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Back The Cottage Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. ONE
  4. TWO
  5. THREE
  6. FOUR
  7. FIVE
  8. SIX
  9. SEVEN
  10. EIGHT
  11. NINE
  12. TEN
  13. ELEVEN
  14. TWELVE
  15. THIRTEEN
  16. FOURTEEN
  17. FIFTEEN
  18. SIXTEEN
  19. SEVENTEEN
  20. EIGHTEEN
  21. NINETEEN
  22. TWENTY
  23. TWENTY-ONE
  24. TWENTY-TWO
  25. TWENTY-THREE
  26. TWENTY-FOUR
  27. TWENTY-FIVE
  28. TWENTY-SIX
  29. TWENTY-SEVEN
  30. TWENTY-EIGHT
  31. TWENTY-NINE
  32. THIRTY
  33. THIRTY-ONE
  34. THIRTY-TWO
  35. THIRTY-THREE
  36. THIRTY-FOUR
  37. THIRTY-FIVE
  38. THIRTY-SIX
  39. THIRTY-SEVEN
  40. THIRTY-EIGHT
  41. THIRTY-NINE
  42. FORTY
  43. FORTY-ONE
  44. FORTY-TWO
  45. FORTY-THREE
  46. FORTY-FOUR
  47. FORTY-FIVE
  48. FORTY-SIX
  49. FORTY-SEVEN
  50. FORTY-EIGHT
  51. FORTY-NINE
  52. FIFTY
  53. FIFTY-ONE
  54. FIFTY-TWO
  55. FIFTY-THREE
  56. FIFTY-FOUR
  57. FIFTY-FIVE
  58. FIFTY-SIX
  59. FIFTY-SEVEN
  60. FIFTY-EIGHT
  61. FIFTY-NINE
  62. SIXTY
  63. SIXTY-ONE
  64. SIXTY-TWO
  65. SIXTY-THREE
  66. SIXTY-FOUR
  67. SIXTY-FIVE
  68. SIXTY-SIX
  69. SIXTY-SEVEN
  70. SIXTY-EIGHT
  71. SIXTY-NINE
  72. SEVENTY
  73. SEVENTY-ONE
  74. SEVENTY-TWO
  75. SEVENTY-THREE
  76. SEVENTY-FOUR
  77. Suggested topics for reading-group discussion
  78. Keep Reading …
  79. Lisa Stone also writes under the name of Cathy Glass.Don’t miss her latest book …
  80. About the Author
  81. Books by Lisa Stone
  82. About the Publisher

Ian pulled over and stopped. The lane ran out shortly so Anne would have to park before long, and he didn’t want to get too close. Slowly opening his car door, he listened. He could hear an engine idling somewhere further up the track, just around the bend. He assumed it was the van. It stopped. From memory he guessed she had parked close to the thickest part of the woods, but it was impossible to see in the dark and mist.

Ian quietly got out of his car and stood very still, listening, senses on high alert. All that could be heard was a light breeze stirring the treetops. He needed to get closer to see what she was doing, but there was no moon to show him the way. Taking out his phone, he pointed it down and switched on the torch. Keeping close to the trees, with the torch beam concentrated on the ground, he gingerly made his way along the edge of the track, until he came to the bend. The outline of her van appeared and he quickly switched off the torch, stepped back, and tucked himself behind the trees. As he watched he saw Anne get out of her van and go to the rear doors. She was wearing a quilted jacket, Wellington boots and jeans, so looked dressed for walking dogs, although he couldn’t see any leads. Ian stayed perfectly still and watched as she glanced around and then opened the rear doors.

He stared in horror and amazement, unable to believe what he was seeing, as two little figures jumped out and disappeared into the woods. Not dogs. Definitely not. They looked like children. Jesus! What the hell was Anne doing? It was worse than he could have imagined. Leaving the rear doors open, she went after them, disappearing into the dense woods.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Ian followed, moving slowly and stealthily through the trees. He couldn’t see them, but he could hear them further up. They were in the thickest part of the forest now. They were a lot faster than Anne. He caught glimpses of her jacket through the trees a little way ahead as she struggled to keep up. They appeared to be trying to outrun her. Were they trying to escape? But who were they and why were they here? What in heaven’s name was she doing transporting children in a van after dark?

Then he realized, and his heart missed a beat. She was trafficking children. Selling them for money. That must be it. He couldn’t think of another explanation. Pretending she had dangerous dogs, she was actually making money from the sale of children. He had to act fast to save them.