She tossed one end of the collar over his neck and reached under his throat. She sucked in a big gulp of air and sank below the surface, kicking hard, her arms fully extended to click one part into the other. She felt it connect and let go.
Randall kept swimming in the straight line he’d followed since jumping overboard. It wasn’t over yet. Her eyes stung from the sea water. She had to inflate the collar. Head down, she urged her body on.
***
For Trev, the most satisfying moment of this whole day so far had been arresting Derek Hobbs. The man gave up once Jacqui and Gareth beat Trev to him. Soaked through, covered in sand, and complaining of a terrible injury to his foot caused by Martin, there was little mercy from the three police officers. As they stood on the edge of the cliff reading him his rights, Derek stared out to sea. Beneath the flare, Jasmine Sea was almost on her side, masts at a precarious angle.
“Is this what you wanted?” Trev demanded.
“I gave her that painting. It looks a bit like this moment.”
“What this looks like is murder, if she doesn’t survive!” Trev yelled in Derek’s face, wanting to push him off the cliff. “What kind of man does this?”
“Sir, I’ve got him.” Jacqui tugged at Derek.
“I love her, you know.”
Before Trev could follow through with his wishes, Jacqui dragged Derek to her car. Gareth answered a call from dispatch. “Sir, Coast Guard’s minutes away.”
“I dunno if that will be fast enough.” Despair clouded his voice. “Get Hobbs locked up and come back here. I’m going to the jetty.”
Trev could hardly believe his eyes as he ran along the beach. People milled around on the high ground near a collapsible table. Further toward the jetty, John and Dave pumped up an inflatable boat, whilst others helped Barry set up portable floodlights facing the table and the jetty. My God, the whole town is here! He wanted to hug each and every one of them.
Elizabeth and Daphne built piles of towels and blankets. Angus lined up bottles of water and Sylvia unpacked a basket of flasks and cups. On the ground was a large first aid kit.
The inflatable was ready. Trev unclipped his belt. “No, mate. You’re needed here.” Barry kicked his shoes off. “This lot are out of control.” He gestured to the table with a grin. “Can’t be too careful once you let Sylvia and Daphne loose together.”
“Alright. But take care.”
With a nod, Barry ran down to the inflatable. John tossed him a life jacket and trudged up to the table to help. A moment later, Barry and Dave dragged the boat to the tideline. Lit up by the portable floodlights, the waves were translucent. Barry called out. “Might pay to get one of the lights on the jetty. Make searching a bit easier.”
Trev waved in acknowledgement. The group stopped what they were doing as the inflatable slid into the water. Barry and Dave climbed in and began to row and in a minute, they were almost out of sight. Angus took a few steps forward, his face pale and eyes haunted.
***
By the time Christie caught up with Randall, he was spent. His head was low, jaw dipping into the water. He barely made forward progress. She searched the collar for the self-inflating cord. Everything was saturated, clinging to dog hair, and only the small knob on the end of the cord told Christie that she’d found it.
She tugged. Like a miracle, the collar inflated and a light began to flash. Randall whined in surprise.
“Hey, you can stop.” Christie reached under the water to his legs and started stroking them. “Rest, doggie.” Whether he was too tired to continue, or somehow understood, Randall relaxed. The collar kept his head high above the water. They drifted for a moment, then he started swimming again. In seconds he was out of sight, just the steady flash pinpointing his progress. The flare above faded and blackness descended.
He’s safe. Utter relief swept through Christie. He wouldn’t drown and even if he didn’t make it back to shore, someone would find him. There were lights along the beach. People were searching and he’d be okay. But she had nothing left. Randall’s safe.
She rolled onto her back and floated. Clouds scuttled across the sky, thinning and vanishing before her eyes. Clusters of stars sparkled.
“They watch over us.” Her mother had loved the night sky and could name every constellation. Sprawled on their backs on the small patch of green grass Rebecca had nurtured with dregs of grey water, they’d spent many evenings staring at the wondrous display above.
“There is Centaurus, and that one, see it, Christie? Like a cross? That is the Southern Cross and it’s also on our flag.” Mum knew everything. “But do you know which ones I like best?”
The waves rocked Christie like a baby in a cradle. She was so comfortable, so warm. Just like the endless days playing in the red sand of the outback town with Mum and Daddy never far away.
“Christie. I love Carina because it is like the keel of a boat. I know you’ve never seen a yacht for real, but one day we’ll go and sail on one.”
“What does sail mean?”
“Beautiful yachts have giant curtains of canvas called sails and the wind fills them and before you know it, you’re flying just above the waves.” Rebecca had pointed to a squarish constellation. “Those stars there are part of Vela, which kind of means sails.”
Vela. Christie smiled, reaching for the pendant around her neck. Her eyes fluttered closed.
“Christie, watch the stars.”
It was too hard to do. She was ready now to sleep and drift away.
“Martin needs you. Don’t you dare leave him! You promised you’d never leave him. Wake up, Christie!”
Her eyes flew open. Mum wasn’t here. Martin wasn’t here either and Derek was going to kill him.
Arms and legs as heavy as the anchor she’d cut from Jasmine Sea, Christie turned over and paddled.
“Christie!”
Stop it, Mum. I’m awake. A ridiculous desire to giggle got sea water into her mouth and she spluttered.
“Sweetheart!”
Too afraid to believe, Christie stopped paddling. It was another hallucination. The man she loved beyond life itself was swimming toward her. He looked so real, almost close enough to touch, and then...
“I’ve got you.” Martin lifted her hands to go behind his neck. “Hold on, we’re going home.” He kicked backwards and Christie laced her fingers together. She slid onto his torso. “You’re real.”
***
Excitement rippled through the group on the beach as the inflatable loomed out of the darkness. Two of Barry’s team waded out to help bring it in, but instead, they lifted something up and it pushed back into the waves. The young men staggered onto the beach under the weight of Randall. Trev rushed to help, taking the limp dog in his arms.
“Help me!” He lowered Randall onto the sand. “I don’t know if he’s breathing.”
Angus sank to his knees beside them. “Let’s get this collar off first. He’s breathing, but whatever was he doing out there?”
“God knows. We need a vet.”
“Will a doctor do?”
Trev and Angus looked up in surprise as Charlotte ran toward them. She threw off a backpack. “Find me a stethoscope in there,” she directed Trev as she checked Randall’s airways.
Trev unzipped the backpack and pulled out a doctor’s bag. Inside he found the stethoscope. “Um, here.” He offered it to Charlotte.
“Can you turn him so his head is facing down? In case there’s sea water.”
“Sure—”
“Shh.” Charlotte listened to Randall’s heartbeat. Trev stared at her. After a moment she glanced up. “Okay, turn him. He’s actually conscious but exhausted. Hey dude, are you okay?” Her voice softened as she lowered her face to look in Randall’s eyes. There was the barest flicker of a wag from his tail.
“You’re a doctor?” Trev adjusted Randall as instructed.
“Sorry. I should have been a vet.”
“No. I didn’t mean that. It’s great.”
“Oh, Randall.” George leaned down to touch Randall’s head. “No, Martin will be inconsolable.”
“He’s okay, George.”
“But, Trevor, he looks...”
Randall moaned and tried to sit up. “Steady on.” Charlotte supported his head. “Can we get him onto a blanket and start drying him? And some water for him.”
Angus watched as Trev lifted Randall and in a moment, he was alone. He gazed out to sea. Where are you? Where was Christie?
Chapter Forty-eight
The water was shallower now, Martin felt the difference below them. Christie’s hands were locked together behind his neck and she gave feeble kicks to help. He wanted to tell her to relax, but his own muscles had little left in them.
Her eyes were afraid and exhausted and something else he couldn’t work out. What she had been through he couldn’t guess at. All he knew was he’d found her and she was alive. Just very, very quiet. I found you. If his hands were free he would have held her to him.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“You’ve done nothing wrong. Save your strength.”
“Randall.”
“The only one of us warm and dry.”
“He was on board.”
Gut wrenching fear tore at Martin. “Is he—”
“I got the collar on him. He was swimming to shore. I’m sorry.”
“Can you swim again?”
Christie answered by unclasping her fingers and sliding into the water. Martin stayed at her side, swimming stroke for stroke. He had to get Christie to the beach, then he had to find his dog.
A blinding light flashed on him. “Christie, wait.” There was a boat. “Here! We’re over here!” He raised his arms.
“Got you! Hang on, we’re coming.” Barry’s voice boomed across the water.
“Christie, it’s okay.” Martin reached for her, pulling her to him again. She didn’t seem to understand. “Nearly over. I’ll find Randall.”
A moment later the inflatable closed in. “Thank God!” Barry cried. “Christie, let’s get you in.”
Martin steered Christie to Barry. “Lift your arms.” She did so, his arm around her until Barry took over, pulling her into the boat, where she curled up on the floor.
Barry leaned back over. “Now you, mate.”
“Randall.”
“At the beach. Look, I think... Martin, wait, we can row you back.”
Martin swam as fast as he’d ever swum. From the light of Barry’s torch he’d worked out where he was. They’d drifted down the beach quite a bit and he knew he’d get there before the inflatable. He couldn’t save Christie just to lose his dog. Adrenalin surged through him and he powered through the waves.
Close enough to put his feet down, he waded, his legs shaking. There was a group of people near the jetty. Lights. A table. Was someone having a picnic? His mind couldn’t comprehend what he saw.
“Look! It’s Martin!”
He thought that was Elizabeth. Why would she be here? He staggered into the shallows, barely able to stay upright. His vision cleared and he recognised Angus, Daphne, John. Others were too far away. A woman sat on a blanket with... it was Randall. Flat on his side.
Martin fell to his knees on the tideline with a heart wrenching cry, “RAN-DALL!” Tears blinded him. He’d failed his dog. Oh God, Thomas. The man who’d given him Randall as a puppy, loved him every bit as much as he did.
Something hit him hard and he crashed onto the sand. A wet tongue licked his face and then Randall dropped at his side.
“He’s okay, Martin. Just exhausted. Oh, I’m so sorry you thought he might be gone, my boy.” George stumbled over the sand to them. In disbelief, Martin put his arms around Randall. He was real and very alive.
George helped Martin to his feet, and then he lifted his dog and carried him back to the blanket. He gently lowered him and then his legs gave out and he sat down with a thud. Randall was happy to lay down, this time with his head in Martin’s lap.
“Martin, where is she?” Angus cried in distress.
“In the boat. Look, there it is.”
Barry’s boys, John, and Angus met the inflatable. Martin got to his feet and his legs immediately gave way again.
Angus strode into the shallows and scooped Christie into his arms. Her head rolled to one side, her arms and legs hanging. Trev helped him to another blanket near Martin.
“Christie. Christie, it’s over, sweetheart.” He reached for her hand. She was so white, so lifeless. Randall whined and crawled to her. He licked her face and suddenly, her eyes blinked. Tears streamed down Martin’s face as he squeezed her hand and she faintly returned the pressure. He gave in to the exhaustion and lay on his side, holding her hand, Randall between them.
***
Outside Melbourne International Airport, Ingrid glanced at the night sky. A storm was coming. As long as it didn’t delay the flight. It had taken too long to book this as it was. Australia might be her birthplace, but her time here was over, thanks to Derek Hobbs.
She wheeled her trolley of suitcases through the sliding doors and headed to business class check-in. Another day and she’d be back in London, then on a train to Switzerland. A week in the Alps and she would decide whether to reconcile with Leon, or look further afield. Pity really, Derek had been fun but his obsession with his ex was boring.
What did annoy her was the lost opportunity. Had her hands not been tied, she might have made quite a bit of money, not to mention being a thorn in Bryce Montgomery’s side. Employing Rupert was a dreadful idea, and when he tried to blackmail her, she almost let him. Once she gave it proper consideration, it was obvious that he was bluffing. With a bit of luck he would rot in some prison.
The line moved and she pushed her trolley to the desk. “I’m on flight—”
“Ingrid Kauffman?”
Ingrid spun around. Two Australian Federal Police stood behind her. She forced a fake smile. “Officers? How can I help?”
“We’d like you to accompany us to an interview room.”
“Really? I am a dual citizen and racing home to see my dying mother. You can talk to me when I return.”
“We’ve been advised that your mother regrettably passed away several years ago. Would you prefer to accompany us in a peaceful manner, or should we read your rights and handcuff you here?”
Her eyes darted around. People stared. The police stared. She was trapped. God, what had Derek done! “I’ll come with you.”
“Excellent decision.”
***
“You are sure he’s locked up?” Christie asked Trev as he brought her yet another glass of water. “Thank you.” She took it and sipped more slowly than the previous ones.
Trev sat on the sofa opposite Christie, who was wrapped up in a dressing-gown in the living room at Palmerston House. Martin was having a shower now, finally prised away from Christie for long enough to attend to his own needs. Randall lay at her feet.
“He’s heading to Melbourne, handcuffed and secure. He’ll be processed tonight and we will be opposing bail very strongly.”
Christie nodded.
“You should have gone to hospital for the night.”
“That’s what I told her!” Angus stood in the doorway, a tray in his hands. “Elizabeth has made some delicious soup and insists I stay with you to ensure it is all eaten.” He came in and placed the tray on a coffee table. “There will be some for Martin once he’s ready.”
“I can come to the kitchen.”
“No. You can stay here. Now, let me take your water and I’ll put the tray on your lap.” Angus held his hand out and Christie meekly gave in.
“Thank you. Anyway, there’s a doctor staying right here.” She smiled as Angus gave her the tray and her stomach growled.
Angus sat beside Trev and they watched her eat. Randall raised his head, sniffing the air. “You must be starving, old boy.” Angus got back up. “Come on, let’s see what Elizabeth can find for you.” Randall followed him out
, still a little unsteady on his feet.
“I can’t believe he almost died.” Christie looked at her soup, tears suddenly spilling over. “It was all my fault.”
“If I hear that one more time, Christabel...” Martins stood in the doorway, and his tone of voice left Christie in no doubt about his intent. She brushed the tears away.
Trev handed her a tissue from a box on the table. “I’m going back to the station. There’s going to be a mountain of reports to do and I want to be sure there is no room for doubt.”
Martin shook his hand. “I owe you.”
Trev smiled and wandered out. Martin knelt beside Christie and kissed her cheek. “Eat. That smells wonderful.”
“There’s some for you. Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m fine now. Where’s Randall?”
“Angus is feeding him. Are you staying here tonight? Both of you?”
“Yes. Elizabeth won’t have it any other way, wonderful woman that she is.”
“I can’t believe they all came to help.” Christie scooped up more soup.
“Even Daphne in her brand new high heels. They were all so worried. I was so worried.” Martin reached out and brushed hair away from Christie’s eyes.
She lifted a spoonful of soup up. “Try some.” Martin opened his mouth, allowing her to feed him. “Has everyone left?”
He nodded. “Whilst you were in the shower, Angus shooed them all out. Daphne and Sylvia put up a fight, but he insisted. I have to warn you though they intend to reschedule the party for the night you get back from New Zealand. And this time, you won’t have the chance to escape because I’ll be with you every minute.”
Christie’s hands trembled and she put down the spoon. Martin took the tray, just as she burst into tears. He pushed himself to his feet, then lifted her into his arms. “You are the most incredible person I’ve ever met, my sweetheart.” He held her tightly against his chest. “What you did today is extraordinary. Your courage and your determination. Christie, you inspire me.” He carried her out into the foyer.
Jasmine Sea Page 26
