Chapter Thirty

27 December, Morning

Misty was a welcome barrier between them the next morning, chatting to both of them indiscriminately, with her usual bright-eyed bounce, tantrum forgotten. There was a moment of sadness when she looked out of the window at the forlorn stump of snow that had yesterday been the snowman, but the task of choosing the correct collar for Snowball to wear for the day soon diverted her.

Drew seemed distracted, buried in his own thoughts as he inhaled a mug of coffee.

Lori put her phone down beside him on the kitchen counter. ‘If you go up the hill you can probably get a signal – to ring wherever you need to ring,’ she offered quietly. ‘Someone to fetch you? Better than hitching.’

‘No.’ The unexpected refusal had her heart skipping for a moment, but his frown didn’t suggest that he’d decided to stay for some reason. ‘I don’t want to risk any connection to you and Misty. There’s someone who will help me, but apart from him, once I’m away from here, I won’t be telling anyone about any of this.’ He looked around the barn, then focused on her face again. ‘Not even the police.’ He grasped her hand. ‘You won’t be telling anyone either.’ It was halfway between a question and confirmation.

‘If that’s what you want.’ She saw the movement of his shoulders as some of the tension relaxed.

‘Please.’ He gave a clipped nod of acknowledgement. ‘I don’t want either of you to be caught up in this. It’s my problem, not yours.’

She could see from the look in his eyes that his mind was made up. No point in arguing. And really, why would you want to? This is an interlude. Once he’s gone, it’s over. Back to real life. Where you belong.

She looked over at Misty, playing on the rug with Griff and Snowball. ‘I can’t promise that Misty won’t chatter.’

‘Once I’m gone she’ll probably forget.’ He was very still, with something that she couldn’t read in his expression. There was a long beat before he spoke. ‘Is there a phone box between here and the hut that I can reach on foot? Somewhere not too public?’

‘There’s a box at the crossroads, about a mile down the road.’

‘That will do.’ He gave her a strained smile. ‘If you can let me have some change for the phone?’

‘Of course.’ She picked up her mobile and slipped it back into her pocket. ‘After breakfast.’

The road was clear and the low winter sun shone fitfully. Drew hiked along the grass verge, avoiding patches close to the hedge, where the snow was still banked up. He had the hood of the old waterproof pulled down to cover his face. It was very quiet. Not even a passing car. He dug his hands into the pockets of the coat, and kept walking.

He could just keep walking. Walk until he hit a main road and traffic, where he could hitch a ride. As he’d intended before the snow intervened. But that was when his one idea was to get away as fast as possible. To put as much distance as he could between him and his rescuers, in case the threat was still out there. It might still be out there. That was a consideration. But now he had another objective. Things had shifted, over those two snow-bound days.

You kissed Lori France.

He ground his teeth. His mind had to be focused on the job in hand, not on regrets and hopes inside his head.

He didn’t need the involvement of passing strangers, offering lifts, for what he was about to do.

A few days ago Lori was a stranger.

His plan now, such as it was, hinged on the phone call he was about to make. He was going straight to the help he knew would be offered. This call, from a public box, was the first part of the plan.

No connection to Lori or the barn.

The need to protect Lori and Misty had begun on Christmas Eve, when he hadn’t known if he was bringing danger into their lives. And it hadn’t stopped. He didn’t quite know where this urgent need to keep them away from the mess he was in was coming from …

Or maybe you do? Because you couldn’t help them …

He pushed the chilling whisper aside and concentrated on where he was putting his feet whilst keeping an eye on his surroundings. Once he got away from here there was no reason for any physical threat to Lori. She would simply be a woman who had helped him. That passing stranger. Of no interest to anyone who wished him harm. But that simple act would put her in the spotlight from the press and probably from the police too. At best there would be questions and interviews … and if investigations dragged on, maybe for months …

So no one was going to know. He’d managed to get free this morning, and made his way to this phone box to call on a friend for help. That was his story.

You tell lies for a living.

A shudder ran through him. The secret of an effective lie was to keep as close to the truth as possible, which was why he was using this call box. It was a deception he’d rather not be practising, and a risk, but he was going to do it, even if he didn’t really know why. He pushed the whisper away, before it could draw breath in his head. The time at the barn had been precious. He wasn’t going to taint it.

He was reaching the crossroads. He could see the call box, alongside a bus stop sign that leaned drunkenly over a wooden seat. Both the seat and the box were empty. He checked the timetable fastened to the sagging post. The next bus wasn’t due for over an hour.

Turning slowly he scanned the surroundings. No one in sight. Just sheep in a field and a pair of magpies quarrelling in the hedge.

Abruptly there was the sound of a car approaching. Drew moved quickly back to the bus stop as if he was studying the timetable, the hood shading his face and his heart thumping against his ribs.

Was the car slowing? In country areas good neighbours sometimes offered lifts. No. Not now. Not when he’d made up his mind on another plan entirely.

Or … the spike of fear made him dizzy. Had he walked back into the world and straight into the arms of …?

The car sped past.

When the noise of the engine had died away completely, Drew took a deep breath and ducked into the booth.

He shoved the hood of the coat back a little, running his eyes down the instructions for making a call that were printed on the wall. Stacking the coins Lori had dug out from her purse in a neat column, he lifted the receiver. There was a dial tone.

He took a deep breath, with a disjointed prayer under it. ‘Please let him be there.’

He’d first met Devlin out running. They’d become friends pounding over Albert Bridge and round Battersea Park together, when they were both in London – as far as Devlin – no first name – had friends. Awesomely cool, the man was ice, except around his wife Kaz and small step-daughter Jamie. When one of Drew’s dedicated fans had begun to wander into stalker territory, Devlin had provided some appropriate security. The fan/stalker had drifted away, with no harm done. If Devlin was at home now, he’d help. If he wasn’t at home – Drew had no idea who he’d call. At Devlin’s insistence he’d memorised his phone number at the time of the stalker incident – Devlin had some sort of an issue with phone numbers going back to the time of a former business partner.

He dialled it now, with hands that shook slightly.

‘Devlin?’ Thank you, God. ‘Yes, it’s me. I know … Trouble, as you might have guessed. Bad. Look, I’m in Wales. Yeah, the kidnapping was rigged, someone made it real … Thought you might … Can you square it with your police contacts so that they ease back on the search? … not straight away … No, I need to find out for myself who engineered this. Will you – thanks. I owe you. Yeah, I know.’

Heart a lot lighter, Drew cupped the receiver to his ear with both hands, looking at the roads around the call box.

There was no one in sight, in cars or on foot.

‘Just dumped. With attitude … Money, phone, watch, keys – everything. I had some help, but I don’t want them involved any more. Not until this is sorted. Can you arrange to pick me up?’ He explained the location of the barn carefully. ‘Terrain? Yes – there are flat fields right next to it … I definitely owe you one. No – at least – can you get into my place and get me a coat? There’s a parka hanging on the door in the bedroom. And my boots?’ Drew looked down at his leather lace-ups, distinctly sorry for themselves after days of hard wear in trying conditions. ‘Under the radar, yes.’ He moved his hand and the chain at his wrist clanked against the phone. ‘And if you’ve got a bolt cutter handy, you might bring that too.’

Misty lifted her head from her painting. ‘Aeroplane.’ She slipped off her chair and darted over to the window.

‘It’s too loud.’ Lori followed her over. ‘It’s a helicopter. Police, or the air ambulance?’

Drew met her eyes, over Misty’s head. ‘I think it’s my ride.’

By the time Lori and Misty had scrambled out of the back door, the helicopter was hovering over the open field beside the barn. Lori grabbed her niece by the shoulders, holding her against her legs, afraid that she might run towards the machine as it settled gently onto the ground. She couldn’t see much of the man at the controls – a headset and dark glasses obscured some of his face, but the chin looked determined and capable.

‘Your friend?’ For a second a thrill of fear spilled through her. Drew had been ambushed once …

‘Yes.’ Drew was standing beside her. ‘Well … I … Thank you.’

‘There’s no need for that.’ Lori ducked her head, pulling at one of Misty’s tangled curls. She was proud of how firm her voice sounded. ‘Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye,’ he echoed. As he started to walk across the field towards the helicopter, she took a last lingering look. Surprise put a small hitch in her breath. He was wearing the clothes he’d had on in the hut, and carrying the suit jacket. He must have changed quickly, while she and Misty were watching the landing. His silhouette was tall and dark against the low winter sun and there was an uncomfortable lump constricting Lori’s throat. Just short of the waiting machine, he stopped. Her heart gave a strange, uneven bounce. He turned, running back across the field.

His mouth was cool and brief against hers. ‘I have to go.’ He ruffled Misty’s hair and then he was running again, back to his ride, pulling himself aboard. Lori saw the pilot lean towards him, as if asking a question. Drew shook his head, dragging the door closed.

After a pause while the rotors gathered speed, the ungainly looking bird rose smoothly into the air. Misty raised her arm to wave. The wind from the blades washed over them as it lifted away.

When the helicopter was only a dot in the sky, and not even that, they went back inside.

‘Well, that was exciting wasn’t it?’

Misty rushed back to her paints. ‘I’m going to put a helicopter in my picture.’

‘That sounds like a good idea.’

Lori was looking at the neatly folded cargo pants and shirt on the arm of one of the chairs. She picked them up. Go on. Even though you know it’s a cliché. She buried her face and inhaled the scent. Lemon soap and Drew. She laid the clothes down again. He’d cut all ties to protect them. She realised that. But she wouldn’t know now if he was safe. He’d just be a figure on the news and in the papers again.

How convenient. A voice in her head jeered. No messy loose ends left lying around. By the end of the week he won’t remember your name.

Lori looked around the barn. The tree, the lights, the swags of greenery they’d brought back from the woods. Did she really want to stay here any longer? ‘Get your coat, pet.’ Misty raised her head from her picture, curious. ‘We’re going up the hill. I want to phone your daddy.’

They trudged to the top of the slope that was mostly green grass again, with an odd few patches of persistent snow in areas that had been in shade. Yesterday you were tobogganing down here. Misty skipped ahead of her to a flat space at the top. Lori looked down at her phone, satisfied with the strength of the signal, and pressed the number.

‘Dan? It’s Lori …Yes, lovely thanks, and you? … Look – I have Misty with me.’ She beckoned her niece, who was inspecting one of those remaining patches of snow. ‘Talk to your daddy.’

Misty took the phone, excited words tumbling out. Griff, and Snowball, and snowmen, and Drew.

‘No, no, not exactly a boyfriend,’ Lori answered the laughing question when Misty handed back the phone. ‘It’s a long story. Look, where are you? … Oh, that’s great. Only we really need to talk …’

As soon as they were back in the barn she went straight over to strip the Christmas tree. Misty watched, big-eyed. Lori crouched down in front of her. ‘Will you start getting your toys together, sweetie? Auntie Lori’s house will be ready now. We’re going home.’

Dan’s black BMW was parked outside the house when they pulled up. The way Misty ran into her father’s arms when released from her car seat told Lori she had made the right choice. She followed her niece more sedately, to greet her former brother-in-law. Dan shifted Misty to one hip and Lori leaned in for a kiss. Not for the first time she marvelled that this man, who was a top ten box office star in Hollywood and regularly featured in the world’s sexiest men lists, didn’t affect her in any way.

But Andrew Vitruvius …

She shut down hard on that train of thought. Dan was looking at the house. The scaffolding was still in place but the newly tiled roof gleamed in the fast fading light and the front door had received a fresh coat of paint. Which was not, as far as she remembered, in the original plan. ‘The place looks good.’

Lori nodded. ‘Inside too, I hope.’

Dan set Misty on her feet. ‘Now, I have something here you need to see.’ He opened the passenger door of the car and stood to one side to let Misty get close and Lori look over her shoulder. What appeared to be a heap of brown and white fur on the seat raised its head at Misty’s surprised squeak, revealing the long floppy ears and excited brown eyes of a spaniel puppy. ‘Doggie!’

In seconds the pup was on its feet, wagging all over, delighted to find a human on a level easy for licking. The human was equally delighted to have her face washed by an eager tongue.

‘Her name is Polly.’ Dan reached over his daughter to snap on a lead. ‘Now, do you think you could take her for a little walk, just to the top of the road and back, while I talk to your auntie?’

Misty, eyes as excited as the puppy’s, agreed with a breathless nod. They set off together, Misty holding on tight and Polly dancing happily beside her.

‘You bought the pup for her.’

‘With her in mind, though Nevada is just as besotted.’ Dan turned towards Lori, leaning against the car while still keeping an eye on his daughter. ‘What’s this about, Lori?’

‘It’s time, Dan. You have to take her.’

‘There’s nothing I’d like—’ She heard him sigh. ‘Lark has custody, you know that.’

‘You have to contest it. And—’ Lori swallowed. ‘I’ll support you.’ She put out her hand to stop him interrupting. ‘I know you stepped aside and let Lark have her way, because she made such a fuss, but things have changed. Misty is getting older. She needs school, stability. She’s not going to get that from my sister.’ They both turned to follow Misty’s progress along the pavement, chatting to the puppy as she walked. The little dog had settled down and was walking sedately, eyes turned up adoringly to her new human’s face. Lori sighed. ‘It was okay when Misty was a baby. She was a cute fashion accessory, easily handed off to a nanny.’ Lori could hear the harsh note slipping into her voice. She couldn’t help it, it was the truth. ‘Why do you think she was with me at Christmas? Lark is staying in a villa somewhere in the Seychelles. She’s dumping Misty on anyone who will take her. The poor kid is sofa surfing, at the age of four. But that’s not the worst thing.’ Lori took a deep breath. ‘When she came here, before Christmas, Lark thought Misty was already with me. She didn’t remember where she’d left her daughter.’

Dan’s soft ‘oh God’ didn’t divert her. She had to get this out. ‘Once we’d tracked Misty down to Lark’s former hairdresser, Lark went to collect her. She brought her back, and then just drove away, without saying a word, knowing that my house was being gutted. If a friend hadn’t let me have a place – well, it would have been a pretty poor Christmas.’

Dan gave her a strained smile. ‘A friend – this guy, Mr Drew?’

‘No. Someone else.’ Lori winced slightly. ‘Look, I can’t say much now, but can you forget about Drew? It’s complicated. Misty might have stories …’ She glanced towards her niece, still trotting along the pavement with the puppy. ‘Can you just treat them as stories? I’ll explain it when I can.’ She looked up at her former brother-in-law. ‘Would you take her? She needs you, Dan. And she adores Nevada.’

‘And Nevada adores her.’ Dan shoved his hand through his hair, in a gesture that would have had thousands of movie fans swooning in the aisles. ‘It’s going to be messy, isn’t it?’

‘I don’t know. Lark is getting agitated because Misty is growing up. And I think maybe Bruno might help. He’s enthralled by my sister, but he’s not blinkered. He knows what Lark is like. I’m sure if he marries Lark, he’d step up to the plate as a step-father, but he’d probably prefer it if he didn’t have to.’ Lori paused a moment, hand to her mouth. ‘And maybe I’m just as bad as my sister. I haven’t asked you whether it’s okay, have I?’

An indignant ‘of course it is,’ from Dan relieved a lingering doubt. ‘We’re in the UK for the foreseeable future. We’ve rented a place in the Forest of Dean. That’s how I was able to get over here so fast. Nevada is signed on for a short run at the Old Vic in February, and I’ve got two films back to back at Pinewood, so we’re looking to rent a place closer to London.’ He looked suddenly bashful, like an embarrassed teenager. ‘We just found out. Misty is going to have a brother or sister at the end of next summer.’

‘That’s great. Misty will love it.’ Lori hugged him, then bit her lip. ‘Will Nevada want—?’

‘Nev will be fine,’ Dan interrupted. ‘We’ll have to have help with the baby. Taking Misty won’t be a problem. And you’re right, she’ll love being a big sister.’ The million-dollar mouth hardened. ‘At least we’ll always know where she is.’ He shifted away from the car, drawing a mobile phone out of his pocket. ‘Better get Misty’s stuff out of your car.’ He raised the phone. ‘I’ll let Nev know we’ll both be coming back.’

Relief coursing through her, Lori walked up the street to rescue the puppy, who had got her lead tangled round her feet, and explain to Misty that she and Polly would be going home together.