiant smile. ‘So, are you going to tell me?’
‘Tell you what? That we talked about it and I forgave him? Yes, I did.’ She gave Monica a dazzling smile, then slipping her arm through hers, pulled her towards the door. ‘I’m starving! Let’s go and have breakfast.’
All Monica could do was grin and shake her head. ‘Methinks my girl has discovered what everyone else already knew, that she’s in love,’ she said, more to herself and the portraits on the wall. Her grin grew larger, spreading all over her face.
The breakfast room was empty, but there were signs that some had already been and eaten. Tania was drawn to the coffee pot, and poured herself a cup. ‘Coffee?’ she asked Monica, lifting the pot.
‘Yes, pour away. I can’t function without my morning fix. I’m glad to see the men have left us something to eat.’ Tania grinned as she picked up the basket holding the last two croissants.
When Grant walked in with two plates of bacon, eggs and mushrooms, the two women could have hugged him.
‘Hungry, ladies?’ He smiled, then looked at Tania, and winked. ‘Did you sleep well?’
Tania’s tummy flipped again; it took every shred of willpower not to throw herself into his arms. ‘Very well, thank you,’ she said, with a sudden shyness enveloping her. ‘And yes, I’m starving!’ She sat at the table and Grant put the plate in front of her.
‘Where is everyone?’ Monica asked.
‘Peter is getting ready to take Latifah to the hospital for a check-up, and José is preparing to go home to Anna and his children. Rapier has had his breakfast and is now handcuffed and tied to a chair down in the bunker; he’s not going anywhere yet. And we are going to take Sam to the vet, and check on another wounded soldier while we’re there.’
‘Who’s hurt?’ Tania asked. ‘I thought you said Anna and the children were fine.’
‘Yes, they are. This is another dog. We might be bringing him back with us, if the vet hasn’t found its owners.’ He then told them about the floating house that had the wounded dog in it. ‘But if he does come with us, he’ll have to be quarantined when we arrive in London because he won’t have had all his injections or have an animal passport.'
‘Aw, that’s a shame, but so nice of you to take him on,’ Monica said, almost purring.
Tania just looked at him and smiled. ‘I’ve been thinking. Now that everyone knows where we are, should we think about going back? We don’t know what other tricks Colin and your mother have planned for us.’
‘Yes, you’re right. We were discussing it at breakfast. We’ll travel back on Friday, and that will give us three days to prepare. There are a few things I have to sort out first, so enjoy your last days and then get your things together. The next time you come here, it will be strictly for pleasure.’
Now, that, thought Tania, sounds good to me!
The vet looked at the bullet wound and remarked on how well it had been cleaned, causing Monica to blush. ‘There’s no infection, so all I’ll need to do is treat it with some antiseptic and put a dressing on it. The other dog was fine,’ he told Grant, nodding towards it as it sat listening to the conversation--or that’s what it looked like to Tania.
‘I checked around and no one knows of anyone who owns it,’ he said. ‘They think he’s one of the many strays that hang around this area hoping to be given food. So unless you want to keep him, he’ll most likely be put in the dog pound.’
Grant looked at the dog's face. Its eyes had that pleading expression that always got to his ‘sucker side’ as he liked to call it, the side he always reserved for animals. The dog’s tail thumped hopefully, and Grant patted his head and pulled out some money.
‘I’ll take him with me. Will this cover the two of them?’
The vet looked at the wad of notes and his eyes widened. He shook his head. ‘No senor, that is much too much! This is the bill,’ he said, handing Grant an invoice with the details all printed out.
Grant looked around the place; there had been a lot of flood damage. ‘Take it. You can spend it on fixing up this place.’ Grant took out a few more notes. ‘Perhaps you could help other wounded strays.’
The vet was overwhelmed by Grant’s generosity and said it had been a dream of his to help all animals. His effusive thanks continued to be heard all down the street as Grant, Tania, and Monica walked the dogs down to his speedboat.
‘Is there anything you want to do while we’re here?’ he asked them. ‘I’ll put these two in the cabin, and then I have to check on the jet and the pilot.’
The women looked at each other. ‘No, I’m okay,’ Tania said, and Monica said the same. ‘We’ll just wander around here until you get back.’
It took a while to shut the villa down. Now that Peter and Latifah were back with her parents for a while, it didn’t seem worth keeping it open. By the time everyone had said their goodbyes, with hugs and some tears, it was an exhausted group who climbed up the steps to get in the plane.
The trip was mainly uneventful, not much could go wrong in the cabin with Rapier tightly secured to his seat and his feet doubly strapped with cable ties, but leaving his hands free to eat and drink. The flight was coming to the end, with about fifteen minutes left before touchdown at Heathrow Airport. It was then Grant received a message from the Chief of Police in the Bahamas requesting the return of Max Cannon who was wanted in connection of a recent murder.
Grant replied that Max Cannon would be handed over to the British Authorities and he should get in touch with them.
There was a short angry retort, but realising it wasn’t getting him anywhere, the Chief of Police went on to explain. ‘The body of a local fisherman has been found washed up on the shore, and we’ve discovered his boat hidden in a bay around your island. Since then we have interviewed one of your workers, José Garcia, and learned more about the man you have in your custody. You should not have taken this man off the island knowing he had committed a felony here!’ He ended angrilly.
Grant knew he was in the wrong, but he hadn’t known about the murder. After apologising once more, he left it to the Chief of Police to get in contact with the British Authorities himself.
After breaking the link, he radioed through to police security at the airport, who in turn transferred the call to the Police Commander.
When the call was answered, Grant gave a brief explanation, saying he would elaborate more when they landed. The Commander was more than happy to agree to have them met at the airport. They’d had their own interest in Max Cannon for years, but never been able to get enough evidence to make it stick. Perhaps this time they would.
Continued…..
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Large - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 41
There was a short angry reply, but realising it wasn’t getting him anywhere, the Chief of Police went on to explain. ‘The body of a local fisherman has been found washed up on the shore, and we’ve discovered his boat hidden in a bay around your island. Since then we have interviewed one of your workers, José Garcia, and learned more about the man you have in your custody. You should not have taken this man off the island knowing he had committed a felony here!’ He ended angrily.
Grant knew he was in the wrong, but he hadn’t known about the murder. After apologising once more, he left it to the Chief of Police to get in contact with the British Authorities himself.
After breaking the link, he radioed through to police security at the airport, who in turn transferred the call to the Police Commander.
When the call was picked up, Grant gave a brief explanation, saying he would elaborate more when they landed. The Commander was more than happy to agree to have them met at the airport. They’d had their own interest in Max Cannon for years, but never been able to get enough evidence to make it stick. Perhaps this time they would.
Part 42
Once Grant’s jet had landed and taxied into his private hanger, he peered out the window and smiled.
‘Looks like your reception committee is lined up ready to receive you,’ Grant told Rapier, who was also observing the goings on outside.
Two police cars and a prison van were parked by the entrance, with three policemen standing beside the Commander ready to collect their prisoner.
‘I see I also merit a high ranking officer in my escort. It’s nice to know I’m so highly prized,’ Rapier boasted, then threw his head back and laughed.
‘Laugh all you want, Max, I doubt you’ll be doing much of that from now on.’
Grant turned to the others, ‘While I have a quick word with the police, you lot go on through customs and I’ll meet you at the other side.’
After everyone, except Rapier, had left the plane, Grant walked across to where the Commander was standing.
Reaching out his hand, Grant introduced himself, then stood back while the Commander sent three of his men onto the plane to collect Rapier.
‘We’ve waited a long time to get our hands on him. I decided to come along just to satisfy myself that he really is Max Cannon, “aka” Rapier,’ the Commander told Grant. ‘So, give me a brief run-down, and then you can record a full statement later.’
Grant did as he was asked and also added the murder Rapier was wanted for in the Bahamas.
‘Well, they’ll have to wait until we’ve finished with him,’ Commander George Raymond told him. ‘If you can come along to the station later—’ He stopped and looked up as Rapier was brought down the steps. The arrogant smile on his face had the Commander raising his eyes and shaking his head.
‘Cocky bastard. Prison will soon knock that out of him.’ He turned back to Grant. ‘I’ll see you back at the Yard.’
‘I shouldn’t be too long, I’ve a couple of people I need to see first. But, here—’ Grant took out the USB voice recorder from his pocket that held his conversation with Rapier. ‘Take a listen to this. It will give you a much better idea of what’s been happening and should be enough to put our friend behind bars for a long time.’
*****
The plan had been for Tania, Monica, and the rest of the team to stay at Grant's London apartment rather than going back to their homes. It was large enough to accommodate them all, and more. He’d already phoned ahead to have their rooms readied.
It had made a lot of sense to have them all under one roof, rather than dotted around. Once they were in and settled, Grant told them he needed to go to his office before going to the police station to give them his statement.
‘Make yourselves at home while I’m gone. If you want anything, just ask Conrad. He’ll get it sorted for you.’ Grant looked across at Tania and smiled. ‘I’ll be back soon.’
When he left, Jeff followed him out. ‘Are you going to mention the leak to Lorna?’
‘That’s the plan … And, no,’ Grant told him, reading the next question in his mate’s eyes. ‘I’m not going in and accusing her. I know, you don't have to say anything—I must have had a mental seizure. God knows what I was thinking. Thankfully, Tania opened my eyes—not exactly sympathetically, either. I’ve decided it’s not a wise man who upsets Tania! I received the worst lambasting I’ve ever had the misfortune to endure!’
‘Good. I just wish I’d been a fly on the wall when she gave it!’ Jeff laughed. ‘Is there anything I can do while you’re gone?’
Grant thought for a moment. ‘No, just make sure the girls don’t go out on their own. I know we’ve only just arrived, and perhaps I’m being paranoid, but I wouldn’t put anything past my mother.’
Jeff nodded. ‘I know what you mean. Okay, off you go, I’ll look after things here.’
*****
‘Grant! Welcome back. How’s Tania?’ Grant could see Lorna was genuinely pleased to see him back in the office, making him feel a bigger jerk than he already did. ‘Is everything alright now? Is the threat on Tania’s life over?’
‘Tania's fine, Lorna. But the threat is still there. We’ve had a bit of a problem. It seems mother found out where we were and sent Rapier over to kill her. Fortunately, he doesn’t like dogs.’ Grant allowed himself a smile at the thought of him being caught by his two German shepherds. ‘Now I want to find out how she got the information.’
Lorna frowned. ‘Well, apart from you, your team, and me, as far as I know, no one else could possibly have known. Have you had any thoughts?’
‘No. Not really. At least, I hadn’t until I was on my way over here. It had to come from your office or mine. Now, who would have had access to both?’
Lorna’s frown deepened. She picked up her pencil, and, as was her habit when she was thinking, she twirled it in and out of her fingers. ‘No one that I can think of… well, apart from the cleaner. By the way, you’ll be surprised to learn that she handed in her notice, saying something about a sick relative and then just walked out.’
‘Gladys? But she’s been here forever! She never had children and didn't remarry after her husband died. Oh, she has a sister, Jean ... No, Janet, if I remember correctly. She’s in a nursing home, and has been for years. It must be something to do with her.’
Grant remembered how distressed Gladys had been after her sister had fallen off her bike in front of an oncoming car. The resulting brain damage had left her with no memory and unable to fend for herself.
‘I’ll go and see her. Perhaps she needs some help. Can you think of anyone else having access?’
‘No. No one who would have access to all the offices, not without anyone being with them at the same time.’
‘Okay. Look, I’ve got to go to the police station and give them a statement. Do me a favour, call Reg, he’s staying at my place with the others. Tell him to get over here and scan for bugs. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’
‘Consider it done.’ She smiled. ‘Nice to have you back.’
*****
Grant stepped inside the entrance and went to the reception area. As soon as he’d introduced himself, the lady, whose badge told him her name was Rachelle, pressed a button and another lady came out from the door behind her.
‘Sue, take this gentleman to Commander Raymond’s office; he’s expecting him.’
‘Certainly. Please come with me, Sir,’
Grant followed her to the lifts and after a rapid trip up to the top floor, he soon found himself standing in front of the Commander’s desk.
‘Take a seat, will you?’ Commander Raymond leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands together. ‘Thanks for coming over so quickly. I’ve listened to the recording, and you’re right. We’ve got him now. I’ve caught up with all the other goings on with regards to your mother and step-brother.’ His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. ‘Lovely family you have.’
‘Yep, couldn’t wish for better! So what do you think? Is there enough to get Colin back inside?’
‘Absolutely. Max has been interviewed and he’s given a statement that would make your hair curl. Your mother is now a felon, and will be arrested shortly. The charge will be for conspiring to have Miss Russell murdered in order to remove the only witness who could put her other son behind bars. She can’t deny it because Max has also shown us his bank statement showing a payment of a quarter of a million pounds from your mother’s private account. She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?’
‘Tell me about it! What happens to Rapier … Max?’
‘Well, as things stand, although we have enough to charge your mother, there’s still a slight chance that a good lawyer could possibly get her off on a technicality. So, with a bit of negotiating, he’s agreed to help us by phoning your mother to tell her the job has been done. She’d agreed to give him another quarter of a million on completion--which he will demand she transfer straight away.’
Grant was sceptical. ‘What have you agreed to give him in exchange?’
‘Oh, nothing that would shorten his sentence. He knows we’ve got him wrapped up tight from his toenails to his eyebrows, so he’s willing to help if we can get him into HMP Manchester, you might know it as Strangeways. Two reasons, one, there are some prisoners in Wandsworth who would be delighted to get their hands on him, and if we were to have him placed in any other London prison, would soon be passed around. The second reason is he has a brother, Thomas, who lives in Manchester. He’s the only relative Rapier has who still speaks to him--a decent sort from all accounts. Why he’d want to associate himself with Rapier, God only knows. But, there you go. It seemed a reasonable enough exchange to put your mother away. Although, I did have to verify it with the hierarchy.’
He paused, and smiled again. ‘Of course, I never mentioned that he will very possibly be facing extradition back to the Bahamas to face murder charges. Whatever his sentence is here; after completion, he will then have to face those charges. I’ve heard the prisons there are not in the least accommodating to foreign murderers.’
Grant was more than pleased with that. ‘Sounds fine with me. I just didn’t want to see that scumbag on the streets again. My one pleasure would be to go with your men when they arrest my mother. I take it that won’t be possible?’ He raised a hopeful eyebrow.
‘No, although understandable, I can’t allow a civilian to go along on a bust. If you were to be hurt in any way, it would be the end of my career.’ He looked at Grant and a flash of humour sparked in his eyes. ‘Of course, I can’t prevent it if you are already there. I take it from your army career you are quite capable of handling yourself?’
Grant grinned. ‘Oh yes!’
‘Well, as I said, if you're already there when the police get to your mother’s place, that’s not down to me, is it?’ Commander Raymond gave a knowing grin. ‘I see she lives in one of those luxury houses overlooking the Thames. She'll be upset to find her residence for the next fifteen to twenty years will not be quite as grand.’
Grant raised his eyebrows, and shrugged. ‘I’m afraid I don’t have the slightest bit of sympathy for her.’
‘Okay then, before you go, you’ve a statement to record ... just tying up loose ends.’
Grant walked away from the police station with a satisfied smile on his face. The Commander had told him it would be a good three hours before Rapier could make the phone call thereby giving him enough time to get inside his mother's house before the arrival of the police.
To fill the time, Grant decided to visit Gladys and find out what had really happened. Something was very wrong if it meant she had to leave his employ immediately. His gut feeling told him there was much more to this than her sister’s illness, and whatever it was, he was going to find out….
Continued….
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Large - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia: Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
Gladys: Female cleaner. Worked for Grant, and his grandfather before him, for twenty-five years.
Commander George Raymond: Male; Senior officer of the British Police Force.
| Author Notes | Thank you for reading this part, everyone, and for all the help you've been giving me over the months looking for my nits. For those who might not know, this is written in UK English, so there will be some spelling differences, ie, Sceptical-UK. Skeptical-US. Thank you again! |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 42
Grant walked away from the police station with a satisfied smile on his face. The Commander had told him it would be a good three hours before Rapier could make the phone call thereby giving him enough time to get inside his mother's house before the arrival of the police.
To fill the time, Grant decided to visit Gladys and find out what had really happened. Something was very wrong if it meant she had to leave his employ immediately. His gut feeling told him there was much more to this than her sister’s illness, and whatever it was, he was going to find out.
Part 43
Grant pulled up outside a neat terraced house, and sat for a moment remembering the last time he’d visited Gladys at home after learning of her sister’s road accident.
That was a few years ago, so what could possibly have happened to cause you to leave like that? Did Janet die? But that wouldn’t have had you leaving without notice. Well, you won’t get your answer sitting here. Grant unclipped his seat belt and got out of the car.
The door opened on the second knock, and Grant was taken aback at the frightened look in Gladys’s eyes. He noticed the hollowed cheeks and overall weight loss. Her grey hair hung lank as if she didn’t care anymore. What the hell has happened?
‘I’ve been expecting you, Mr Blake.’ She opened the door wider. ‘Won’t you come in?’
Utterly confused now, Grant followed Gladys into her sitting room.
‘Please, Mr Blake, do sit down. I s’pose the police will be here soon?’ Gladys sat down, her expression and body language now giving the picture of total acceptance. ‘I’m so sorry, Mr Blake, I had no choice. If ‘twere just me, I’d’ve told that woman to do her worst, I’d not do what she demanded. But it was my sister…’ She pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed her eyes.
The gut feeling he’d had was now proving to be worse than he’d thought. ‘Gladys, what did that woman look like?’
Grant followed Gladys’s eyes when she looked up at the photo of her sister smiling down on her from the wall. When she turned back, her eyes were red and glistening with fresh tears just waiting to spill over.
‘She was right posh … like you … but there wasn’t nothing nice about her. She was a bit younger than me; with brownish hair … but at her age, I s’pect it was one of them fake colours out of a bottle. And she had nasty, spiteful, eyes.’ She shuddered at the memory.
Mother! ‘Gladys, the police aren’t coming, so you can stop worrying about that. You are not in trouble. Just tell me what she wanted you to do, and where your sister comes into it.’
Now the tears were streaming. Gladys blew her nose, and then, once she started talking, all her fear, stress and anger came away.
‘She gave me a little button thingy with a sticky bottom. She said I had to put it under that nice Miss Lorna’s desk. I said I would do no such thing!’ Gladys took a moment to wipe her face, then looked at Grant, her eyes begging to be believed.
‘I know this woman, Gladys. I don’t want you to worry any more about it. But I want to know everything.’ He smiled, hoping to encourage her.
Gladys nodded, then folded her hands on her lap. ‘You knows about Janet, she’s still in the nursing home. She’s happy there … it would kill her if she had to leave, Mr Blake, and I’m too old to look after her. She needs full time care. That woman … that woman said she was on the board of something, and that she’d have Janet thrown out if I didn’t do as I was told. I couldn’t let that happen, Mr Blake, I just couldn’t!’ Sobbing now, she covered her face with her hands. ‘I just couldn’t.’
Grant tried to swallow the sour taste in his mouth. He stood up and went over to Gladys, then kneeling in front of her, he took hold of one of her hands and gently pulled it away from her face.
‘Gladys, look at me. Open your eyes … that’s it. What you did was for your sister, I completely understand that. It’s what anyone would have done; hell, I would have done it, for crying out loud! There is only one person who will be in trouble for this, and that is that woman. She’s my mother, Gladys, and the evilest piece of work you’re ever likely to meet. I’m the one who is sorry—’
‘Oh! No, it weren’t your fault, Mr Blake!’ The very idea that he would blame himself was just too much for Gladys. She would never allow that.
Grant smiled. ‘I’m sorry you were dragged into this whole sordid affair, Gladys. None of this is your fault, and I want you to believe me on that. Janet will never be taken out of that nursing home. I give you my word.’
Gladys gave a tremulous smile. ‘I’ve been that scared, Mr Blake.’ She shook her head, still confused about all that had been happening, ‘I couldn’t face that nice Miss Lorna, or you. You’ve all been so nice to me over the years. That’s why I had to leave after I’d done what I did.’
Grant looked at her; she had to be well into her sixties. ‘You know you can have your job back, it’s yours for the taking. But, Gladys, wouldn’t you prefer to retire?’’
‘It would help me a lot if you’d let me have my job back, but only if you’re really sure about it. It’s been a bit hard without that extra bit of money coming in. My pension only just covers my bills … but I can manage! I’m not after handouts!’ Gladys looked so shocked at even thinking it.
‘Gladys, you have a good pension with the company that would keep you well provided for. You’ll be comfortable for the rest of your life.’
Gladys looked so surprised. ‘I have? How’s that possible?’
‘My grandfather set up pensions for all our employees, Gladys, even before it became law to do so,’ he told her, smiling.
‘Oh, Mr Blake. What can I say? I didn’t know! Are you sure? I’m a volunteer at the nursing home just so’s I can be with my sister more. Are you really sure? I’ll come in until you have someone else. Oh, Mr Blake, I’ve been that scared, I don’t know what to say!’
Grant laughed. ‘I think you’re doing very well, Gladys. Don’t worry about the replacement; we can soon get that sorted. But, do come in and see us now and again. And let me know how Janet is getting on.’
When Grant left, he had some satisfaction that at least one mystery had been solved and Gladys was able to relax. But the anger that had been simmering was now ready to explode.
Mother! You will regret all this, mark my word!
*****
Back at the office, Grant was met by a grim-faced Reg. ‘You were right. Lorna’s office was bugged.’
‘I know. And I know who did it, and why.’ Grant helped himself to a coffee from Lorna’s machine and told them both what he’d discovered. ‘That woman! I can’t for the life of me think of one redeeming feature that would give me a reason to excuse what she’s done.’ He took a sip of his coffee and was about to put the cup down on the desk, when Lorna quickly pushed one of her coasters beheath it. Grant gave a sheepish grin.
‘Anyway, I have some good news. It looks like we have enough evidence to have both my mother and Colin put away for a long time. Rapier is going to make sure of it in return for his internment in Strangeways instead of Wandsworth in London. Apparently, his brother lives in Manchester, near the prison. He doesn’t know that after he’s served his sentence here, he’ll be shipped off to Barbados to be tried for murder.’
Grant went on to tell them that the Commander said it would be at least three hours before Rapier would be calling his mother. He looked at his watch. ‘I’ll get going shortly. It will give me the greatest pleasure to see the look on her face when she sees me, and more so when she discovers she will be going to prison.’
‘It’s no more than she deserves for what she’s done,’ Lorna told him. ‘Poor Gladys. What will happen to her?’ Lorna asked him.
‘Nothing. It wasn't her fault; she was used in the most appalling way. The mental trauma she’s been put through, it’s a wonder she didn’t have a nervous breakdown. I will never forgive my mother for that.'
‘While on the subject of Gladys, will you sort out her pension, Lorna, and tell me how much she’ll be getting before you set it in motion. I’m thinking it would be nice to arrange a small retirement party here, with flowers and a cake, etc. Find out what her yearly wage was, and triple it for her twenty-five-years of exemplary service. Hopefully it will go a small way into making up for all her suffering. I’ll give that to her quietly after her party.’
Reg had sat quietly while Grant was talking to Lorna, and once they’d finished, he stood up.
‘I’ve still got the wasp set-up in the car. I never dismantled it, just in case we needed it again. We could sit outside and see what happens when your mother gets the call.’
Grant’s eyes lit up. ‘I’d completely forgotten about that. Yes, let’s do it!’
*****
Grant and Reg had been watching his mother for about an hour as she sat busily writing. She had a hard, set look on her face.
‘I wonder who’ll be receiving that letter,’ Grant muttered. ‘She doesn't look at all happy.’ Then he grinned. ‘Just wait, she’s going to look a lot less happy soon!’
When the phone rang, Grant and Reg were both as startled as Marilyn. She reached out and picked up the phone.
‘Hello? Ms Harding here.’ … ‘Oh, Max, what have you got to tell me?’
Grant and Reg watched as the smile spread across Marilyn’s face. ‘You’re sure the lying bitch is dead? … Of course I believe you! I’ll transfer the rest of your money into your account now. Well done!’ She hung the phone up and looked across at Colin, who’d walked in while his mother was on the phone. ‘He’s done it. You’re safe now. With her out the way, no one can prove you did anything to her.’
‘Great! That cow deserved everything she got!’ Colin walked across to his mother, who stood up so they could embrace each other. ‘It’s finally over! I’d love to see Grant's face when he realises I’m not going to prison.’
As he sat in Reg’s car outside on the road, listening to them gloat, Grant thought about Tania. Such a lot had happened since that first interview. So many people had suffered because he’d believed his half-brother instead of Tania. How could he have been so stupid? He smiled thinking of the many tongue lashings she’d given him.
Life with her will be an exciting mix of heaven and hell, and I can’t wait! But first...
On Grant’s nod, Reg started the engine and cruised up to the front entrance. The house was an absolute mansion, with spectacular views over the Thames. The neat manicured lawns went down to the water’s edge, and a motorboat was docked by the small jetty. How you will love your new home, Mother!
On that thought, he opened the door and climbed out. Reg was going to stay in the car and watch the scene play out.
The main entrance was a magnificent oak double door, with the Harding family crest carved in the centre. Taking a deep breath, he rang the bell.
A poker-faced butler opened the door. Although not a regular visitor, the butler recognised Grant and stood aside to let him in.
‘Would you like me to announce you, Sir?’
‘No, thank you, I want to surprise Mother. I take it she’ll be in the afternoon room?’ On the butler’s affirmation, Grant walked past the wide, curving staircase and over to the double stained, wooden doors. Straightening his shoulders, he took a deep breath as he pushed the doors open, and smiled.
‘Good afternoon, Mother, Colin….’
Continued…
Characters:Tania Russell: - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox: - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake: - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding: - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main: - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Large: - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding: - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner: - Male ex SAS now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding: - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young: - Male ex SAS works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow: - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore: - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore: - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez: - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier: - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia:- Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
Gladys:- Female office cleaner. Worked for Grant, and his grandfather before him, for twenty-five years.
Commander George Raymond: - Male; Senior officer in the British Police Force.
| Author Notes | Thank you so much for reading this part. I appreciate all the input you give me, and the nits you find. This is written in UK English, hence some different spellings. xxx |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 43
The main entrance was a magnificent oak double door, with the Harding family crest carved in the centre. Taking a deep breath, he rang the bell.
A poker-faced butler opened the door. Although Grant was not a regular visitor, the butler recognised him and stood aside to let him in.
‘Would you like me to announce you, Sir?’
‘No, thank you, I want to surprise Mother. I take it she’ll be in the afternoon room?’ On the butler’s affirmation, Grant walked past the wide, curving staircase and stopped by the double doors. He could hear his mother talking to Colin on the other side; straightening his shoulders, he took a deep breath as he pushed the doors open, and smiled.
‘Good afternoon, Mother, Colin….’
Part 44
Marilyn Harding’s face paled as she looked at her first-born son standing in the wide, open doorway. With something akin to disbelief and alarm in her eyes, she couldn’t have revealed a more vivid picture of her feelings at seeing him—especially after her recent phone call with Rapier.
‘Grant! I … I wasn’t expecting you. What are you doing here? I mean, when did you get back from.…’ She shook her head. ‘What do you want?'
Marilyn was mortified hearing herself splutter away as if she’d been caught out in some misdemeanour, which, if she thought about it, she almost had. To counter that feeling, she forced her legs to move towards the drinks cabinet and picked up the silver cigarette case she’d left there. Grant watched her take one out, and noticed her hand shake as she reached for the matching lighter.
Pleased with himself for provoking such a response from his mother, his smile widened. ‘Oh, I just popped in for a visit as a son does once in a while. But now I’m curious as to how you knew I’d been away? I thought my whereabouts were a closely guarded secret.’
Instead of answering Grant’s questions, his mother quickly changed her facial expression and went on the attack instead.
‘You just popped in for a visit? Don’t give me that. I don’t know what game you’re playing, Grant, but you’ve certainly got a nerve to come here after what you’ve done to Colin. How dare you!?’ Now that she’d brought her surprise under control, her face positively quivered with rage.
'What I did to Colin?' Grant looked past his mother and caught Colin’s eye. He’d been standing behind Marilyn, clenching and unclenching his fists.
‘Okay, Colin, perhaps you can explain why Mother thinks I’ve done something to you. If anyone is to be blamed for the mess you’ve got yourself in, I would say it was entirely down to you--wouldn’t you?’
Colin’s face openly revealed his hatred towards his half-brother. ‘Whatever,’ he said, flicking his hand dismissively. ‘Oh, by the way, I’m so sorry to hear you’ve lost your one and only witness.’ His voice pitched up a few degrees before giving way to a harsh, derisive laugh.
Grant closed the doors, and with slow, measured movements, he turned around. ‘I beg your pardon? You’re sorry I’ve lost my witness? I’m afraid I don't know what you’re talking about, Colin.’ His face was granite hard as he glared at his half-brother through eyes as dangerous as black ice. ‘What witness have I lost?’
Marilyn glanced over at Colin and back to Grant. Her eyes momentarily betrayed her uncertainty. She was clever enough not to say anything, though. Colin, on the other hand, couldn’t control his elation.
‘You can’t fool us, Grant. We know for a fact that bitch is dead.' His voice was full on gloating now. ‘Without Tania to give evidence against me, you have nothing, do you hear me? Nothing!’
A slow, venomous smile spread over Grant’s face. ‘I take it you’ve heard from our friend Rapier. Oh, my dear Colin, you didn’t really believe I’d let him harm Tania, did you? Obviously, you don’t know me as well as you thought you did. I’ve just left Tania with my team, and I can assure you, she is very much alive.’
‘Colin! Don’t say another word!’ By now, Marilyn had put two and two together and come up with the right answer. Rapier had lied. Grant was watching her and could almost see the workings of her mind.
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about, Grant, and even less about what Colin just said!’ A smile of satisfaction covered her face. Lighting her cigarette, she inhaled and slowly released little smoke rings into the air. Anyone would think she didn’t have a care in the world. ‘If Colin has recklessly done something he shouldn’t have, it has nothing to do with me! So if there’s nothing else, you can get the hell out of my house before I have you thrown out!’
‘Just you hold on a freaking minute! What the hell do you mean, Mother?’ Colin’s eyes blazed as his face twisted with fury. ‘It was all your idea to have Tania killed, not mine! So now you’re going to put all this on me and pretend you knew nothing about it?’
‘Are you totally insane, Colin? Didn’t I just tell you not to say another word? You half-witted imbecile, all you’re doing is making things worse for yourself.’
Grant watched with wry amusement. ‘I think it’s a bit too late for the blame-game, Mother. As for you, Colin, did you honestly believe she would stick by you if her freedom was in jeopardy? Considering she had no problems leaving me when I was a baby so she could marry your father, I’m damned sure she’d be only too eager to dump you, too, and sit back and watch you go down for her crimes.’
Before either Colin or Marilyn could retaliate, the front door bell filled the room with its piercing chimes. Marilyn rushed to the window and looked out. ‘What have you done?’ she yelled, completely unnerved as the last of her control escaped.
‘Not me, Mother, this is all down to you and your son there.’ Grant grinned, openly enjoying the spectacle. He was well prepared for Colin when he lunged at him, having seen for himself the police at the front door.
‘You bastard! You won’t get away with this…’
‘Oh, but I have, Colin!’ Grant said as he side-stepped and watched his half-brother stumble and crash into the door.
When the police came in and read Marilyn and Colin their rights, Grant couldn't help but admire the performance his mother put on. Anyone would think she truly did believe she was going to get away with it. Marilyn calmly sat down and took another cigarette out of her silver case and held it between her fingers, but didn't bother to light it.
When the police took out the handcuffs, her language became more like a backstreet floozy.
‘You are not sodding well putting those on me!’ she spat out. ‘I am not one of your common criminals! Get your filthy hands off me! I’ll have your badge for this!’
When Grant started to walk towards the door, she screamed even louder. ‘I’ll get you for this! You … you…’ She found herself yelling at the closed door.
*****
The following day, Colin stood before the magistrates and gave his name. Once the prosecutor had explained the circumstances of his rearrest, Colin was remanded back into custody for breaking the terms of his previous bail. He would stay there until his hearing at the crown court. Further charges would be added for his part in aiding and abetting an attempted murder.
Marilyn Harding was allowed bail as a first offender, but was told she would have to wear an electronic ankle tag. Should she commit just one transgression, she would find herself remanded into custody until her trial.
Rapier was held on remand until his case came to court. If convicted, he would then serve his time in Manchester Prison.
Grant had been the only spectator sitting in the gallery watching the proceedings. His smile was not lost on his mother, who had looked up at him as she was being led away. She returned it with a look that would easily have chilled Satan’s blood.
*****
That night, the team, including Tania and Monica, went out for a celebratory meal. Their relief was palpable.
‘So, is that it? Is it all over now?’ Monica was sitting next to Jeff, and looked up at him and smiled. ‘Does that mean I can go home? I really need to get my business up and running.’
Tania held her breath waiting to hear the answer. Would that mean everything going back to what it was like before all this happened? She surreptitiously glanced up at Grant from under her long eyelashes, and blushed to see he was watching her.
It was Jeff who answered Monica. ‘Yes, I can’t see any reason why not. Although, I’d like to hang around and make sure nothing goes wrong. What do you say, Grant?’
Reg laughed, but then coughed and turned away when Jeff raised an eyebrow and gave him one of his warning looks.
‘I can’t see any reason why not. And yes, Jeff, you stay until we know for certain there aren’t any unknown surprises. But it doesn’t need all of us. Reg, there’s no reason for you to stay if you want to get back to France. I can’t see my mother doing anything that would risk her going to prison. I think she still believes she can wheedle her way out of it.’
Tania felt Grant’s hand touch her thighs under the table as he searched for her hand, and a thousand butterflies flitted around in her stomach. She willingly slipped her hand into his.
Reg nodded. ‘Yes, I’ve been in touch with my lads, and all’s good. But there are some things I need to do. So, considering everything is nicely wrapped up here, I think I’ll get back. It’s not as if I’m a thousand miles away if I’m needed again.’
With that all sorted, the group sat back and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
The next morning, Monica came through with her case packed, and smiled when she caught Tania’s amused expression.
‘You’re in a hurry to leave, aren’t you?’
‘I know. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the company, but if I’m going to get my new business up and running, I have to get a move on.’ Monica replied. Leaving her case by the door, she came over to the table for her breakfast.
Having already told Tania what had happened to her job, and what Jeff had said, Tania understood how eager Monica was to get started. ‘Yes, of course. I’d forgotten about that. If you need any help, please tell me. Not that I know much about accountancy, but if I can help in any other way?’ Tania left it like that.
It wasn’t long before everyone had gone. ‘I guess there’s nothing left for me to do but go and pack my bags now. It’s been a weird experience, Grant, but I’ve enjoyed most of it,’ she told him as they sat having a last cup of coffee.
‘Tania, look ... What Jeff said about wanting to stay for a while longer,’ Grant reached out and picked up her hand, ‘his reasons are specifically to keep an eye on Monica. He’s still worried about her safety. I don’t want you to go back to your place for much the same reason. Will you stay and let me protect you?’
All sorts of feelings rushed through Tania as she stared into Grant’s anxious eyes. Of course I will, I want to stay forever drowning in those dreamy eyes of yours, feel those strong muscular arms lifting me…. Tania quickly slapped her thoughts into place. Jezebel!
‘If you think it’s for the best, then, yes, of course I’ll stay,’ she replied, swallowing the lump that had stuck in the back of her throat. And who knows what can happen? A small smile curled her lips.
Continued…
Characters:
Tania Russell - Female 25-years-old, 5’2 long natural blonde with glints like warm honey when caught in the sun, expressive sapphire blue eyes that would flare or sparkle depending on her mood. Smooth, fair complexion. Qualified architect. Orphaned at 3-years-old. Brought up by the family of:
Monica Fox - Female 30-years-old, 5’6 raven-black curly hair, deep-brown eyes. Very protective and loyal towards Tania. Qualified accountant. Foster-sister of Tania.
Grant Blake - Male 32-years-old, 6’4 thick beach-blond hair, olive-green eyes. Owner and chairman of Thistlegate Enterprises. Brought up by his grandfather after his widowed mother walked away to marry a wealthy man. His own father died in action in Africa.
Colin Harding - Grant’s half brother. 28-years-old, 6’2 white-blond hair. Pale-blue eyes. Artificial tan. He has an IED, (intermittent explosive disorder.) He kidnapped Tania and caused her major injuries.
Lorna Main - Female 52-years-old. Been with the company for thirty years. Company director and shareholder of Thistlegates
Margaret Large - Female 26-years-old. Worked as Grant’s receptionist for two years.
Marilyn Harding - Colin’s mother. 56-years-old. Out of the bottle brunette. Steel-grey eyes. Also, Grant’s mother but they both refuse to acknowledge the other.
Jeff (Jefferson) Horner - Male ex SAS 34-yeara-old. Now works for Grant. Protecting Monica and perhaps a romantic development?
Reg Fielding - Male ex SAS 29-years-old. Works for Grant. Experienced at getting into the most impossible places.
Carl Young - Male ex SAS 28-years-old. Works for Grant. Strong, won’t shy away from anything.
Shadow - ex SAS so named due to his ability to move about unseen.
Peter Shore - Male, Grant’s friend and handyman. Bahama island. Married to:
Latifah Shore - Female, Just had her first baby delivered by Tania. Housekeeper. Also a friend of Grant’s.
Isabella Sanchez - Female; part-time cook at Grant’s Bahama home. Lives with her elderly mother.
Max Cannon-alias-Rapier - Cold blooded killer who hires his services to anyone who can afford him.
José Garcia - Male; gardener at Grant’s Bahama villa. Victim of Rapier who has kidnapped his wife: Anna and their two children with the threat he’d kill them if José doesn’t kill Tania.
Gladys - Female office cleaner. Worked for Grant and his grandfather before him, for twenty-five years.
Commander George Raymond - Male; Senior officer in the British Police Force.
| Author Notes |
Thank you so much for reading my novel. I've been overwhelmed with the lovely support I've had whilst writing it. Last part next week, and possibly an epilogue.
This is written in UK English, so spellings can be different. :) |
By Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
End of part 44
‘Tania, look ... What Jeff said about wanting to stay for a while longer,’ Grant reached out and picked up her hand, ‘his reasons are specifically to keep an eye on Monica. He’s still worried about her safety. I don’t want you to go back to your place for much the same reason. Will you stay and let me protect you?’
All sorts of feelings rushed through Tania as she stared into Grant’s anxious eyes. Of course I will, I want to stay forever drowning in those dreamy eyes of yours, feel those strong muscular arms lifting me…. Tania quickly slapped her thoughts into place. Jezebel!
‘If you think it’s for the best, then, yes, of course I’ll stay,’ she replied, swallowing the lump that had stuck in the back of her throat. And who knows what can happen? A small smile curled her lips.
Part 45
Grant took Tania to the office after setting up a meeting with Lorna and Gilbert, the head of planning. He wanted to ensure their newest architect would now feel she was an important part of the company.
With the plans she’d drawn up laid out on the desk, the four of them pored over the designs, just to make sure there weren’t any changes needing to be discussed.
They worked through to quite late in the evening, stopping only once to eat the Indian take-away Grant had ordered earlier, and would have continued had Lorna not raised her hands and called a halt.
‘I think we’ve gone over these blueprints enough; we can’t get them any more perfect than Tania has drawn them up. No one has come up with any possible problems, so I suggest we wrap it up and plan on getting started tomorrow. We have all the permissions needed, and as far as I can see, gentlemen ... lady,’ Lorna smiled warmly at Tania, ‘there's nothing left to do but go home.’
Grant grinned. ‘You’ll get used to Lorna’s bullying, Tania. She can be a tyrant, even to me!’
‘Get away home with you!’ Lorna laughed.
Back at Grant’s apartment, Tania realised this would be the first time she’d been completely alone with him. She’d always had Latifah and Monica around, not to mention the team. It seemed strange, but nice.
Grant walked over to the drinks cabinet, took out a couple of brandy glasses and poured in the warm, amber liquid. Slipping the short stem between his fingers so the bell bottom fitted snugly in his palm, Grant twirled the brandy around in the glass, watching it catch the light as it moved. ‘I think we deserve this, don’t you?’ He smiled as he handed it over.
Tania took a sip. ‘Mmm, this is lovely!’ She sank into the soft, comfortable sofa, and held the glass with both hands clasped around it.
Grant joined her, turning slightly in order to see her better.
‘Here’s to better times,’ he said as they clinked glasses.
‘Absolutely!’
They sat for a while just enjoying the tranquility of the moment. There was no need to speak, both being comfortable in each other's company.
A short while later, Grant took Tania’s glass from her hand and put it with his on the coffee table. ‘I’ve been wanting to do this all day,’ he murmured. Tipping her chin up with his finger, his lips met hers with the lightest touch.
Tania’s stomach did so many crazy jiggles while, at the same time, the wild rhythm of her beating heart could easily outshine that of the famous Irish Riverdance. His kiss was long and lingering, gentle, and loving. When he pulled away, she couldn’t stop the moan that escaped.
She loved the way he whispered her name and how it sounded. Like a lover’s caress, so soft; it made her go goose-pimply.
He held her away from him and looked into her eyes. ‘I don’t know how, or even when it happened, but it did. You’ve come to mean so much to me that it hit me this morning how empty my life would be if I didn’t have you in it. I dream of you every night. Every waking thought finds you there.
'I’ve never, ever felt like this before. Not for any other woman. I’m hopelessly, happily, wonderfully in love with you. I want so much to grow old with you, have babies with you. Tania, I want to build my life around you.’
With her eyes so misted with tears, Tania could hardly see him anymore. Her heart felt like it would burst with the flood of happiness that had crashed its way in.
‘Tania, this is not how I’d planned it, but, my sweetest darling … If you can just learn to love me half as much as I love you I would be content.’ He lifted his finger to wipe away the tears that were now trickling down her cheek, ‘Could you love me enough to spend your life with me? Tania, will you marry me and make my world complete?’
Now the smile burst out, radiating from every part of her being. ‘Yes, oh ... Yes! You have made me the happiest girl in the world!’ She threw her arms around him. ‘Kiss me, hold me! Oh Grant, I’ve loved you for so long…’ She didn’t get to say anything more.
TWO YEARS and SIX MONTHS LATER
‘There they are!’ Tania shouted, waving her hands excitedly when she saw Monica and Jeff coming through customs at the Bahamas airport. Monica was carrying eleven-month old Joey, while Jeff pushed the trolly stacked high with luggage—most of which was Joey’s.
Catching sight of Tania, Monica let out the loudest shriek, causing many of the other travellers to stare at her. Not that it bothered her in the least.
Grant grinned, and moved forward to help Jeff with all the luggage. Although it was only two months ago they’d last seen each other back in London, Monica and Tania acted as if it had been years.
‘Where are the twins?’ Monica asked, looking around.
‘Fast asleep at home, I hope, for Latifah’s sake. I thought it best to leave them that way rather than bring them to a crowded airport.’ Amanda and Lillibet their eleven-month-old twins, were Tania and Grant’s pride and joy. Identical in every way, their parents knew there’d be plenty of fun and games as they grew up. Not all fun, either!
After all the hugs, and remarks about how much Joey had grown, they all made their way to Grant’s seaplane. He’d had to swap the helicopter now his family had grown. It wasn’t long before they were safely back on Grant’s island.
‘How lovely it is to be back,’ Monica said, smiling, once they had arrived at Grant’s and Tania’s home. ‘I’ve missed this place. Where’s Latifah?’
‘I’m here.’ Latifah came rushing up and gave Monica a hug before taking charge of Joey. ‘Oh my word! Who’s a big boy, then?’
‘Mummy!’ Everyone turned to see a pretty curly-haired little girl come running up and grab hold of Latifah’s skirt.
This was the first time Monica had seen Tania Leanne since her birth, almost three years ago, and was thrilled to see the little girl again.
Peter had phoned Grant to ask if Tania would mind them naming little Peanut after her as they wished to honour her for delivering their baby daughter. Tania could not have been more thrilled, or felt more humbled.
‘Say hello, Tania Leanne,’ Latifah said, looking proudly at her daughter. Joey decided now was his chance to get away from all the cuddling, and wriggled to get down, too. ‘Okay, little one, there you go.’ Latifah laughed as she watched Joey crawl over to the little girl and reach for her hand.
‘Let’s put your luggage in your rooms,’ Grant said, grabbing a couple of cases. ‘Then after you’re all settled in, come down for a glass of ice-cold beer, and there’s iced tea if the ladies would prefer.’
‘Looks like you need some help.’ Peter came through from the garden, hand out-stretched to shake Jeff's. ‘Welcome back both … all three of you!’ He chuckled as he spied Joey on the floor. ‘Here, let me,’ he said, lifting another couple of cases. ‘Crikey! What have you got in here?’
‘Just about everything Monica could cram in,’ Jeff replied, giving Monica a wink to soften the thump he knew he was about to get.
Amanda and Lillibet were stirring, and soon yelling their little lungs off for their mummy to come and take them out of their cots. For the next half an hour, bedlam reigned!
Monica laughed at the bibs the girls had on. Each had her own name, ‘I’m Amanda’ and ‘I’m Lillibet’ emblazoned on them. No chance for Monica to get them muddled up because she still had a problem knowing which was which.
Tania and Grant had no trouble, even Latifah was getting it right more often than not. Tania Leanne, on the other hand, knew exactly who each one was.
It wasn’t until the evening, when all the children had been put to bed and Peter and Latifah had taken themselves off to speak to Latifah’s parents on the phone, that the four friends were able to sit and chat.
‘So have you heard anymore about your mother’s appeal yet?’ Jeff asked as he took a sip of his brandy.
‘Yes,’ Grant said, his smile betraying it was the result he wanted. ‘It was turned down and her lawyer has been told she can’t appeal again. Her sentence stands. Life in prison. But she must spend a minimum of fourteen years before she can go before the parole board.’
‘I’m sure that went down well!’ Jeff laughed.
‘Serves her right,’ Tania mumbled. ‘Why should she get away with trying to have me killed. I hope she stays there for the rest of her life.’
Grant reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘I’m sure she will. From what I’ve heard, she’s not doing too well inside. The regular prisoners don’t like her ‘snootiness’ apparently.’ Grant looked serious for a moment.
‘Colin’s lawyer has tried to get him transferred to the psychiatric wing, but it was rejected, as well. He’ll stay where he is in Pentonville for the next fourteen years. No parole. I doubt we’ll see anything more of either of them.’
‘If I was a betting man, which I’m not, I’d bet Colin is cursing his good looks now.’ Jeff smirked, then shrugged. ‘Or not, as the case may be.’
Monica laughed, not able to stop herself. ‘Jefferson Horner! That’s terrible!’
Grant laughed at them both, ‘Okay, you two, let’s get off this disagreeable subject. We’re all here to celebrate our second anniversary on Sunday…’
‘Wait a mo,’ Jeff cut in. ‘What about Rapier? Didn’t you tell me last week that when you went over to the mainland you heard the police were pushing to have him extradited so he could stand trial here for that poor man’s murder? How is that going, or haven’t you heard any more?’
‘No, I’ve not heard a thing. But I can’t see it happening until he has served his time in England. I did hear that Rapier's brother died before he got to the prison, and how Rapier went into a furious rage. So much for brotherly love!’
‘That’s a strange reaction, considering he was so keen to get near him. What do you think that was all about?’ Monica frowned. ‘Sounds suspicious to me!’
‘That’s what I thought,’ Grant agreed. ‘What's even stranger, he's decided he wants to stay in London because … Now get this, because he has family in London who would visit him. That's totally different to what he told us about his brother in Manchester being the only one who would talk to him.’
‘That is strange! I think there was more to him wanting to be near his brother than we realised.’ Jeff said thoughtfully. ‘Do you think there was an escape planned?’
‘Could be, but that’s something we’ll never know. I do know he's being a model prisoner. I’m thinking he’s hoping he’ll be freed early for good behaviour, although, I'm sure he doesn't realise he'll be sent here once he's served his time. But regardless, I can't see the parole board considering an early release!’
They were silent for a moment, each nursing their own thoughts until Tania picked up her glass of brandy and turned to them with a cheery smile.
‘Let’s drop it now, shall we? This is supposed to be a joyous occasion … our second anniversary. I can’t believe it's been two years since our double wedding.’
‘Lovely, wonderful years,’ murmured Monica.
‘Absolutely!’ they chorused and clinked their raised glasses! ‘To us!’
| Author Notes | Thank you so much everyone who has followed my story, your help, encouragement and support has all been amazing. Thank you!! I hope you liked this final part. xxx |
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