by Helen Phifer
Will was pacing up and down outside on the drive. He couldn’t breathe inside the cottage; it was too stuffy. His mobile rang; he answered it to a breathless Jake.
‘You’re not going to believe this. I’m at the hospital and Jo is fine. Paul was here but he left with Annie. He told her his car had broken down and he needed a lift.’
Will had to undo his top button and loosen his tie; he couldn’t breathe and he felt his head begin to swim as his face went white. He’d been here before, only it had been a dark night and him who had been kidnapped. Not again, please God not again. And then he collapsed to the floor.
‘Will, answer me. Will?’
‘Jake, it’s Claire, he’s collapsed – oh my God, what did you say to him? He just went white and fell to the floor.’
‘Fucking hell, Claire, who’s there with you? Is he breathing? Is he fucking alive?’
‘Stop shouting at me! Yes, he’s breathing but he’s a funny colour – he might have had a heart attack.’
‘Slap him a few times on the face. I need him awake now; he hasn’t got time to fanny around.’
Tina came over with a plastic bottle of water and knelt down; lifting his head she tried to pour some into his mouth and missed, pouring it down his front instead. He opened his eyes and looked at them in confusion.
‘What happened?’
They both shrugged.
‘You tell us.’
He pushed himself up and Jake’s last words to him rushed into his mind. Annie was with Paul, Dr Miller, the man who had murdered those girls and God knows how many of his patients. Claire passed the phone back to him.
‘Will, are you with me because right now we have a huge problem. He has Annie and she has no idea that he’s the killer and in danger.’
‘I know – I think they might be brothers, him and Heath. I’m just waiting for confirmation. I can’t do this, Jake. I can’t take it. I don’t know what to do – my head is a complete mess, I can’t think straight.’
‘Look, Will, we got it wrong, but how were we to know there were two of them? He told Jo he needed a lift to his father’s to collect his motorbike. She said she doesn’t know the exact address, but has given me a location on a map. Task force are on it but you’re the nearest officer because Jo said it’s somewhere near to Hawkshead village. There are officers blue lighting it to the area, but it might not be good enough. I’m sorry, mate, but I can’t sugarcoat it. He’s going to kill her, and yes you can handle it because that’s the love of your life and your unborn baby we’re talking about – so snap out of it and stop feeling sorry for yourself.’
He nodded. Both Tina and Claire pulled him to his feet. He took the half-empty bottle of water from Tina and drank it.
‘Get me an address for his dad, Jake – now!’
‘Comms are trying to find it on the computer as we speak; they’re doing intel and address checks. Who’s there to help you? Are there any officers with you?’
‘No, I sent them for lunch. There’s just the CSI, Tina and Claire.’
‘Well, they’ll have to do… hang on, I’ve got an address. Get one of them to drive you to High Fell Barn. It’s two miles before you get to the village; there’s a sharp turn on the right which will lead you to a lane. Tell them they can wait at the road to flag down task force, or all three of you will be in a whole world of shit with the Chief.’
Tina looked at Will.
‘Fuck that – we can help. We never heard any of the last part of that conversation, did we, Claire?’
Will smiled at them. They were all going to be screwed if anything went wrong, but he was grateful that they weren’t going to leave him on his own. All three of them ran out to the front street; there was Will’s BMW or the shit heap that was the PCSO van. Will headed for his car but Claire grabbed his arm.
‘That van’s a pile of shite, but it has blue lights and sirens so we can drive faster through the lanes without having a head-on collision than we could in your car.’
Tina rolled her eyes.
‘Yes, we can – if the fucker doesn’t break down on us, that is. Can you drive Will, or do you want me to?’
‘Can you drive fast, Tina?’
‘Does shit stick to a blanket?’
Despite the graveness of the situation he smiled and climbed into the van next to her.
‘I haven’t got a clue how to turn those sirens on, though; they only showed us how to drive the heap of junk.’
Will leant across and pressed the buttons on the handset for the lights and sirens. Tina started the engine and screeched off, making both Will and Claire fumble for their seatbelts just in case she had to do an emergency stop.
Chapter 31
As Annie was about to step into the barn she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She turned around but there was no one there. The voice that whispered in her ear was firm. ‘He’s coming for you’. She had long ago learnt to trust the messages from the other side and suddenly she sensed just how much danger she was in. She didn’t know how or why, but something had changed; the nice doctor who had been so kind was waiting inside that barn for her to step inside so he could kill her. With no hesitation she turned and began to half run back to the car, as fast as her swollen stomach would let her. She almost made it when the most horrific, breathtaking pain made her double over and gasp. It froze her to the ground; she could hear his footsteps as he came out of the barn, but she couldn’t move. Glancing behind her she saw the huge axe that he had in his hands – it made the one that Heath Tyson had used on Jo look like a pen knife. Clutching her side she forced herself to move and managed to get the car door open; throwing herself inside she pressed the lock down, which made the central locking kick in. She couldn’t reach her keys; though; they must be in her pocket. Feeling wildly for them she patted her pockets frantically, but they weren’t there and he was getting closer. Looking down into the footwell in case she’d dropped them she swore because they weren’t there either. A loud thwack on the car bonnet made her scream – he’d buried the axe into the shiny black metal that Will had spent all Sunday afternoon so lovingly polishing, and was standing in front of her dangling her car keys with a huge grin on his face.
‘Did you lose something? It doesn’t look like you’ll be going anywhere soon. Why don’t you come out and talk to me face to face? Then we can discuss who deserves to be Jo’s best friend the most. I’m sure you will have a compelling argument, but I’ve known her for over twenty years which sort of gives me the advantage, don’t you think?’
She shook her head, not taking her eyes off him. Her phone was on the passenger seat and she grabbed it, dialling 999. Please ring, please ring, please ring. The operator answered and Annie began to scream her location to her as he pulled the axe out of the bonnet of the car and ran around to smash his way into her side of the car with it. The toughened glass cracked into a million splinters but held for the next three blows. When it finally gave in, showering her with minute shards, she lifted her hands to her head to protect her face. His hands reached in, lifting the lock up. Annie tried to move across to the passenger side so she could make her escape but her stomach was too big to let her move fast enough and then the door was pulled open and he was dragging her from the car by her hair.
She screamed and screamed, hoping the noise would put him off, but he was past caring now and he kept on dragging her. Once she was out of the car he threw her to the ground. She shut her eyes, not wanting to see what was coming next. As his shadow fell over her, she wrapped her arms around her baby and felt the hot, salty tears begin to fall from her eyes. This wasn’t fucking fair at all. She’d done nothing to him. She’d never have guessed he was the one who was the killer.
A loud screech filled the air as sirens wailed onto the lane she had driven down not long ago. He turned to see what it was, giving her just enough time to get to her feet and start to run like never before. Her chest burning and legs aching she ran towards the drive and the oncoming police van; he realised t
hat she’d got the better of him and began chasing her. She could feel the axe as it sliced through the air behind her, narrowly missing her. She almost made it when another pain stopped her in her tracks, forcing her to her knees at the side of the gravel drive, right in front of the oncoming van. Paul stepped behind her, past caring now – he knew it was all over so he might as well finish what he’d started. He raised the axe and Will screamed ‘No’, about to throw himself from the van. Tina swerved, just missing Annie but managing to turn the van to the side. She ploughed straight into the man who had been about to bury the huge axe into Annie’s head. He flew up into the air then bounced back down and hit the bonnet again, cracking the windscreen, then fell to the floor. She stopped the van.
‘Oh, shit, I hope that bastard’s dead.’
Will got out of the van and ran around the front to check that Paul couldn’t get up and hurt Annie or any of them. He snapped handcuffs across Paul’s arms, who let out a scream as they all heard his already fractured wrist bone crack with the force Will used. The man was bloodied and dazed and his leg was bent at a funny angle – but he was alive, which was much more than he deserved. A trio of sirens screamed in the background behind him as task force arrived, followed by a van being driven by Jake with Kav and Cathy sitting next to him, then an ambulance. Will ran to Annie, who was curled up in a ball, and knelt down in front of her.
‘Did he hurt you?’
She looked up at him, her tear-stained face shiny and red from the exertion.
‘No, but he was going to kill me. Why would he want to do that? I never did anything to him. I didn’t even know.’
Will held her, pulling her as close as he could.
‘I know, I’m so sorry. I should have realised it was him sooner. Tyson was just his puppet.’
Cathy shook her head.
‘None of us realised. This isn’t anybody’s fault so don’t you lot get all soppy on me. But what I’d like to know is who the fuck ran him over?’
Tina stepped forward.
‘I did, ma’am.’
Cathy looked at her then broke into a smile.
‘Top effort, Tina. I’m amazed you could get that van to go past thirty, but thank God you did.’
‘So am I, but I think that it’s had it now – because it won’t even start.’
‘Don’t worry – it was a heap of shit anyway. I will personally see to it that you lot get a decent one. However, and I mean it, this is the one and only time you are allowed to run members of the public over. Do I make myself clear?’
Kav laughed and began to clap his hands.
‘I’m impressed, very proud of my girls in blue.’
He winked at them and they grinned back.
Annie winced and doubled over as another pain came, taking her breath away.
‘What’s the matter? I thought he didn’t hurt you. Are you okay?’
She couldn’t speak because the pain was that intense.
Cathy bent down and took one look at her.
‘Oh bugger me, she’s in labour. She’s having a contraction – we need to get her to the hospital. How long have you been having them?’
She looked over at the ambulance where the paramedics were in the process of loading Paul inside, who was now handcuffed to a very big task force officer dressed in black with a gun by his side.
Annie gasped, ‘Since this morning.’
‘Come on, you strapping lads are going to have to carry her into the back of the van and we’ll drive her there.’
Annie shook her head and gritted her teeth as Jake and Kav bent down and lifted her as gently as they could, walking her to the back of the police van. They managed to get her up and she laid herself down on the seat. Will climbed in next to her, taking hold of her hand. Finally able to speak again, she looked at Will.
‘I swear to God I’m not having this baby in the back of this bloody van with you lot watching.’
Jake and Kav turned away and got into the front; Cathy climbed into the back with Annie and Will.
‘No, don’t you bloody dare. I’m already a van down because of Tina’s road raging. I can’t have another one out of action because you’ve splattered your waters and placenta everywhere. Hang on until we get to the hospital – and besides, it would be cruelty to children to have those two ugly buggers present at the birth.’
She nodded her head in Kav’s direction, who muttered ‘Charming.’
Will kissed Annie’s forehead; as Kav turned the van around, Cathy leant across Kav’s shoulder and shouted out of the window to Tina and Claire.
‘Sorry, but can you two guess what I need you to do for the next couple of hours until we sort this disaster out?’
Tina and Claire looked at each other and shouted back in unison.
‘Scene guard.’
Cathy stuck her thumb up at them.
‘Now then, Kav, drive as fast and as safe as you can to the hospital, before our Annie here does what she’s so good at – causing high drama – and gives birth in the back of my van.’
By the time they reached the hospital the contractions were coming fast and furious. Annie didn’t let go of Will’s hand, even though he couldn’t feel his fingers. It was all too sudden; neither of them was ready for this. When Kav finally stopped outside the maternity unit Jake jumped out and ran to get a wheelchair. Between them they managed to get her into it with only minimal swearing. As the midwife rushed Annie and Will through to the labour suite, they watched the double doors shut behind them, leaving Jake, Kav and Cathy in the waiting area – which was thankfully empty. Jake looked at them.
‘Now what? Do we wait or go back to the station? How long does it take to have a baby? Days, hours?’
‘I would say not very long; she was close to giving birth, but the poor kid was hanging on and I can’t blame her. I wouldn’t want to spread my legs for you lot to have a good gawp at in the back of a police van either.’
Jake sat down in a bright yellow chair that looked the same colour as his stab vest.
‘What a week. I’m knackered and I’ve never been so bloody stressed out in my life.’
Kav nodded.
‘I have to agree with you. I’m definitely too old for this. I’m glad I’ve only got two more months before I retire.’
‘What about you, Cathy?’
‘Me, I bloody love it, I do. I love the grey hairs that you and Ms Graham are giving me on a daily basis. My life has never been so exciting.’
Kav and Jake began to laugh. Forty minutes later the doors opened and a midwife eyed all three of them up.
‘This is against hospital rules, but I said you could come in for a couple of minutes.’
She held the doors open for them to follow her through.
‘Don’t forget to use the hand gel. I have no idea what you lot have been up to but I’ve been assured it was all in the name of public safety.’
She led them to a room and stopped outside to knock on the door; they could hear the high-pitched sound of a baby crying and the midwife opened the door. A sweat-soaked Annie lay on the bed in a hospital gown holding a tiny screaming bundle of baby. Will, who looked more shell-shocked than any of them, was standing next to her looking down at the wriggling baby in her arms. She grinned at them.
‘I thought you three should be the first to meet Alfie. He’s a bit early but he’s got ten fingers and toes. Not to mention a set of lungs on him Jake would be proud of.’
Jake crossed the room and bent down to kiss her head.
‘Congratulations, he’s amazing. I can’t believe it. You did this – I mean, you and Will made him, without any help. Who knows – he might grow up and marry my little Alice. Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well, it would be as long as he doesn’t turn out to be gay, that is… not that it would matter if he did.’
Cathy and Kav both stared at Jake, who started to laugh.
‘You know what I mean.’
Annie smiled.
‘I think that Alfie is the luckiest bo
y alive to have such amazing godparents to take care of him. That is, if you want to be – of course you don’t have to.’
‘With your track record, my love, that kid will probably need us at some point – unless you become a recluse and start knitting.’
Annie poked Jake in the ribs.
‘Cheeky, this is it – a whole new chapter of my life, one that’s filled with nothing but love and laughter.’
Kav put his arm around Cathy and nodded his head.
‘Thank God for that. I don’t think my heart can take much more.’
All three of them kissed Annie in turn, shook Will’s hand and made silent promises to watch over Alfie. The midwife came back into the room and ushered them out. When they were alone, just the three of them, Will finally found his voice.
‘I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my entire life, Annie Graham. Thank you so much – I can’t believe we have such a gorgeous son. But now we need to talk seriously about you taking up flower arranging or opening a cake shop – because this all has to stop. I want to grow old and watch my son grow up; I want to watch him playing rugby and cheer him on with you by my side. No more of this chasing killers or getting mixed up with anything remotely violent.’
‘For once I think I agree with you. I won’t put him at risk – I love him and you far too much.’
