Page 50 of The Boathouse By the Loch

He was back to thinking about Natty’s father. ‘Who took her – was it Yousaf?’ said Jake. ‘Who did you arrange to be outside her school when Faye dropped her off this morning – who was it?’

‘What the hell are you talking about?’ exclaimed Patrick. ‘If she’s missing, why aren’t you out pounding the streets looking for her, for Christ’s sake, instead of in here waving a gun around interrogating me? What in heaven’s name has Faye been telling you?’

‘She told me that you wouldn’t believe her when she broke it off with Yousaf because he’d attempted to take Natty away.’

‘You mean that visit to Oman so his family could meet his daughter?’

‘Yes,’ said Jake, seething.

‘He’d have brought her back.’

‘On a one-way ticket?’

Patrick sighed heavily. ‘Look, Yousaf wouldn’t do that. She was mistaken.’

‘Then why is she convinced those plane tickets she saw were one-way? Why can’t you believe her that she wasn’t mistaken?’

Patrick frowned. ‘But he’s such a nice guy.’

‘Didn’t you consider for a moment that your friendship with him clouded your judgement? Maybe he is, as you said, a nice guy, but it sounds as though he was pressured by his family to—’

‘Oh, god!’ Patrick interrupted Jake. ‘Are you saying he’s back? That he took Natty?’

Jake stared at him. ‘You really have no idea who took Natty, where she is – do you?’

‘Of course I don’t! I wouldn’t consider for one second helping Yousaf take Natty away from us. I haven’t seen or heard from the man in years. All I have left is my daughter and granddaughter, and now I don’t even have them because Faye won’t forgive me. Why did I put my friendship with Yousaf before my own daughter? I’m an idiot. Now I’m just a sad old man with this lot for company.’

There were murmurs of agreement from the floor.

‘Know this,’ said Patrick. ‘I had nothing to do with Natty’s disappearance. Nothing.’ He looked Jake in the eye. ‘I miss them like a man dying of thirst misses water, with all my heart and soul, and I don’t care what you believe. My granddaughter is at this very moment out there somewhere, quite possibly with her father, a man she doesn’t know. You’d better shoot me now and be done with it, so at least you can stop wasting time and get out of my apartment and find her.’ He pointed at the door.

Virgil commented, ‘I’m sure it’s a fake gun, Patrick.’

Jake dropped his arm to his side and stepped back. His thoughts were not on the man in front of him, but somewhere else – a place that terrified him. He’d been so convinced that he’d find Natty there with her grandfather, not helping Yousaf take her away, but simply facilitating a reunion that he knew Faye would not want. What he’d never considered was the possibility that Natty was gone – and would never be found.

Chapter 20

Jake loosened his grip on the gun.

‘NO!’ somebody shouted. ‘Don’t drop it!’

Jake wasn’t listening. Then just as he dropped it, someone crashed into him, knocking him sideways. The gun went off. Jake felt a sting to his temple, like a paper cut. He was lying flat on his stomach, and somebody was holding his hands in a vice-like grip behind his back, pinning him to the floor.

A voice, muffled, was asking, ‘Is everyone alright?’

Jake recognised Patrick’s voice, and he could see, with his head turned sideways, the other men struggling to get up.

‘We’re OK,’ said Virgil, ‘but he isn’t. Look – he’s bleeding.’

Patrick loosened his grip. ‘Are you alright, Jake?’

Jake could feel a trickle of blood from his temple.

‘Areyoualright?’ Virgil asked Patrick. ‘That was quite a move at your age.’

‘I’m fine. I had a soft landing.’

‘Get off me,’ Jake struggled, but Patrick had him in a police lock; the more he struggled, the more it felt like his arms were being pulled out of his sockets.

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