Page 57 of Close Protection

Amelia laughs lightly as she pulls her hair up into aponytail. ‘Yeah, I thought I might as well, now that all my work is done.’

‘Great!’ Teddy exclaims. I study him for a moment, trying to figure out what’s going on with him. Beads of sweat are forming along his forehead even though we’ve barely started the workout. He’s also acting a little jumpy. Plus the random groping of my neck. Gentle alarm bells are ringing. Something’s wrong… but what?

‘Hey, Amelia. I just noticed none of us have any water out here. Would you mind grabbing us a few bottles, please? I want to go over one of the stretches me and Daphne just did one more time.’

‘Sure,’ Amelia responds, heading back towards the house.

‘I’ll come with you,’ I say, before she leaves. Teddy’s being weird and I’d rather have other people around than be alone with him right now.

‘No, I need you to demonstrate the stretch, if that’s all right?’ Teddy objects.

‘Okay, well, Daph, you stay here. I’ll be back in a moment,’ Amelia finalizes as she walks off. I stare after her for a moment before looking back to Teddy.

‘What was the stretch you wanted me to demonstrate?’ I ask, but he’s not paying any attention to me. He’s still watching Amelia. As soon as she vanishes into the kitchen he turns to look at me, panic in his eyes.

‘I’m sorry, Daphne, but I need that necklace.’

‘What?’

He inches closer, his eyes focused on my chest where the pendant sits. ‘I need that necklace, Daphne. And I’m going to take it one way or another so please just give it to me.’

‘Teddy, what are you talking about? If this is some kind of weird prank, please stop, because you’re starting to scare me.’ I back away from him, but he takes one step closer.

‘I’m so sorry, Daphne. I truly am.’

‘For what? Teddy, what is goin—’ I don’t have a chance to finish my sentence before he grabs the front of my jacket, yanking me into him.

‘Teddy, stop,’ I gasp, my breath shortening. The impact of the pull causes the necklace to pop out and as soon as Teddy sees it he grabs it, trying to rip it from my neck.

The clasp holds, but the pain of the jerk sears into my skin.

He doesn’t let go of the necklace, his breathing getting heavier and more staggered. I try to pull his hand off but his grip is too strong. So, I do the next best thing.

I kick him in the groin.

He yelps in agony, doubling over and loosening his grip on the necklace. I pull away and stamp on his foot for good measure, causing him to stumble back.

‘I just need the necklace, Daphne. Give it to me.’ His voice is dark, firm and desperate. But his body is shaking.

He’s scared.

I stumble back, ready to ask him what he’s doing, but before I can speak Amelia jogs up to us, bottles in hand.

‘Teddy, are you okay?’ Amelia asks, concerned.

Before I can even tell her to run, Teddy stands up tall, simultaneously retrieving something from the waistband of his trousers. It’s too late for me to stop him as he raises the butt of a gun to Amelia’s head, striking her hard.

‘Amelia!’ I cry, as she topples to the floor.

Lifeless.

I run over but stop abruptly when Teddy points the gun at me.

Our erratic breathing intertwines as I face the barrel of a gun.

A real gun.

A real gun is being pointed at me. By Teddy.

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