“Police, drop the fucking gun,” Bill yelled. He could see Avery bleeding on the floor and Isaac slumped in the corner, blood oozing from a head wound. Avery looked to be alive, just. Isaac on the other hand was still. Annika and Lexi were cowering, but seemingly unharmed.
“I said drop the gun,”Bill roared.
“Fuck off man, I’m finishing this,” Robert hissed. He turned toward Lexi, raising his gun. Both Bill and Niko discharged their weapons.
Robert was thrown on to his back from the six rounds slamming into his body. Niko sprang forward and kicked the gun away from his hand. As Bill held his aim, Robert’s eyes widened fighting against the certainty of death. A rasping rattle could be heard as his airway filled with blood and he gasped for a breath. In one final cough, Robert drowned in a mouthful of mucus and foaming red bubbles. “Now it’s fucking finished,”Bill whispered.
Bill checked on Avery, who was conscious but weak. His shirt was bloodied and there was a bullet hole in his right side just under his ribcage. Blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth so there was clearly internal bleeding. Putting pressure on the wound, Lexi joined him, her wrists still tied.
“Here, keep putting the pressure on,” Bill said. “Let me cut these off.” He could see how distraught she was, shaking like leaf, just keeping it together.
Annika was looking after Isaac, stemming the blood flow by tying her scarf around his head. The bullet seemed to have only grazed his left side, the ear being the major casualty.
“The air ambulance and first responders are on their way,” Niko shouted.
The fire chief and another experienced medic arrived within minutes. Bill ushered Lexi outside to let the medics get on with tending to the injured men. Applying pressure on the wound and bandaging Avery, they administered IV fluids. “He needs an urgent blood transfusion. Please can you check on the ETA of the helicopter,” the fire chief yelled.
Bill got through to dispatch as the back-up from Warkworth and the ambulance arrived. Annika joined Lexi outside, both shivering despite the warm sun while Avery was being prepared for transportation to the landing site by Leigh school.
“I want to go with him,” Lexi pleaded with Bill.
He put his arm around her. “I’m sure that’ll be fine. Come on. They’re loading him up now.” He hoped for Lexi’s and the kids’ sake that Avery would make it.
The ambulance made a quick turn-around to come back for Isaac, who after the IV fluids was awake and looking a little better. Unable to stand and with his head bandaged up, he was taken by road to Auckland.
Finally Bill could check on Annika, who was shaken, with minor cuts and abrasions but otherwise unharmed. He wrapped her in his arms, grateful that she was still alive. “How about I take you home? I think we’ve had enough drama for one day.”
“Let’s get out of here,” Annika said.
“Granger,” Rudd called out as the Orewa team pulled up. “Well done on containing the situation. I expect a full report by the end of the day.”
“It might have to wait until tomorrow, I have to take care of my family. It’s been quite a day,” Bill said, opening the car door for Annika.
“All right,” Rudd said. “Just get it done at the earliest, will you.”
Bill got into the driver’s seat as police from Orewa began securing the scene. He reached across and squeezed Annika’s hand.
“It’s been a hell of a week,” she said slowly.
“You can say that again,” he said.
Epilogue
Matakana
Five weeks later
Not even the sideways rain could dampen Lexi’s mood this evening. She took a breath, determined not to cry. Beau was pressed snugly against her leg, and hadn’t left her side since he’d come home. The hardship they had experienced a little over a month ago was still raw. If it hadn’t been for her parents, Elsy and Bob, she wasn’t sure she would have coped at all. There certainly wouldn’t have been a harvest.
Lexi stood in the doorway welcoming everyone out of the miserable weather, her slim silhouette a testament to the stress she’d endured. Tonight was about friendship and celebration, about coming together as a community after so much loss.
Words could not express how thankful she was for all the help she’d got after the kidnapping and brutal shooting of her husband. She had been completely lost, barely able to manage.
Music and laughter echoed inside the large concrete space of the winery, which was filling up with life. Crisp white cloths covered the food-laden tables. This was how she wanted things to be, joyous and happy.
Bob came past and squeezed her arm, checking that she was alright. She nodded, her heart swelling at how thankful she was for her parents having been there for her.
Bob had managed the harvest, the picking of the grapes, and organised the community and rallied willing workers. The fruits of their labour were now fermenting in the large vats along the back wall. Elsy had looked after the family and was now walking around making sure that everyone’s glass was topped up. Bill was leaning against one of the old wine barrels chatting to Niko, who had driven up from Auckland after work.
“If you would all take a seat before the food goes cold,” Lexi said and turned the volume of the music down a little.
Isaac took Petra’s hand and pulled her close, twirling her around making her laugh in the process, the joy in their eyes visible to all.
Bill walked over to Avery, who had been watching their friends rallying around, and pushed his wheelchair closer to the table.
“I’d like to walk from here,” Avery said. Bill lent his arm for stability and guided him to take a few careful steps to the seat at the head of the table.
“Thanks, mate,” Avery said, his face as thin as the rest of his ravaged body. He was just out of hospital, still recovering from the gunshot wound to his stomach that had nicked his liver and pierced his intestines. He had been on a liquid diet until now.
“Friends and neighbours,” Lexi said holding on to the back of the chair, pausing to compose herself. “Without you we would have been in a much different place now. From the bottom of my heart I want to thank each and every one of you who have helped us through this ordeal. To Mum and Dad — you have been amazing, helping us to get back on our feet. And to Annika, Bill and Niko —if it weren’t for you we wouldn’t be standing here today.”
She looked at Avery. “And lastly, to absent friends.”
The story continues with Rings On Water -
Books #2 of The Matakana Series.
Author’s Note
The Matakana area is located seventy kilometres north of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland. This picturesque region is famous for its many vineyards, artisan food and crafts as well as the superb weekend Farmers Market.
The crime thriller lurking inside me, has always sought the perfect setting. The inspiration for The Matakana Series burst into being over the last few years. Since the children were small, we have escaped to our own slice of paradise in beautiful Matheson Bay.
The area has it all; the local people, a rich amalgam of artisans, entrepreneurs, wine makers, creatives and proud hardworking folk with magical community spirit. An integral character of the book is the stunning scenery, breathtaking coastline and proximity to New Zealand’s largest city. These elements combine to deliver an environment rich in motive, opportunity and the means to trigger a series of gripping crime novels. A great majority of the book have been written from our Bach in Matheson Bay, itself a treasure of local history.
Reviews
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading Blood On Vines, the first in The Matakana Series.
If you enjoyed the story, please post a brief review or rating of Blood On Vines on your favourite digital platform. This in turn spreads the word and is incredibly helpful to an author.
Thank you,
Madeleine Eskedahl xxx
Acknowledgments
Writing this book has been an interestin
g and sometimes challenging ride, and I have loved the journey.
My sincere thanks to the following :
My first readers, from the first draft to the last one, encouraging me to keep going, Adrian, Holly and Olivia you are amazing. Thank you for believing in me and the story, your love and support has been invaluable. Girls, I couldn’t have done it without you being my technical support. From the bottom of my heart I love you all.
Robyn Stephen, thank you for your support and enthusiasm and for cheering me on. Your assistance, and keen eyes reading over the text, making sure everything is correct, has been invaluable. Any errors you find would be because I tinkered with the manuscript after she signed it off.
My fabulous critique partners Andrene Low and Kirsten McKenzie, thank you for being there for me, guiding me along, passing on your knowledge and making me a better writer. Your kindness and support means a lot, especially as I was going through many firsts.
My editor Stephen Stratford, your advice and guidance has been invaluable, and for wrangling the manuscript into the best it could be, I’m truly grateful.
Bede Haughey, thank you for showing me around the station and letting me ask loads of questions. Any errors you may find in here have nothing to do with his advice, rather my interpretation and creative freedom to fit the story.
Bev Robitai, proof reader extraordinaire, you are a huge supporter of New Zealand writers and I thank you for superb services and advice, I really appreciate it.
Jeroen ten Berge, thank you for designing the cover of the book. Your creativity and talent has no limits.
Lastly The Three Musketeers, Harry, Archie and Jemma for being outstanding co-workers and sleeping under my desk.
Book Club Questions
What was your favourite part of Blood On Vines?
What was your least favourite?
Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
Which scene stuck with you the most?
Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones?
Would you want to read another book by Madeleine Eskedahl?
Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so?
What surprised you most about Blood On Vines?
How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be?
Do you think you'll remember Blood On Vines in a few months or years?
Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about?
If you could ask Madeleine anything, what would it be?
About the Author
Madeleine Eskedahl was born and raised in Sweden on the beautiful island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. Living a carefree childhood filled with adventures and surrounded by Viking remnants, her creativity was actively encouraged by her family.
Madeleine was a voracious reader from an early age, with a fondness for mystery, convinced she’d become a Private Detective or a Spy when she grew up.
Madeleine moved to New Zealand in the early nineties. Now married with two daughters, her family also consists of a trio of West Highland White Terriers — Harry, Archie and Jemma.
Apart from being a bookworm and a polyglot, she loves walking on the beach, her beloved Westies, yoga, painting, patchwork and spending time with family and friends.
Blood On Vines is the first instalment in the Matakana Series. The second book in the series, Rings On Water is underway.
To keep up to date with new releases and other information, please sign up to her newsletter at www.madeleineeskedahlauthor.com.
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