Page 127 of The Black Trilogy

“It’s your sister.”

Luke grabbed the phone and held it to his ear. “Are you okay? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“I’m all right,” Tia said, although she sounded exhausted. “I just want something to eat, and then I want to go to bed.”

“Where were you? What happened?” Luke heard the muffled sound of a yawn and felt guilty for asking questions. “Or we can talk later.”

“Yes, later, when you get back.”

“Okay. Are you being looked after?”

“There’s loads of people here. Did you tell Mother I was gone?”

“Why? Do you want me to call her?”

“No way! I can’t deal with her tonight.”

“You don’t have to, and no, I didn’t tell her you were missing.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Just stay safe, okay?”

It was after nine o’clock when Luke arrived in Lower Foxford, tired now that the earlier adrenaline rush had worn off. He looked forward to seeing Tia, having dinner, and getting some sleep, in that order. Everything else could be dealt with tomorrow. Luke didn’t even want to think about the rest of the mess.

As the car pulled into the drive, he pictured the glass of wine he was going to pour after he’d seen his sister. After such a horrid day, he deserved at least one drink. Then Tia’s idea of going to bed was a good one.

Luke’s thoughts turned to the future, a future with his sister, no hassle, no drama. Perhaps she could take Ash’s place on that holiday he’d booked? The danger was over now, right?

Wrong.

CHAPTER 36

THE FAR END of Luke’s driveway looked like the forecourt of a car dealership. Matching black SUVs formed a row, presumably belonging to Nick’s crew, and just for variety, a couple of police cars and an ambulance were lined up opposite. All very neat and tidy. But between them, a white van blocked the driveway, more abandoned than parked.

“Looks like Mr. Howard found us instead,” Nick said.

Howard? That was the second time Luke had heard the name.

“Who on earth is Mr. Howard?”

“Our kidnapper.”

Luke reached for the door handle as anger flared in his belly. The man who’d taken his sister had dared to come here? To his house? He itched to get his hands on the heartless freak, but Nick held him back.

“Stay put, would you? We’ll deal with it.”

“It wasn’t your sister he took.”

Luke tried to open the door, but the handle didn’t work. What was wrong with the stupid thing?

Nick grinned at him. “I put the kiddie lock on.”

Suddenly, the kidnapper wasn’t the only man Luke wanted to hurt.

But then Nick motioned out of the window, and Luke took a closer look at the scene outside. In the shadow of an old oak tree, a man dressed all in black held a policewoman at gunpoint. He shouted something, but the glass muffled his words.

“Would you wind the window down?” he asked Nick, fresh fear blossoming in his chest.

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