Flirting With Danger

by Jade Winters

  ‘I took my … do you know what you interrupted?’ she said in response to his accusation. If Ross could get away with it, he would prefer to keep her chained to her desk to make sure she was at his beck and call whenever he needed her.

  Ross placed a file he was holding on an empty desk and covered his hands over his ears. ‘If it’s what I think it is, I don’t want to know.’

  ‘Just because you don’t have a love life.’

  He dropped his hands to his side. ‘Listen, pet, any other time I’d love to have this debate, but time is of the essence. Ed’s sorting out your expenses.’

  Astrid frowned. She wasn’t expecting this. ‘Expenses for what? What do you want me to do?’

  ‘It’s not what I want. It’s what you’re going to do.’

  ‘Which is?’

  ‘You’re going to Grasmere.’

  ‘I beg your pardon? What about the story I’m working on? It’s much bigger than a missing girl. It’s going to rock—’

  ‘That may well be the case, but your story isn’t ready for print is it? I need news, now!’ His gaze softened. She knew a compromise was coming. ‘Look, cover this story and when you get back you can work exclusively on your project. How’s that?’

  Astrid gave a gruff laugh. ‘But what’s the story? There isn’t one. What do you want me to write? Stepdaughter of ex-Wimbledon star goes missing. Stepdaughter of ex-Wimbledon star found. Wow, that’ll really put our paper up there with the big guns won’t it?’

  ‘Let’s see if you think it’s funny when you’re looking for a new job,’ he said suddenly.

  ‘What the hell does that mean? Are you threatening to fire me if I don’t go?’

  ‘I won’t need to. We’ll all be out of a job if things carry on the way they are.’ Ross dropped into an empty seat and waved the intern away before he spoke again. ‘I didn’t want to say anything yet, but we’re going down, Astrid. The Manchester Herald closed its doors today.’

  ‘What?’ There was disbelief in her voice. ‘Are you serious?’

  Ross nodded.

  ‘Shit.’ She blew out a breath. ‘I can’t believe it.’

  ‘Sign of the times I’m afraid. Small papers like ours are no competition for internet news sites like News Flash Media.’

  ‘I met one of their new reporters today.’

  He looked at her more closely, causing her cheeks to heat. ‘Oh no, please don’t tell me you were with her.’

  Astrid looked down at her hands. ‘Might have been.’

  ‘So you’re sleeping with the enemy?’

  ‘Hardly. I don’t think they’re gonna be rushing down to Gras … wherever the bloody place is. They’ve got more sense.’

  ‘Just trust me on this, will ya?’ He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes with the back of his knuckles. ‘Go down there and wait for the story to break. Which it will. A girl going missing in those mountains doesn’t bode well for a happy ending. Find out everything you can about her and her friends. Her home life. The whole lot. I want something juicy to post every day.’

  ‘You don’t want much do you?’

  ‘Remember. I gave you a break when you were exiled from London and no one would touch you with a barge pole.’

  Astrid closed her eyes and felt her stomach tighten at the thought of her old life in London. She didn’t need Ross bringing it up to remind her. It was a time in her life that she would never forget.

  ***

  Astrid didn’t get much sleep before catching her six am train to Windermere. After returning home to pack, she had lain awake tossing and turning while wondering if Ross was being honest in his assessment of the paper’s future. Was she really in danger of losing her job or was Ross using that as an excuse to keep her in line? Whatever the case, it was heart breaking to think that a good, quality paper like the Manchester Herald had closed, yet other media outlets that produced sound bite sized segments, were flourishing at their expense. She dreaded to think how print journalism would be delivered to the public in ten years.

  As dawn broke, Astrid gave up trying to sleep and headed for the shower. Once she arrived at the station, she queued at a bakery on the concourse and when she was finally served, ordered a large black coffee and a cheese and tomato toastie. Before long, she was seated by the window in a sparsely filled carriage and the train pulled away from the station.

  Settling back in the hard, uncomfortable seat, Astrid took a mouthful of coffee, while fishing her phone from her jacket pocket. She tapped Lexi Palmer into a search engine. From what she could see on the BBC website, the girl’s whereabouts was still unknown. Lexi Palmer had been missing for two days now. Maybe Ross is on to something. Taking a bite from her sandwich, Astrid scrolled down reading whatever information she could glean about the girl. On several celebrity sites, Lexi could be seen standing next to Roxy Palmer, beaming. The teenager was an attractive girl with long rich, brown hair and a stunning smile that lit up her eyes. From the look of their body language they were obviously very close. Astrid was just about to check Facebook when a tweet caught her eye. ‘Bring Lexi home’. She clicked on it. The account belonged to a company called Mountain Tours.

  Scrolling down the feed there were several pictures of Roxy and Lexi with a group of women. Astrid could just about make out their faces and they all seemed to be wearing the same black fleece jacket with the Mountain Tour logo. She concluded that they must be the guides. But why was Roxy and Lexi with them? What was the link between the women? Good friends? If they were, that would be a good place to start gathering some background on Lexi. The decision was made. As soon as Astrid got to Grasmere, Mountain Tours would be the first place she’d go. She wanted to hit the ground running. After all, her job was on the line if she didn’t come up with the goods.

  Chapter Six

  The previous night had been a waste of time. It was eleven o’clock by the time Callie dropped her colleagues home. Her first port of call was to see Luke, Lexi’s on again off again boyfriend. A ten-minute conversation convinced her he wasn’t aware of her whereabouts. He hadn’t seen Lexi for a week as they were going through another one of their ‘cooling off periods’. This, Callie knew was a regular occurrence, so it didn’t raise any red flags. Afterwards, Callie trawled the streets but was dismayed to find them barren save for the odd couple strolling arm in arm. The playing fields where Lexi and her friends usually hung out were abandoned. So Callie had moved on to the next best thing. She had set up a ‘#BringLexiHome’ Twitter campaign. Not being computer savvy, Roxy and Robert had given her permission to do so. The first tweet had been a heartfelt one from Roxy, directed to Lexi in the hope she still had access to the internet.

  First thing that morning Callie set off up Helm Crag with two of her team. She asked Elaine and Pauli to start their hike from Grasmere, whereas she would start from Mill bridge on the opposite side of the fell. The greater area they covered the better.

  Callie’s last visit to Helm Crag had been on a mild afternoon, when the sun peeked through the clouds making the hike an enjoyable one. It was a popular destination for tourists each year, drawn to the scenic views and short hike. Only thirteen hundred feet in height, it was small in comparison to the other Lake District fells that surrounded it. It’s distinctive appearance though, made it one of the most recognised.

  How nice it would have been today if Callie had been there under different circumstances. She would have enjoyed being out so early, dwelling in the solitude the fells offered. A paradise for those who loved serenity and an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

  Callie crossed the farmland at the base of the fell and looked up towards the summit. Misty rain dropped slowly on the ragged landscape, cloaked with grass and laced with tiny waterfalls. In the summer Callie liked nothing more than to hang glide from its edge, riding the wind like a bird.

  Using her walking poles, she started her ascent along the gravel path, carefully inspecting the land either side for signs of Lexi. After forty min
utes Callie stopped and removed a bottle of water from her backpack. As she sat on a rock and took a sip of water she gazed at the spectacular scenery. Although cloudy, she could just make out the Coniston fells in the distance. She would never tire of the dramatic, barren landscape. It was always new to her; beautiful and different in all weathers.

  Callie had been hypnotised by mountains since she was a child. Even as an adult she was still amazed by the sheer vastness of them. They also reminded her of happier days. When her parents would take her hiking in the school holidays. Her father carrying her in his big strong arms when she tired. And her mother still insisting they take walks, despite being pregnant.

  As quickly as a storm could brew out of nowhere, her life dramatically changed in quick succession. It was a domino effect. Her mother gave birth to her brother, Chris. He soon died. Then her mother disappeared. Shortly after, her dad packed all their belongings and took Callie to live with her nan in Grasmere. Just like that. Her life crumbled. Her feet barely had time to touch the ground when her father was diagnosed with cancer. At twenty-one she was an orphan.

  Ever since her mother’s disappearance she had stalked the fells they used to hike, like they were her victim. Reliving past memories like they were only yesterday.

  It was this that now compelled her to not stop looking for Lexi. She didn’t want Roxy and Robert to have to go through the heartache she had suffered these past thirteen years.

  Callie dragged her mind back to the present.

  If I were Lexi where would I go?

  She knew, before she answered that she would need to try and figure out what Lexi’s frame of mind was. Did she simply go missing on a hike or was there more to it? Was she upset with Roxy for putting her work first? Was she angry with Robert? She knew there’d been a tug-o-war between the two. On occasion Lexi would join one of Callie’s tours and they would spend the day talking. Lexi had told her that Robert thought she was too young to date. Could that have been the reason Lexi vanished without a trace?

  Sitting here wondering isn’t going to find her.

  Callie rose to her feet and tucked the bottle back into her bag. She glanced up at the summit of Helm Crag, only a short climb away. Continuing along the path, Callie surveyed her surroundings as she reached the summit ridge. If Lexi had fallen, Callie was sure she would have been found. Even in late September, there were still many hikers walking the trail. That coupled with the fact mountain rescue hadn’t found her led Callie to a disturbing conclusion—Lexi wasn’t on Helm Crag.

  But where else could she be? Another fell? Was she kidnapped? The possibilities were endless.

  The clouds suddenly darkened above and rain began to fall. Ahead, Callie could just make out two figures up ahead by the ‘The Lion and the Lamb’—the summit rocks that gave Helm Crag its unique appearance.

  Callie pulled her walkie-talkie from its holster on her waist. She held it to her mouth and radioed her team. ‘Is that you by the summit?’

  ‘Yeah, where are you?’ Elaine said.

  ‘Just over the other side of the ridge. I assume you didn’t find anything?’

  ‘No nothing.’

  ‘Okay, well it looks like a thunderstorm is on its way. Start making your way down. I think we’re gonna get caught up in it.’

  ‘Are you coming?’ Elaine asked.

  Callie looked into the distance. Should she turn back the way she came or follow Elaine and Pauli down? What if I’m this close and Lexi has fallen along the ridge. Hurt. Unable to move. Callie made a split decision, she would plough on and take a look. Despite the feeling Lexi wasn’t on Helm Crag, she had to be sure.

  ‘Yeah, I’m going to carry on towards you and make my way down to Grasmere,’ she said.

  ‘Are you sure? Wouldn’t you be better off just turning around where you are. It’s absolutely pissing down.’

  Elaine was a natural born worrier.

  ‘No it’s fine.’

  ‘Okay be careful. See you back at the office. Over and out.’

  Callie stuffed the walkie-talkie back into its holster and continued forwards, pushing hard against the harsh winds that caused her to stumble on loose rocks as she did so. Making it across the ridge to the summit rocks, Callie let out a sigh of relief. Lexi was nowhere to be seen. She went as far to the edge as possible to peek over. She called out Lexi’s name, but the howling wind swallowed it whole. Satisfied Lexi wasn’t anywhere in the vicinity, Callie began her descent. She would call Roxy and update her when she got back to the office.

  She may not have been able to find her mother, but she would be damned if she wasn’t going to try her hardest to find Lexi.

  ***

  The normally bustling street on which the Mountain Tours office sat was unusually subdued. The row of shops in Grasmere, which were bursting with activity during the summer months, only had a few hikers looking through the window of a clothes shop.

  It didn’t surprise Callie that the rain had abated by the time she reached her office situated on the corner of the street. She shook her head. Bloody typical now we’re off the mountain. She stepped into her office. It was a small place, with her desk taking up a quarter of the room. Walking guides and other activity leaflets were piled side by side. Along the wall opposite were racks filled with waterproof jackets and below, various sizes of walking boots. Callie’s stomach rumbled as the aroma of frying sausages hit her nostrils. The scent floated in the air from a small kitchenette located through a door at the back of the office. Shrugging off her jacket, Callie stopped in front of her desk and picked up the memo pad. Pauli’s large handwriting scribbled a name and a short message on the paper. ‘Stuart rang. He’ll call you later.’ Crap! With all that had been going on, Callie had forgotten about the private investigator she’d hired. The fact that he’s got in touch must mean he’s found something. She tried her hardest not to speculate. It could be bad news after all.

  ‘How long’s breakfast gonna be? I’m starving,’ Callie called through to the back.

  ‘Not long,’ Elaine replied.

  ‘Good.’ Callie dropped into her seat and looked out of the window. The dark and moody fells peeked above the line of shops opposite. She assessed the mornings events. Now that she had searched Helm Crag herself, she was more than sure that Lexi wasn’t up there. So if she’s not up there where the hell is she? Lexi must be with a friend. That’s the only place she can be. Her heart leapt when she saw the bonnet of a taxi stopping outside. For one moment, she thought it may have been Lexi. That she had somehow decided to come back by taxi but didn’t have the money to pay for it. Callie jumped out of her seat and moved quickly to the door. It took a few seconds for her joy to turn to dismay. Instead of Lexi alighting from the taxi a gorgeous woman she’d never seen before stepped out.

  ‘Can you wait for me, I’ll be two minutes,’ The woman said before ducking back in the cab and pulling out a large rucksack.

  Probably a tourist. Disheartened, Callie returned to her desk and dialled Roxy’s number. It rang several times then went to voicemail. She hung up. Before she could redial, footsteps trudging down the path caught her attention. She glanced up as they neared. The woman from the taxi was standing in the doorway. Wearing black skinny jeans, ankle boots and a worn black leather jacket, she didn’t look like she wanted to book a tour.

  ‘Can I help you?’ Callie asked, immediately drawn in by her sculptured features and perfectly arched eyebrows.

  The woman heaved her rucksack over her shoulder and dropped it on the floor like a dead weight. Straightening she said, ‘You work here?’

  Callie leant forward, resting her elbows on the desk. ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘Organising mountain tours?’

  ‘Is that what you’re looking for because—’

  The woman stepped over her bag and spoke as she moved towards her. ‘Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.’

  ‘Callie,’ she replied feeling a little unbalanced by the stranger’s presence.

  ‘Oh oka
y, Callie. Can I ask you a few questions?’

  Callie was taken aback by the woman’s pushy nature. ‘Me? Why would you want to ask me questions?’

  The woman dug inside her jacket, brought out a small leather wallet and flipped it open. She flashed it at Callie. ‘I’m Astrid Williams, from The Daily News. I’m here to cover the disappearance of Lexi Palmer.’

  Callie rose to her feet. A bloody journalist. That would explain her forceful attitude.

  ‘I don’t know what I can tell you except …’ She glanced out of the window and supressed a smile. ‘You asked the taxi to wait didn’t you? I’m afraid it’s leaving.’

  Astrid’s face creased in confusion. ‘What?’

  Callie jerked her head towards the vanishing vehicle.

  Finally understanding what was going on, Astrid spun around and dashed outside. ‘Oh fuck!’ she said as she ran up the path, waving her arms in the air to catch the driver’s attention. It was too late. He was gone. Astrid combed her fingers through her hair before turning back towards the office. She re-entered, her faced creased in anger.

  ‘Jesus Christ, is it that difficult to follow a simple instruction? I told him to give me two minutes.’

  ‘And that’s what he did, literally. Folks ’round here tend to do exactly what you ask. Two minutes is two minutes.’

  Astrid blew out a frustrated breath. ‘What? I didn’t mean it in the literal sense. It’s just a saying. You know, give me two minutes, give me a sec, that kind of thing. I waited a bloody lifetime to get that cab as well. And it took half an hour to get here from Windermere.’

  ‘And you’ll be waiting another lifetime to pick up one from around here. The tourist season is over. I can call you one but I don’t know how long you’ll have to wait.’