by Clare Revell
“Yeah, you did.”
“Please, look at me.” Finally, she lifted her face to his. “If you want to explain, then come back inside and I promise I’ll listen. I let my jealousy, and my past, get the better of me.”
“You think?” Jacqui wrinkled her nose.
“OK, I know I did. I’m so sorry. Would you please come back inside so we can talk?”
I—” She paused for a long moment. “Drunks scare me. They always have.”
“I’d never hurt you. But if you don’t want to come back inside I understand.”
She flicked her gaze at him, then looked away, as if she was considering something.
“You have to clean your teeth to get rid of the smell and throw away of all those beer cans, including any full ones you still have.”
“Sure.” He agreed, grateful she was giving him a chance.
Jacqui nodded. “All right. I’ll sit here for ten minutes, and then come in if everything is cleaned up.”
Liam stood. “I’ll go put the kettle on and leave the door on the latch for you.” He headed back to the house.
Would she come in?
He wouldn’t blame her in the slightest if she didn’t. But she’d said she would and his spirits lifted just a little.
9
Liam waited for the kettle to boil as the front door shut. “I’m in the kitchen. End of the hallway.”
Footsteps echoed on the tiled floor then her shadow crossed the doorway. From the lounge came the sound of clapping from the TV. Her voice still held the echo of her tears. “Sounds like someone won. Who was playing?”
“Henson and Tyler. It was a quarter final.”
“Who did you want to win?”
“Tyler, of course, he’s the Brit. And before you ask, yes, he lost. As always.”
She gave him a slight smile. “Bring back the glory days of the seventies.”
“I still think the only reason Virginia Wade won then was for the silver jubilee.” He made the coffee and handed her a cup. “We can sit in here or the other room.”
Jacqui moved to the table and sat. “Here’s fine.”
She ran her finger around the rim of her cup.
Liam sat opposite, figuring it best to keep his distance, so she wouldn’t be scared. “I really am sorry, Jacqui. I was hurt and angry.”
“I know you were. But it’s not like I sneaked around behind your back. I told you I was having lunch with an old friend. I even told you it was a bloke.”
“You never mentioned he was an old boyfriend.”
“I hadn’t said anything about Vince because it’s over. It has been for a long time. I would have told you at some point. I just didn’t know how.”
“Will you tell me now?”
She took a deep breath. “We met at university and went steady for a couple of years, then played it cool during his finals. He was a couple of years ahead of me. After his finals, he went into his father’s business and we dated on and off. He likes his drink a little too much at times. It tends to loosen his tongue…and his hands if you know what I mean. All in all, he’s a smooth operator, can talk the hind leg off a donkey, and then persuade it to walk ten miles to the river and drink. He persuaded my parents to invest all their savings into building an orphanage.”
No wonder drunks scared her. Had this Vince laid hands on her? It would explain why she thought he’d hit her. “Is that the project you said you worked on overseas?”
She paused for a moment, twisting her hands on the table. “Yeah. It failed. My parents lost everything apart from the bungalow. They used the last of their money to fly me home. Dad had a heart attack, and I sold my place and moved in with them to help Mum care for him. I didn’t see or hear from Vince for a few months. Then he turns up on the doorstep with a ton of money. He apologizes and asked if this would make everything all right. Would the money make up for the damage he’d caused and the losses they’d incurred? Dad forgave him. He always was the forgiving sort, and took the money. But it came with a price. Vince wanted me back. I was so grateful at the time, and he seemed to have changed, I went out with him a few times. But then he just up and left. I never looked back. I never wanted to.”
His hands covered hers, sorrow and compassion filling him. How could he ever have thought she’d be better off with this bloke? Appearances were so deceptive. “I’m sorry. Did he give a reason why?”
Color filled her face. “He went further than I wanted one night and hurt me. Dad wanted to file charges, but I stopped him.”
Liam stiffened and Jacqui squeezed his hands.
“Nothing really happened. But Dad was so upset that he gave all Vince’s money to charity. Anyway, when my parents died, I took over the bungalow. I’ve planted some new flowers in the garden and redecorated my bedroom.”
The shock of her frank admission had the effect of a bucket of ice cold water, sobering him instantly. Anger and a desire to hunt this Vince Devlin down filled him. “Why didn’t you file charges?”
“He didn’t rape me. Nothing really happened. He just...his hands wandered a little too much. I stopped him. He slapped me. His ring cut my cheek. Then he called me frigid and left.”
“Was that the last you heard of him?”
“Until today. He seems to have changed, grown up maybe, but there’s nothing going on, Liam. He always was the touchy type, but if you watched for another moment, you’d have seen me threaten to deck him if he touched me again.”
He held her gaze. “Seriously? You’d deck him?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, that would save me doing it.”
A slight smile crossed her face. “You’d do that? For me?”
“Sure I would. Women are treasures, not objects.” He smiled back. “So what did he want?”
“He’s been trying to get hold of me for weeks. I thought some company was just head-hunting and ignored the calls. Eve finally gave them my mobile number, and he rang this morning at break time. I have since changed my number and not even given it to work.”
“Which company?”
“The Horatio Corporation. He’s the CEO.”
“Never heard of them.”
“Nor had I. And interestingly, they’re not on the internet. No website, no email, no nothing. Another reason I wasn’t going to return their calls.”
“That’s unusual in this day and age. I thought most business was drummed up on line now.”
“Anyway, he offers me a job, heading up a project in Africa somewhere. It gets his mother’s name and a plaque saying the Horatio Corporation put up the funds, and everyone’s happy. He even offered me a five figure salary to do it. Not that he gave me any more details about it. He said he’d give me those once I accepted. I said I’d think about it.”
“What’s there to think about?”
“He’s a difficult man to say no to, very charming and suave, even though I know his background. Actually, make that not so much hard to say no to, as getting him to take no for an answer. I’d rather say no over the phone, but then he’d have my number again. Aside from the fact I don’t want to be anywhere near him, I have other considerations now. I have this current tender, my job and...” She raised her eyes to his. “You.”
“Me?”
“If you still want me around.”
Liam squeezed her hands. “Yes, if you’ll have me after I so spectacularly messed up and fell off the wagon, I still want you around.”
His mobile rang, and he picked it up reading at the caller ID. “Excuse me, but I have to take this. I’ll be right back.” He answered the call, heading from the room. “Page.”
The line crackled making the voice on the other end hard to hear, but the African accent of his friend was evident. “Hey, Liam, it’s Manu. I got that information you wanted.”
“That’s great, Manu. Thank you.”
“I’ve emailed it to you, but I figured you’d want to know so you can check your mail.”
“Thanks.” He turned on the comput
er. “I’ll check as soon as the computer boots up.”
“All right, mate. Listen, I’d think twice before getting involved. Just pass this info on to the police or your contact at the missionary society. Let the experts handle this.”
“Why’s that?” Liam’s curiosity peaked. He’d had numerous conversations with Manu about what he’d do once he traced the bad guys, and never once had Manu warned him to back off.
“This goes deeper than you realize. There’s money behind this, Liam, lots of money. They ain’t going to let nothing stand in their way, mate, and I mean nothing. Not you, not some need for revenge you have, not no one or nothing.”
“I’ll take that under advisement. I’ll talk to you later.” He broke the call and turned back to the computer. He started to check his email, and then stopped. If Jacqui found out, she’d leave, and he didn’t want that. This could wait. He wanted…needed to finish the conversation with Jacqui first.
There was a choice to be made. And he chose Jacqui. He’d read and if need be pass on the information later. He headed back into the kitchen. “Sorry about that.”
She smiled. “Old friend?”
The irony wasn’t lost on him. Nor was the fact he was putting the living over the dead for the first time. “Someone I used to work with. He’s been tracking down a mutual acquaintance, and he thinks he might have found him.”
“Cool. Are you going to meet up?”
“I’m thinking about it. And the irony isn’t lost on me. Only difference is, this bloke isn’t likely to want to kiss me.” Kill me, yes, kiss me, no way.
She laughed. “Glad to hear it.”
“So am I.”
“Can we try again? I promise there will be no more meetings with old boyfriends.”
Liam put on a serious expression. “And I promise I have no old boyfriends waiting in the wings, either.”
She laughed again. “That’s a good thing.”
He scrunched his nose up at her. “Or girlfriends come to that.”
She took his hand. “You know, if seeing Vince again today showed me anything, it’s that God was right. Vince wasn’t the man for me, and it was a good thing we broke up.”
“Oh?”
“Seeing him again, it reminded me of how bad things were. God does know best. I mean, if we stayed together, I wouldn’t be here now with you. My parents might still be alive, but I somehow doubt that. If God wanted them to be with Him, then if it wasn’t the train, it would’ve been some other way. At least it was quick—the coroner said they died instantly, and they couldn’t have known it was coming. Knowing you is one of the best things to have happened to me in a long time.”
He glanced down at her hand in his. “How is knowing a bloke like me a good thing?”
“I like being with you. I care for you a lot. You make me feel alive. Vince never did. I believe God wants us to be together. But I can’t get myself into another mess like the one with Vince.”
“You, what?”
“Listen, just now, back then I prayed God would intervene, and He did. He fixed the mess I made of things. Liam, I care about you and want you to get help. I know you’re not convinced you need it, but there’s a midweek meeting tomorrow night at the church. Come with me, listen to what Pastor Jack has to say, and maybe speak with him afterwards.”
Liam pushed a hand through his hair and then rubbed the back of his neck. Now he was confused. What was she saying? Did she want to go out with him or not? He had to know and that meant asking direct, his heart in his hands as he did. “Are you telling me in a roundabout way that unless I rekindle my faith, you won’t go out with me?”
Jacqui took a deep breath. “Not just that. Whatever it is that’s eating you up inside, can only be solved with God’s help. And I don’t just mean the drinking, although He’d be able to help you with that as well.”
Liam shifted on his chair, the sharp stick of his conscience once again poking him. Niamh had tried several times to jumpstart his faith over the past couple of years and he’d brushed her off every single time. But not Jacqui. How did she manage to get under his skin? Something was changing and moving, and he wasn’t sure he was ready for it.
“What’s bothering me is the fact that God didn’t do anything. I needed Him. Sally needed Him. I screamed for help, and He sat there, on His throne in heaven, and let those kids die. Sally died in my arms, and I had to tell her parents that their baby, the wife I promised to protect with my own life, was dead.”
“I don’t have the answers, which is why you need to talk to someone who might.”
“I told you I’m not...”
“Then talk to Pastor Jack with me afterwards. Please, it can’t hurt.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Thank you. That’s all I ask.” She flung her arms around him.
His lips found hers, and he kissed her, deepening the kiss as she parted her lips. He’d never known a woman who touched him the way she did. The kiss grew more intense, and he pulled her towards him, her body seeming to fit perfectly with his. Her hands moved over his back, through his hair, possessing him as he possessed her. After a moment, he pulled back. “I…have to stop. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”
“Sounds good.” She took a deep breath and stood. “Walk me to the car?”
“Sure.” He took her hand, leading her outside into the darkness. “Until tomorrow.” He caught her lips with his and kissed her. Finally, he let her go and stood waving as she drove away. Once her tail lights were out of sight, Liam headed back inside, going straight to the computer. He needed to know what this email said.
He watched as the info scrolled up on the screen. His stomach twisted and plummeted. That was the one thing he hadn’t expected. “You have got to be kidding me.” He reached for his phone and dialed Manu. “Manu, its Liam.” He started the call with no preamble at all, not wanting to waste words or time. “You’re having me on, right?”
“Liam, this is not a good time, mate, and this line isn’t secure.”
“Just tell me one thing. Is this information one hundred percent certain?”
“Yes, now I got to go. Catch you later.” The line went dead.
Liam read the e-mail again, still not wanting to believe the coincidence. Vince Devlin, CEO of the Horatio Corporation, had devised, funded, and executed the raid on the Endarra mission. The same Vince who had attacked Jacqui, had lunch with her, and offered her a job. The bloke he’d never heard of before today and was suddenly popping up everywhere. Vince was responsible for Sally’s death, for him being shot, and the deaths of the others.
“Why?” Rage filled him. What possible motive could Vince have had for doing it? Wait a minute. Vince offered Jacqui a job designing something in Africa. What if it was the Endarra mission he was planning on rebuilding? He needed to do some digging and find out more. Typing hard and fast, he forwarded the email to his older brother. Patrick was a spook and had contacts all over the UK and abroad. Despite the numerous TV programs to the contrary, the security agencies did work together on occasions. Patrick had promised to help him as much as he could when Sally died. Everyone else had put their faith in God and the local authorities.
Liam picked up the phone. He and Patrick were adept at speaking in code. “Hey, bro,” he said as the answer phone picked up. “You might want to check your personal email when you get the chance. Something came up in class regarding that school project I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t know the answer, but told the kids I knew a man who did. You know where I am. Bye.”
He headed to the bathroom and got in the shower, his mind whirling. What he didn’t understand was how things seemed so woven together. Was it a coincidence that the day Vince Devlin waltzed back into Jacqui’s life, a whole bucket load of information implicating him in Sally’s death turned up? A couple of years ago, he’d say it was the hand of God. Today, he put it down to a cruel twist of fate, irony, a fluke, happenstance as his mother would say, nothing more. He turned off
the shower, dried off and got dressed.
He wasn’t going to tell Jacqui. Not yet. But he had to keep her away from Vince. He wasn’t going to lose another woman he cared about to the same man.
Climbing into bed, Liam caught sight of his Bible. Covered in dust, it lay on the floor under the dresser. That seemed wrong and something stirred within him. He got up and rubbed his hand over the cover. What did the song say? When a Bible’s well used, the devil’s not amused? Well, there wasn’t much chance of that. He flicked through the pages slowly. He hadn’t even done that much since Sally died.
It fell open in Jeremiah at a passage Sally had marked. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Yeah, right.
He didn’t doubt God was there. His problem lay in believing in a God who would abandon His people when they needed Him the most. Perhaps God would listen to him if he went to church. He grabbed the phone and rang Jacqui’s new number. He got her voice mail. “Hi, it’s Liam. I wanted to let you know I’ll go to church with you tomorrow. Pick me up about five thirty, and we can eat first. See you tomorrow. Goodnight.”
Was he doing the right thing? He didn’t know, but one thing he did know was he needed answers, and he needed to be close to Jacqui to keep her safe.
10
The church stood in the middle of a quiet residential street in the heart of the town. Its angular lines and grey and red stonework blended in with brick town houses.
Liam stared up at the familiar stained glass windows—she hadn’t said it was this church, the one he used to go to and his whole family still attended. Hopefully his parents, Niamh or Patrick wouldn’t be here tonight. He really didn’t want that conversation right now.
