Page 73 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
As Sam leaned forward to frame his eyes against the glass to look inside, Alistair yanked her back again, his hand still firmly over her mouth. ‘It’s the builder guy I’ve seen hanging around.’ He dragged her further into the family room. ‘I suppose you’ll try to tell me next that he’s a friend of the family?’ He sneered while she desperately tried to nod. Any other conclusion would set him off. ‘Looks like I got here just in time.’
‘Jen!’ Sam called again. ‘You’ve no electricity, and I’ve seen torchlight. Is everything all right?’
She tried to speak under Alistair’s hand, but he squeezed it tighter. Then all thought of speaking took second place to trying to breathe. She panicked and scrabbled at his hand. But he didn’t move. He looked around, and she stumbled as she tried to inhale air through his fingers, which were now wrapped around both her nose and mouth.
He pulled her towards the back door, opened it and hauled her outside into the pouring rain and buffeting wind. Half-walking, half-stumbling, he dragged her across the garden towards the gate in the fence, which led to the neighbour’s driveway.
It was unbolted, and Alistair pushed it open. But he had to struggle with something, and his hand slipped from her mouth. She staggered back into the garden and cried out, which he quickly stifled with a stinging slap across her face.
Suddenly there was an enraged roar and before either of them knew what was happening, Sam had launched himself at Alistair, sending them both flying. Winded, Jen rolled onto her side and watched as Alistair staggered to his feet before Sam punched him, sending him flying again. Alistair lay there, obviously stunned.
After waiting to make sure Alistair didn’t move, Sam was by her side, kneeling over her.
‘Jen, are you hurt?’
In the darkness and rain, they could barely see each other.
She grabbed his hand, and he pulled her to her feet. ‘No, I’m fine.’
Sam looked back to where Alistair had landed. But Alistair had vanished.
Sam swore as the next-door neighbour’s security light flashed on. A car roared into life, and the tyres squealed as Alistair reversed back down the long drive before emerging onto the road. Jen followed Sam as they both raced to the front of the house. They arrived in time to see the taillights of the car brighten as Alistair applied the brakes before turning the corner.
Sam looked at the retreating lights as if he were about to follow them, but Jen sank to her knees on the wet grass, suddenly drained of strength.
‘Jen!’
She was in shock and couldn’t stop shaking. Before she knew it, Sam had picked her up in his arms and carried her around the back of the house. He pushed open the door with his foot, gently placing her on the sofa before covering her with a throw and tightening his embrace. But she still ouldn’t seem to stop the tears.
‘You’re safe now,’ he said. ‘You’re safe now,’ he repeated as her crying intensified.
Eventually, the shock and crying ebbed away. ‘Sam, thank God you were here. Otherwise…’ She gulped as fresh tears threatened at the thought of what might have happened.
‘I was in my car outside in the street. I couldn’t leave you unprotected. I didn’t imagine he’d be hiding next door.’ He shook his head and pulled his phone out of his pocket. ‘I’ll call the police. Alistair won’t be able to leave MacLeod’s Cove because the road’s closed with the flooding and there’s a slip on Hill Road.’
‘Liam! He must have heard something. He’ll be upset.’ She jumped to her feet and raced up the stairs with Sam right behind her. As if in slow motion, she thrust open the door to his attic room — the door which should have been open, but which was partially closed. The door she’d turned away from when she’d heard a sound downstairs.
Now, that same door swung open with a violence that matched her thoughts, striking the wall with a loud bang.
‘No!’ she cried out as she looked at the empty bed, its covers thrown aside and tossed, discarded, to the floor, as if its owner would never need them again. ‘He’s gone!’
Chapter Twenty-One
Sam took the stairs two at a time, flying down them with Jen hard on his heels, her wails primitive and heartrending.
Unlocking the front door, he burst out onto the footpath and only then turned to her, as his brain caught up with his impulses. But she fell to her knees, still disoriented from the blow Alistair had given her.
‘Go!’ she said in a sob. ‘Please find Liam!’
He was torn. The biggest part of him wanted to return to Jen and carry her back inside the house, out of the wild weather and even wilder events, and make sure she was all right.
‘Go!’ she repeated, the hoarseness in her voice straining to make itself heard.
He didn’t need telling a third time. Jen would survive, but God knows it was Liam who needed him now.
He jumped into his car and roared off in the direction Alistair had taken.
Jen quickly rang her mother, who said she’d been delayed by the bad weather but was nearing home. It was all she needed to know, and she finished the call without further explanation. At least Alistair hadn’t got to her.
