by SL Beaumont
He watched the crowds for another minute or so, before being satisfied that no one had followed Kat into the ticket hall. He wandered closer and stood to one side, pretending to fiddle with his phone, while he continued to watch not only Kat at the ticket machine but also those around her.
Chapter 24
Waiting for her turn at the ticket machine, Kat had a change of heart. The bed and breakfast she’d planned to go to was in the next village to her parents, so she’d thought that perhaps on Sunday she could meet them for lunch. But suddenly, she wasn’t sure that she could face her mother grilling her on her lack of a significant other or setting her up with yet another boring son of her Country Women’s Institute friends. And for some strange reason, a weekend in the country, completely alone, no longer appealed. Usually, Kat enjoyed her own company, but she was feeling restless. The whole business with CIP and the deaths of two of its partners had disturbed her. Or maybe it was someone who was unsettling her rather than something. She glanced around, seeking Adam out in the crowd, but couldn’t see him. Dismissing the idea as ludicrous, she pulled her phone from her pocket and searched for her sister-in-law Sara’s number.
Sara answered on the fourth ring and sounded breathless, as though she’d run to the phone. “Hello.”
“Sara, it’s Kat, do you have plans for the weekend?”
“Not unless you count endless visits to the playground, building Lego and making Play-Doh?” Sara replied with a laugh.
“Fancy some company?”
“Hell yeah. The weekends are always so quiet when Carl’s away.”
“Fantastic, I’m on my way. See you in an hour or so.”
“Awesome, see you soon.”
***
The journey to St Albans took just forty-five minutes. Kat sat back and stared out of the window as the railway sidings, stations, and suburbs of London gave way to the green fields of the English countryside.
Sara and Carl lived in a small semi-detached house three blocks from the station. Sara was smiling when she opened the door to Kat’s knock.
“Auntie Kat,” George yelled, pushing past his mother and wrapping his chubby arms around her legs.
“Hey, munchkin,” Kat said, smiling and running her hand over his hair.
George stepped back and studied her. “Why are you dressed funny? Are you in a play? We’re doing a play at school. I’m a cat.”
Over his head, Sara shook her head at Kat. She bounced her fingertips and thumb together, indicating that he never stopped talking.
Sara reached for Kat’s bag, and George grabbed her hand and pulled her inside.
Sara dropped the bag at the bottom of the stairs leading to the bedrooms. They continued down the hallway and into the kitchen.
“It’s such a lovely day, I thought we’d have lunch in the back garden,” Sara said.
“Sounds perfect,” Kat said. “Can I help?”
“Why don’t you and George head out the back, and I’ll join you shortly,” Sara said, pulling the oven door open and removing a quiche. “I have to say I love your new look.”
“Long story, but it’s not here to stay.”
Kat pulled off her hat, shaking her hair free, and sat in a chair at the table on the terrace overlooking a small, well-maintained garden bordered with colourful patches of wildflowers, swaying gently in the breeze. George climbed onto her lap and launched into a story about the Lego creation he was building. At one stage, he leapt off her knee and raced inside, returning brandishing a lightsaber. Kat laughed as he swung it dramatically, almost knocking over the pitcher of water and glasses that Sara had placed on the outdoor table. Kat reached out and gently moved him away from the table. He gave her a mischievous grin, which melted her heart when he realised his mistake. Kat looked up as Sara joined them on the terrace carrying a tray with the quiche and a salad.
“Run and wash your hands, George,” she instructed.
“Actually, I’ll wash mine too. Trains,” Kat grimaced. “Come on, Georgie.”
Lunch was a leisurely affair, after which the sisters-in-law chatted easily. At the same time, George alternated between racing around the garden battling imaginary enemies and playing in his sandpit.
“So, how’s Adam?” Sara asked, looking sideways at Kat.
Kat laughed and looked at the time on her phone. “Well, that took all of an hour.”
Sara laughed. “As I said at the picnic, what’s not to like? And he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
“Rubbish,” Kat said, dismissing the idea with a wave of her hand.
“Then why are you blushing? I know you, Katherine Munro, don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind.”
When Kat didn’t reply, Sara sat forward and stared at her, a smile forming on her face. “Something has happened with him. Tell me.”
Kat sighed. “He’s been around a bit, that’s all.”
Sara arched an eyebrow. “That’s not all. Spill, girl.”
“We kissed, just once.”
“See, that wasn’t hard. How was it?”
Kat’s blush deepened as she recalled the kiss at Adam’s flat. “It was a mistake, I work with him, and he’s seeing someone, a gorgeous blonde.”
“From what I understand, you’re just working on this one case with him, and how do you know he’s seeing someone?”
“I saw them having a drink.”
“It could have been his sister? Hang on, did you say blonde? Donny said that Adam’s ex is a blonde, could have been her.”
“Donny said? Trust you two to be gossiping,” Kat said, shaking her head.
Sara laughed. “Well, Donny agreed that you two would be perfect together, and he wouldn’t have suggested that if he knew Adam was in a relationship.”
“The day I start taking relationship advice from Donny Webster, is the day I know that I’m destined to be a spinster,” Kat replied, laughing.
After clearing away the lunch dishes, they walked into the town, stopping at a playground for George to play on the swings and slides before picking up a few supplies for dinner.
“I never realise how much I enjoy getting away from London until I do. It’s so quiet and peaceful here,” Kat said as they strolled back to the house.
“Sometimes too quiet and peaceful,” Sara said.
“You know you can always come and stay with me for a few days. You know that Mum would happily look after George,” Kat said.
“Thanks, I might just take you up on that.” Sara reached for Kat’s hand. “How’s the hand development going? Carl was so pleased that you got involved as a beta tester in his mate’s research programme.”
“It’s going really well. The robotics guys are amazing. They’ve created a much improved artificial limb prototype. The tech they use is cutting edge. The prosthesis they’ve developed is lighter, more advanced, and more lifelike than anything on the market,” Kat explained. “And I’ve been able to help them refine the design from a practical day-to-day perspective.”
“That’s great,” Sara said.
“Yeah, it was just what I needed, something positive to focus on, after everything.”
The rest of the afternoon passed quickly as the two friends sat in the garden chatting, watching George play. When Sara moved inside to start dinner, Kat took George’s hand and led him upstairs for his bath. She sat on the floor beside the tub while he splashed among the bubbles, making engine noises with his various bath toys.
“I wished you lived at our house, Auntie Kat,” he said after a while.
“I have my own house, George. Remember when you and Mummy came to visit me?”
He nodded, looking thoughtful.
“Do you want me to help you to wash your hair?” Kat asked.
The little boy nodded and dunked his head under the water, emerging dripping. Kat wiped the drips from his eyes and squeezed a small amount of shampoo onto his soft hair before massaging it into a lather.
“Will you be here tomorrow?” George asked, lying down on his back so that K
at could rinse the shampoo out.
Kat nodded. “For some of the day.”
“Good.”
“Perhaps when you’re a little older, Mummy might let you come and stay a night at my house.”
George squealed with delight, and Kat laughed.
Sara had George’s tea ready when they climbed back down the stairs after his bath, George all clean and shiny in his pyjamas.
“Mummy, Kat says that I can stay at her house.”
“When you’re a little older and only if Mummy agrees,” Kat said, smiling at Sara.
Half an hour and numerous stories later, Kat joined Sara on the terrace.
Sara handed her a glass of red wine. “There, I think you’ve earned this.”
“He’s sound asleep, gorgeous boy,” Kat said.
“Thank you,” Sara replied. “How many stories did you have to read?”
Kat laughed. “I lost count.”
“Are you still seeing Marco?” Sara asked.
“Define ‘seeing’?” Kat laughed.
Sara frowned.
“Yes, he’s still my kickboxing instructor, but no, I haven’t seen him for several weeks. It’s nothing major, I’ve just been busy. I was supposed to go back to his the other night when Adam met me at the gym with an urgent update on the case we’ve been working on.”
“Really? He just couldn’t wait until the next day?” Sara teased.
“It wasn’t like that,” Kat protested.
“Whatever you say.”
After a dinner of chicken and salad, followed by a creamy chocolate mousse, they moved inside to the lounge and selected a movie to watch.
When the movie credits rolled, Kat stood and stretched.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to sleep,” she said.
Sara pointed the remote at the TV and switched it off. “Me too,” she said, picking up their empty wine glasses to take into the kitchen as Kat’s mobile chimed with an incoming text. She pulled it from her pocket and saw that the message was from Adam.
Too late to call?
She smiled and tapped the phone icon next to his name.
“Kat, how are you?” he answered.
“Good, about to go to bed,” she said, following Sara from the room and switching off the light.
“I just thought I’d check in. The security where you’re staying is tight, so you can relax and sleep without worrying.”
“That’s great, thank you,” Kat replied. “But I’m not there.”
“What do you mean, you’re not there?”
Kat paused at the bottom of the stairs as Sara switched off the hall light and joined her. A shadow passed across the back garden.
“I’m at Sara’s.”
“What? You can’t change location without telling anyone.”
“I didn’t think, sorry.”
There was a loud knock on the back door, startling her.
“What was that?” Adam asked.
Kat grabbed Sara’s arm as she turned towards the door.
“Don’t answer it,” she hissed.
Sara looked puzzled.
“Kat Munro,” a voice called from outside.
“Kat, what’s going on?” Adam said.
“They’ve found me,” she whispered.
The tinkling of breaking glass obliterated Adam’s reply.
Chapter 25
Terrified, the two women watched as a gloved hand reached through the pane of broken glass on the back door, unhooked the heavy chain, and started to turn the deadbolt from the inside. Kat rushed forward and grabbed the intruder’s middle finger bending it backwards. There was a muffled curse, and the hand retracted, but not before pulling Kat’s onto the jagged glass slicing across the back of her hand.
“Ow.” She jumped back. “Sara, call the police.”
Sara already had the telephone in her hand but shook her head.
“The line’s dead.” She replaced the handset into its cradle.
There was a loud bang, and the remainder of the glass in the door shattered but didn’t break.
“Here, help me,” Kat said, pulling a hall table across in front of the door. Sara dropped the telephone and got behind the desk and pushed. They wedged it against the door. They heard the intruder insert something into the keyhole, and the pins clicking as he picked the lock.
“What about the front door?” Kat asked. “I’ll grab George, and we’ll get out that way.”
The lock on the back door sprang open, and the legs of the hall table scraped as it was pushed against the wall, blocking the door from opening any further.
“There’s no time, and I’m not leaving without him,” Sara said.
The two women rushed into the lounge and crouched behind the sofa, and Kat tried calling Adam back on her mobile, but the call wouldn’t connect. She tried the police next, but no luck.
“The signal is jammed,” she whispered, wiping the blood from her hand across her jeans.
“He’s a tenacious burglar, most would have been scared off by now,” Sara said.
Kat gulped. “There are some things I haven’t told you about the case I’m working on,” she whispered. “I think he’s here for me. I’m so sorry, Sara. He must have followed me here.”
A thud sounded from the kitchen. The two women looked at one another, terrified.
“I left the kitchen window open; he’s come in that way.”
“Kat Munro, I need you to come with me,” the intruder called.
Sara shook her head at Kat.
“I just want you. No harm will come to your sister-in-law and nephew.”
Sara’s eyes widened.
A floorboard creaked in the hall. He was on the move, creeping closer to their hiding spot. The two women edged along the back of the sofa towards the door connecting the lounge with the dining room and kitchen.
“You climb out the kitchen window and go for help,” Kat whispered. “I’ll keep him distracted.”
“What about George?” Sara asked. “I’m not leaving him.”
“I won’t let this guy get up the stairs, I promise.”
They crept across the floor from the sofa to the door, slipping through as a flashlight beam swept the room.
“Kat, we can do this the easy way or the hard way,” the man said.
Kat peered around the doorway and watched the man edge into the lounge and check behind the sofa. Behind her, she heard Sara climb on the bench. The man froze, cocking his head to one side, before moving across the lounge without a sound towards Kat’s hiding place.
Kat took a deep, steadying breath, and as the man crossed the threshold into the dining area, she struck out with a sharp kick to his knee and a punch to the side of his head. He grabbed for her as he stumbled, but she spun out of his reach and raced through the kitchen. She paused by the open pantry and grabbed a couple of cans off the shelf. She lobbed them across the room at the man, who had regained his balance and was advancing towards her. Her aim was good, but he merely batted them aside with his forearms.
In the light shining in through the kitchen window, she could see that he was dressed entirely in tight black clothing. A balaclava covered his head and face, with holes for his eyes and mouth. He was tall, but not bulky and was carrying a flashlight in his left hand.
She picked up an open bag of flour from the shelf and threw it as he came closer. It burst in a puff of white powder as the man hit it away, covering him in a white film. He cursed.
“What do you want?” she said, backing out of the room and rushing back through to the lounge. She positioned herself in the centre of the room, bouncing on her toes.
“Mummy?” George called from upstairs.
The loose floorboard in the hallway creaked as the man paused by the stairs.
“Wonder who will get to him first?” he taunted.
“No,” Kat shouted and rushed through the doorway back into the hall.
The intruder was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase.
“Coming, George, just stay in your room, okay?” Kat called, not taking her eyes off the trespasser.
Without giving the man time to prepare, she launched herself at him with a swift kick to the knee, followed by a one-two jab towards his face. A look of annoyance passed across his eyes, but he parried her away with ease. Bouncing on her toes, she took a step backwards towards the lounge, luring him away from the stairs. As she hoped, he moved with her. She stopped and kicked out again, but this time he was ready and stuck her with his fist while she was off balance. The blow to her shoulder threw her into the wall, but she recovered, taking another step back and ignoring the searing pain shooting down her arm. She flexed her prosthesis.
“So what’s with the balaclava? Are you that ugly?” she said.
The man tilted his head to the side and came at her again. Kat stepped back into the lounge and blocked his punches, first with her right arm, and then left. His fist hit her artificial hand, and his eyes widened in surprise. She took advantage of his momentary distraction to land a solid kick on his thigh. He staggered before regaining his balance.
“Oh, didn’t they tell you that you were sent to beat up a disabled person?”
“I just need you to come with me. Some people would like to talk to you.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.”
She bounced on her toes and took a deep breath, willing Marco’s words of advice into her head. Breathe, keep moving, and jab.
Kat kicked out again and punched with her right hand, but she was too slow, and the man landed a glancing blow to the side of her face. She staggered and went down on one knee, knocking over a side table. A lamp and several framed photos toppled to the floor, the glass shattering in the frames. Kat twisted away as the man’s boot came towards her face and scrambled to her feet. She was tiring.
The man sneered, and Kat realised that she couldn’t stall him much longer. She sensed movement in the hallway behind the man.
“George, I said stay in your room,” she said.
The man laughed, thinking that she was trying to distract him and came towards her in a rush. Kat reached out and grabbed the finger that she’d broken when he’d stuck his hand through the door and twisted it.
