Vaguely she heard Dave saying, 'Now that they've got him, I'm going to find out if we can leave. You both look fagged to death.'
'No,' Kirsty broke in immediately. 'You must take Penny home, but I'm going to stay here until—until I know what they're going to do with him.’
'But, Kirsty love, there's nothing you can do now. Please come back to the cottage and get some sleep,' Penny implored her.
Kirsty's eyes were dark with unhappiness as she turned to her sister. 'I can't. Please try to understand. I—I just have to stay here until I know for sure.'
'Then we'll all stay,' Dave said resignedly.
So the waiting began again. A friendly policewoman brought them cups of tea and then Dave dozed in his chair while Penny fell asleep with her head on his shoulder, but Kirsty was wide awake, alert to any sound that might give her some news of Gyles. And presently she heard people moving in the corridor and looked out in time to see Gyles and the Inspector and a couple of policemen get into a police car and drive, away. But her anxious question put to the constable on duty at the desk only elicited the information that 'they were pursuing their enquiries'.
'Kirsty was immediately tortured by all sorts of mental pictures, imagining him being taken away to a prison, being locked up in a cell. Why wouldn't someone come and tell her what was happening? She dug her nails into her palms as hard as she could. This waiting was unbearable. It was half an hour before she heard anything more, and then when she opened the door she found her view blocked by the back of a burly policeman and she only caught a glimpse of the back of Gyles' head as he walked down the corridor with several other men. Shortly afterwards Dave and Penny woke up as the Inspector came into the room and sat down in the chair across the table from them.
Kirsty gazed at him anxiously and said in little more than a whisper, 'What—what are you going to do with him?'
The man looked at her from under his shaggy eyebrows and filled his pipe before replying. 'With Mr Grantham? Nothing, he's free to go.' They all stared at him in amazement and he went on, 'You see, Mr Grantham was able to prove that he'd been at home at the time you were being run down, and his Range-Rover locked up in the garage. So that meant we had to look for someone else, and here Mr Grantham was able to help us.' He paused while he pulled on his pipe until Kirsty felt like screaming at him to go on. 'He told us that he bought an identical Range-Rover which is used exclusively at the garden centre, for deliveries and that sort of thing. So we went along to the manager, Alan Morris's, house and had a look at that Range-Rover. He said that he hadn't been out in it tonight, but when we examined it we found several threads from your mackintosh still attached to the rear bumper. Then, after—hmm—-a little persuasion, the whole story came out. It seems he intended to buy Briar Cottage when it came up for auction, wanted to turn it into a market garden. Mr Grantham had known about this, of course, and his own man had had instructions not to start bidding unless the price went too high for Morris, in which case he would buy the place and rent it to Morris; But you came along and put paid to all that,' he added, nodding at Kirsty and Penny. ,
‘Ofcourse when Morris found outthat the Squire wanted to get rid of you and ordered him not to serve you, he was highly delighted, but then Mr Grantham changed his mind and seemed to want you to stay. It was then Morris decided to gel rid of you himself and put the blame on the Squire, who, he considered, had let him down. When he saw you cutting your hedge he decided to come back one night and put some yew clippings in the field to poison the Squire's cows. He also let the animals into your garden and put sugar in your petrol tank.But you still stayed on, and he began to get vindictive, especially when he saw you and Mr Grantham. together when the Squire called at the garden centre.' The Inspector paused) then said matter-of-factly, 'So he set fire to your thatch.'
'But the cigarette-end?' It was Dave who asked, the two girls were too stunned to speak.
The Inspector shrugged. 'Nothing simpler. Mr Grantham smoked a cigarette while he was in Morris's
office and stubbed it out in his ashtray. Morris merely relit it and tossed it on the roof. He says that he didn't intend to do you any harm, simply to frighten you off.'
'But it was Gyles Grantham who drove at her, Kirsty saw him.’
The Inspector shook his head. 'She saw a man. She saw a Range-Rover. And her mind put two and two together and came up with the only person she knew who owned a Range-Rover. Natural enough, especially after all the things had happened that pointed at the Squire.' He went on, 'Morris says he did it on impulse. He saw Miss Naylor walking along the road and drove the vehicle towards her to scare her, make her jump out of the way.' He looked at Kirsty enquiringly. 'But he says you didn't jump—you just stood there waiting for him to come at you until the last second. That you had plenty of time to get out of the way.' x
'I—I couldn't move. I thought—I thought it was Gyles.'
'You didn't see the driver clearly?'
Slowly she shook her head. ‘The headlights were blazing into my eyes. I saw a man—and I was so sure it was him.' She looked at the Inspector, her face stricken. I'm so terribly sorry.'
He shrugged. 'As I said, a natural mistake.' He looked at her not unkindly. 'But you should have come to me with your suspicions before, young lady. It would have saved a lot of unpleasantness, not to mention the damage to your property." He rose to his feet. 'And now I suggest you all go home and get some sleep for what's left of the night. I'll let you know when we'll need you to give evidence at Morris's trial,'
He went to leave, but Kirsty said quickly, 'Please. Mr
Grantham—where is he?"
The Inspector's face set into disapproving lines. 'He's here. Having a few grazes plastered, I shouldn't wonder. When Morris realised that the game was up he made a run for it, and Grantham, very incorrectly, pushed my men out of the way and went after him himself. There was a rather nasty little free-for-all before we got there and broke it up.' .
When he'd gone, Dave and Penny immediately began to exclaim over the Inspector's story, marvelling that Morris could have been the culprit and no one suspect him. They tried to ask her opinion, but Kirsty answered only in monosyllables, her mind so overwhelmingly full of relief that she could think of nothing else. Presently Dave helped her to her feet and, almost in a daze, she allowed him to lead her out of the police station. She must have said goodnight to the duty constable, but she hardly remembered doing so, and it wasn't until they were standing on the steps outside and the cold night air hit her that she realised they were taking her home.
'No, I can't go home yet,' she protested as Dave went to draw her towards his car. 'I have to stay and see Gyles.' 'But, Kirsty, you can see him in the morning. You're nearly dropping on your feet as it is, and Penny's not much better.' .
Kirsty looked contritely at her sister. 'I'm sorry, I know you're tired.' She tried to pull herself together and said more firmly, 'Look, there's no need for us all to stay. you take Penny home and I'll follow as soon as I can. I'm sure the police will give me a lift.'
Dave started to argue. 'But Kirsty, a few hours aren't going to make any difference.'
Painfully she looked at him and said, 'Dave, tonight
I accused a man of trying to murder me. I can't just walk away without a word. I have to see him, to try to apologise to him somehow.'
He studied her face for a moment and then nodded. 'All right. I'll take Penny home now, but if you get stuck phone me at the garage and I'll come straight back and pick you up.'
Her eyes were warm as she looked at him. 'Thanks, Dave. I don't know what we would have done without you tonight. Take care of Penny for me.'
Dave turned to put his arm round the younger girl and looked at her tenderly. 'Oh, I intend to,' he said. 'Permanently,' And he firmly led Penny away, blushing furiously but radiantly happy.
Kirsty watched them go, greatly comforted to know that Penny's future was settled. But of her own she had serious misgivings. Slowly she limped back into the police
station, the pain in her grazed leg more acute now she was walking on it. The duty constable wasn't behind the desk and for a moment she hesitated, wondering where to wait. But one look at the wooden, bench like seat in the corridor made her decide to go back into the room where they'd been sitting; at least there the seats were reasonably comfortable. She flopped down into .a chair, her bad leg stretched out in front of her. Fatigue swept over her in waves and she longed to sleep. She must only have had about five hours in the last two days, she realised as she leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She would rest for just a minute, just until Gyles left.
It was the sound of voices in 'tthe corridor that awakened her from the uneasy doze she had fallen into, and for a moment she couldn't think where she was, but one look at the bare cream wails of the room brought her back to her senses and she sat up, with a jerk. She recognised Gyles' voice then, he seemed to be enquiring something of the policeman at the desk. Quickly she got to her feet, but almost felt as her leg gave under her. Oh, darn! It had stiffened up while she'd been sitting there. Despairingly she called, 'Gyles P and hurried into the corridor as fast as she could, her leg dragging behind her.
The constable looked at her in surprise. "Why, I thought you'd gone with your sister, miss.'
Kirsty didn't answer but half ran to the main door and out into the night. To her left she heard the sound of an engine starting up and then the headlights of Gyles' Range-Rover began to move forward as he drove towards the exit from the car park. For a moment she gazed after him in despair, some deep-down instinct telling her that she had to talk to him, to put things right now, tonight. Without pausing to think about it, she turned to the right and began to run as fast as she could towards the main road of the town. The. police station car, park, she remembered, turned into a side road and Gyles would have to drive a few hundred yards before he turned into the High Street and headed for Motley. If she could only get there first! She ran on, forcing her leg to work, her breath coming in pain-filled gasps. Past some- houses where a dog began to bark at, the sound of her steps, then the back of the shops. Dimly she heard the sound of the car engine carrying dearly through the stillness of the night. Oh, please, please let me be in time-! Her hopes began to rise as she started down an alley leading to the High Street where sodium lamps shone brightly. Then suddenly something shot across her path. Kirsty automatically swerved to avoid it, but the change of balance to her stiff leg sent tier sprawling headlong while the cat spat at her before leaping on to a wall.
With a sob, she dragged herself to her feet and carried on, the sound of the car loud in her ears now. Desperately she ran out of the alley and straight into the middle of the road, putting up her hands in a futile effort to stop him. It was the nightmare all over again; the glaring headlights, the snarl of the engine.. Only this time she didn't jump out of the way, she just stood there, waiting.
There was a shriek of brakes as the tires bit into the road, leaving black streaks of rubber on the surface. The engine cut and then the headlights. Slowly Kirsty opened her eyes. The hood of the Range-Rover was less than two yards away. She heard Gyles get out of the car and slowly turned to look at him.
His voice was rough, unsteady. 'You little fool, you could have been killed I Isn't once tonight enough for you?"
'I—I'm- sorry. I had to see you, talk to you.'
'Where did you come from?'
'The police station. I was waiting.'
"They told me you'd gone.'
'No, I stayed behind. Gyles, please, I know you're furious with me arid that what I did was unforgivable, but I had to try and make you understand.’
"There's no need, the Inspector explained everything,' he replied shortly.
'No, not everything. He didn't know how hard I tried not to suspect you—in my heart I don't think I ever did really, but-but I had Penny to think about. I couldn't take even the slightest chance of anything happening to her.' She paused, but Gyles remained motionless, just watching her. 'How—how do you go about apologising to someone for accusing them of murder?" She shrugged helplessly. 'I can only say that I'm sorry, terribly sorry, but I never really believed it was you. I'm not trying to condone what I did, I know you'll never forgive me, but I had to tell you,' She looked searchingly into his face, but his expression was unreadable, dosed-in.
Miserably she said, 'I shouldn't have bothered you with this tonight, you've been through enough. I'll go now.' Turning away, she began to move towards the pavement.
'Where are you going?' His voice-sounded sharp.
'Back to the police station. They'll give me a lift back to Notley.'
'Get in the car. I'll take you home.' Then, as she hesitated, T said get in the car, Kirsty.'
Slowly she turned and began to limp towards the passenger side. Instantly he was beside her. 'You're hurt? They didn't tell me you'd been hurt. Oh, Kirsty, my darling, my little love, what did that murdering swine do to you?'
His arms came round to hold her and Kristy's heart began to pound. 'It's nothing really, just grazes where I got dragged along the ground for a bit,' She heard him swear sharply under his breath, but then she moved a little away from him to look pleadingly into his face. 'Oh, Gyles, say you forgive me. Please, please, say you forgive me!'
'Crazy idiot!' His voice was thick as he bent to kiss her. I never blamed you. They told me how you tried to protect me. I just blame myself for not having realised what was going on’ It was I who should have been protecting you. I wanted to see you and put things right between us straight away, but they insisted on taking my statement first. Oh, Kirsty, Kirsty, if only I'd known!'
Her arms slid round his neck. 'I wanted to tell you.
to trust you. After the fire I was sure that you—that you cared a little and I…'
'That I loved you, you mean' he said as his arms tightened round her and his eyes looked deep into hers.
A little incoherently she went on, 'I wanted to tell you then, but there was no opportunity, and then-then they showed me the cigarette-end." Her voice trailed off and she looked away.
'Oh, my poor sweet, what a hell of a mess Morris made for us! If ever I get my hands on him..’
Kirsty laughed unsteadily. 'From what the Inspector said you already have.' She put up a finger and gently touched the plaster covering a cut over his eye. 'Were you badly hurt?"
'Just that cut and a few scraped knuckles. But it Was worth, it by God it was, I could have killed him for what he did to you. If I'd known that you'd been injured.
'Hush!' Kristy put her fingers over his mouth. 'It's over now. We must forget it ever happened.'
He smiled, his eyes tender, as he kissed her fingers. 'Mm. And besides, we have far more interesting things to think about.' Swinging her up, he carried her to his car and put her in the passenger seat, then climbed in beside her. He looked at her pale face. 'You must be exhausted, I'd better get you home,' he said in concern.
He started to drive out of the town, one hand coming to cover hers as he turned often to smile at her, his dark eyes filled with pride and love.
Kirsty felt tired, yes, but was too full of exhilarating happiness to sleep, and she didn't, want this night to end, not yet. So presently she said softly, 'Gyles.'
'Mm?'
'Couldn't you possibly run out of gas?'
His head turned quickly to look at her and then he gave a soft chuckle. 'What a very good ideal' And soon he turned off the road and drew up under some trees. He reached for her then with a kind of hunger and kissed her with a fierceness that took her by surprise. His lips were firm and demanding a response, their pressure increasing until he forced her lips apart. From the moment he took her in his arms he established an absolute mastery over her and unhesitatingly she submitted to a sexual domination she had never imagined could exist. At her response, his kiss became more passionate, more inflamed, and Kirsty moaned at the wave of sensuality he aroused in her.
'Oh, Gyles, I love you so much,' she breathed as his lips
left her mouth at last and began to explore her eyes, her cheek, her neck.
At that he lifted his head and looked at her questioningly. 'Your boyfriend? Simon?'
Kirsty flushed. 'There was never anything more between us than a few kisses. That night you saw us together in the bedroom—it wasn't what you think. We didn't…'
Gyles interrupted her swiftly. 'It doesn't matter. I never believed that he was your lover.' He smiled. 'I was just infernally jealous of him, that was all. But I went through hell thinking that you were in love with him and wanted to marry him. Tell me that you don't care for him any more, darling.'
'I don't. I broke with him that night. I—I found that I just didn't want him to touch me any more. It was when I saw you both together that I realised just how my feelings had changed and that I so much wanted you to be…' She faltered and couldn't go on.
'To be the one to hold you in his arms and tell you he loves you?' Gyles finished for her softly.
'Yes. Oh, yes, Please, Gyles!'
And as he drew her towards him he whispered, 'Always and for ever, my dearest.'
It was a long time before he let her go again, but when he did, she said hesitantly, "Your mother; you were so angry?'
He smiled rather ruefully. "She let me know in no uncertain terms that you were right about that. She's taking an apartment in London to be near the hospital where she's to undergo the treatment. She has every confidence in it and seems a different woman.' He drew her closer to him. 'I've been wrong about a hell of a lot of things where you're concerned, in fact there's only one thing that I've been sure about all along.'
'Oh, what was that?'
He bent to trace the outline of her neck with his lips. 'That I've been going mad with longing for you almost since the first time, I met you, and if you don't hurry up and marry me I won't answer for the consequences!.
Dawn was about to break in the sky before they at last drew up outside Briar Cottage. May blossom hung in the hedges like a bridal veil and its heavy scent filled then- nostrils as they got out of the car. Slowly, reluctantly almost, they walked up the garden path and kissed lingeringly in the porch. At last Gyles let her go and turned the key for her.
Sally Wentworth - Garden of Thorns Page 16
