by Clare Revell
“I know, post it through the door. Maybe that would be better. I mean, we didn’t exactly part on good terms the other night. Dinner was decidedly frosty after the dream incident.”
Adeline raised a hand to ring the doorbell and hesitated. Maybe she should just shove it through the door. She lowered her hand, intending to get a pen from her bag, so she could write on the package, when the door opened.
Nate stood there with an empty milk bottle in his hand. “Oh, Adeline…hi.”
“Hi, I was passing and thought I’d call in on the off chance you were in.”
The stiffness in his body as he set the milk bottle on the step, gave away the unease he felt. He straightened and then replied. “We’re in. How are you?”
“Fine. You?”
“Yeah. Fine. So’s Vianne.”
“Speaking of Vianne, I have something for her. Is she around?”
“She’s watching TV. Come in for a few.”
“Thank you.” She guessed he shouted for Vianne because she appeared in the hallway. “Hi, Vianne.”
“Hi. How are you?” Vianne carefully signed as she spoke.
“I’m good. How are you?”
Vianne revealed a gap toothed smile. “Good,” she signed. Then she went back to speaking. “Did I get it right?”
“You did.”
“Yay. And the tooth fairy is coming later. At least I hope she is. Jodie got a pound when her tooth fell out. But Uncle Nate says it depends on whether the tooth fairy has been paid or not as to how much she leaves.”
“Sounds about right. I have something for you.” Adeline signed carefully. She held out the bag she was carrying to Vianne.
“What is it?”
“Open it and see.”
Vianne tore into the bag and a huge grin split her face and filled her eyes. “Cool.” She pulled out the baseball cap. “Thank you.” She flung her arms around Adeline and hugged her.
Adeline hugged her back. “You’re welcome.”
After a minute, Vianne pulled away and very hastily replaced her hat with the new one.
Adeline got a very swift glimpse of short auburn curls before they vanished under the new hat. “Very nice.”
Vianne smiled and dropped into sign. “Thank you. Do I look pretty?” She twirled around.
“You look lovely.” Adeline signed back. She glanced at Nate seeing a smile on his face, but something else in his eyes. “What is it?”
“Just feeling a little left out here. Could you teach me sign language?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is that so you can interrogate the victims by yourself?”
Nate blushed and looked down and then away.
Adeline sighed and moved to stand in front of him. She signed rapidly, not saying a thing.
A wry smile crossed Nate’s face. “I guess I deserved that. No, I want to learn sign so that I can communicate with you.”
Adeline moved her hands slowly as she spoke. “Yes, I’d love to teach you.”
“Maybe I could start by learning how to say ‘I’m sorry’. It’s something I seem to say an awful lot.”
“That’s as good place as any.” Adeline showed him and smiled as he repeated it correctly.
****
Two days later, Susie hadn’t arrived at work or called in.
Adeline sat on the desk, phone in hand. She’d tried calling several times, but there was no answer. She was more than slightly irritated now and had several versions of the conversation she needed to have with her errant receptionist running through her mind. She hung up for the tenth time when the light over the door flashed and Ben nudged her leg.
Glancing from Ben to the door, she smiled as the customer walked in.
His bleached blond hair, pulled back into a tight ponytail needed re-dying as the roots were showing. His ice cold, blue eyes glittered as they raked over her. A broken doll dangled carelessly from his left hand.
Adeline shivered. Something about him set every nerve on edge and made her skin crawl. Managing a smile anyway, she looked directly at him. “Can I help you?”
“I need the doll fixed. Now, if possible. She won’t sleep without it.”
“Sure.” Adeline took the doll and looked it over. She glanced at the customer. He seemed agitated, if his pacing was any indication. He moved over to the door and looked through the window.
She turned her attention back to the doll. It’d be a simple job, one he probably could have done himself if he’d thought about it. But if he was willing to pay her, then she wasn’t going to complain. “It’ll take five minutes.”
The man glanced at her. “That’s fine. How much do I owe you?”
“Three fifty.” Adeline didn’t need a calculator or the till to work it out. She swiftly fixed the doll. Every time she glanced up the bloke was either pacing or watching out of the window. A couple of times she found his eyes raking over her. She worked faster, eager to get him out of her shop as soon as possible.
Ben stood by her legs, his hackles raised.
She was grateful Jasmine was working in the back. One shout and she would come running.
“There you go. All fixed.” She held out the doll.
The man pulled a crisp new ten pound note from his wallet and handed it over. “Keep the change.” He took the doll, his cold and clammy fingers brushing against hers, and left.
Rivers of ice surged though her veins as he touched her. She shuddered and lost her balance. Something dark permeated his soul. She closed her eyes tight as the door shut. Something bad was going to happen. But unlike before, all she had was a feeling. Was disaster going to befall the man who touched her? Was that it? Would he be hit by a car or cause an accident? Whatever it was, death walked with him.
She took a deep breath. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Adeline expelled a deep breath and looked down at Ben. “Not even a thank you. Oh well, at least he left a tip.” Ben covered his nose with his paw and Adeline laughed. “My sentiments exactly.”
Her thoughts took a different turn. Ponytail—was it him? Or was she just being ridiculous now? She’d never seen his face, just his eyes and a glimpse of his hair. If only she’d heard his voice, then maybe…
Adeline closed her eyes trying to visualize the man from her nightmares. Ben nudged her foot, and she opened them to see Jasmine standing at her elbow. She pulled her mind off the stranger and onto work. “Did you manage to get that teddy stitched up all right?”
Jasmine nodded. “I sure did. Do you have any idea what Vianne did to him to cause a rip like that?”
“Nate washed it in the machine. He killed it—according to Vianne.”
“Oh dear. Is that another case of child abuse?”
“In capital letters, no less. She wanted to put murder down, but I talked her out of that one. We settled for intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”
Jasmine chuckled. “You can tell she’s a cop’s niece. She knows way too much. Did he peg it to the line by its ears, too?”
Adeline’s smile widened. “Yep.”
“Oh boy. She must really hate him this time. Jodie didn’t talk to me for a couple of hours when I did that to her stuffed elephant.”
“Vianne’ll get over it. She always does.” She paused. “Did you see that guy that was in here just now? Blond hair, ponytail.”
Jasmine shook her head. “No. Why? Did he run off without paying or something?”
“Far from it, he overpaid and told me to keep the change. But there was something about him. His eyes…” She broke off. She’d seen those eyes before. “It was him.”
“Who him?” Jasmine signed as she spoke.
“The man from my nightmares. He changed his hair color and wore those odd-colored contact lenses to change his appearance.”
Jasmine crossed her arms. “Call Nate. Now. He believes in your visions and so on. It could be nothing. Then again...”
>
Adeline reached for the phone and dialed Nate. She shook her head. “It’s engaged.”
Rather than leave a voice mail, she sent him a text. ‘Nate, call me, it’s urgent.’
Jasmine shook her head. “He and Dane are on duty. Probably out on the streets somewhere. If he doesn’t answer, it means he’s in the middle of something really important. He’ll get back to you. Tell you what you need? A change of scene. Listen, the Prime Minister’s due to dedicate the new memorial garden in about twenty minutes. Why don’t you go and watch?”
Not really wanting to go out on the streets, Adeline signed a response. “I have a lot to do. I can’t take time off to go and see someone I can see on the television every day. And it’s not as if I voted for her party, either. I voted the same way I always do.”
“For the party that doesn’t stand a chance of winning.”
“Exactly. All the more reason I can’t go.”
“Course you can go. Look, Ben needs a walk, right? So go for a walk towards the memorial garden. If you happen to see the Prime Minister, all well and good. If not...” Jasmine shrugged. “You had a break. Maybe you can catch Nate, or he’ll return your call. You might be able to speak to him for a few minutes.”
“Nate won’t be there. They’d have all the uniformed officers out, not the murder squad.”
Adeline took a deep breath. Perhaps she was imagining things after all and the fresh air would do her good. And with Ben and the Lord with her, what more did she need? “Oh, why not?” She ruffled Ben’s ears. “Fancy going to see the Prime Minister?” He cocked his head at her. “Go for a walk?”
He ran off, coming back in a few seconds with his lead hanging from his mouth.
She shook her head. “I guess we’re going out. Although I think the magic word there was walk, not go see the Prime Minister.”
Jasmine smiled. “I’ll try to reach Susie again while you’re gone.”
“Thank you. If need be I’ll swing by her place on my way home tonight to make sure she’s all right. Tell you this much. If she is skiving, she’s gonna be in trouble.” Adeline slid into her jacket. “Come on, Ben.” He moved over to her. She clipped on the lead and headed outside.
Warm sunshine streamed through the trees, leaving dappled shadows on the ground by her feet. A pleasant change from the drizzle they’d had all morning. The closer she got to the memorial garden, the more security seemed to outnumber the spectators.
It looks like a police convention. I might not see a thing.
She made her way to the edge of the crowd, finding a space right on the corner of the street to stand. Pulling her phone from her pocket, Adeline started taking photos to show Jasmine. It wasn’t every day a famous person visited her part of England.
Glancing across the street, she saw the man again. He was standing on the corner, leaning by a lamppost, a camera in one hand and the doll hanging from the other. He looked totally bored and thinking quickly, she took his photo, too.
If it was him she had a photo to show Nate. If not, she’d delete it. As she watched, the man moved away and into one of the buildings behind him.
Nate raised a hand from where he stood on the opposite side of the road. Adeline waved back. What was he doing here? She slowly signed to him. “I need to speak to you.”
Nate frowned. “What?”
She wouldn’t have heard him over the crowded street anyway, but reading lips made it easy.
He turned to Dane and spoke rapidly. Dane nodded, and Nate started towards her.
Her breath caught as the Prime Minister’s car stopped almost in front her. Somewhat awestruck, she brought her phone up, taking several shots as Prime Minister Williams got out of the car and smoothed down her suit. Adeline had never been this close to anyone famous before and felt ridiculously nervous. It wasn’t as if she was going to meet Prime Minister Williams, was it?
Nate edged closer, waving his ID at the security men.
Then Prime Minister Williams was in front of her, with an outstretched hand, and a smile on her lips that never quite made it to her eyes. “Hello, how are you?”
Completely overwhelmed, Adeline reached out and shook her hand. “Hello. I’m fine, how are you?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
Ben held out a paw and the Prime Minister leaned over shaking it. “What a lovely dog.”
“Thank you. He’s a service dog.”
“Prime Minister? Mrs. Williams?” A couple of press photographers called to her, and pasting a smile on her face, she knelt and posed with Ben.
Adeline took a photograph as well. Jasmine would never believe her otherwise.
“How about you stand in the picture, too?” The Prime Minister moved closer to her.
A red beam blinded her before sliding down her face to her chest. She twisted slightly and posed for the photographers with the Prime Minister and Ben.
Then Prime Minister Williams moved back in front of Adeline and held out a hand again. “Thank you—”
A flash came from the building across the road.
The Prime Minister jerked, shock written across her face.
There was another flash.
Something red erupted from the Prime Minister’s chest. Her hand started to rise to cover it. Then she fell forwards, landing on Adeline.
The phone jerked from her hand and fell to the ground, the camera going off again. Automatically, she cradled the injured woman, landing on the pavement with her. Pain filled her as her arm took the full weight of them both.
Police and security personnel swarmed from all directions. Chaos reigned around her. People’s mouths opened and closed as they moved in slow motion. More flashes, something whizzed past her.
Nate landed on top of her, his breath hot against her ear, as he shielded her and the Prime Minister with his body.
6
Adeline lay stunned, unable to react as Nate finally rolled off her. Someone took the Prime Minister from her arms, and laid her on the ground. She sat up and grabbed her phone, putting it away, before she cradled her arm. Ben stood protectively next to her, one paw on her lap. In a daze she watched as a cop felt the Prime Minister’s neck for a pulse, then shook his head. Another cop started CPR.
Someone touched her arm and she jumped, crying out. Her head snapped around, not letting her guard down even after she realized it was Nate.
“...with me now.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t catch all of that.”
“I said we have to get you away from here. I need you to come with me now.”
“All right.” She let him help her stand and took hold of Ben’s lead. “Where are you taking me?”
“The station. You’ll be safe—” He turned his face away.
Unable to make out the rest of what he said, Adeline turned back to look at the prone figure lying on the ground, blood spilling from her body in an ever growing flood. Paramedics worked ceaselessly on the motionless woman, counting aloud as they did.
Tears filled Adeline’s eyes. Her whole body shook, and she glanced down, seeing the blood on her hands and clothes.
Lord God, be with Mrs. Williams’ family right now. Preserve her life, but if it’s Your will to take her, then take her now, don’t let the paramedics try too long. Be with the government and security services as they try to make some sense from this. And be with the whole country as we come to terms with this horrific act.
Nate gripped her elbow firmly, as he ran to a marked police car, pulling her with him. Pain soared though her arm. She swallowed hard as nausea rose. Stars danced in front of her eyes. She tripped and would have fallen had he not held her.
“Please...” She needed to slow down. But in the chaos reigning around them, she wasn’t sure if Nate even heard her, never mind responded, because he kept his face averted as he ran.
They reached the car and he put her inside, then climbed in. The car pulled away before she’d even had time to do up her seatbelt. Adeline closed her eyes, bl
issfully shutting herself off from the turmoil around her.
I don’t want to believe what just happened. Someone shot the Prime Minister. They shot her right in front of me. It could have been me…was it meant to be me? It can’t be. She’s an important woman. I’m a no one.
The journey was short. She wasn’t sure if that was a blessing or not. As soon as the car stopped, Nate touched her arm. He leapt out of the car and ran around the other side.
Once inside the safety of the police station, he led her to one of the interview rooms and sat her down. “Stay there. I’ll get someone to look at your arm.”
“I have to get back to work.”
He shook his head. “No. You stay here.” He moved back to the door.
Adeline pulled out her phone. She texted Jasmine. ‘Jas. The PM got shot. Not sure when I’ll be back. Put news on. Think she’s dead.’
She slid the phone back into her pocket and looked around for Nate. He stood in the doorway talking to one of the other officers. Adeline watched his face. “...tea and then I’ll talk to her. No, I’ll do it. She was right next to Mrs. Williams when she was shot. Get Dane to ring Jas and ask her to…” He turned away and she couldn’t see any more.
Tears filled her eyes, and she looked down at Ben. He licked her hand and wagged his tail. He always knew when she was upset and tried to cheer her up. “I know, buddy,” she told him. “Me too.” She was caught in some kind of a nightmare. The phone in her pocket vibrated and she pulled it out. The caller ID read Jasmine. She answered. “Hey, Jas.”
She read the reply. “What’s going on? The news is chaotic. They’re saying the Prime Minister is critical.”
“Yeah. I was right next to her. I caught her when she fell.”
“What? Are you hurt? Where are you?”
“I’m at the police station with Nate. Dane’s around somewhere—” She broke off seeing blood on her hands.
Shaking hard, she looked down at herself. Blood lay thick and heavy over her white coat. The Prime Minister’s blood. She dropped the phone, nausea rising. A strangled cry rose up and out before she could stop it. Trembling fingers tried to undo the coat buttons, but failed.
