Chapter Ninety

Barb

He has come back to make trouble. I knew it.

Why now?

Patrick can’t know everything – but he must think he’s got enough muck to throw that some will inevitably stick. Bern’s stupid brother is about to split my world in two. More than that, he’s about to break Nick. Selfish idiot. Doesn’t he realise? I strain against the tape binding my arms. I have to stop him.

My arms tire so quickly. I cry out.

The car door flies open – cold air rushes in, taking what little breath I had away in an instant. I gasp and gulp like a fish out of water.

Rough hands grab me, lift me. I’m dropped again, my bottom falling back into the footwell. Pain shoots through my coccyx. I hear other footsteps.

‘What the fuck?’ Nick shouts. Tears blur my vision; I blink rapidly to clear it.

‘She’s the one who has to tell you,’ Patrick says. ‘Help me get her out, will you?’

After some painful shoving, pulling and dragging, I’m released from my prison. My whole body shakes.

‘Have you got a blanket? She’s freezing. You could’ve killed her.’

A few moments later, I’m enveloped in a blanket and Nick repeatedly asks if I’m okay while rubbing my arms with his hands. Feeling is coming back to them.

‘I need to sit down,’ I say. I look around. We seem to be in the middle of a field. There’s nowhere to sit apart from the muddy ground. I notice the building; the lights from it are flooding the area we’re standing in.

‘We’re behind the Old Church House Inn, Mum,’ Nick says as he catches my confusion. ‘This wanker lured me here. I didn’t think for one moment he’d abducted my mother, though.’

‘Language, Nick,’ I say. Nick shoots me an incredulous look.

‘Sit in the front seat,’ Nick says, gently guiding me back to the car. He leaves the door open, and him and Patrick stand beside it.

‘I’m sorry it came to this,’ Patrick says. His wispy grey hair catches in the breeze.

Nick pitches forward, grabbing Patrick’s arms. ‘I’m arresting you for kidnapping and false imprisonment,’ he says. ‘You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court …’

‘Wait! Stop.’ Patrick twists sharply, shouting in Nick’s face. ‘I think you’re going to want to hear me out before you make any rash decisions.’

‘I think he knows what he’s doing,’ I say. ‘He’s got enough on you to put you away.’ Hopefully, this means Nick will just arrest him and won’t give him chance to spill whatever lies he feels he must share.