“But they know you and it’s enough to mark them.” Pete stepped around the table and crouched in front of her. “Look, I know this will scare you and I’m sorry for that, but you have to believe me when I tell you that these people are very dangerous. They are ruthless: they don’t care who gets hurt. They make their living trading in people. Human beings are no more than a commodity to them. They won’t hesitate to take any and all measures to protect themselves.

“I am trying to arrange to have you taken to a place of safety, but until then…” Pauline’s sharp intake of breath caused him to pause mid-sentence.

“You’re what! You are doing what!? Taken to a place of safety!? Who the hell do you think you are? I’m not an infant! I’m not a, what did you say, a commodity! How dare you?” She spun away from the chair and paced to the door where she snatched up her bag. “You are trying to arrange… Well don’t you bother. I will go where I decide. I spent the last twenty years of my life being told where I could and couldn’t go and I’ve finished with that.

“I can’t believe it. You can just stop trying to have me ‘taken’ anywhere. Bloody hell!”

“Hey, hey. Calm down. Have you been listening to anything I‘ve said here? Your life is in danger, that’s the truth of it. You could end up dead. Once these people find out that Jed is dead they are coming after you. Before that happens I have to make sure that you’re safe. Have you the slightest inkling what can happen? Do you want to end up in pieces, sliced and diced and thrown onto a landfill in a black plastic bag? You thought what Jed did to you was bad. Well let me tell you he was taking great care of you. He thought you were of value to him, Jed was a pussy cat compared to some of the people I’m mixing with right now.

“You have no say in this thing Pauline. You have to be kept safe.”

She could find no words to throw back at him. She was aghast and furious and yet speechless.

“You can go back to the farm tonight. I’m going to be just outside.”

“What do you mean just outside?”

“I’m going to be keeping watch tonight, I daren’t risk them coming looking for Jed and maybe finding you.”

“How could that happen? They don’t know who I am, where I am.”

“Oh believe me they can find out. I found you; not soon enough to save you from the cave but I found you.”

“Yes, but you’re with the police.”

“There are more ways to find someone if you want to than just the police. Jed found you.”

“Well yes, but he had my jacket.”

“Oh come on, I found you and he did. We don’t know what he’s told his mates. You’re vulnerable and we have to protect you.”

“Well, where am I going to go?”

“I don’t know yet, I have some colleagues working on it but it’s a bit complicated with me still in the field. Look, for tonight go back to the farm. I’ll be outside and as soon as possible we’ll get you away.”

“But what about France? What about my house there?”

“I’m sorry Pauline, but for now that’s just going to have to be on hold.”

“But they don’t know about that.”

“They may know and anything they don’t know they can and will find out. Will you listen to me please?” He had come close now and reached a hand forward to lay it on her upper arm. “I’m sorry. I know this seems very unfair but it’ll be over soon. I’ll keep you safe.”

A warm tide swept her body and her heart hitched just once. How many times she had longed for someone to say just those words to her! Standing here in this little cottage with her world turned on its head they had fallen from the lips of the most unlikely character she had ever met. They melted the residual anger and soothed down her nerves and she found herself smiling up into his eyes.

“Ok, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be difficult. It’s just all rather upsetting.”

“I know. Come on, let’s get you back to Dolly and Odd Jim. Stay in the house and try not to show yourself too much. When I need to speak to you again I’ll let you know.”

“How?”

“Oh don’t worry about that. I have my ways.” And with a wicked little grin he turned and opened the door. Holding up a hand to indicate that she should wait he stepped outside. He glanced back and forth across the road and garden and listened to the silence for a while before waving her forward.

They walked together the few yards to the farm. “Try not to worry Pauline. This will soon be over I promise you.” He threw an arm around her shoulder in a sort of friendly half hug and then pushed open the wooden gate to let her through. As she made her way across the cobbles she could feel his eyes watching her and his presence ‘keeping her safe.’ It warmed her and she was surprised by the thrill of something approaching excitement deep in her gut. She grinned to herself. For some unaccountable reason, in the midst of all this turmoil, she felt happy.

Chapter 35

“Oh my word, I was getting so worried! Are you alright? You look a bit flushed.”

“I’m fine, I’m fine Dolly. It was just lovely over at the cottage. Peaceful you know, and I took a little time. I hope you weren’t worried.”

“Well, I don’t know. The last few days have had me so upset.

“I wonder if you have a few minutes spare? Can we have a little glass of wine and a chat?”

“Well, yes of course. Dolly, I have to tell you that I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for me. I would never have brought all this trouble to your door but you’ve been such a friend. I’ll never forget how lovely you’ve been.”

“Oh, now come on don’t be getting upset. Don’t cry. Come on let’s have a drink.”

“Can we sit in the garden, that little private bit at the back, behind the barn? It’s such a lovely evening. You know I used to come to Cornwall so much when I was little and over the years I had forgotten how magical it can be. All this drama could have spoiled it but meeting you and receiving such kindness, it’s made me determined to somehow handle all this, you know, not let it spoil my memories.”

“Well, I only did what anyone would do and yes, I know what you mean about the magic. I missed the place such a lot when I was away and when I lost my husband, Bill, I just wanted to come home.

“Will you ever go back to your husband do you think?”

“No, no definitely not. He used to hit me.”

“Oh, my word. You poor thing. It’s despicable, absolutely unforgiveable. Was it him? Was it your husband who sent that awful man, the one who took you away?”

“Oh… no… no it wasn’t him; not George. That was all to do with something else.”

“But, why – I mean why did that happen? Oh no, no you don’t have to tell me. I shouldn’t be asking. It’s just so – well so odd and unexpected. That sort of thing doesn’t happen here; thugs and kidnappers. Of course we have our bits of robberies and so on but nothing like that. When I think about it, you over there in that awful cave all day and then struggling back on your own all bruised… oh, it makes my blood boil.”

“Hey, come on it’s all over. Let’s take these glasses outside and enjoy the peace.”

Sitting on the little flagged patio in the early dark, listening to the quiet shush of waves on the beach and the cry of an owl hunting in the woods soothed and quietened Pauline. It should have been bliss; it would have been if the shadows hadn’t held such threats and the rattle of dried grass on the dunes hadn’t sounded so very like footsteps and if only a tall, bulky man with a bald head and kind eyes had been standing close and keeping her safe.

“What are you going to do Pauline?”

“Do?”

“Yes, you can stay here as long as you like. I hope you know that. You can stay here until you are ready to go on to your new place in France – or whatever you are planning now. The thing is though; you must be so confused with everything that’s happened.”