by SL Beaumont
She rounded the end of the beach hot on Matt’s heels and clambered over the slippery wet rocks, momentarily glancing behind her again to see where their pursuers were. They were gaining. She pushed herself forward and grabbed Matt’s hand as he pulled her up over the final set of rocks. She started to climb towards the lighthouse, using her hands to support her on the steep grassy bank.
“Steph. Look!” Matt shouted.
She followed his gaze down to the beach. The boat was now in the water and a man was pulling at the outboard motor trying to start the engine. Behind him, huddled on a seat, she could just make out another smaller figure.
“Toby,” she screamed, changing direction and sliding down the bank towards the beach. She dropped her flashlight in the process and bent down to collect it as Matt reached the water’s edge. Suddenly the engine roared to life and the boat started to move away the beach.
“You bastard. What about Toby?” Matt shouted. He stood with his legs apart and fists clenched, his fury palpable.
Stephanie caught up to Matt. The cold wind whipped thick strands of her long dark hair around her face. She impatiently pushed them aside as she stared out into the dark water at the boat, which was illuminated by the silvery glow from the full moon and the beams from their flashlights.
“Thought I told you to come alone, Stephanie,” the man on the boat yelled. The boat rocked dangerously as he pulled Toby to his feet and pushed a life ring over his head. The young boy shrieked in terror as the man suddenly threw him overboard. Stephanie screamed as her little brother hit the water and momentarily disappeared into the trough of a wave.
Matt quickly shed his jacket, toed off his boots and dived into the water swimming towards Toby, who was bobbing in the waves. Stephanie pulled her overcoat tightly around her and watched helplessly as the boat turned and headed out to sea. Seconds later, Matt strode back out of the surf with Toby in his arms. She rushed to them, taking the cold, frightened boy in her arms and smothering him with kisses, all the while murmuring, “Thank God.” Toby hooked his arms and legs around her and clung like a monkey.
A loud bang followed by a gurgling noise, startled them. They looked up to see that the boat had stopped dead about a hundred meters off the beach. The engine choked and spluttered as the man tried to start it again. Matt swore under his breath and turned and ran back into the water.
“Matt, no,” Stephanie shouted, but Matt was already swimming towards the stricken boat.
Toby was shivering. Stephanie gently set him down and pulled the life ring down over his hips and legs and wrapped him in her coat. As she fumbled in her jeans pocket for her phone a noise behind them caught her attention. She had forgotten about the men following them. Terrified, she stood with her back to the ocean, protecting Toby with her body. But the people sliding down the grassy bank towards her were not her enemies. She breathed a sigh of relief. James and Andy.
“Help Matt,” she said, looking up at them.
“Where is he?” James asked, flicking his long fringe out of his eyes. He ruffled Toby’s hair and ran the back of his fingers gently down Stephanie’s cheek.
“There.” Stephanie pointed with her flashlight.
They looked to the water to see Matt clamber aboard the speedboat and try to wrestle control from the man. They were evenly matched for size, both tall and broad-shouldered, but Matt had the element of surprise.
“Are you okay?” James asked, his eyes full of concern. She nodded and leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around them both.
Andy ran a hand through his blond curls and cursed under his breath. He quickly pulled off his boots, coat and scarf. He dived into the waves and began swimming towards the two men fighting on the boat. They were exchanging blows, each staggering back, but somehow keeping their balance, until the man delivered a punch to Matt’s stomach which doubled him over, followed by an uppercut to his jaw. Matt fell backwards over the side of the boat. Stephanie screamed his name as he hit the water with a loud splash and didn’t resurface.
The outboard motor suddenly restarted and within seconds the boat disappeared out to sea. On the horizon Stephanie could just see the lights of a much larger vessel.
James dumped his jacket and boots on the sand beside Stephanie and raced into the water to join Andy. Stephanie held Toby tight.
Time slowed. A cloud passed in front of the moon, plunging the beach into further darkness. In the distance, Stephanie heard the wail of police sirens. She silently urged them to hurry.
She could hear Andy and James desperately calling Matt’s name. The wind was carrying their voices, but now through the dark churning water she couldn’t see them either. After what seemed like an eternity the cloud passed and the beach was once again bathed in the glow of the moon.
About twenty metres away, Stephanie saw a large shape wash up on the beach. It took her several seconds to comprehend what she was seeing. She gently released Toby and stumbled towards it. Matt was lying face down in the sand, water lapping around his waist and tugging him back into the ocean with each new pull of the tide.
“He’s here, he’s here,” she screamed, tucking her hands under his arms and with an enormous effort pulling him free of the water and rolling him over. He wasn’t breathing. Her first aid training kicked in. Falling to her knees, she rolled him onto his side and stuck her finger in his slack mouth and pulled out a hunk of seaweed. Letting him fall onto his back, she began chest compressions—one, two, three. She tilted his chin and pinched his nose, breathing into his mouth—one, two, three. She repeated the process as Toby crawled over and snuggled beside her, whimpering quietly.
Andy and James emerged from the ocean, exhausted and shivering.
“He’s not breathing,” she shouted, panic evident in her voice.
“Keep going,” Andy urged, dropping onto the sand opposite her and placing his fingers on the pulse point in Matt’s neck. “I’ll take over when you get tired. James, call an ambulance.”
“Already on it.” James retrieved his mobile from his jacket and dialled. He immediately started speaking the dispatcher. He sank down beside Stephanie and pulled Toby into his arms. “It’s all right, I’ve got you,” he whispered with chattering teeth to the frightened boy, who was watching his sister, wide eyed.
“Call Mum,” Stephanie asked between breaths. She was tiring and the cold was beginning to seep into her bones.
Matt wasn’t responding. With Andy’s help, Stephanie rolled him back over to check his airway again. More seawater spilled from his mouth. She ran her hand gently over his short hair and checked his mouth. There were no further obstructions. She rolled him back and continued to do CPR.
“Come on, Matt,” she urged. “Breathe”.
Chapter 28
New Year’s Day
Everyone was subdued as they hung around the waiting room at the Carlswick Memorial Hospital, while the doctors worked on Matt. The waiting room was small and contained ten white plastic chairs that had seen better days. The walls were a pale green, with paint peeling off in places. People spoke in murmurs and the only noise was the squeak of wet shoes on the lino floor.
Andy’s parents had brought dry clothes for Andy and James and they sat quietly beside their son. Anna was sitting with her arms around Andy who was looking pale and exhausted. She gave Stephanie a warm smile. Stephanie was slowly thawing out. She stopped pacing when Max handed her a hot cup of coffee and steered her towards a chair.
“Steph, the police want to talk to you again. They have picked up two men whom they believe kidnapped Toby,” he said.
“Sure, but they need to be going after Alex,” she said. “He will get away again.”
“Sweetheart, the men have confessed to kidnapping Toby. One of them has even admitted taking him onto a boat.”
“What? Why? It was Alex on that boat,” Stephanie insisted.
“Are you positive? It was dark,” Max said.
“I would know that voice anywhere, Dad. It’s in my nightmares
. Just ask Matt.” She swallowed hard. “When he wakes up,” she added.
“It’s okay. I believe you,” he said. “We may have a little difficulty convincing the constable of that, though.”
Max led her to a small plain room that the hospital had made available for the police to use. It contained a desk and four office chairs. A young policeman in his early twenties opened the door for them.
“Ah, Miss Cooper. We just need to clarify a couple of points on your story,” a more senior officer seated behind the desk said, holding his hand out indicating that she could sit. He was a large, thick set man in his early fifties, with thin greying hair styled in a classic comb-over.
Stephanie frowned at his tone. “Sure, but nothing has changed from what I told you at the beach earlier.” She sat down in one of the chairs and glanced at the young officer who remained standing at attention by the door with his hands clasped behind his back. Max took a seat beside her.
The senior officer nodded. “I understand that. It’s just that under stressful situations people often misjudge events, my dear.”
Stephanie’s eyes widened and she looked at her father and spread her hands. “Dad,” she began. Max simply nodded.
“I know you think that you saw Alex Knox tonight, but we have arrested two men who claim that they kidnapped your brother and took him to the boat. We have no reason to doubt their story, all of the details fit,” the officer said.
“I’m sure that they probably did kidnap him, but they gave him to Alex. It was only Alex on that boat,” Stephanie said.
“Well, where is he now?” The officer’s voice was slow and deliberate.
“I told you. He jetted out to sea to a larger boat,” she replied, her voice rising.
“We were on the scene fairly quickly and no one else saw a larger boat. Not even James or Andy who were on the beach with you.”
Stephanie sighed with frustration. “But they both saw the speedboat.”
“Yes, young lady, but not who was on it. Even they concede that it could have been one of the men we picked up tonight,” he replied. “I would have thought that James Knox would have recognised his own brother.”
Stephanie opened her mouth to argue, but instead shook her head. The man didn’t seem to want to hear anything that didn’t fit with his view of events.
“The speedboat was found a little further down the coast about twenty minutes ago,” the officer continued. “The men we’ve arrested confirm that they ditched it.”
“I don’t know what else I can tell you. I know what I saw,” she said. “When Matt wakes up, you can ask him.”
The police officers exchanged glances.
“Okay. That’s it for now,” the officer said, dismissing Stephanie and Max.
“Could he be any more condescending?” she muttered as they left the room. “I mean, we wouldn’t want something silly like the truth to get in the way of closing the case.”
Max smirked. “Now you’re talking like a defence lawyer, Steph. There’s hope for you yet.” He led them into another office further down the corridor and closed the door. He pulled out his mobile and balanced it against a stack of files on the desk and selected a number to call. DI Marks’s jovial round face came on the screen a few seconds later.
“Hi. How are you holding up, Stephanie? Your father called me earlier and filled me in on tonight’s events,” he said.
“I’d be better if the police down here believed me. They seem happy to take the word of a couple of thugs, but not one of the victims,” she replied.
Marks sighed. “That can be the nature of police work. Leave it with me, I will talk to the regional superintendent in the morning. But if the local police have confessions from the men in custody, they are unlikely to act until they get a chance to talk to Matt.”
“But Alex will be long gone by then.”
“Unfortunately that’s a risk we have to take. Now tell me about the jewellery,” he said.
Stephanie nodded. “I have a photo that Matt took of me wearing the earrings. Here, I will send it to you.” She pulled her mobile from her pocket and quickly found the image and forwarded it to him. “It’s a shame that I didn’t put the necklace on too, it was beautiful. I could sketch it and send that to you.”
“That would be great. I will put a track out on this tomorrow. If he tries to sell it, it might just be the break we need to find him. Now you look like you need some sleep. We’ll talk again tomorrow.”
Max ended the call and stood pulling Stephanie into his arms. “What a night. You did good, kiddo.”
Stephanie sighed. “Dad, I can’t help feeling that I wasn’t quick enough or good enough. I can’t bear to think what might happen,” she said, holding a hand to her chest.
“Ssh,” Max said. “Don’t think like that. It’s because of you that he’s going to be okay. Toby too. Matt’s quick thinking saved him.”
“He’s the hero here, not me.”
“I think you both are,” Max said.
Toby had been checked out by a doctor and pronounced fine after his ordeal. The colour had returned to his cheeks, but he was clinging to Marie as Max and Stephanie walked back down the deserted corridor to the waiting room. She crouched down beside their chair and hugged him. Max gave Marie’s shoulder a squeeze before retreating to the corridor as his mobile rang.
“Steph.” She turned to see James walking over. She stood and he pulled her into a strong embrace, stroking her hair and running his hand up and down her back.
“Hey, baby,” he soothed. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe that he pulled a stunt like that.” Stephanie held on tightly, grateful for the comfort. After a few moments he slowly released her and studied her tear-stained face. “Matt’s going to be okay, y’know. You were amazing on the beach.”
“I just hope it was enough,” she replied.
“We need to talk,” he said, leading her back out into the corridor. “Look, I’ve been stubborn and…” He paused registering the pain in her eyes.
“I was never with Eric. He’s just a friend,” she interrupted.
“I know. I was just being a jealous idiot,” James agreed. “So can we start again?”
Stephanie studied the sincerity in his handsome face—the striking green eyes that she loved and his mop of dark hair.
She shook her head. “It’s too soon. Not after the things your brother has done to Toby and Matt.” Her voice broke saying his name and the silent tears began again. James reached out to wipe them away, but she took a step back, out of his reach.
“I am not my brother,” he said, his eyes flashing with frustration.
“I know that, but the closest thing that I have to a big brother is fighting for his life in there, because of your brother’s actions,” she replied.
James flinched as though she had slapped him.
“Steph.” Max, who had been preoccupied with a call on his mobile, called to her. He motioned with his head for her to join him.
“Give me a few days,” she said, reaching out and holding James’s hand briefly before releasing it and walking towards her father. James sighed and turned away.
“That was Vince. We have a lead. The launch that was waiting for Alex’s speedboat has been spotted heading for Spain,” Max said.
“How?”
“GPS and Vince’s myriad contacts. To be honest, I don’t ask.” Max gave a grim smile and put his arm gently across Stephanie’s back as they walked towards the waiting room.
“That’s great. We should tell Marks,” she said.
“I already have, but without anything concrete, there’s little he can do,” Max replied. “He can’t just arrange an international operation on the basis of a possible sighting and a possible destination. He needs something a lot more definite than that.”
“But what about the messages to my phone? Surely that’s evidence enough?”
“They found the mobile that the messages were sent from in the pocket of one of the men they arrested tonight
,” Max replied.
“So what now?” she asked.
“After we drop your mother and Toby at Heathrow tomorrow, I am going with Vince to Barcelona. Marks says if what Vince thinks is true and if we can actually find Alex, then he will pull some strings and get the Spanish police involved to pick him up. I can’t have this man threatening my family again. This feud stops now,” Max said.
“I’m coming with you,” Stephanie replied.
Max shook his head. “No.”
“I’m involved, Dad. I’m coming.”
Max sighed. “Okay, but let’s keep this to ourselves for now.”
She nodded. “What about Matt?”
“Matt’s going to be just fine. They’ve just moved him to a recovery room,” Max replied.
Stephanie’s face lit up. “Can I see him?”
“Probably not tonight, but we’ll come by tomorrow before we drive to the airport,” Max replied. “Come on, I’ll get your mother and Toby. Let’s go home.”
Michael sat on a chair in the waiting area. Stephanie looked over at him. Despite the fact that his naivety had contributed towards tonight’s events, she was finding it hard to blame him. He had been duped. Oldest trick in the book, really. All for the attention of a beautiful woman—how many men had fallen for that over the years?
“Just a minute, Dad,” she said. She wandered over to Michael. He looked up, his face pale.
“I’m so sorry,” he said for the umpteenth time. “I was so stupid.”
“It’s okay,” she replied. “There’s something you can do though.”
“Sure, anything,” he said.
Stephanie slipped a piece of paper from her pocket. “I forgot to put this back in the tin, when I gave it to Alex’s guy at the pub. Can you see if you can work out what it means? It could be a code of some sort?”
Michael looked at the piece of paper. “Was this with the jewels?” She nodded. Michael pulled out his phone and tapped the sequence of letters and numbers into a notes app. “Steph—this might be more valuable than the jewellery.”
