The Soft Whisper of Dreams (16 page)

‘Alex? What the hell just happened?’

Maddie’s words seemed to jolt Alex out of his trance and he came rushing over towards her, taking her by the shoulders.

‘Are you all right? Bloody hell, that was close!’

‘Yes, yes I’m fine, but why did the mast break like that?’

‘I don’t know.’ He looked bewildered, then turned slowly to go and inspect the damage.

‘Bloody hell,’ he muttered again, and attempted to pull the mast into a more even position so the little boat wouldn’t keel over.

‘What’s the matter?’ Maddie came over to help him, and together they succeeded in placing the mast along the middle of the boat and hauling in the flapping sail.

‘Look at the bottom of the mast.’ Alex nodded in that direction. ‘It looks like someone has sawed through it almost completely, leaving just a tiny bit. After sailing for a while, even the smallest gust of wind would have broken it off.’

‘Oh my God!’ The cold dread squeezed Maddie’s insides once more, and she had to sit down when her legs suddenly turned to jelly. ‘You mean, someone did this deliberately?’

‘Yes, exactly.’ Stowing the sail away under deck, Alex went to the back of the boat and tried to start the little outboard engine. ‘We’ll have to return to shore.’

That was easier said than done, however, as the engine refused to splutter into life. When Alex examined it more closely, he found that it too had been tampered with. He swore a blue streak.

‘So now what do we do?’ Maddie looked at the rapidly receding shore line and saw that the boat was quickly heading out to sea, carried along by the current.

‘We’ll have to radio for help.’ With a grim expression on his face, Alex went below deck and Maddie heard him talking. She sighed. Jane had been right. Her father was still dangerous and he hadn’t given up. Not by a long shot.

Alex emerged from below, slamming the hatch to behind him. ‘Shit!’ he exclaimed. ‘The bastard’s broken the radio too.’

‘Oh, no, you’ve got to be joking!’ Maddie swallowed hard, but the cold feeling in the pit of her stomach grew since she could see that he wasn’t.

‘We’ll have to swim, Maddie. Put on a life vest, and let’s go. If we wait much longer, we’ll be too far out to make it to shore.’ He rummaged in a cupboard and swore again. ‘I don’t believe it – no life vests. Shit, I should have checked, but I never thought …’ He clenched his fists. ‘Someone’s going to pay for this.’

‘If we make it that is.’ Maddie regarded him anxiously. She was a strong swimmer, but she didn’t much fancy trying to reach the shore from here. It looked very far away and the water was freezing cold.

‘Do you want to stay here and I’ll raise the alarm as soon as I get to dry land?’ Alex put a hand on her arm comfortingly. Maddie shook her head. Somehow the thought of floating around all alone on the ocean didn’t appeal to her in the slightest. She would rather take her chances in the sea with him.

‘No, I’m coming with you. Something else might go wrong with the boat and I’d still have to swim for it. What if there’s a hole in the hull as well?’

‘Okay, if you’re sure. Let’s tie a rope around our waists so that we don’t become separated at least. That is, if the bastard who did this has left us any rope,’ he muttered.

Chapter Fifteen

Fortunately, there was some rope and Alex secured one end around Maddie’s waist, winding the other round his own. They dived into the water wearing nothing but their swimsuits and set off towards land. Alex had brought a small compass, which he put inside his swimming trunks, just to make sure they didn’t swim in the wrong direction if they lost sight of the shore.

‘If you get tired, tell me, and we’ll just float for a while,’ he said to Maddie, and she nodded and concentrated on swimming. The water was icy and she knew the best thing was to keep moving. She was absolutely terrified, but tried her best not to think of the fathoms of sea underneath her. That way lay insanity, she was sure.

For two hours they struggled along against the current and the waves, resting now and then, and eventually Maddie felt her strength fading fast. Every time she was ready to give up, however, Alex swam up to her and held her close for a while, treading water, giving her as much encouragement as he could.

‘Come on, Maddie, you can do it. We’re not going to let the bastard win, are we? Whoever he is, we’ve got to fight him, or her, and get our own back. Let’s go now.’

Finally, when she was convinced she couldn’t go any further, a beach came into view at last and they both collapsed onto the sand, panting and struggling for breath.

‘Thank you God,’ Maddie whispered, even though she’d never been particularly religious. ‘Thank you so much.’

‘Amen to that,’ Alex agreed.

After a few minutes he leaned over her and asked if she was all right.

‘Yes, I think so, but it might be better if you ask me in an hour or so.’ Maddie stared at Alex and everything else faded into the background again, exactly like the last time they had been on a beach together. She saw concern in his eyes and something else, perhaps tenderness. Before she could react, he bent to kiss her, slowly, reverently, and she let him. She told herself she was too tired to protest and closed her eyes. She didn’t have the energy left to twine her arms around his neck, so she simply lay there, letting herself be kissed.

Alex stopped after a while and looked down at her, then he turned away and sat up.

‘Do you think you can walk yet?’ he asked, without looking at her.

Maddie wanted to scream. Of course I can’t walk when you’ve just kissed me, silly! Her legs had reverted to their jellyfish state the minute his mouth touched hers and she couldn’t have walked if her life depended on it. Obviously the kiss hadn’t had the same effect on him. So why did he do it then? She curled her hands into fists by her side. It was so unfair. Why did he have this effect on her? Why couldn’t she resist him?

‘Maybe in a little while,’ she finally replied with a sigh and he sat staring out to sea until she struggled into sitting position some time later.

‘Where are we?’

‘I’m not sure. We’ll have to climb to the top of the cliff to find out. Then we’re going to the nearest police station. This time, I’m not listening to any protests, do you hear?’

‘No, Alex,’ she said meekly. ‘I agree. This has gone too far.’

He gave her a suspicious glare. ‘You know who did this, don’t you?’

‘I have a pretty good idea.’

‘But you’re not going to tell me?’

‘No. It wouldn’t make any difference. The police are already looking for him and if they can’t find him, neither can we. All I know is he’ll try again.’ She shivered.

Alex’s mouth tightened into an angry line, but he didn’t try to persuade her to confide in him. He pulled her up and together they set off towards the cliff path.

Maddie wanted to tell Alex what was going on, but she had promised her mother to keep her true identity secret for now. They hadn’t had time for any long chats, but Ruth had told her she’d be happier knowing she left Dartmouth with her reputation intact and Maddie wanted to respect her wishes.

‘I’ll tell you the whole story soon,’ Ruth had promised, ‘but for now, please will you keep quiet?’

Maddie had no choice but to agree. She knew Alex wouldn’t tell anyone if she asked him not to, but for some reason she wanted to fight this battle on her own. She needed to find a solution herself.

She followed Alex up the steep path, taking his hand when he offered it to help pull her along. She loved the feel of his fingers, so strong and capable, and she knew he would help in any way he could. Perhaps I’m being stupid? Maybe it was time to ask for his assistance.

Fortunately the sun was still hot and their bathing costumes soon dried in the breeze as they walked. Maddie was very uncomfortable, however, as the salt residue and sand left on her skin made it feel itchy and tight, and walking along the path without shoes was not what the soles of her feet were used to. She was sure Alex felt the same, although he didn’t say anything, and she was extremely relieved when they eventually came to a house where the owner was kind enough to let them use the phone.

In the hall, Maddie caught sight of her reflection in a mirror and nearly choked on a gasp. The expression ‘drowned rat’ didn’t even begin to describe the way she looked, and she had to wonder at Alex’s sanity in wanting to kiss someone who looked like that. There was no time for further reflection though, as they were ushered into a small kitchen and offered a cold drink, which they gratefully accepted.

‘Ah, that was wonderful, thank you.’ Maddie was sure the taste of salt in her mouth would remain for days, no matter what else she put in it, but at least the liquid soothed her parched throat.

Alex then called the coastguard and asked them to look for the boat, and he also phoned Ben and arranged for him to come and pick them up. Exhausted, they arrived back at Marcombe, where Maddie had a lengthy shower before falling asleep on top of her bed.

Towards evening Alex came into the kitchen, where Maddie was watching Annie prepare dinner.

‘They’ve found the boat,’ he announced. ‘I have to go and talk to them and I’ve arranged to meet a policeman down by the harbour. Do you want to come?’

Maddie shook her head. ‘No thanks. You can tell them what happened. I don’t feel up to it.’

He gave her a strange look, but nodded. ‘Fine. I’ll see you later then.’

Maddie sighed and began to help Annie chop vegetables.

‘He really likes you, you know,’ Annie said.

‘What?’ Startled, Maddie looked up and nearly chopped her finger off in the process.

‘Alex. He likes you a lot. I can tell from the way he looks at you.’ Annie smiled. ‘He used to look at Wes’s ex-wife the same way, but that was just puppy-love …’

‘Alex was in love with Wes’s ex-wife?’ Kayla had never mentioned that to her. Maddie wondered why.

‘Yes, but it was her fault. She wanted to get back at Wes, so she did all she could to drive the brother’s apart. She encouraged Alex to want her, you know ...’ Annie shook her head. ‘She was bad news.’

‘I didn’t know that. Was he very upset when she died then?’ Wes’s ex-wife Caroline had died on the day Alex was caught smuggling. Kayla had told her that much, since indirectly she’d been the cause of the woman’s death.

‘No, I think he’d seen her true colours by then. He was never stupid. I shouldn’t think he gave her another thought. You, on the other hand ...’

‘Oh, Annie, I don’t think so.’ Maddie was annoyed to feel yet another blush coming on. ‘I just happen to be female and single, that’s all.’

Annie shook her head once more. ‘I think you’re wrong.’

Maddie didn’t know what to reply, so she left it at that and Annie didn’t pursue the subject. It stayed in Maddie’s mind for a long time, however, niggling away at her as she worked. Was she being unfair to Alex in judging him unheard? Had he really changed?

‘I need to do some food shopping again tomorrow afternoon. Can you drive me, please?’ Annie’s question intruded into her ruminations.

‘Hmm? Oh, yes, of course.’

Maddie was still feeling tired the next day when she and Annie set off for the nearest supermarket. The dark version of the dream had plagued her during the night and disturbingly it had had a different ending from what it usually had. Instead of finishing with her struggle with the dark man, he had bundled her into the boot of a car, shutting her into terrifying darkness. The car had bumped over an uneven road, hurting her as she was thrown around inside the dark cavity, and she had kicked against the opening with all her might. When the car finally came to a halt the dark man, who by now had definitely taken on the shape and face of the Reverend Blake-Jones, had thrown her into the sea off a high cliff. This was perhaps not surprising given her recent experiences, but had scared her stupid nonetheless.

The road from Marcombe was fairly narrow and it wasn’t possible to drive very fast. Its curvy contours necessitated a lot of braking and changing of gears, and Maddie tried to concentrate on this task instead of on the disturbing memories of the dream. They hadn’t gone very far when they came to a particularly steep curve in the road and Maddie stepped hard on the brake. Nothing happened.

With an exclamation she tried again, and again, then pulled on the hand brake. Still nothing happened and Annie, who had by now gathered that something was wrong, screamed as they rounded the corner, where a car travelling in the opposite direction hurtled towards them. Maddie tried to hold the car steady and at the same time slow their pace by putting the car into a lower gear, but her efforts were too late and they collided with the front right hand side of the oncoming car. It wasn’t a head-on collision, but it sent them careering into the nearest ditch, which was surprisingly deep. The little car somersaulted and landed on its roof several yards away from the road, jolting the occupants who were left hanging from their seat belts.

Maddie moaned and tried to ascertain if anything was broken. She thought she was just bruised and cast an anxious look over at Annie, who appeared to be unconscious.

‘Ms Browne? Are you alright?’

Maddie turned toward the window and recognised the upside-down face of Foster.

‘Foster, thank God. Help me out of here will you? I think Annie’s been hurt. Do you have a mobile?’

‘Yes, I just got one, as it happens. I’ll ring for an ambulance. Hold on, I’ll get you out in a minute.’

He assisted Maddie in disentangling herself from the seat belt and held her so she wouldn’t fall down and hurt herself more. She then crawled out on all fours and ran round to the other side of the car.

‘Annie? Annie, can you hear me?’ But there was no reply.

They waited anxiously until the ambulance turned up and by the time it arrived Annie had started to wail. The paramedics, obviously expert at this sort of thing, freed her as quickly as possible and put her on a stretcher with the minimum of fuss.

‘I don’t think she’s seriously hurt, only shocked,’ one of them said to Maddie. ‘But we’ll take her to the hospital just to make sure.’