Sammy Jo nearly knocked her off her feet when she ran at her and jumped into her arms.
“Darling, I’ve missed you so much.”
“Can I come home now, Mum?” her daughter glanced back at her grandma and whispered, “I love gran, but it’s not the same without you. I miss our cuddles.”
She placed her daughter back on the ground and crouched down to kiss her. “I miss them too, sweetie. Let’s make the most of today, eh? You can come back at the weekend, I promise.”
“Why? Why can’t I come home now?”
Nicole smiled and tweaked her daughter’s nose. “Because then it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”
“What wouldn’t? Mum, you drive me nuts at times.”
She stood upright and gripped her daughter’s hand tightly as they walked back up the street to where her own mother was watching, more like scrutinising, her every step.
“Hi, Mum, thanks for meeting me.”
The two women hugged. “You look tired, and you’ve lost weight.” Her mother ran a gentle hand over her cheek.
“I’m all right, Mum. Don’t fuss. It’s too early to eat. Why don’t you go and have a look around that fancy boutique while I take Sammy Jo to the swing park?”
Her mother narrowed her eyes. Damn, she knows I’m up to something; she always does. Thankfully, she didn’t press the point in front of her granddaughter.
“Why not? I’ve had my eye on a jacket in their shop window for a while. With any luck, it’ll be in the sale.”
“We’ll see you outside the pizza restaurant in an hour, how’s that?”
Her mother agreed, and they set off in separate directions. Nicole looked over her shoulder, and once her mother disappeared down the small road leading to the boutique, she veered off in a different direction.
“Mummy, the park is this way.”
“I know, sweetie. But mummy has just remembered an urgent errand she must run. Actually, I need your help with a surprise I want to give grandma. Are you up for that? Can you keep it a secret for me?”
Her daughter’s shoulders bunched up around her ears, and she clapped her hands in excitement. “Secrets…I love secrets. Where are we going?”
“To the bank.”
They crossed the road and skipped their way to the bank hand in hand.
The cashier, the only girl on duty, gave them a smile, which slipped when Nicole told the woman her name. “Just a minute. I’ll get the manager to see you.”
“There’s no need. I’m in a rush.”
The woman in her thirties tugged at her ponytail and arched her eyebrow. “There’s every need. I haven’t forgotten the way you spoke to me over the phone. I’ll be right back.”
Damn and blast!
Her daughter tugged on her hand and beckoned her to come down to her level. “What did the lady mean, Mummy?” she whispered.
“I was a little rude this morning when I made an appointment, that’s all, love. I apologised, but for some people an apology just isn’t enough.” She righted herself to find the woman had returned and had overheard her explanation. “I’m sorry,” Nicole said sheepishly.
“Mr. Fox will be with you shortly. Take a seat.”
Embarrassed, Nicole smiled at the woman and took a seat with her daughter. Mr. Fox appeared before the cashier could do too much damage with the dagger’s shooting out of her eyes.
They followed the bank manager through to his office, where he gave them the usual speech about if Nicole withdrew the money now, the interest she would lose could be a small fortune. She knew the man was talking out of his backside because when Nicole had invested the money the rate had been over six percent, as opposed to the current bank rate of a measly one and a half percent. She wondered how many dissatisfied customers Mr. Fox had to deal with on a daily basis during the economic downturn.
Then he had the audacity to offer her a cheque.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Fox. I need the cash, not a cheque.” What an idiot! What the heck could I do with a cheque, except put it in my bank account? Don’t banks employ people with brains nowadays?
“Ah yes, of course. I’ll get that actioned right away.” He left the office.
“Mummy, he’s a very funny man, isn’t he? Does he not know how banks work?”
Nicole smiled and ran a finger down her daughter’s nose. “You’re too smart for your own good, young lady. Any idea what you want to do when you leave school yet?”
Sammy Jo placed her finger in the middle of her chin and twisted it. “I think I want to be a vet.”
Nicole was taken aback by her daughter’s announcement. “Really? Why’s that, sweetie? Any particular reason?”
“Because there are far too many animals in the world that need our help, Mummy.”
Tears filled Nicole’s eyes. To have such compassion at such a young age was comforting to Nicole and reinforced what a great job she’d done raising the child on her own.
“Here you are.” Mr. Fox had returned, placing the bundle of cash on the table in front of her.
“Any chance I could pinch an envelope?” she asked him with a cheeky smile.
He huffed and walked over to the shelves, which had different sizes of paper and envelopes all neatly lined up. He placed her cash in a large envelope, then showed them out of his office. He bade them a terse farewell before they left the building.
With the money safely tucked away in her handbag, Nicole took her daughter’s hand and headed for the park.
“Mummy, I didn’t like that man at the bank.”
“He was okay, love, just a little rude and upset that we took the money from his bank.”
“Yeah, that’s what I don’t get. It’s your money—why did he get in a mood about you asking for it back?”
“He has to keep hold of the money, love, as much as he can. His bosses get angry when the money stored at a bank goes away.”
“Oh, I see! Silly people. What’s the surprise for grandma then?”
Nicole had been dreading the question but was prepared for it nonetheless. “I have a few things to organise first, I’ll let you know when it all comes together, eh?”
Sammy Jo chuckled. “Looks like you have a lots of secrets, Mummy. Gonna tell me what my secret is all about?”
“Go on you, cheeky monkey. Go and play. You have ten minutes before we have to go meet grandma.”
She watched Sammy Jo go over the climbing frame and slide down the end without a care in the world; meanwhile, a small plan filtered her mind. She had promised her daughter that she was carrying out a surprise at their home. She knew she’d have to make good on that promise and made a note to drop by the DIY centre on the edge of the town on her way home. An image of a shocking-pink bedroom should put a smile on her daughter’s face and make up for her having to stay away from the house all week. She nodded as the plan slotted into place—once an idea took hold, she was always compelled to fulfil it. She didn’t anticipate getting much sleep tonight, as she’d be too busy turning Sammy Jo’s bedroom into a little princess’s bedroom.
Nicole was still smiling when they met her mother ten minutes later.
“Any luck with a jacket, Mum?”
“No, the lady said they had no intention of reducing the price of the item in the sale. We’ll see.”
Nicole gave her mother a hug and said, “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”
The family time she spent with her daughter and mother flew past, and before they knew it, the time was almost six thirty. Nicole dropped the girls home and nipped into the DIY centre, emerging ten minutes later with a trolley load of paint, bedding, a lamp, and several knick-knacks all in varying shades of pink. She couldn’t wait to get started.
Nicole arranged for Michael Bublé to accompany her during the painting, hoping the upbeat music would rejuvenate her and give her the strength to complete the room in one night. At midnight, she applied the final lick of paint and stood back to admire her efforts. Sammy Jo would be over the moon with the results, a
nd she couldn’t wait for Saturday to come around before her child saw the improvements to her room. A labour of true love. She woke the next morning, aching in places she never knew existed, showered, and set off to work as usual at the normal time. The day went smoothly enough, but she didn’t drop her guard either that day or the following at the salon, in case her attacker showed up. The only telling thing she noticed over the next few days was how much her heart ached when Josh neglected to ring or turn up at the salon—which, in retrospect, was hardly surprising, after the way she had turned on him.
On Friday morning, Nicole studied her wardrobe carefully before choosing a pair of jeans and a high-necked jumper. If the robber turned up for his money later that day, as arranged, the last thing she wanted was to entice him to stick around any longer than was necessary. She never dressed down for work at all and couldn’t help feeling a scruff during the course of the day. Her customers had given her pitying smiles and odd looks, adding to her discomfort.
As the deadline hour approached, Nicole’s stomach began tying itself into knots. She saw the last customer to the door and dropped the latch. After tidying up, she sat in one of the styling chairs and waited for the tap. She wrung her hands, waiting on tenterhooks, until finally the man knocked on the glass pane of the door.
She took several steadying breaths then opened the door just slightly. The man barged through the door, and the action sent her stumbling back into the salon. He approached her with aggression.
“Where’s the money?” he asked, grabbing her arm and leading her into the back room.
“Please, don’t hurt me. I have your money; it’s in my bag.”
His lip curled into a snarl, and she turned her head away from his rotten teeth and tobacco-reeking breath. “Get it, now!”
He relinquished the hold on her arm and pushed her towards the desk. His aggression made Nicole wonder if she would ever get out of the situation alive. She dipped under the desk and pulled out her handbag. Removing the brown envelope containing the money, she held it out to him. His lips curved into a greedy smile. He snatched the money and ordered her to sit in the chair.
“Please, you have the money…”
“Sit down,” he ordered coarsely.
She was about to do as instructed when the tinkle of the front door opening sounded. Shit! I forgot to lock it.
“Nicole? Are you here?”
Josh! Fear dried her mouth. Even if she wanted to, she couldn’t call out to him.
The man rushed forward and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped an arm around her throat and pressed his forearm hard against her windpipe.
“Nicole? Is that you?” Josh called out.
They heard his footsteps approaching. Nicole finally found enough voice to try to warn him of the danger.
“Josh, go back. Get out of here.”
He appeared in the doorway despite the warning and raised his hand. “Hey, let her go, mate. You don’t have to do this.”
“Get lost. Go on. Me and the lady has got business to discuss.”
Josh’s gaze dropped to Nicole’s. “Has he hurt you, Nicci?”
Before she could answer, the man’s grip tightened around her neck. She sputtered trying to gulp down some air. “Go, Josh. Please.” It was all she could manage to say during the snatched short breaths.
“I’m not leaving without you. I’ve already called the police, and they’re on the way.”
“You what? You idiot. You want your girlfriend’s life put in more danger?”
“I’m giving you the chance to make a run for it before the cops arrive. Once they get here, I’ll tell them it was a mistake on my behalf. Just go, leave Nicci alone.”
“What kind of fool do you take me for, eh?”
Nicole watched Josh inch closer. She feared not only for her safety, but for Josh’s too, as the man’s escape route had been cut off by her ex.
Josh reached into his pocket. The man’s arm yanked Nicole’s head back, she cried out in pain. “Hey, I was just reaching for my wallet, Take it easy, man.”
The man’s grip slackened off—Josh had succeeded in gaining his interest. “What cash have you got?” the robber said.
“A couple of thousand in notes. I can get you more if you need it.” Josh’s voice was calm, matter-of-fact.
Nicole closed her eyes. Don’t offer him more, that’ll mean we never see the back of him. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life walking on eggshells, checking all the rooms of my house or salon before I enter them.
As if reading her mind, Josh went on to bargain with the intruder. “I’ll give you ten grand on the proviso that you leave us alone. Never darken Nicole’s doorstep again. What do you say?”
The man paused to think over the prospect of walking away from the salon with an extra ten thousand added to the ten thousand he’d anticipated taking away. “Deal. When can you get the money?”
“I can get it for you within half an hour. Let Nicci go, and I’ll promise to meet you with it at a destination you suggest.”
The man sneered, “Listen to you. You’ve got it all planned out, haven’t you, tough guy? All right, you’ve got a deal. I take the woman with me though…as security.”
Nicole’s heart sank, and tears seeped from her tear ducts, slow helpless tears.
“You have my word. Leave Nicci here, and I’ll promise you no funny business and the cash in your hand within thirty minutes.”
“Don’t treat me like a dollop of worthless shit, man. I’ve told you what’s going to happen. Now go and get the money. I’ll meet you at the pub in town, the Hangman’s Noose, in the car park.”
Josh nodded and turned to walk out of the salon’s back area. But instead of exiting, he swivelled and ran at them. Neither Nicole nor the intruder had expected that. She managed to manoeuvre the man’s forearm into her mouth, and she bit down hard on it. The man pushed her away, and she sprawled across her desk.
Josh seized the opportunity and punched the guy in the face. Nicole winced when she heard the unmistakable sound of crunching bone fill the room. The man cried out and dropped to his knees. Josh towered over him. “Move and I’ll add a broken arm to that dislocated jaw of yours.”
The man’s shoulders slumped. “All right, all right. Just don’t hit me anymore.”
Josh tore off his tie. “Give me your hands.”
“There’s no need for that, big guy.”
Josh kicked the man’s leg. “Like there wasn’t any need to tie up Nicole on Monday. You still went ahead and did it though, didn’t you?”
The man tutted and held his arms up, palms flat against each other. Josh looped the tie over and around the man’s hands, pulling it tight. Then he took out his mobile and rang the police.
As soon as she knew the police were on their way, Nicole sank onto the edge of the desk and released the long breath she’d been holding in. Josh moved forward and picked up one of her hands. His thumb ran up and down the outside of hers, sending multiple shivers surging through her. Their eyes met, and he lowered his head to kiss her.
“Oh man, get a bloody room you two. Don’t go subjecting me to torture like that.”
Josh pulled back, and he and Nicole started laughing. “Maybe we should do this later without a heckling audience,” she suggested.
The police arrived within ten minutes and arrested the man. Josh and Nicole were asked if they would go to the station the next morning to make a statement. They agreed to be at the station at nine o’clock. Once everyone had left and the activity had died down, they stared at each other.
Josh held out his hand. Nicole slipped hers into his. “What happens now?” he asked quietly.
“How about we go back to my place and discuss things properly?”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll pop in and pick up a bottle of wine and meet you there. Are you all right to drive?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thanks to you. I dread to think what would have happened if you hadn’t turned up like that.”
“You’re a pretty resilient lady. You would have coped.”
Nicole leaned in and lightly kissed him on the lips. “Thank you.”
EIGHT
Nicole arrived back at her house. She walked in without feeling the necessity to check every room to see if it was free of intruders. It was a relief to feel safe and secure in her home once again. She walked into the kitchen and withdrew two steaks from the freezer—a celebration was in order. For the next ten minutes, she peeled, diced and chopped potatoes, mushrooms, and onions to accompany the meat. She stood back and gave a nod of satisfaction at what she’d achieved just as the front door rang. As she walked back through the house to welcome Josh, Nicole glanced down at her scruffy attire and cursed herself for thinking of preparing food rather than making herself look more presentable. Oh well, what’s done is done.
His face beamed when she opened the door, taking her breath away.
She stood back to let him in. He placed the bottle of wine on the nearby sideboard and closed the door behind him. Nicole stared at him, as if seeing how gorgeous he was for the first time since he’d arrived back in town. Without saying a word she ate up the gap between them and gently traced his cheek with her finger. He looked so serious that she almost laughed. The tips of her fingers outlined his lips before she raised her chin to claim them with her own. A moan tickled her throat as his arms closed around her and their tongues collided.
It was a full five minutes before they pulled apart. “I’m sorry.”
Confused, his head tilted and he frowned. “Sorry? For what? Showing me that there is hope for us to rekindle what we once had?”
Nicole picked up the bottle and walked into the kitchen to find the opener. “We need to talk things over first, Josh. I can’t just wipe out ten years of hurt with a simple click of my fingers.”
“I know. I wouldn’t expect you to either. Promise me that you’ll hear me out and not judge me…at least until I’ve finished?”
Crimes of Passion Page 151
