Page 158 of An Unholy Affair
He glanced back at Estelle. She’d placed herself between him and the bed, another layer of protection between whoever was out there and Eveline. She turned the screen of her phone to face him. The numbers nine-nine-nine illuminated, just waiting for her to press the call button.
His nervous system whined in his ears as he fought to make sense of the tiniest sounds. His left hand reached for the door handle as his right formed into a fist.
The door began to move, pushed in from the other side.
Jack yanked it open.
There, on the other side, his mouth open in shock, stood Simon.
Jack punched him in the face.
Simon fell down, landing with a crash on the wooden floor, immobile.
Estelle ran forward. ‘Fucking hell!’
Had he killed him? Jack flicked on the light in the hall and crouched. Simon was still breathing, but out cold.
‘Motherfucker,’ Estelle spat. ‘Couldn’t accept that she turned him down.’
‘Turned him down?’
‘His marriage proposal.’
‘Hiswhat?’
‘You said Eveline told you what he did!’
‘His complaints to the Bishop, yes, but not that! When did it happen?’
‘I dunno? Week, ten days ago? What the fuck does it matter? We need to get you out of here. Now.’
‘What? Why?’
‘Because I need to ring the police to get this fucker arrested before the ambulance arrives. It’s going to look a hell of a lot better if they find him here with two women, one of whom is practically unconscious, rather than a fit bloke half his age.’ Estelle dashed back into Eveline’s room, returning with a handful of her scarves. ‘Quick, help me hogtie him.’
Jack turned Simon on his side and helped her knot the scarves around his wrists and ankles, then tied them together behind his back.
‘Now go!’ Estelle cried.
He didn’t want to leave Eveline. ‘But—’
‘Think, Jack. The best thing you can do for Eveline now is to leave. I’ll ring you the moment I can. Okay?’
He nodded, cast a quick glance at the bedroom door, then ran down the stairs.
Standingin the shadows just inside the Manor’s gates, Jack’s heartbeats marked time as he stared at the rectory. His limbs ached as adrenaline continued to fire through his muscles. Should he call Kieran back?No. Despite the most acute stress of his life, Jack didn’t want alcohol. All he needed was to be with Eveline and make sure she was okay. And he didn’t want to drag Kieran into the situation with Simon.
Kieran’s words circled his mind on an endless loop, wearing down deeper and deeper grooves until he had no choice but to acknowledge their truth. Just as he’d buried his father, he also needed to bury the beliefs beaten into him by his dad. By denying himself happiness, he was only perpetuating his father’s abuse from beyond the grave.
Blue lights flashed on the Bath Stone of the cottages leading to the high street just before a squad car screeched to a halt outside the rectory. Two officers exited and dashed to the front door. Estelle opened it for them.
Shortly after their arrival, an ambulance arrived.
Jack crept to the churchyard to get a better view, his heart in his mouth as a stretcher was taken into the house, then wheeled out shortly afterwards with Eveline strapped to it.
What now?He couldn’t follow her. He wasn’t family, so wouldn’t be allowed to see her, or know how she was.
A paramedic’s car arrived.For Simon?Jack rubbed his bruised knuckles. He should be pleased Simon was okay, but a large part of him wanted the man keeping his dad company in hell. A police officer opened the door and ushered the paramedic inside.
