Page 75 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
‘Liam is in danger, Mum!’ She went back into the hall and pulled on her coat. ‘I have to go. I can’t stand around and wait here.’ As she opened the front door again, a gust of wind drenched her in rain.
‘Jenny,’ said Kate, running up behind her and holding on to her with a firm embrace. ‘Please stay here. There’s nothing you can do. Leave it to Sam. If I know Sam, he’ll do everything he can to get Liam back. He won’t stop until he does. You can trust him. You know you can.’
And there was one thing that the last weeks back in New Zealand had taught her, that was that she most definitely could trust Sam. Even with the most precious person in her life — Liam.
The four-wheel drive’s windscreen wipers slapped aside the deluge from the misty windscreen. The visibility was terrible, but when Sam reached the centre of the village, he saw the red lights of the level crossing flashing. There were no bells ringing as it was night time. But the barrier arms had fallen, preventing the car ahead of him from continuing across the rail tracks and onto the road.
Sam screeched up behind the car, recognising it instantly. It was Alistair. Thank God he’d got lost in the unfamiliar village streets. Before Alistair could react, Sam had leapt out and opened the rear door where Liam was trying groggily to sit up on the seat.
Sam tried to grab Liam as Alistair swung around, his face like thunder. He looked like the very devil in the red level-crossing lights.
‘Stay where you are, Liam!’ thundered Alistair, his whisky-breath filling the car.
Liam whimpered and wriggled away from Sam. He looked half-dazed, and Sam suddenly realised how Alistair had managed to get him away. He’d drugged him.
It was a long goods train, and it thundered across the road in front of them, sending the vibrations coursing through his body. The rain continued to descend in torrents, and Sam had to raise his voice. He knew he only had seconds before the train disappeared and Alistair could drive on and head north — the only route now open. At least that was the opposite direction from the airport.
‘Liam,’ shouted Sam, trying to keep his voice calm when all he wanted to do was to drag the boy away from Alistair. But he couldn’t. To do that, Sam would have to crawl into the car after him, and he’d be a sitting duck for a punch from Alistair.
‘It’s me, Sam,’ he continued. ‘Come with me and I’ll take you home to your mum.’ He reached out and took hold of Liam’s hand. Please God, the drugs had worn off a little, the boy’s counselling had worked, and he’d learned to trust Sam enough to go with him.
Alistair swore at Sam, and Liam flinched and whimpered under the torrent of abuse, which Alistair also aimed at him.
Empty container cars rattled along in front of them, signalling the end of the goods train. Sam had only moments left.
Alistair revved the car.
‘Alistair, the road’s closed into Wellington because of flooding and slips. You’ve got nowhere to go.’
‘Save it for her, mate. You won’t have her for long because the boy is coming with me, and she’ll follow.’ He revved the car again while leaning over to shove Liam back into the corner. He didn’t seem worried about setting off with an open car door.
Time had just run out. Sam knew he had to act.
The last heavy container thundered past in front of them, and just as the flashing red lights stopped Sam made his move. And so did Alistair.
The moment the fire siren sounded, Jen knew she could no longer sit around and wait.
‘OK,’ she said, grabbing her mother’s car keys. ‘I’m going. That’s the fire engine siren. There must have been an accident. And I can’t sit around here and wait to find out what’s happening. Liam might need me.’
‘Don’t go rushing off. I’ll check online. There’s usually something on the community Facebook group if there’s been a call-out.’
Jen opened the front door again, and waves of nausea swept over her as the siren wailed on, filling her head with horrific scenes. She reached behind for her mother, holding on to her as if she were the one sane thing in this nightmarish world.
Kate refreshed the page on her phone. ‘Nothing yet. Wait here,’ said Kate, reaching for her wet weather gear and dragging it on.
‘No way. We’re driving into the village to see what’s happening.’
They ran out to the car as the fire engine swung around the corner and headed off towards the village.
‘Give me the keys,’ said Kate. ‘You’re in no condition to drive.’
Jen didn’t argue and handed the keys to her mother while she took out her phone.
‘I’ll try Sam again,’ she said. But the phone continued to ring until Sam’s recorded voice began. She finished the call. ‘Let’s go.’
The storm was beginning to lessen in intensity as Kate headed into the village. Broken tree branches were scattered across the streets, and a fence had blown down in the gale. It wasn’t until they turned onto Beach Road that they came across people, drawn out to see what was going on as the storm slowly subsided.
Kate pulled the car into the first available parking spot and then helped Jen out. They heard a shout and saw Lucy emerging from her café.
