Wednesday's Child (22 page)

From the bottom of her suitcase, she pulled the concealed body wallet she’d picked up in one of the airport shops at Heathrow. Shoving all Liam’s IDs into it, Jacqui strapped it around her waist under a clean shirt. She shouldered the pack and went back the way she’d come.

She stepped out into the sunlight and shut the door. Pulling her shades back over her eyes she gave Vince what she hoped was a convincing smile. “Let’s go on a lion hunt.”

Vince took tight hold of her hand before she could change her mind, his long strides forcing her to walk fast to keep up.

****

Four hours later, Jacqui threw her sun hat and shades on her bed and scrunched her fists into the small of her back. The lions were amazing, and well worth the trip, but the bumpy ride had played havoc with her muscles.

Liam still wasn’t back. One good thing about having to go in and out of ‘his room’ meant she knew he wasn’t there.

Her worry grew. “Where are you, Liam?”

She lay on the bed and closed her eyes, wishing the mattress was firmer. She sighed. Vince had listened to and then dismissed every single one of her ideas for the compound. Whatever he was doing here, wasn’t an orphanage. He wanted no playgrounds or covered areas or roses or any planted areas at all. What he needed was a builder not a landscaper. The link had to be to the mining rights, but what could be worth destroying a mission for?

And what did he want her here for? Not to work, obviously. Was this, as she feared all along, just a ploy to get her back?

She had forgotten what being around Vince was like. How he railroaded people into agreeing with him. And so touchy-feely…he insisted on holding her hand, stroking her hair, setting every nerve on edge with fear as he did so.

Liam, by comparison was the total opposite—easy going and unassuming. His touch set her aflame.

Pulling open her pack, she pulled out her passport, ID and plane ticket. She added them to the concealed bag along with Liam’s. Just in case Vince decided to hold onto them for safe keeping. Without them she couldn’t leave. Something told her that was exactly what Vince had in mind for them both. Any lingering doubts she may have had about Vince’s innocence in whatever was going on had now vanished. She prayed the cook got the message out and that help was on the way. Because she was so far out of her depth she was drowning.

Why she thought she could do this, she had no idea. Because she couldn’t. It was way bigger than both of them, only Liam wasn’t here.

She grabbed her towel and wash stuff. She needed a shower. Being that close to Vince made her skin crawl. Making sure she left by the correct door, Jacqui headed across to the showers. By the time she got there, she was limping.

Her shoe had been beyond uncomfortable since before lunch. Locking the shower stall door, she leaned against it and pulled off her shoe. A piece of paper fell out onto the tiled floor. Bending down, Jacqui picked it up and unfolded it. No wonder her shoe hurt. She frowned at it. Liam’s handwriting, but how did it get in her shoe? She looked at the note. One word.

Liberaté.

Jacqui could see Liam under the desk, his fingers touching her foot. He must have slid the note in then. She looked back at it. What did
liberaté
mean?

Showering quickly before the hot water ran out, she dried off and dressed. This time she slid the note into her bra—the safest place she could think of. Then she headed back to the rooms. Both were in darkness. She’d hoped he’d be back by now.

Going inside, even in the failing light, she could see that both rooms were unoccupied.

Maybe he’s back and gone to dinner without you.

But even as she thought it, she knew it sounded hollow. Something was wrong. Glancing around, her stomach plummeted as she realized that his pack was gone. She ran into the other room. Her pack was on the bed where she’d left it, but her Bible was lying next to it, rather than inside it.

The bad feeling she’d had since lunch grew. Why had they taken Liam’s pack? Who’d gone through her stuff? Why? She’d only been gone a few minutes. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed hard. She headed across the compound to the dining hut. She’d ask Vince outright where Liam had gone.

Vince waved as she came into the room. “Jacqui, over here.”

Jacqui crossed over to him, her eyes searching the room. “Where’s Liam? I can’t find him anywhere. You said he’d be back by dark.”

“He had to leave. There was a family crisis back in London while we were out. Terry offered him use of the company jet, but he insisted on taking a commercial flight, so I pulled a few strings and got him on the last flight tonight. He was sorry he didn’t have time to speak with you before he left, but there wasn’t time. He said to tell you bye, and he’ll see you when you get back.”

Jacqui’s fear bloomed large.
God, I’m alone, they’ve taken Liam…please help me…

She schooled her features to remain calm. That was a bare faced lie as Liam couldn’t leave the country without his passport, and she had that, but now wasn’t the time to call him on it. Nor on the fact that her things had been gone through. The less he knew of her plans the better. “Oh. It’s not like him to leave without saying goodbye. I needed to speak to him as well. Maybe I can give him a call tomorrow or something.”

“Perhaps you’ll join me tonight instead. As I said there is something we need to discuss.” He grabbed her hand. “Like why you and Liam changed rooms for starters?”

“Oh, yeah, ummm Liam figured with me being the only woman on the compound and all, it would be safer if no one knew where I was sleeping. I mean you wouldn’t want one of your men deciding to pay me a midnight visit now, would you?”

“A sensible precaution. Remind me to thank him.”

“Yeah, all right, I will. I’ll go get something to eat.”

Eating with Vince was the last thing she wanted, but she needed to eat, and she didn’t wish to arouse his suspicions. Jacqui crossed to the counter and glanced over the selections. Dennis wasn’t behind the counter and she glanced up at the server. “Is Dennis around? He promised me chicken tonight.”

“Dennis fly home. His mother very, very sick.”

“Oh.” Jacqui kept her face blank. She really was alone now. There was no way Dennis would leave, not after she told him Liam had gone missing.

“He no have time to make memsahib chicken. We very sorry. Perhaps tomorrow.”

“That would be great. Thank you.” Deciding on the rice, she picked up a bowl and spoon. She would search for Liam after dinner and get a message to his brother
if
she could get a signal on the phone. If not, there was bound to be a radio somewhere she could use. Liam had to be somewhere, but she had to get word out in case she vanished, too.

Taking the food back to the table, she sat down, eating quietly. She didn’t have much of an appetite, but had to eat to keep her strength up.
Lord God, keep him safe wherever he is. Keep Dennis safe. Keep me safe. Let me get a message out before it’s too late.

Vince looked at her. “You’re not worried about Liam, are you? We don’t need him. He’ll get home fine.”

“I know he will.”
And I need Liam, even if you don’t.

“Have you made a decision? Will you be able to work on what I want?”

She took a deep breath. “I should be able to. It’s not quite what I envisioned when you said partners, but…”

Vince’s hand closed over hers and Jacqui slowly raised her gaze to meet his.

“I want you as more than a partner, Jac hon. It’s all arranged. Sunset tomorrow…you and me…”

“What are you talking about?” she asked hoping her gut instinct was wrong. Surely he didn’t mean what she was afraid he did?

Vince reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring. “I want you as my wife. Just think of all we could accomplish.”

Jacqui swallowed hard, her stomach threatening to eject her dinner all over the table.

“Well? I expected more of a reaction than that.”

“I—I’m sorry. I’m just really tried. It’s been a long day. I might go and work on those plans you wanted, while the ideas are fresh in my mind.”

Vince’s grip tightened. “I’ve just proposed marriage and you’re going to work? I hoped we could spend the evening together, planning…”

“I need time to think and pray about it, Vince. I can’t give you a decision right now.” She looked at him. “You owe me that at least. Especially if you love me. Now let go and let me get up, please.”

“Very well. I want an answer in the morning. The ceremony is arranged for sunset.”

“I see.” Would she get no input in that either? Not that she had any intention of marrying him. By sunset tomorrow she’d be as far away as she could. She pushed up and nodded. “Goodnight.”

Jacqui left the dining hut swiftly and went back to the rooms.

There was still no sign of Liam. But she didn’t expect there to be. Not now. Vince had put Liam well and truly out of the picture. She didn’t know where he was, but she knew for sure he wasn’t on a plane to London.

She pulled the phone from her bag and turned it on. No signal.

Just a little help, please?

She put the phone onto vibrate and slid it into her pocket. Jacqui grabbed the flashlight from her bag and slid it into her other pocket. There must be a hill or an open area where she could get a signal on the phone. This wasn’t the safest thing to do, but what choice did she have?

The man she loved was out there somewhere, probably hurt, possibly more, but she wasn’t going to even think that.
Lord, protect him wherever he is. Keep him safe. Let me find him or get a message to his brother or both. All that matters is finding him safe
.

She grabbed her jacket and slid into it, making sure her notepad and pencil were in the top pocket. Jacqui crept down the verandah and outside the building. A row of lights lit the way along the path to the dining hut and the latrines. Following the path, she reached the latrines then branched off behind them. She pulled the phone from her pocket and glanced at it. A glimmer of a signal, one bar. Maybe if she went further along the path the signal would improve.

She walked a bit further, praying hard with every step. Two bars. Would that be enough? She had no choice but to risk it. Squinting at the phone, she scrolled through the list of contacts, hoping he listed Patrick under P and not under a nickname. There were two listed. Patrick home and Patrick mobile. Unsure of the time difference, she dialed the mobile number.

Please, let him be there.

The phone rang and rang. As she was about to hang up, a voice answered. “The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown.”

What?
Totally confused she looked aghast at the phone. That was the last thing she expected. “I’m sorry?”

“The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown.”

“Is this Patrick?”

“Who is this?”

Jacqui panicked. “It’s Jacqui. Umm…”
What’s my code name? It was something Biblical, they both were and they were a matching pair. Oh think, woman. Jezebel, Esther, Rachel, Deborah…Delilah. That was it
. “It’s Delilah. I’m using Samson’s phone.”

“I explicitly told him no contact. Do you have the correct code? The lion and the unicorn were fighting for the crown.”

What was the next line? “The lion beat the unicorn twice around the town.”

“I’m sorry. That’s not it.”

“Please, it’s important. Samson’s missing, and so’s Den…Rhubarb—” The line went dead. Tears filled her eyes. Now what did she do?

19

Liam opened his eyes as water splashed into his face, dripping down his chest. Every part of his body hurt. A figure stood over him, the nauseating smell of sweat and stale alcohol on his breath, making Liam gag.

“So you’re awake. Good. Perhaps you’ll answer some questions for me.”

Terry’s back
.

Liam experimentally moved his jaw. It was swollen and sore from the previous beating he’d received.

Oh, Lord, help me here. Don’t let me give anything away and above all keep Jacqui safe. She’s out there with Vince and she’s alone. I know a little of what he’s capable of but—

An eye watering punch shoved his head to one side, cutting off his prayer. Liam gasped as pain skyrocketed through his neck and shoulders. With his hands firmly tied behind his back, holding him prisoner on the chair, there was no way he could retaliate.

“I asked you a question.”

“I didn’t hear you. I’m sorry. Perhaps you could repeat it.”

“Where did you meet the new cook, Dennis? Are you plotting something together?”

“Never met him before today,” Liam replied truthfully. “And hardly exchanged two words with him.”

Another punch sent his head flying the other way. “Liar.”

“Why would I lie?”

“You and Miss Dorne spoke to him, and he was found in the radio room sending a coded signal. He refused to say anything. He died screaming. Exactly the same way that you will.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

“Perhaps I should ask Miss Dorne these questions. Or tell Vince she’s betrayed him. He won’t like that.”

“She hasn’t betrayed him. She doesn’t know anything about anything. She came out here because Vince asked her to. I didn’t want to come.”

“Too many bad memories, maybe? Are you not enjoying being back where you wife died?”

“What do you think? Tell me, what does Vince want the land for? It looks like he’s got a fairly impressive military style operation set up here. Having a bunch of kids in an orphanage would cramp his style.”

“Shut up!” Another swift blow sent his senses reeling. Stars floated in front of his eyes, followed by a hard punch to his stomach which drove the air from his lungs. Unable to even bend double, Liam sat there, gasping for breath.
Forgive him, Lord…

Terry moved back into his field of vision holding what looked like jump leads for a car attached to a battery pack. “Then let me ask again only this time I want the truth.”