"And you're sure that's what he's planning for me and Jem?"
Callum nodded. "I've been with him since I was fourteen. I'm sure."
"Will you help?"
Callum shook his head. "He'd kill me, like he killed that guy.” He gestured towards the garden. “You're on your own."
"But I thought you liked me!"
"I do, but it's like I've been saying, I've been with Gregor for six years and I know, without a doubt, that he would make it his mission to kill me and make it painful too. He's savage when he's crossed." Fear glimmered in Callum's eyes despite attempts to hide it. “I shouldn’t have told you any of this!”
"But what'll he do to me and Jem if we leave and he catches us?"
"I'll do my best to convince him to let you run. It's the best I can do."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "We would have been good, you and me."
She returned the pressure. "Yes, we would," she admitted.
As the sun lowered on the horizon, Anna finished playing another game of ‘Snap!’ with Jem. Callum, Jake, and Gregor were in the kitchen talking and quieted as she reached for the kettle. The silence that settled in the room was unnerving, making her feel like an intruder. “I just came for a drink.” Her words sounded like an apology.
"Help yourself," Jake said in an offhand manner. Of the three men, he was the one she had the least communication with. Despite his perpetual presence, he rarely spoke, and certainly made no effort at conversation.
"Tonight, we must leave you alone," Gregor said as she filled the kettle.
“You’re leaving!” A sudden wave of fear rolled over her body.
"No, not leaving,” Gregor clarified. “We will come back."
"We're going out for supplies," Callum filled in. "We're out of bread, milk, eggs ..."
"There's plenty in the freezer outside," Anna offered, uncomfortable at the thought of them leaving her alone in the house, particularly with the body outside in the shed. Despite everything, the men had become a protective blanket.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
It took over an hour of trekking through the snow before Callum, Gregor, and Jake reached the shop. Changes had been made to the exterior windows and side door. Where the glass had been broken a barrier of plywood had been nailed across the empty frame, but the biggest barrier to entry was the sheet of steel mesh placed above it. The windows and door at the front of the shop had also been secured with a patchwork of mesh tied in place with cable ties. The job was secure, but not enough against a man like Gregor.
Evidence of activity was obvious from the dents in the snow where footprints had been covered by today's snowfall. Gregor shone the torch at the reinforced door then swung it round the yard. A trail of indistinct footprints led between two parked cars marshmallowed by a covering of thick snow and led to a wide garage door secured by a large padlock and heavy link chain.
"Hah!" Without further words Gregor strode over the crusty footprints, placed his bag on the ground, shone his torch into its belly, and pulled out a bolt cutter with a satisfied grunt. Jake held the thick chain as Gregor cut through the metal and lowered it with a muffled clunk to the side. Callum kicked at the snow, clearing a space for the doors to be pulled open.
"This man," Gregor hissed. "He thinks he knows about survival, but he knows nothing. Look how easy it is for us to get into his store."
Opening the door, Gregor squeezed through first. Light filled the small space and he made another satisfactory grunt as Callum followed him through the gap. Inside, the walls were lined with metal shelves. Most were bare, but along one wall were cardboard boxes. Gregor strode with purpose and drew a box towards him. He tipped it to look inside and pulled at a plastic bag. An unpleasant odour filled the small space, stinking particles joining the clouds of white breath. Opening the bag revealed empty and soiled containers, wet and used teabags, and potato and carrot peelings. Gregor growled with anger and turned to pull another box from the shelf. Box after box held similar contents.
"Weirdo! Why would he save this stuff?" Jake asked.
"He's not saving it. He's taking the piss," Callum replied.
"Is his idea of joke," Gregor spat, throwing down another box before kicking it to the wall.
Callum realised the raid was expected. "Not as stupid as you thought then." Unable to hold back the jibe, he regretted opening his mouth as Gregor turned the blinding flashlight on him. "Hey!"
"He won't make fool of me," Gregor growled.
With another kick at a refuse-filled box, Gregor pushed past Jake, forcing him to step back into the metal shelves, and returned to the yard.
Jake's scowl of anger was joined by mumbled words and Callum caught an inkling of the hate brewing there. One day, perhaps not too far in the future, Jake would challenge Gregor's dominance, or more likely, defect to another group. It wasn't something either had dared to mention - the lack of trust between them ran deep – but, in the past months, Jake's attitude had undergone subtle changes. Callum doubted Gregor was unaware of them.
At the side door Gregor stared at the grilled and repaired frame.
"How're we going to get in boss?" Jake asked.
Ignoring his question, he instead focused on the letter box set in the bottom of the door.
"We can't get through that!"
"Idiot!" Gregor hissed.
Jake made a low, almost inaudible growl.
"Keep lookout for any light upstairs."
Taking more tools from his bag, Gregor began to work on the door. Within minutes it eased open and he stepped into the building.
The space was as Callum remembered it. A door to the left led to a small kitchen with storage space now empty. To the right, stairs led to the apartment upstairs. To the side, a narrow corridor led to the shop. Finding the door to the shop locked, Gregor turned his attention to the stairs.
"Upstairs," he hissed as he took a creeping step onto the first riser.
"Let’s check the shop out," Callum urged. He had no stomach for confrontation with the owners and the inevitable bloody violence that would follow.
Ignoring Callum, Gregor and Jake began to ascend the stairs. Hesitant, Callum waited at the bottom. As Gregor reached midway, the shop door opened, and the corridor was filled with intense light. At the same moment, a door upstairs slammed open and gunshot fired. Blinded by the flashlight, overwhelmed by a sudden intense pain in his head as a heavy object impacted against his skull, Callum dropped to his knees. Another heavy thud, this time on his back, sent waves of pain across his ribs. As he stumbled, he kicked a heavy object. It rolled, making the distinctive sound of a metal ball rolling over rough concrete. Another missile hit his head and the corridor filled with the noise of crashing and shouts as Gregor and Jake tumbled down the stairs. More gunshot, this time hitting the floor just beyond Gregor.
Staggering to his feet Callum clawed at the wall for support. Jake was the first outside. Torchlight illuminated the corridor, showing Gregor at the base of the stairs. Blood seeping through his jacket, his face contorted in pain, he scrambled towards the door.
Callum edged along the wall, expecting another missile to hit him at any second. Whoever was throwing the heavy metal balls was hidden behind the blinding torchlight. Uneven footsteps tramped down the stairs and a voice boomed from behind the light. "If you ever come back, I'll aim for your head."
Gregor, still defiant despite his injuries, grunted in reply, "When I come back it will be you who dies. You and your woman." In the next second a silver orb smashed into Gregor's face, catching his cheek. He shouted in pain.
"Get out, you animal! Get out!" a woman cried. More missiles arced towards Gregor, hitting his arm, leg, and then back as he hobbled to the door. Another caught Callum's shoulder, sending waves of pain along his arm as he stooped to grab Gregor's torchlight and stepped back into the night.
AS GREGOR LIMPED AWAY from the shop, holding Callum's shoulder for support
, Vicky stared from Fauzia to Jez, relishing the excitement the last minutes had brought and overjoyed at exactly who they had fought off. "It was them!"
"It was. I knew they'd come back."
"No, what I mean is that's the gang who have taken my girls!"
"Your girls?"
"The runaways. Anna and Jemima Crofton. I have to follow them." Vicky took a step towards the door.
“You’re kidding!”
"You'll be okay now," she said. "And I won't be long."
"Of course, we'll be okay, Vicky," Jez responded, "but there's no way I'm letting you go-"
"I have to!" Vicky said taking another step towards the door.
"Let me finish. There's no way I'm letting you go alone."
"Jez!" Fauzia exclaimed.
"I have to help her, Zee. Those men are dangerous, and she's not even armed."
"Well, if you go, then so do I."
Fauzia's voice held no room for argument and after a moment Vicky said, "We'll all go. We don't have to confront them tonight, but I need to know where they've holed-up and if Anna and Jemima are still with them."
"I'm ready."
"Let's go then."
Although several minutes passed before Vicky, Jez and Fauzia left the shop, tracking the men was not difficult. Footsteps were clear in the untrodden snow and droplets of blood were captured as dark blots beside tracks with a scraping gait.
It didn't take long to catch up with the men, Gregor's injuries slowed him down, but not enough to stop progress, and his pace was steady.
The journey took them through town and towards the outskirts until they turned down a narrow lane overhung with trees. The only evidence of human activity were the men's tracks and other footprints that were now snowed over. They moved slowly from tree to tree until the men took a left turn and disappeared. It became obvious that the men had taken a turning into a long driveway and then taken refuge in the obviously inhabited house at its end where light glowed from downstairs windows.
"Clever choice," Jez said as they made their approach. "Out of the way. Gated. Land all around."
"They've got electricity too."
The distinctive smell of burning wood hung in the air. "Looks like firelight and candles."
"Warm then."
They stayed close to the edge of the driveway, deep within the shadows cast by the moon, and made their way to the house. Upstairs, the windows were dark, but light shone at ground level. Certain that the men were inside and unaware that they had been followed, Vicky crept to the front of the house, staying low enough to be hidden by the snow-covered shrubs. She peered in through partially closed curtains. Candles in glass jars offered flickering light and a double-sided log burner gave the room a warm glow. Neatly arranged mattresses were laid out between the fire and the oversized sofa and the space opened up to a large, expensive-looking kitchen beyond. She motioned for Jez to join her.
"That's him!" She pointed a finger at Gregor. Both watched as the redhead, Anna, eased his jacket from his shoulders.
“Is that the girl?” Jez asked as the jacket was removed.
Gregor appeared to be giving orders. Anna nodded then began searching through the kitchen’s drawers. She quickly found a large pair of scissors and began to cut up the sleeve of Gregor’s jumper.
“Yes,” Vicky agreed, mesmerised by the scene.
“She’s playing nursemaid quite happily. You sure she wants rescuing?”
“Where’s the kid?” Vicky whispered, forcing herself to stop watching Anna’s efforts to help the injured man. She quickly found Jemima, wrapped up in a duvet and asleep in front of the fire.
Jez tugged at Vicky's sleeve, motioning for her to pull back. "You know they're here,” he whispered. “So, it's time to head back."
"I can't leave them here!"
"What! Listen Vicky, I get it. I understand that you want to get them out, but they are not in immediate danger. We should go back to the flat and make a plan."
"I need to talk to Anna, let her know I'm still looking out for her. She'd come with me if she knew I was here."
Jez pulled a frown. "She didn't look like a prisoner to me. She's been here all night whilst they were trying to rob my shop. She could have escaped if she'd wanted to."
"Well, apart from three foot of snow and no electricity!” she retorted. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to snap,” she said, instantly regretting her harsh words. “He grooms them, that’s how they operate – befriend them, drag them into the gang, then use and abuse, and very probably sell them!”
“Sure, but like I said, they’re in no immediate danger.”
“That’s exactly what they’re in! I have to talk to her.”
"How?"
"I don't know. Just give me a few minutes to think it through."
Jez grunted, but retreated into the shadows where Fauzia waited. Vicky continued to watch through the glass. Her chance came as the men left the kitchen leaving Anna alone and Vicky ran to the back of the house. Seconds later, heart pounding, she peered in through the kitchen window relieved to discover that Anna was still alone. The two men were helping Gregor in the living room, finding him blankets and cushions. Vicky tapped on the glass, watching the men. They seemed unaware of the noise. She tapped again, and this time Anna turned to look. Rising above the sill, she waved. Startled, Anna stared at the glass. Pushing her police ID up to the window she motioned for Anna to go the back door then withdrew into the shadows and waited.
THE TAPPING AT THE window had startled Anna, but she had managed to subdue her reaction. When the men had left on their expedition to gather more provisions, Anna had made her way to the shed, and the body still buried beneath the snow beside it. The suspicions she had about Gregor’s story had prodded her until they scratched uncomfortably, and she was driven to see the man’s face and compare it to the photographs of the owner dotted about the house. Scraping away at the snow to see his face had been a horror, and the confirmation that it was the same man, down to the same large black beard and mole to the side of his nose, sent waves of terror through her body. Gregor had killed the man he had said was his friend in a vicious fight, the bloodied knife held as he had straddled the body the murder weapon! Now, the policewoman was here again, and Gregor was only feet away. Nausea swirled in her stomach. Her hands shook as she opened the backdoor.
She stepped into the night. The air was bitter, and a cold dark sky glittered with stars. The policewoman revealed herself, stepping out of the shadows, beckoning Anna away from the window. Torchlight lit the path, illuminating thick and untrodden snow.
"Stop!" Anna said. "They'll know someone's been here." Anxiety strained at her voice.
"Don't worry about them."
"I have to!" Anna replied glancing across the lawn towards the shed. The outline of its apex roof stood black against the sky. "You don't understand. If he knows you're here ..."
The woman placed a hand on Anna's arm. Despite its firm grip, Anna felt no comfort or reassurance, and her entire body trembled with cold.
"I do understand. That's why I'm here."
Unable to suppress the horror another moment, Anna blurted. “He murdered the owner! He's there!" she said pointing to the shed. "Under the snow. He was the owner! Not an intruder like Gregor said."
With eyes fixed on Anna's, the policewoman said, "Go inside. Wake your sister and come with me."
"No!" Anna's heart tripped at the thought of sneaking Jemima past Gregor and Jake.
"Do it now." The woman's voice was insistent, "or one day it could be you or Jemima lying beside the shed with your face covered in snow."
Anna stared at the woman, sensing her conviction, and agreed to leave. She closed the door with a slow and gentle push, gritting her teeth as the latch clicked.
"What are you doing?"
Startled, heart pounding, Anna twisted to face her sister, a silencing finger instantly at her lips. With a hand on Jem's shoulder, she glanced into the living room then, sure that the men were s
ettling to sleep, drew Jem out of view. "Don't speak, Jem. Just listen." Jem nodded. "We have to leave. Now!"
"Why?"
Anna held the finger to her lips again. "Please, Jem. For once, just don't argue. We have to leave. It's not safe here."
"But-"
"Just put on your shoes and coat and come with me."
Jem pulled a face, glanced across to the living room with its glowing orange light, but moved across the kitchen to the large walk-in cupboard where her shoes and coat were stored.
As soon as Jem's bootlaces were tied, Anna ushered her to the door, grimacing at each rustle of fabric and clack of boots on the tiled floor. Without a further glance, she waited behind Jem as she eased the door handle down, opened the door and stepped outside.
Anna froze as a large hand gripped her shoulder. "Where are you going?" Warm breath brushed her cheek as Callum's fingers tightened on her shoulder, forcing her to remain still. "If Gregor catches you trying to leave, he'll go nuts!" Callum whispered.
"Then don't let him catch us!" Anna whispered back and turned to face Callum. His face was barely visible in the dim light. "The man he killed-"
"Shh!" Callum whispered. "I know."
"Then let us go." Callum's grip eased a little. "Come with us!"
A low huff. "I can't. He needs me."
Confused at Callum's contradictions, and the emotion swirling within her, she rose on her tiptoes and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "When you can, find us."
Callum returned the kiss. "Go!" His voice cracked beneath the whisper, but as the door closed behind her with a soft thud, Anna realised he would never leave Gregor. The cold bit sharp as she tugged at Jem's sleeve and moved away from the house. Making every effort to remain silent, she took quick steps through the snow, desperate to sprint down the drive and into the road.
With Vicky at their side they reached the gate. Two figures stepped out from behind a hedge and Vicky quickly introduced them as Jez and Fauzia. The policewoman seemed on edge, constantly looking back along the dark lane then streets as they made their way back to town. Breath coming hard, and with aching legs, they reached the old part of town Anna recognised. Narrow streets were hedged by shops and with their old-fashioned windows it looked picturesque in the moonlight.
Dark Winter Series (Book 1): Dark Winter Page 17
