‘Could you tell her that in light of the possible break-ins here, I’m spending the night at the surgery?’
Millie went quiet. ‘Break-ins?’ she repeated curiously after a second.
‘Looks like it.’ Jake sighed tiredly. ‘The CCTV out back was smashed. The security firm have supplied an urgent replacement, but—’
‘When?’ Millie cut in. ‘I mean, when were you broken into?’
‘A couple of nights back. Other occasions before then. I’m not sure—’
‘What did they take?’ Again Millie interrupted him.
‘Drugs.’ Jake guessed it wouldn’t hurt to tell her. ‘Why else break into a doctor’s surgery?’
‘Shit,’ Millie responded after a second, sounding shocked. ‘Are you going to the police?’
‘Not yet,’ Jake said. He couldn’t tell her why he wasn’t; that he wanted to be sure he wasn’t implicating her mother. There was no way Emily would be up to answering questions from the police right now, and there were bound to be some. ‘I’ll have to eventually, but I’m hoping the new camera will pick something up.’
‘Is there no chance of retrieving anything from the old one?’ Millie asked.
‘I’m not sure. The security firm’s taking a look. They’re getting back to me, but I’m not holding my breath. I thought maybe I’d get lucky if I stayed on the premises.’
‘Right.’ Millie now sounded uncertain. ‘You’ll be careful, though?’
‘I will,’ he assured her. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll get straight on to the police if anything happens.’
‘Okay,’ Millie replied hesitantly. ‘Sorry, Dad, I have to go. I have another call.’
The boyfriend, Jake guessed. ‘Talk soon,’ he said softly. ‘Watch what you’re doing, Mils. You know I …’ He realised she’d already gone. More pressing things to attend to, obviously. He only hoped she knew how much he cared about her. That he would give anything to undo all of this, if only he knew how to.
Deliberating for a second, he took a breath and then called Sally. She’d been worried about Emily’s reaction to her news. Upset that she’d walked away, apparently refusing to say another word. He wasn’t sure what reception he would get, given the situation, but he wanted to at least check on her.
‘Hi,’ he said, relieved when she picked up. ‘I just wondered how you were doing?’
‘Okay, considering …’ Sally answered. Jake gathered from her evasive tone that she was reluctant to discuss things further. ‘How’s Emily?’
‘I’m not sure,’ he told her honestly. ‘I’m still at the surgery.’
Sally didn’t reply for a second, then, ‘We should have told her about us, Jake,’ she said.
Thirty-Four
The night of the party
Leaving him to ponder the consequences of what he’d done, she strode away from his car with as much dignity as she could manage, which wasn’t a lot. She heard him trying to start it behind her, futilely. No doubt he would be pissed off about that. Good. He’d treated her like some cheap tart, stringing her along. Choking back a sob, she trudged through the sludge, the monsoon-like rain plastering her hair to her head and soaking through her biker jacket right down to her bones. She’d given him everything, risked everything for him. She’d thought he felt the same – he’d said sex with her was the most mind-blowing he’d ever had in his life. He’d obviously been lying about that as well. She should have thought to tell him it hadn’t been that great for her. That might have hit him where it hurt. God, she’d been such anidiot.
He’d said he loved her. Gulping back her hurt and humiliation, she pushed on, tears stinging her eyes and careless of her expensive leather boots, which would undoubtedly be ruined. Sensing his interest might be waning, she’d worn them with her new faux-leather skirt to get his attention. He hadn’t complimented her as he usually would, his eyes on her thighs and sex on his mind. He’d hardly even glanced at her.
He’d said he was riddled with guilt, feeling bad about using her when he couldn’t be fully committed. Such a liar. He didn’t care about anyone.Bastard. And now, no doubt, he would be looking for some other naïve young thing to reel in with his flattery, his easy smile and twinkly blue eyes. Lying eyes. She’d thought she’d seen his love for her there; warmth and affection, which she’d badly needed. She’d been wrong. They were as cold as ice.
A chill running through her, she wrapped her arms about herself, tucked her hands under her armpits and hurried on. After a moment, she stopped, sure she could hear footsteps behind her. His, obviously. He was clearly struggling with his conscience. Well, he knew what he could do, didn’t he? Huffing out a steamy breath, she quickened her pace, then faltered, again, certain she’d heard branches snapping in the woodland beside her. Animals, probably, she tried to reassure herself. Foraging nightlife.Shit.What kind of nightlife?
Her bladder full to bursting suddenly, she tightened her arms around herself and took another few steps. Then she stopped again, swallowing back her racing heart as something screamed in the woods, loud and shrill, like a banshee. Standing stock still, she listened. Hearing nothing now but the sound of the rain plopping through the leaves, she laughed in despair at herself. It was obviously a fox. Whathadshe been thinking, climbing out of his car in an area she knew to be one of the remotest places possible? The alternative, though, would have been to stay inthe car with him. She would rather drown. Steeling her resolve, she forged determinedly onwards.
A short while later, she hesitated again, positive now that she could hear footfalls echoing her own. Therewassomeone there, she was sure of it. Her antennae on red alert, she dared a glance over her shoulder. Seeing nothing but the dark shadows of overhanging branches, she took another few tentative steps. Her stomach lurched violently as another sound reached her – not the roar of an animal this time, but the rev of an engine, growling full throttle.
Shit.Her heart thrashing, she surged forward, the soles of her boots slipping and sliding beneath her. She heard the impact, dull, sickening. Felt white-hot pain jarring every bone in her body as she was tossed in the air to land heavily on the unforgiving tarmac. Seconds later, her heartbeat slowed, a slow pulse at the base of her neck, as a warm breath brushed her cheek. ‘Sorry, but I couldn’t let you tell,’ whispered a voice tinged with regret.
Swallowing back the salty, metallic taste in her mouth, she was vaguely aware of who it was. Strangely, she didn’t feel pain any more, didn’t feel anything other than that the lifeblood that flowered slowly beneath her was pleasantly warm. Blinking away the droplets of rain that ran like saltless tears down her cheeks, she stared up at the tiny pinpricks of light that held a promise of another life.
