Page 51 of The Boathouse By the Loch

‘Easy, son,’ said Patrick. ‘Virgil, pick up that gunand pass it to me.’

Jake watched Virgil pick up the gun.

‘Get up slowly and take a seat,’ said Patrick in a slow, deliberate tone. ‘Do you understand?’

Jake nodded. He felt his hands being released and the weight being withdrawn from his back. Jake slowly got up and saw Virgil pass the gun to Patrick. Jake did exactly what the man pointing the gun at him told him to do; he sat in the chair. He looked anxiously from Patrick to the four other men in the room and wondered what they were going to do to him. But Patrick’s friends were more concerned with the overturned table.

He watched them pick up the table and scoop up the chips and cards from the floor. Every now and then, Jake glanced at Patrick. Jake was hoping that Patrick’s attention might wander so that he could bolt for the door. While he waited, he was forced to listen to the old men complaining about stiff joints and bad backs after their spell on the floor.

Jake turned his head, first left, then right, noticing the distinct change in noise level as he did so. He rubbed his right ear and realised he’d lost his hearing on that side. He was silently debating if it was a burst eardrum or whether the gun going off had left him permanently deaf, when Patrick shouted out, ‘What are you doing?’

Jake was just about to explain that he was feeling absurdly emotional over his new-found disability, when he realised Patrick wasn’t looking in his direction.

‘What are you doing?’ snapped Patrick for the second time.

Jake followed his gaze.

One of his friends had picked up the phone on the kitchen counter. ‘I’m dialling the police. He can’t get away with barging in and ruining our game. I can’t even remember my hand.’

Jake felt like launching himself at the man; a young girl was missing and all he could think about was his card game?

‘Put the phone down,’ said Patrick.

‘Say what?’

‘Put it down. I’ll deal with him myself.’

Jake slowly turned his head to look up at Patrick, who was standing there coolly, still pointing the gun in his direction.

‘Go home, all of you.’

‘But …’ they objected, ‘we’re not leaving you alone with this lunatic.’

‘He’s not a lunatic.’

Jake stared at Patrick.

They all shuffled to the door. ‘Do you want us to help you look for your granddaughter?’

Patrick shook his head. The police must be out there right now, looking for her. I’ll let you know if – when – we’ve found her …’ He trailed off.

Jake put his head in his hands.

‘Are you sure you’ll be OK?’ said Virgil.

‘Go.’

Virgil turned to Jake before he headed off. ‘You know, he just saved your life. That gun could have landed on the butt and fired a shot right between your eyes.’

Jake touched his forehead. ‘You thought the gun was fake. So, why did Patrick do that – push me out of the way of the gun?’

Virgil said, ‘Second nature. After all those years on the force, your training just kicks in, and you react accordingly.’

Patrick nodded.

Jake resumed holding his head in his hands, consumed with thoughts of Natty and where she might be. He felt helpless.

The front door clicked shut and the voices grew faint as Patrick’s friends walked down the hall.

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