Authors: Diane Hester

Run to Me (37 page)

BOOK: Run to Me

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Wayne called out a series of numbers ending with ‘Hut!’ then tried to hand off the ball to Reece, who promptly dropped it.
When the man bent to grab it, Zack charged and shoved his hip, and he fell to the ground with a satisfying grunt.

Before he could rise, Reece and Corey jumped on top of him.

‘What are you doing? You’re not supposed to tackle
me
– I’m on your side!’ He
started tickling them.

As they tumbled about in a giggling heap, Chase felt the knot inside him ease. No matter how many assurances he’d given Zack that his brothers had gone to a caring home, Chase knew he’d harboured secret concerns these last two months. Seeing now how happy they were was hopefully putting his mind at rest.

He reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘Feel better?’

Zack looked up, smiled and nodded.

Shyler set a dish of stuffing on the table, lit the candles and crossed the dining room. At the window she raised her hand to the glass, then stopped and lowered it.

Behind her, the final-stage bustle from the kitchen – Allen carving the turkey, her mother making gravy, Janis Seavers mashing the potatoes – created a soundtrack for the scene being played out
on the lawn beyond. The talk and laughter of family and friends, mixed with the sights of their love for each other.

Feelings welled and swirled within her. Nostalgia, hope, a measure of sadness but, above all, gratitude. Though she still had a long way to go in her recovery, though there were surely still downs and setbacks ahead, one thing was certain – she had far more good days than dark
ones now. And it was all because of the support of these people.

At the sight of Wayne struggling across the lawn dragging two small boys from his legs, a sound escaped her at once so fragile
and unfamiliar it startled her to silence. Laughter. Dear God, how long had it been? She gave it another tentative try, discovered it carried no after-effects, and let out another unrestrained burst.

She
watched as Wayne fell to the ground and Reece and Corey piled on top of him. Janis had confided over setting the table that they’d commenced proceedings to adopt the boys.

With the same joy she’d felt at hearing that news, Shyler turned her gaze to Chase and Zack. One day she too would be ready. When she was well. And perhaps the only hurdle remaining was a lack of closure. The thought the men
who had taken Jesse might never be caught . . . But with help she’d deal with that as well.

She reached out and tapped her knuckles on the glass.

‘Dinner’s ready,’ Chase announced, at seeing Shyler’s wave from the window. ‘Come on, let’s eat!’

They trooped across the lawn to the patio, Reece riding high on Wayne’s shoulders, Zack with Corey astride his back.

As the others filed through the
back door, Chase paused to pick up his phone from a bench. Even as he touched it, it started to ring. ‘Hello?’

‘Is that Doctor Hadley?’

‘Speaking.’ He stifled a sigh. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving if he didn’t get a call just as he was sitting down to dinner.

‘Doctor, I don’t know if you’ll remember me. It’s Greg Linnell.’

Chase shot a quick glance through the window. The others were finding
their seats at the table. He turned away and said into the phone, ‘Shyler’s ex-husband. Yes, I remember. What can I do for you?’

‘I’m sorry to disturb your holiday, Doctor, but I was wondering if you were still in touch with Shyler. If you know where she is.’

‘I am and I do. As a matter of fact she’s here right now. Would you like to speak with her?’

‘Shyler’s there?’ A beat of silence. ‘Oh.
I see. No, actually I’d rather not. If you could just pass on a message for me.’

Coward
. ‘What is it?’

‘I thought she should know . . . Well, she’ll have to, if this goes ahead. I mean, if it’s what I think it is.’

‘Know what, Mr Linnell?’

An intake of breath. ‘There’s been an arrest. Three men were caught mugging a woman in Eastwich, New Hampshire. Apparently they ambushed her . . . on a
bridge.’

Chase felt a tingle crawl up his spine. Shyler had long since told him her story. The possible significance of what he’d just heard –

‘The police who handled Jesse’s death were notified because . . .’ Linnell cleared his throat, ‘one of the muggers had a snake tattoo and another had a scar at the side of his mouth.’

Make that indisputable significance. ‘Well, I certainly agree. Shyler
will be very interested to hear this.’ Chase fought down the urge to say more.

‘That’s all they’ve told me at this stage. I’ll be in touch as soon as they get back to me. Of course, if these
are
the same men, Shyler will have to identify them, there’ll be a trial . . .’

‘I’ll make sure she knows.’
In fact, better that it comes
fr
om me than you
.

Silence stretched.

‘Was there something else?’

‘So, Thanksgiving and Shyler’s there. Am I to take it you two are together?’

‘We are, very much.’

‘Well you must be relieved, then.’

‘Relieved?’ Chase frowned. ‘Why is that?’

‘After what I told you back in September, about the way the police said it happened . . . I just thought you might have had some concerns.’

Chase laughed outright. ‘No, Mr Linnell, I wasn’t concerned. I never had the
slightest doubt things happened just as Shyler said they did.’

Shyler placed the last bowl on the table and looked up as Chase came through the back door. She’d seen him take a call on his mobile and hoped it didn’t mean he was leaving.

‘Everything all right?’ she said as he joined her near the head of the table. ‘Don’t tell me you have to –’

‘No, it wasn’t a medical call. Just someone . . .’

She tipped her head at his curious expression. ‘What?’

He took her face in both his hands, his kiss deep with promise and longing. ‘I’ll tell you later.’

Acknowledgements

My number one thanks go to my editor, Beverley Cousins, for giving me this chance to realise my dream, and to the fabulous team at Random House Australia for their work in putting this book together.

Special thanks to my critiquing partners, Alison Manthorpe, Kathy Blacker and Mary Gudzenovs, who helped me through every stage of this project, from the first glimmer of an idea
to the final edit, and without whose feedback, friendship and encouragement it might never have been finished.

Sincere thanks also to the writers, readers and fellow retreaters who gave me their generous support along the way: Rowena Holloway, Helen van Rooijen, Carol Lefevre, Esther Campion, Aileen Pluker, Sandy O’Grady, Monica McInerny, Dr Christine Lucas, Liz Jones, and the members of Eyre
Writers.

And to my wonderful family, both in Australia and the US, for believing in me and always giving me their total support. Thank you for letting me live my dream.

About the Author

Diane Hester is a former violinist with the Adelaide Symphony and the Rochester Philharmonic, US. Born in New York, she now lives in Port Lincoln, South Australia with husband Michael.
Run to Me
is her debut novel and she’s currently hard at work on her second – another fast-paced Hitchcockian thriller.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, including internet search engines or retailers, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, photocopying (except under the statutory exceptions provisions of the Australian
Copyright Act 1968
), recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system
without the prior written permission of Random House Australia. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

Version 1.0

Run to Me

9781742756431

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

A Bantam book

Published by Random House Australia Pty Ltd

Level 3, 100 Pacific Highway, North Sydney NSW 2060

www.randomhouse.com.au

Addresses for companies within the Random House Group can be found at
http://www.randomhouse.com.au/about/contacts.aspx

First published by Bantam in 2013

National Library of Australia

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