She had expected to sense recent disturbance, but what she had not expected was the tingle up her spine and the ticklish feel of goose pimples on her arms and the absolute conviction that she was not alone. She spun around to look back towards the open door and caught a glimpse of a dark shadow on the dappled path.

Chapter 32

Was it a figure? A movement in the trees? Or just her overwrought mind? Her heart pounded.

The small gate to the beach was but a few steps away: if she ran now she may be able to reach the dunes and then try to make it back into the farm house. To do that she would need to turn her back on the house, the path and the dark shadows of the garden. She was petrified and for long seconds couldn’t drag her eyes away from the open door and the blind windows of the kitchen. Her mouth had dried and she gulped, desperate for moisture. Slowly, slowly she took one step backwards, then another. She dragged her feet along the old stones her hands stretched behind her groping for the gate.

Another small step, then another. She could turn now and run but what if she tripped? Was the gate open? She couldn’t remember. If she did get past the stone wall she knew the sand was soft and full of sharp grass: it would be hard to run.

She could scream.

If she screamed Dolly might hear her, and Jim: they would come running, but would it be too late because whoever was in the house would hear her too and they were nearer.

Was there someone in the house?

Again she tried to peer into the dim rooms. The curtains in the little kitchen blew gently in a soft breeze, the door swung a little on the well oiled hinges. Tree limbs creaked high overhead and a crow in the rookery shouted to the setting sun. The harsh noise caused her to start and a small noise, not quite a scream but more than a gasp, escaped her lips. She pressed her hand to her mouth.

It seemed that her heart would burst from her chest and her knees wobbled now, threatening to let her down just when it was essential that she was swift and sure.

She must move.

Was there anyone there?

The shout when she made it shocked her: she hadn’t known she was going to speak until the words escaped her trembling lips. “Who is it? Who’s there?”

The door moved again, slowly drawing inward and a figure appeared now, unmistakable. He was tall, dressed in jeans and a blue sweatshirt. His head was bald and his lower arms were covered with a pattern of tattoos. He stepped forward and held up his hands.

The rugged face was stern, blue eyes unblinking and he moved towards her. She turned from him. She would make for the gate and take her chances on the beach. Maybe there were walkers, someone to help her. She spun and as she did the intruder strode across the grass and reached his large hand towards her. He grabbed her upper arm, with strong, hard fingers. She saw the muscles in his arms flex as he held her, fighting against the pull of her body.

She twisted and brought up her hand to slap at his face, to try and scratch him. At the same time she lifted her foot. Instead of pulling back now she moved forward, tried to judge the distance so that when she brought her knee up into his groin it would have all her strength behind it.

He saw the move. He knew what it meant and spun her around now with her back to him and his arm round her chest, above her breasts and he dragged her back to hold her tightly against his chest and belly.

“Don’t scream, you don’t need to scream. It’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Tears streamed from her eyes and as she opened her mouth to yell for help he clamped his fingers tightly across her jaw.

“Don’t scream, you really don’t need to be afraid. I won’t hurt you. Keep calm.”

She felt the heat from him through her T shirt, the warmth of his arm across her upper body. She felt the tickle of breath in her ear as he leaned in close to speak again in his calm voice. “Don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you. I’m going to move my hand now. Nod your head, tell me you understand and that you won’t yell.”

She nodded and slowly he released the grip on her face. “Okay, good, good. Now I want you to be very calm. I’m going to let you go. Please don’t try and run, okay? Just nod.”

She moved her head a small jerk and felt his arms loosen their hold. He kept her encircled but now she was barely contained. It would be possible to duck and run but knew that he would have her again before she made the gate. He spun her to face him.

He looked into her eyes. “Pauline, I need you to come into the house with me now. I need you to be calm and not to be afraid.” She gave another sharp nod and he released his hold totally and stood aside gesturing toward the open door.

She moved past him and took the few steps back to the kitchen. He followed her inside and closed the door.

“Right, now please sit down, just sit at the table. We need to talk.”

She shook her head. If she was seated she couldn’t run and first chance there was she was going to run. “Please don’t hurt me. I haven’t got anything. I haven’t got a bag of diamonds, or a computer memory stick. I don’t have anything! Please don’t hurt me.”

The stranger moved to the other side of the table and to her surprise he dragged out the second chair and turned it to sit astride. He leaned his arms across the back and bent towards her. “I won’t hurt you Pauline. You are safe with me. Please sit down. I just want to talk to you.”

Chapter 33

“Who are you? How do you know my name? What are you doing here?”

The hint of a smile danced across the stranger’s mouth as his heavy brows quirked with amusement. “Where would you like me to start?” He raised a calming hand as anger blazed now from Pauline’s eyes in response to his flippancy.

“I’m Pete. Please.” He gestured to the chair and as she lowered herself to the edge of the seat he let out a breath and leaned a little closer. His eyes were serious now as he looked directly into her face. “You’ve got yourself mixed up in something very dangerous. I know you didn’t mean to. I know you don’t have anything that you shouldn’t; you didn’t steal anything from Jed.” Pauline tipped her head to one side, listening closely. He didn’t frighten her so much, this large, rough looking individual, not the way the other man had done. He had a quiet about him that stilled the nerves and she felt the pounding of her heart slow. Outside the sun dipped into the ocean changing from sapphire to indigo as quiet waves rolled endlessly against the cooling sand, singing the song of evening.

“That’s his name; the motorcyclist. I know you tried to help him and then what he did to you. I’m sorry for that. I made a mistake there. Stupidly I assumed he’d taken you with him and so followed him rather than looking on the headland. I know what happened to him also.” She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. So, was this to be blackmail? Retribution? Proof that she was a killer? Her stomach flipped as she tensed and moved to rise from the table.

Pete reached a hand across the small space and laid it on top of hers. “It’s okay. He’s dead, but you knew that didn’t you? Please though, don’t be afraid. You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Don’t worry? How can I not worry? How do you know anyway? Who are you? Where is he? Have you got him… are you going to tell the police?”

“I am the police, Pauline. I’m not from around here, that’s why I couldn’t find you. If I’d been able to go to them they may have known about the cave. Although, having watched them searching for the body I’m not sure they do. That’s where he was, for a while. I had to put him somewhere.”