Ottercombe Bay

by Bella Osborne

  Part Four

  BELLA OSBORNE

  Copyright

  Published by Avon an imprint of

  HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

  1 London Bridge Street,

  London, SE1 9GF

  www.harpercollins.co.uk

  First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018

  Copyright © Bella Osborne 2018

  Cover illustration © Kim Leo

  Cover design © Head Design 2018

  Bella Osborne asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

  Source ISBN: 9780008258153

  Ebook Edition © June 2018 ISBN: 9780008258146

  Version 2018-03-23

  Dedication

  For my mum – thank you.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Acknowledgements

  Keep Reading …

  About the Author

  Also by Bella Osborne

  About the Publisher

  Chapter One

  Daisy was standing on the cliff top watching the small boat carry Guillaume further out to sea. The wind cut through her coat making her shudder. She had a bad feeling about this. What should she do?

  She took a deep breath. Guillaume had been a slippery character in the past but he’d never been in any serious trouble. There were a few cash and carry fiddles, but she had no reason whatsoever to suspect he was up to no good now. Daisy felt a little better for this thought process. Perhaps she just needed to go and have a large glass of wine and forget about it. Yes, that was exactly what she would do. Another gust of night air gave her the nudge she needed to go home. It was times like this she missed her old motorbike.

  She had a long chat to the man in the fish and chip shop whilst he explained the secret to his excellent fish and chips, and she did a good impression of someone rapt by the deep-frying process whilst her brain continued to mull over the situation with Guillaume. If it was some big romantic gesture then what on earth could it be that required a small motorised boat to be out on a choppy sea?

  Walking home her phone beeped. For a moment she hoped it was a text from Guillaume saying he was back, but it was just a silly game demanding attention. But next to the game app was the Find My Phone app and it was calling to her. She had Guillaume’s phone set-up; well, assuming he still had the same phone and it still worked. She slowed her pace, clicked the app and hoped it would show he was in Weymouth. A small dot started to flash. The small dot was way offshore and it wasn’t moving.

  The wind was getting up now and she knew the impact that would have on the sea. Whatever her guess as to why Guillaume had taken the boat out, the fact remained he was now way offshore in a tiny boat in the dark with little sailing skills and a possible storm brewing. Daisy fumbled with her phone as her brain fumbled with her dilemma. Eventually she called Jason and proceeded to offload all her concerns in one long diatribe.

  ‘Daisy, stop. One thing at a time. Is Guillaume in danger?’

  ‘He might be.’ She bit her lip when she thought about it. The non-moving dot in the English Channel might simply mean he had broken down. She didn’t want any harm to come to him, especially if he was off doing something romantic for her when she had no intention of reigniting their relationship.

  ‘Is this a lifeboat call out?’

  ‘I don’t know, I don’t think so,’ said Daisy, feeling overwhelmed by confusion.

  ‘Right, I’ll meet you at Locos in five minutes. Okay?’

  ‘Okay, thanks.’ Feeling somewhat relieved she ended the call and flicked up the Find My Phone app. The dot was still stuck in the middle of the blue mass of ocean but it was no longer in range. Perhaps the boat’s engine had failed and he’d drifted out there. Maybe Jason was right, perhaps it was a lifeboat call out.

  She stopped for a moment and looked around her. She wasn’t sure why but she had an odd sensation someone was watching her, but there was nobody there. At least she couldn’t see anyone. It was dark now and the wind was starting to whistle around the town, which meant the sea would be starting to cut up rough. She put her head down and strode off towards Locos.

  Jason and Daisy could see each other approaching from different directions. Jason swung the small patrol car into the kerb and jumped out.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, I’m just confused and I don’t want to get anyone into any trouble.’

  ‘Daisy, if someone has done something against the law that is their issue not yours. Has someone done something illegal?’ Jason’s expression was cheerily expectant.

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Daisy shaking her head. ‘The thing is, Guillaume wanted me to hire him a boat, which he said was for him to see the coastline, but I thought it was for us to go out and watch the sunset and …’ She paused. She didn’t need to reveal anything else about what her expectations may have been about the evening. ‘But anyway, he went on his own, which just seems an odd thing to do and the weather isn’t great and he doesn’t know much about boats.’ She ran out of steam.

  ‘He doesn’t have a criminal record. I checked,’ said Jason. Daisy raised her eyebrows. ‘Always best to be proactive.’

  ‘I don’t know if he’s up to anything but I do know he appears to be stranded in the English Channel.’

  ‘Let’s put the lifeboat call out. It’s getting rough out there; he is in potential danger, which is enough to get a crew in the water. I’ll make sure I’m in the boat so if there’s anything untoward going on I can step in. We’ll get him back safe. Okay?’

  ‘Thanks, Jason.’ Daisy was swamped with relief. She may not want to rekindle her romance with Guillaume but she certainly didn’t want anything to happen to him.

  ‘Let me get the last known coordinates of his phone from your app then you can stay here. I’ll be able to keep you posted. I promise.’

  Jason quickly got what he needed from her mobile, handed it back and jumped back into the small patrol car like he was in a low-budget cop show. Daisy watched him go but already she knew she couldn’t sit in the bar and wait to hear from him, she needed to be on the beach. She wanted to make sure Guillaume was all right and felt overwhelmingly responsible for both letting him take the boat and for sending the lifeboat crew out after him. By the time she got to the beach the lifeboat was already in the water. She thought the beach was deserted until behind her she heard the crunch of pebbles as someone strode purposefully towards her.

  ‘Shit, I missed the shout,’ said Max, out of the darkness. ‘Tell me it’s
not your idiot boyfriend in that bloody boat?’

  Daisy bit her lip as she tried to form a sentence to rebuke his comment but it simply wasn’t possible. She winced.

  ‘I knew I shouldn’t have agreed to it. Bloody hell. I thought you said he was familiar with boats.’

  ‘He said he was. But from the way he studied the motor I don’t think he knows much about them.’

  ‘So now he’s risking three more lives, and for what? Some sightseeing trip?’ Max looked around and then back at Daisy. ‘I thought you were going with him?’

  ‘So did I,’ said Daisy, staring out at the ink-black water spitting out a white froth as it angrily pummelled the shoreline.

  ‘What’s going on?’ said Max, spinning around like a clumsy toddler doing a pirouette.

  ‘He’s stuck in the middle of the sea and … where are you going?’ Daisy started to follow Max even though he was ignoring her and was marching back the way he’d come. ‘Max!’

  ‘You stay there, I’m just checking something out,’ called back Max. Daisy jogged to keep up with him and as she drew level he shook his head. ‘I see your listening skills haven’t improved.’

  ‘Nor have your manners.’

  They both put their heads down against the wind and with the faintest of smiles battled on up to the headland. The wind on the top was fierce now and Daisy could feel panic rising as they neared the edge. Max stopped dead and Daisy almost bumped into him.

  ‘Why is there a car parked there at this time of night?’ Max was pointing to an ancient Astra estate car in the small car park. They both looked around but there was nobody else about.

  ‘Is your boyfriend a crook?’ asked Max, setting off again.

  ‘He’s not my boyfriend and, no, he’s not a crook.’ They marched on in silence away from the bay following the coastal path towards the cove. Max slowed his pace.

  ‘What are we doing exactly?’ asked Daisy, raising her voice to be heard over the now howling wind.

  ‘Stop shouting. I’m following a hunch.’

  Daisy grabbed his arm and spun him around. ‘Will you tell me what’s going on or at least what you think is going on.’

  Max was looking annoyed, most likely at her volume. She lowered her voice and leaned closer. ‘Please,’ she added and let go of his arm.

  Max strode further along the path and then beckoned her to join him. They were standing on the edge, above the cove, and Daisy looked uneasily down to the rocks below her.

  ‘The cove was where Pasco used to do his dodgy deals and his petty smuggling.’ Max indicated the cliffs in front of them with a thumb.

  ‘But Tamsyn said the cove isn’t safe because of all the rock falls and that’s why they closed the path off to stop you getting down there.’

  ‘Which makes it an ideal spot—’

  ‘—if you were up to something.’ Daisy finished the sentence.

  She realised the implications. ‘Hang on a minute. You think Guillaume has been duped into something dishonest?’

  Max pulled a face conveying his thoughts quite well. ‘Not duped, no.’

  ‘Who is jumping to conclusions now? You’ve met him a couple of times and now you think he’s the brains behind something illegal.’

  ‘I wouldn’t go that far. He didn’t strike me as a genius, bit of a jerk if you ask me. Actually a great big—’

  ‘Really? Is now the time to have this argument?’ Daisy had her hands on her slim hips.

  ‘Guess not,’ said Max lowering his voice.

  Daisy walked forward and peered over the edge. Max grabbed her by the arm making her start.

  ‘Shit, Max, you nearly pushed me over.’ He still had a firm hold on her and her heart was racing and it wasn’t entirely because of the proximity of the cliff edge.

  ‘Look,’ said Max, pointing to the small patch of beach waiting to be swallowed by the approaching tide. ‘There’s someone down there.’

  Daisy squinted. ‘I think there’s two people.’

  Max guided her back from the edge and let go of her arm. ‘I’m going to sit it out and see who they are. You go home and I’ll call you.’

  Daisy laughed. ‘Why does everyone keep sending me home like I’m some sort of silly little girl? I’m staying put.’ She folded her arms defiantly.

  Max shook his head. She hoped he wasn’t going to argue with her. He stepped away and for a moment she thought he was going to leave her there but instead he crouched down behind a nearby bush. Daisy joined him. ‘They don’t do this in James Bond,’ she said, with a smile.

  Time stretched on and there was no sign of anyone coming up from the cove. Perhaps they’d been mistaken; it could have been shadows playing tricks. Eventually her thighs started to burn so she sat down on the cold ground. She could no longer feel her fingers despite them being in her coat pockets. There had been no update from Jason but then she wasn’t sure he would get a signal in the middle of the sea. The earlier excitement had waned and she was considering going home for a coffee; there wasn’t anything she could do here and Jason would let her know if Guillaume was okay soon enough.

  Then Max tapped her arm making her look up. He pointed rapidly past the bush. Daisy peered around the spikey plant to see if she could see anything. The tide had come in further and the beach was no longer visible in the cove.

  Daisy repositioned herself and had another look down to where the sea was swirling ominously in the tight confines of the cliffs. ‘There’s nobody down there. Those people must have been washed out to sea or there was nobody there in the first place.’ Daisy went to stand up but Max forcefully pulled her back down, making her land on her bum. She stifled the urge to yell because she could sense from Max all was not well.

  Max put his hands up and mouthed ‘sorry’ and then pointed forwards and down. Daisy squinted in the darkness but could see nothing and could only hear the wind whipping around her chilled ears. But then she saw something move. Two silhouettes were moving along where the slope had once led down to the small secluded cove. Her heart started to race. She tried to get a good look at them but it was too dark. She wondered who they could be and what they were doing on an unsafe cliff on a night like this, but most of all she wondered if they had any connection to Guillaume. She was very glad she wasn’t on her own.

  Chapter Two

  Daisy and Max watched silently in the darkness as the two figures clambered over the barricade that was in place to stop people following the path down to the cove. They heard a yelp as one of them tripped.

  ‘It’s a woman,’ whispered Daisy, instantly feeling foolish for hiding behind a bush. ‘They aren’t criminals – they’ve been for a shag on the beach. And now we look like we’re dogging. Cocking hell, Max.’ She was immediately cross with Max for having stirred up her doubts about Guillaume and even angrier with herself for going along with it. This couple were clearly unconnected to whatever Guillaume was doing out at sea, which was most likely completely innocent.

  Max put his finger to his lips and Daisy reluctantly fell silent. They watched the couple climb up the last few steps and stop to look out to sea. The man started speaking into a mobile phone and although they weren’t close enough to hear the conversation they could tell he was irate. It was oddly addictive spying on someone like this; she was fascinated by who this couple were and if nothing else it was taking her mind off the worry that she’d called the lifeboat out on a wild goose chase.

  ‘Now what?’ said Daisy, digging Max in the ribs.

  ‘Shh, I’m thinking.’

  ‘Then we could be here all night. I say we—’ But her sentence was cut off by the sound of music. The blast of a Crazy Frog ringtone bellowed from Daisy’s pocket as her mobile sprang into life.

  ‘Hello?’ she said, her voice hushed.

  ‘Daisy, it’s Jason. Guillaume is safe. Stay where you are. I can’t give you any details but this is now part of a criminal investigation.’

  Daisy was listening but she was also looking at the two faces loo
ming over the bushes watching her and Max carefully. This close their features were clearer. Neither of them was smiling. Her heart started to pick up its pace, her mind swirled and her muscles tensed as panic took hold.

  ‘Okay, thanks for your help. Bye.’ She very much hoped Jason would pick up on the emphasis on help: her pitiful attempt to tell him she felt in danger. Max slowly stood up. It was some comfort he was at least level with the stern man looming over them. Max reached for Daisy’s hand and pulled her upright, keeping tight hold of her, which caused something to zing in the pit of her stomach.

  ‘Hi Buddy,’ said Max sounding friendly. ‘Sorry if we startled you.’ He turned to Daisy. ‘Come on, babe, let’s go home.’ He guided Daisy from behind the bush, gave a cursory nod at the other couple and walked towards the town.

  Max put his arm around her and pulled her in closer to him and whispered. ‘Just keep walking. Do what I do. Okay?’

  His reaction was frightening her but the warmth of his body close to hers was reassuring. ‘Okay,’ she said swallowing hard and trying to keep her breathing steady. She wanted to ask him what the hell was going on. She wanted to run. She wasn’t entirely sure why but something in her psyche was saying ‘RUN’ and it was hard to ignore.

  Her heart was racing and the blood was thrumming loudly in her ears. She noticed Max, who was nearer the edge, had guided her to walk on the grass and off the pathway. It was more uneven underfoot but definitely safer should anyone have plans to push you over the edge. A furtive glance over her shoulder and Daisy saw the couple were following them. A knot of anxiety clenched in the pit of her stomach and despite all logic her instincts kicked in and she bolted.

  Max lurched forward but it was too late, Daisy was already sprinting away. He heard the footsteps behind him and turned as the man was throwing a punch. Max dodged and the punch caught him in the shoulder knocking him off balance. Max stumbled backwards as more punches came his way. As he landed with a thump he expected to get a kicking but could see his assailant was now under attack from someone else. He blinked through the darkness. He couldn’t believe his eyes.