The Time Rip (25 page)

“You’re going to be fine. You have a blow to the head, likely a concussion. How’s your vision?”

“It’s fine.” His gaze tracked to Freya and he inhaled.

Freya could almost see his memory returning, working through the implications, wondering if she had told Jeremy of his attack on her. She felt hate burn through her. She would squash any hope he might have about that.

“He knows, Martin. He knows you attacked me with a knife.”

Jeremy glanced up to smirk at Freya. He turned back to Martin, “We’ll get to that in a minute. Can you sit up?”

Martin sat up carefully and Jeremy helped him to his feet.

“Do you know where you are?” Jeremy asked.

Martin looked around him in confusion, “No. Maybe you’d like to tell me.” He pressed one hand to his head and swayed on his feet, suddenly his knees buckled. Jeremy caught him and began easing him back to the ground.

Freya hesitated for a fraction of a second and knew she would not get a better chance. She hitched up her skirt and took off running flat out for the time doorway. Adrenaline flooded her, allowing her feet to fly over the rough ground. She heard Jeremy shout behind her but did not dare look back.

Not knowing how fast a runner she was pitted against, Freya wasn’t sure if she had enough of a head start to reach the doorway ahead of Jeremy, and even if she did, he would surely see her go through it and follow.

As she rounded the corner of the building she made a snap decision, stopped as suddenly as she could, and lay down with her back flat against the tall wall that encased the garden, doing her best to quiet her breathing. She prayed Jeremy wouldn’t look down; that he would presume she had vanished with a device.

It was an impossibly stupid plan and if it were daylight, if her clothes had been a lighter colour, or there were any lights on this side of the house she would never get away with it.

Freya could feel Jeremy running, the heavy pound of his feet vibrating through the ground. He flew round the corner seconds after her and jogged to a stop mere yards in front of where she was lying. Hands on hips, he stood looking straight ahead before stalking back the way he’d come.

She worried how long she should wait before trying to get to the time doorway, but then remembered Brett had said she must have somehow bested Jeremy.

Elation shot through her and she shifted onto her back to look up at the stars, feeling giddy with relief. Jeremy’s voice drifted over, Martin’s higher tones reaching her as he answered.

After her lies about the device belonging to Martin, Freya reasoned Jeremy would need to question the man well to be sure he was not from 2112. She wondered if Martin would end up handcuffed in a cell somewhere and decided it would serve him right if he did.

She grinned at the image. Martin’s bad day could be about to get a lot worse. Anyway, best not to push her luck hanging around any longer. There was a very real possibility that Jeremy might guess what she had done, from a brief chat with Martin, and come back to find her.

She got to her feet and crept silently to the time doorway. Almost invisible during the day, it was going to be tricky to find in darkness.

Although he would have to deal with Martin first, Freya had absolutely no doubt that Jeremy would pursue her, especially after her supposed escape with a time device.

As soon as he figured out Martin knew nothing of time travel, Jeremy would begin to hunt for his original quarry, namely her.

Having his own time device, he would probably begin with her flat, tonight, but he couldn’t wait there forever for her. Therefore, she would spend the night in her van and go back to the flat the following day.

Coming back through to 2008, Freya made for the edge of the field. She was not going to wade through a whole meadow of chest high grass in the dead of night, no matter what she might have done in the daytime.

It was creepy, her ears attuned to the slightest sound, and by the time she reached the far side, she was having serious misgivings about waiting on her own for Brett to show up.

She pushed through the hedge and saw her van parked up to one side, Brett pacing beside it. He saw her immediately and took two strides forwards to pull her into a hug. Freya clung to him, relief flooding her.

It was easy to be with Brett. There was no tension here. Even though he was Jeremy’s brother, he had said they were friends and Freya believed it. He was here, had kept his word and returned her van, and had obviously been worrying over her.

Freya sighed with relief. “God, it’s good to see you. I’m glad I met you tonight.”

Brett laughed softly, “I could echo that statement. So how did it go?”

Freya reluctantly let go of him and grimaced. “Not great. In fact only half my marvellous plan actually came off.” She looked around the darkened lane, “Can we get out of here? I think I’ve had enough of creepy fields and lanes at night.”

“Sure. I can understand you’d want to get home.”

“Actually, I think I’d like to postpone the going home bit. Maybe there’s a pub nearby where we can go for a drink?”

Brett smirked and said, “Got Jeremy hot on your heels, I bet. I have to say, I agree with you: the first place he’s gonna look for you is your flat.”

“Your brother is one scary man. I nearly peed my pants when he was chasing me. If I’d had to run any further he’d have caught me no problem.”

Brett’s eyes shone in the darkness, “You outran him? No wonder he was antsy.” He burst out laughing, “Tell me what happened, I gotta hear this one.”

Freya smiled reluctantly, “You want to hear what happened, I’m gonna need dinner.” She gestured to the van, “You can drive.”

“So what’s with the skirt?” Brett asked. They had been driving for a few miles, Brett taking the lanes in the darkness as if he knew them well.

“I had a shower at Jeremy’s. He got me the clothes last time I was there.”

“You had a shower while he was out?”

Freya snickered slightly, “No. I went in for a glass of water but he found me in the kitchen. He noticed I was covered in mud and he offered.” She sighed. “I was gonna tell him Martin was walking around out there then wait till he went to look for him so I could untie Martin and get back here, but I accidentally told him that Martin was tied up, so I had to make a run for it instead.”

Brett frowned in concentration as he unravelled Freya’s speech. “How did you accidentally tell Jeremy that Martin was tied up, did he guess?”

“Um, not exactly. It was just one of those things.” Brett gave her a look and she huffed, “He distracted me, okay. I had all my lies worked out, but I don’t think he believed me ‘cause he went in for this big lip lock and I couldn’t remember how to think. He might be an annoying man with a hero complex but he sure as hell can kiss.”

Brett smirked, “I didn’t think that stuff actually worked on girls. Then again, maybe my technique just needs improving.”

“Just me then. Great. The worst thing was that I don’t think he doubted for a second that it would, and what does that say about me? Honestly, Brett, he’s not
that
good looking, so how come I start behaving like a teenager with a crush every time he gets near me?”

“Must be chemistry going on. Chances are if you’re feeling that way then he’s no better off. It might explain the lip lock at any rate.”

“Holy cow! That’s not what I want to hear.”

“Why not? Don’t you want him to reciprocate your feelings?”

“Now you sound like Janet.” She sighed, “I don’t know Brett. Why are these things such hard work?”

“Relationships are never straightforward, but half the fun’s trying to second guess where you stand.”

“Huh, easy for him at any rate. I guess he knows where he stands.”

“Not necessarily. Fine, he knows you have some chemistry going on, but that’s the tip of the iceberg when it comes to feelings. I bet he’s completely clueless as to the rest, wouldn’t surprise me if you confuse the hell out of him.”

“How do you figure that?”

“Just what I know of him. He’s used to things being very casual in relationships. None of the women he’s dated have been interested in him on a deeper level. All players out to have a good time. Women who don’t like strings, brief affairs, that sort of thing.”

“So? For all he knows, I’m exactly the same.”

Brett gave her a grin as he pulled into a pub car park. “If that’s all you were interested in, you wouldn’t have come back to meet me tonight. You’d be curled up in his bed right now and I’d be having an uncomfortable conversation with my little brother. I doubt he’d waste any time where that’s concerned. I think he’s miles out of his depth with you right now.”

As soon as Jeremy rounded the corner of the house, he knew he was too late. Freya was nowhere in sight and had obviously used a time device to escape. He jogged to a halt, hands on hips, then turned abruptly and stalked back to where Martin was now sitting on the ground.

He couldn’t go after her with Martin sitting in front of his property. Not that he knew where to find her anyway. For a moment or two, he considered simply locking Martin up so he could go and find her immediately, but he knew he would never do it. His first priority was to deal with Martin who, according to Freya, had originally owned the device she was using.

She had obviously known he would not be able to follow her straight away. He shook his head slightly in disbelief at what had happened. Freya seemed to think she was doing him a favour by bringing Martin to him. Well he might have to enlighten her a little over that point when he finally caught up with her.

Normally, Matt would deal with this type of situation. A felon only arriving here once it was certain that transportation was required. Jeremy could not take Martin to the courts on Freya’s say so any more than he could have taken Freya there as he had threatened, and Matt wasn’t here to help. It looked like this one was up to him to sort out.

Martin was huddled on the ground but looked up as Jeremy approached, his hands had found the gash on his head, and he wore a glazed look as if he were in considerable pain.

“Where’s Freya?” he asked.

“She has left. How is your head, are you in much pain?”

“Some. Who are you, a friend of hers?”

“My name is Sanders. Freya is mine and you would do well to remember that.”

“What the hell century do you think you’re living in?”

Jeremy laughed abruptly. “You were extremely fortunate I was not present when you threatened her with a knife.”

“You’ll have a hard time proving that. Her word against mine and no witnesses.” Martin began to get unsteadily to his feet, but Jeremy pushed him back down.

“Stay sitting. I may not bother to catch you if you fall again and we have some business to discuss.”

Martin lowered his head to his hands, “What do you want?”

“I want you to tell me about the mobile phone that you left with Freya the other week.”

Martin looked up somewhat blankly, certain he had misheard. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Your mobile phone. Freya told me you left it at her flat. Where did you get it from?”

“You want to know about my mobile?” Martin face was a picture of genuine puzzlement. He groped in his trouser pocket and pulled out his mobile, staring at it as if it would tell him what was going on.

“The other mobile?” Jeremy said with a lift of his eyebrows.

Martin looked blank, “What other mobile, what are you talking about?”