The Surgeon's Blade (22 page)

At first, Robert had been appalled that his well-meaning but ever-meddling cousin, Diana, had obviously been discussing him and Morwenna with his sister. He had rolled his eyes in dismay at Morwenna, who had simply giggled at his discomfiture and showed an admiring Diana her sparkling ring.

Stephanie and Diana decided to take things in hand and, between them, assisted Morwenna towards organising a simple, but tasteful wedding. Over the years since his wife’s death, the memory of her standing in her wedding dress, slender and beautiful before him, still sent a shaft of remorse through him.

Robert and Morwenna enjoyed seven years together. Morwenna loved accompanying her handsome husband on some of his overseas tours and revelled in exploring far-eastern exotic countries. They lived well and it was obvious to all their friends that they had the perfect marriage. It was during Robert’s posting back in England that Morwenna discovered she was expecting their first baby. Both parents were thrilled when their tiny daughter arrived during a cold and blustery December, and after listening to the maternity ward nurses singing Christmas carols as they went about their duties, Morwenna would hear of no other name for her baby girl. A few weeks later, she was christened Carole.

Fatherhood took Robert by surprise, and he often found himself hovering round his daughter’s cot much to Morwenna’s amusement. He considered those days to be among the best of his life.

He and Morwenna spent much of their free time discovering the English countryside. A favourite place of theirs was situated on the South Downs and coast, the Seven Sisters Country Park. This area comprised 280 hectares of chalk cliffs, meandering river valley and open chalk grassland. It was an immensely popular place for outdoor activities including walking, bird watching, cycling and canoeing.

“Let’s take a picnic to the Seven Sisters Park this afternoon,” Robert said, as he wandered into the kitchen of their home. “The weather’s been lousy for the past couple of weeks, and it would be good to get some fresh air in our lungs.”

Morwenna looked doubtful as she glanced out of the window. “Are you sure? It’s a fair journey, and although it’s stopped raining, it’s still grey and dull outside.”

“Come on, sweetheart, where’s your spirit? A little rain never hurt anybody. We can throw the raincoats in the back of the car, and we can be there in less than two hours. Besides, I want to try out the new camera you bought me. I’ve hardly used it since Christmas.”

Morwenna had laughed at his enthusiasm and began searching through her fridge and cupboards for the makings of a tasty picnic. “You know we’ll probably end up eating everything in the car, don’t you?”

Robert leant over his daughter’s buggy with a smile. “We think Mummy’s being a bit of a wet blanket, don’t we? We’ll have to change her mind.” Carole giggled and cooed kicking the soft cotton blanket from her legs in excitement. “Look, Morwenna, Carole wants to go!”

The drive was uneventful. With light traffic on the roads they made good time. The rain held off, and the sun even peeped from behind a bank of clouds as the little family strolled along the cliff top with baby Carole snugly nestled in a baby carrier on Robert’s back. When a chill wind and mist began to roll in from the sea, Robert decided it was time to head back to the car and enjoy some hot soup and filled crusty rolls. They had parked the car on the top of the cliffs about fifty yards away from the edge and just off the track, where they could sit watching the spume-topped waves roll in.

“It was good idea of yours to get out,” Morwenna agreed, once they were back in the car. “I’ll feed baby, and then with luck, she’ll sleep on the way home.” She settled down to nurse Carole.

“Okay, while you’re busy, I’ll take myself off along the cliff top the other way and take some more photographs. I might be able to get some good shots with this light. It’s almost eerie with the weak sun and the sea mist rolling in. I’ll be gone about fifteen minutes if that’s all right? Keep the car doors locked while I’m gone, will you?”

Morwenna agreed it was a good idea, and Robert gave her a loving kiss before leaving the car. The cliff top path ran along the edge. It was well worn and obviously a favourite with walkers, judging by the eroded edges and the width of it. Robert knew just the right spot to take his photographs. There was a part of the cliff which showed exposed fossils. With the sun sinking fast in the west, Robert thought he could get a perfect composition. The area was slightly further than he thought, and despite the rain holding off that day, there were deep puddles dotted here and there. He found the area he had been looking for and was disappointed to find there had been a recent rock fall. Where the cliff had sloped before with a natural grace and beauty, now there was a gaping hole. Disappointed, he began the muddy wet walk back to the car, looking forward to another cup of hot tea.

He hadn’t gone more than a few yards, when there was a slight tremor at his feet and he heard a rumbling in the distance. A slight crack appeared in the turf where his feet were, and he moved away from the cliff edge with alarm. The whole area was soggy with the recent rain. Robert suddenly felt a pang of worry shoot through him.
He had left his wife and baby in the car not that far from the cliff’s edge.

Robert began to run.

When he reached the area where he had left Morwenna and the baby, there was nothing to be seen. It was empty. Moreover the spot wasn’t just empty, there was
nothing there.
There was a gaping hole now where the car and its occupants had been sited near the edge of the cliff. About eighty feet along the cliff edge, the turf was ragged and torn with exposed white chalk and stone.

~~~~~

There had been an inquest, and for some time, Robert had been described by lesser newspapers as ‘that infamous pilot who left his family to fall to their deaths at one of England’s most famous beauty spots’. Robert did nothing to dispel the nasty rumours about deliberately parking his car at a remote spot during a time of serious risk of cliff erosion, even when one of the reporters hounding him was quite scandalous with her accusations. Instead, Robert was set on cutting himself off from friends and family, believing he could deal with the rumours and his own guilt by himself. Even his sister and cousin found it difficult to break through his hard shell to help him with his grief.

It took Robert many years to come to terms with his supposed irresponsibility. During that time, despite meeting other women on a casual basis, he never found another that came near to, let alone replace, his Morwenna. Since the onslaught of the horrendous allegations from the female reporter, for the first time in his life, he lost his respect for mankind, especially women.

Chapter 27

The latest idea had been so easy! The success rate so far had been almost 100 per cent. Only once had the watcher failed to leave a mark, a warning of what was to come. Mistakes were
not
an option. Never mind, things were well on their way now. Just a few days to settle down and get with the flow…and then it would be all over. The watcher would have accomplished all that was set out to be done.

The latest women had all been tasters… hors d’oeuvres, if you like…the watcher had never meant to
kill
any of them…that fate was reserved for Libby.

Too bad there was an increase in security, but no matter, the watcher
knew
how to get in, knew how to perform the last episode. Everything had been handed on a plate, and without knowing it, the victim had unwittingly agreed.

Chapter 28

Libby wasn’t anticipating Robert’s call that evening. When she returned home from work, she had been grateful to slip out of her work clothes. She took a cooling shower and looked forward to an evening of leisure. She had felt almost light-hearted ever since her last telephone call with Nigel when he asked for a delay in her moving in with him. Libby wasn't sure, but she guessed it was something to do with the previous Mrs St John. Perhaps things were changing between them. They could even be getting back together again for all she knew.

Libby paused as she decided what she was going to cook for supper. She eyed a couple of chicken breasts in the refrigerator and thought she might try her hand at Green Thai Curry. She had a new recipe book and most of the ingredients. The method didn’t look particularly difficult.

She checked through her kitchen cupboard and selected everything she needed to make the green curry paste. What was perhaps most surprising was her reaction to Nigel’s postponement. She was feeling almost a little guilty as a result of his proposal. She scolded herself.
For goodness sake, woman!
He is offering you a chance to think things over. True, she had already decided a few days ago she wanted to split up, because she knew things were not right between them, but she still believed she was the guilty party. Nigel just wanted them to be together; she was the one who was shilly-shallying. She knew, when it finally came down to it, she was going to tell him 'no'. She didn’t want to marry him, but that was a strange thing too. She couldn’t actually remember Nigel mentioning marriage. Oh yes, he had talked about their moving in together and sharing a life, but marriage was never mentioned, which was very odd, considering she had an engagement ring in her possession – from him.

Libby ground the coriander and cumin in a pan and dry-roasted them over a hot flame. She blended the roasted spices together with the chillies, garlic and onions. Galangal. She hadn’t been able to buy any of that, but after looking it up, she decided fresh ginger would do. What else did she need? Lemon, shrimp paste, peanut oil…as she worked, a memory of Robert suddenly appeared in her mind. If they had been closer friends, she would have invited him over to try her new recipe.

After their last encounter, they had parted on a more cordial footing than the previous occasion, but that was before his glamorous cousin Diana had arrived on the scene. Complete with baby, of course. Libby mused over their possible relationship. If Diana had a baby, then wasn’t there a possibility of a father for the infant? Libby was astonished over how Robert kept appearing in her thoughts.

After blending the ingredients, she read the next stage in her cookery book.
Place curry paste in a large saucepan, stir over heat until fragrant. Add coconut milk
…the telephone ringing from her living room made her stop. Bother. She really wanted a quiet evening. She didn’t want to waste time with idle chat. She put down her wooden spoon and walked through to the other room.

She glanced at the caller’s recorded number and was again startled at her reaction to Robert.

“Hello, Robert. How are you? I wasn’t expecting you to call.” Her heart was racing in her chest as she waited for his reply.

“Libby, I’m fine, thanks, and you? I haven’t forgotten about your back door. I don’t suppose you’ve had a chance to get it fixed yet? No? Well, that’s good because I’ve bought a new lock for you.”

Libby murmured something about him being ‘most kind’ as her thoughts whirled around in her head.

“So, if it’s convenient, I thought I might call round and fit it for you? How are you fixed this evening?”

Libby thought fast. She had managed to get one part of her chaotic life
almost
in order with Nigel. Did she now want the possibility of being further involved with Robert – in any way – to perhaps screw things up again? So far her life was running true to form. She was hopeless with men and relationships.