Page 19 of He Found Me

“He stole from me. As a result- women and children died. I might not be a good man. But there are far worse.”

“Who are you, Leo?”

“You don’t understand.” His tone becomes more aggressive.

“Try me?”

He is still for a few moments, and I think he is about to open up. But no. Standing, he marches to the door.

“Do not ever go down there again. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, boss,” I mutter, pulling the covers over my head as he slams the door behind him. He need not worry. I will not be going down there ever again. Well, they say curiosity killed the cat. That will teach me to be so nosey. It hadn’t taken me long to figure out the last number of the bookcase passcode. 2008. 8 being the missing digit. 2008 was the year Leo and I met. Coincidence? Maybe. The guy Leo had left to watch me was as gullible as he was wide. Van was huge, but when I said I was going to bed, he believed me and went to work on the contents of the kitchen fridge.

The bookcase had led me down stone stairs to a tiled room that smelled of bleach mixed with something putrid. A shutter door filled one side, tools lined up neatly on the other 3 walls, with some set out on a table as if it was a work area—a garage of some sort I had imagined. When the shutter doors started to open, I hid in a cupboard and watched through a crack in the door. Leo looked evil. Devil-like, as his cigar smoke, circled around him. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I couldn’t breathe. I heaved at the sight, needing to escape. I doubt I will ever get the image of a finger hitting the floor, blood spurting in all directions out of my mind.

Having not slept a wink, I put on my sunglasses and throw my beach bag over my shoulder, hoping I can go to the beach. I need to get out of this house and get some fresh air.

“Where do you think you are going?” Leo’s voice booms through the hallway.

“The beach.”

“I do not think so.”

“Are you worried I am going to run off and leave you? I won’t get very far, seeing as you have taken my passport!” I know this because I spent all night tearing up the bedroom, looking for it. It was in the zip pocket of my suitcase, which is now empty.

I continue heading for the front door just as Marco stands and blocks my way.

“Let her go.”

Marco reluctantly moves to the side and opens the door for me.

“Thank you,justMarco, you are such a gentleman.” I give him a wink escaping the madhouse.

The further away from the house I get, the better I feel. I know Leo will have his men watching me, but I just need some air. The sun warming my skin releases the tension in my shoulders. A light breeze fills my lungs with oxygen, and I feel some of my anxiety leave as I breathe out. A stone-cobbled path leads down steps to the seafront. I’m greeted by white sand and blue sea when I reach the bottom. The sea air makes me smile. It’s a quiet beach with a few locals sitting under their own umbrellas. I find a nice spot and set my blanket and towel down. Sitting, people watching and taking in the country's beauty, it is hard to believe the horrendous cruelty I witnessed last night. There’s a lady about my age with her son playing in the sea. They have a dog with them too, who obviously doesn’t like the water, so she just stands there barking at them, running forward and backwards as the waves go in and out. They look English, but I would presume they live here with having a dog. Feeling relaxed, I lie back, enjoying the burn of the sun’s rays on my skin. The music from my earphones, mixed with the lack of sleep, soon has me dozing.

“Aahh.” I sit up in shock. The spray of cold water on my hot skin wakes me instantly from my dreams.

Chapter 10

Katie

“MACY!” The lady I was watching earlier with her son comes running over, grabbing the wet, white fluffy dog at my side.

“I’m so sorry. NO, NO, NO!” Another sprinkle of cold water covers me as Macy, the dog, shakes her fur at the side of me.

“It’s fine, honestly. I needed to cool off.” My skin is looking rather red. I should have put sun cream on before falling asleep; the dog has probably saved me from serious burns.

“You’re English?”

“Born and bred.”

“Me too; my name is Emmaline; this is Alfie.” The lady introduces her blonde-haired, blued boy.

“I’m Katherine, but everyone calls me Katie.” Well, almost everyone.

“Katie, please join us for lunch. It’s only a picnic, but we have plenty to go around.”

“Oh, thank you, but I wouldn’t like to impose; I will just eat when I get back.”

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