TWENTY-FOUR
NOT STALKING. JUST… CHECKING
Oliver
‘I’m getting a sandwich across the road. Do you want anything?’ asked Aaron from the doorway of my office.
I closed my laptop.
‘I’ll come with you.’ I slipped on my jacket and pocketed my phone. ‘Could do with some fresh air.’
I straightened the back of my jacket collar as I crossed the room.
I’d been putting together a security detail we had been asked to provide for a meeting of top international pharmaceutical bosses.
It was going to be one of the last security jobs before we started scaling back to focus on the retreat.
‘How was your weekend?’ asked Aaron as we took the stairs down to the street. I hadn’t seen him that morning. We’d both been in meetings, so it was nice to finally grab five minutes together.
‘It was good.’
‘Good. Is that all you’re going to say?’
‘I don’t know what else you expect me to say.’ I held the door open for him to go through and followed him out.
‘The new lads settled in okay? Alex okay? Still got the hots for her.’
‘Yes. Yes, and mind your own fucking business.’
Aaron let out a laugh. ‘That’s basically three yeses.’ He clapped his hand on my shoulder. ‘You’re through to the next round.’
I stopped walking. ‘Maybe I don’t fancy a sandwich after all.’
‘Oh, don’t be like that. Besides, I’ve got something I wanted to run by you.’
I carried on walking. ‘Work-related?’
‘Yes. I was thinking about seeing if Beth wanted to come up to Risk one weekend.’
‘You don’t need my permission for that,’ I said.
‘Well, I’m kind of testing the waters. If she likes it, she might want to see about working up there.’
I stopped again for the second time. ‘Beth working at Risk. Doing what?’
Aaron shrugged. ‘I don’t know yet. Reception maybe.’
We crossed the road opposite the café. ‘Does she know about this?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Might be a good idea to mention it to her first.’
We went into the café and ordered our lunch and took a seat by the window. I was just about to go back to the Beth conversation when my phone pinged a message alert.
‘It’s Dom,’ I said, looking at the screen.
Aaron looked at his phone. ‘Must be important if he’s only messaging you. Nothing on the group chat.’
I read the message.
Alex and Fletcher are having coffee in Risk. Am watching.
‘What the fuck.’ I read the message again.
‘What’s up?’ asked Aaron.
I debated whether I should pass my unguarded moment off as something else but changed my mind. Despite Aaron being a piss taking fuck at times, he was my brother and, yes, we probably overshared.
I spun my phone around so he could read the message.
‘Fletcher? That’s one of the new lads.’
‘Correct.’
Aaron surveyed me for a moment. ‘And you don’t like him.’
‘Also correct.’
‘And he’s having coffee with Alex off-site.’
‘Yep.’ I sat back in my seat, looking out of the window, aware I was scowling but having no intention of altering my expression.
‘And Dom felt the need to tell you.’
‘Obviously.’ I looked at him. ‘Now you’re up to date.’
‘Question.’ Aaron took a sip of his coffee. ‘Did you ask Dom to stalk her?’
‘It’s not stalking,’ I retorted.
Aaron raised his eyebrows. ‘Let’s call it covert surveillance if it makes you feel better.’
‘It doesn’t actually.’ I let out a frustrated sigh at myself and my overreaction. ‘Just watching out for her.’ I then went on to tell Aaron about the photos, the flowers and the dick move I’d made with Fletcher.’
Aaron let out a low whistle. ‘That’s a lot.’ He took another sip of his coffee, and I waited for him to continue, because I knew he would. ‘Probably just lunch. Work colleagues do that sort of thing. No big deal.’
I looked out of the window, trying to rationalise it.
Aaron was right, of course. It’s just that I couldn’t understand why Alex was having lunch with that prick.
Was she trying to prove a point after the other day?
But what point and to whom? No. It didn’t make sense, and it wasn’t her style.
I looked back at the phone as if I could find the answers there.
Had he asked her for coffee? Was this the first time?
Was that why she was so cross when I overstepped? No. Again, it didn’t make sense.
‘You’re brooding,’ said Aaron.
‘I am not.’
‘Yes, the fuck you are. Call Dom. Or better still, call Alex.’
I picked up the phone and called Dom. ‘What’s happening?’
‘I was in town picking up supplies. Saw Fletch go into a café across the road. Sat down at a table in the window with Alex.’
‘In the window?’
‘Yeah. Not hiding away in the back of the café.’
Aaron leaned over. ‘Can we put this on speaker so I can hear?’
‘No. We can’t. We’re in the middle of a fucking café,’ I snapped.
‘Give me the phone.’ He took the phone from my hand before I could stop him.
‘Dom, please tell Oliver how long they’ve been there.
Whether they are eating or just having a coffee.
Whether they are sitting close to each other or across the table?
Has Alex dressed up? Do they look like they are having fun? Or do they look––’
I snatched the phone back from him. ‘Dom.’
‘Alex had already ordered a coffee. Fletch came after. Bought his own. Alex is not dressed up. They are sitting opposite. Not smiling. Not laughing. In fact, Alex looks pretty pissed off.’
ALEX
Henderson unzipped his jacket. ‘I have to say, this is all very exciting. Hush-hush meetings.’
I met his gaze and was surprised by how little he was affecting me. I had rehearsed this moment, and I felt strong. Stronger than I had been since it all happened.
‘You’ve been in my lodge,’ I said. ‘You changed the radio station.’
He looked back at me with a bewildered expression I knew was entirely false.
‘Been in your lodge––’
‘Don’t.’ I cut him off before he could say anything else. ‘Don’t even try. I know it’s you. I know about the other times. I know you sent the photographs. The flowers. I know you’ve been watching me.’
‘Honestly, Alex.’ He tilted his head as if he felt genuine pity for me. ‘I think your imagination is running away with you. Whatever you’re trying to achieve here isn’t going to happen. I thought that was clear last time. When we were together. Before all that business with the army.’
All that business. The words landed with a punch in my stomach. I felt my confidence falter. How easy it was for him to do that. I forced myself to hold his gaze. I was done running despite everything.
He continued to speak. ‘What happened last time was… unfortunate,’ he said in that voice he used when he was somewhere between patronising and calculating. My skin prickled. ‘I wouldn’t want to hurt you, Alex. You mean too much to me. I think we just need to clear the air. We can start again.’
‘We are not starting anything.’ My stomach turned at his words.
‘I don’t know what you think you’re doing here.
Why you ever thought I would want anything to do with you after what you did?’
I paused, forcing myself to stay composed as I batted away the unbidden images of two years ago. ‘You have no power over me.’
Something shifted in his expression. Not much, but enough that I knew he hadn’t been expecting this.
‘I don’t want you to be frightened of me.’
He went to reach for my hand across the table, but I snatched it away before he could make contact.
‘I’m not frightened of you,’ I said, with a faux laugh.
I let the silence hang between us for a moment.
I leaned in, resting my arms on the table.
‘This whole war crimes threat, and I use the term loosely, won’t work.
You might cause a fuss, but Oliver’s record is exemplary.
Unlike yours.’ Again, I let the words sit for a moment.
‘Who are they going to believe? A decorated major in the Royal Marines who served his country honourably, or a medical officer who was embroiled in a scandal and had to get his father to buy him out of a mess before he was dishonourably discharged?’
Henderson’s left eye twitched. I couldn’t deny the small sliver of satisfaction that gave me.
‘It wasn’t like that, and you know it,’ said Henderson. ‘Alex, please, just think about this rationally. I don’t take any pleasure in what I’m saying. I’m simply looking out for you.’
‘You’re not. You’re looking out for yourself.’ I could hear the wobble in my voice, but I carried on. ‘I know I wasn’t the only one you preyed on. There are others. And it won’t take me long to find them.’
I hadn’t planned that last part. It had just come out in a rush of adrenaline. I hadn’t thought about it for a long time. I had tucked it away, not wanting to be the one to lift the lid because I knew there would undoubtedly be more pain and anguish.
I watched the uncertainty in his eyes. The small shift in his posture. And for the first time in two years, I felt something close to satisfaction. I had been able to do that to him, and the power had moved.
‘Alex.’ His voice was quiet now. Almost gentle. ‘You wouldn’t want to do that to me.’
‘Give me one reason why I wouldn’t. After what you did to me? Why would I protect you?’
‘Alex.’ He said my name again, slowly, as if the repetition was supposed to mean something.
Then he let out a long sigh and sat back.
‘I didn’t really want to have to do this.
I was rather hoping you’d be more cooperative.’
His eyes searched my face. ‘I didn’t think you’d still pretend you don’t have feelings for me.’
‘I don’t,’ I said. Too loud. I glanced around, but no one was looking at us. I kept my voice low. ‘I saved your life because it was my job. That’s all it ever was. Nothing else. I liked you at first but then I didn’t. Not in that way. That’s why I ended things.’
‘That’s a very hurtful thing for you to say, and I’m sorry you’re feeling a bit confused. Up here with Oliver Laker, it’s too much of a distraction.’
I sat back in my seat. ‘You’re not listening to me. What will it take for you to believe what I’m saying? I’m giving you the chance to walk away now and leave me alone. Get some help from your GP. Stop with all this…’ I waved my hand around, ‘this… nonsense.’
He was silent for a moment, then gave a deep sigh. ‘It sounds a lot like a threat. What are you going to do? Report me?’ He almost smiled. ‘Tell Oliver who I really am?’
‘Maybe I will.’
He had the audacity to laugh. ‘I don’t think you are, Alex. Come now. This isn’t getting us anywhere.’ He reached across the table again and caught my hand before I had a chance to move it away. ‘You just need to trust me.’
‘You’re delusional.’ I pushed back my chair. The legs scraped across the tiled floor as I got to my feet. ‘You need to leave Risk.’
I had to grind the words out to stop them exploding in a burst of anger.
‘Honestly, Alex.’ His voice was almost warm. ‘This isn’t some film where you tell me this town isn’t big enough for the both of us. I’m disappointed in you. I truly didn’t want to do this.’
‘Do what?’ I picked up my bag. ‘Actually, don’t bother, I don’t want to hear.’
‘I think you might.’
There was something in his tone that stopped me from storming out. I was aware we were now gathering looks from some of the other customers. I slid back into my seat.
‘Good girl,’ he said.
My skin crawled at his words. I could feel the fight in me leeching quietly away. The emotions from two years ago were rising.
He smiled. ‘Noah, isn’t it?’
My stomach knotted in fear. ‘Leave him out of this.’
‘I heard about the loch incident. Quite the rescue. You’re very good at that, aren’t you, Alex? You know, rescuing people.’ He paused. ‘It’s such a dangerous place for a small child. All sorts of accidents could happen up here.’
My throat tightened to the point where I wasn’t sure I could speak. He was watching me with an expression I recognised. Certainty.
‘You touch a single hair on his head and––’
‘And you’ll do what?’ He shook his head. ‘I’ve been very patient with you, Alex, but even I have my limits.’ He got to his feet. ‘We should have dinner one night. I’ve heard they do a lovely sea bass at the Harbour Bar. Let me know when you’re free.’
OLIVER
‘What the fuck is going on, Dom?’
‘You might want to say that a bit louder,’ said Aaron. ‘I’m not sure table ten over there heard you.’
He took a bite of his sandwich. Mine remained untouched.
‘Dom?’
‘Yeah. Still here. Whatever was said, it’s pissed her off. She’s just got up to leave.’
‘Good.’ I felt a flush of relief.
‘No. Wait. She’s sat back down again.’
‘For fuck’s sake. Why aren’t you in there, listening?’ It was a stupid question which earned me a much-deserved look from Aaron that said Don’t be a fucking idiot. ‘Sorry,’ I said quickly. ‘What’s happening now?’
Aaron shook his head. ‘Someone has it bad.’
‘Dial it back, mate,’ said Dom. ‘Right, they’ve exchanged a few words. Not pleasantries by the look of it. He’s getting up now. Leaving.’
‘What’s Alex doing?’
‘Oliver––’ Aaron put out a hand in a calm-down motion.
‘She’s just sitting there. No, she’s leaving.’
‘Follow her.’
There was a pause. ‘Okay,’ said Dom.
I knew he didn’t approve. I didn’t care.
I listened as Dom gave me a running commentary on Alex leaving the café, walking across the square to the car park, getting into the Land Rover alone, and driving off.
‘Don’t ask me to follow her now. I’m parked by the harbour,’ said Dom. ‘You can track her on the GPS.’
Aaron pushed his phone over to me, and I saw he already had the app open. All our vehicles were tagged, and I could see the blue dot marked Land Rover heading out of Risk and what I hoped towards the estate.
‘What are you doing now?’ I asked Dom.
‘I assume I need to scrub lunch at the pub,’ he said.
I wanted to tell him he didn’t have to change his plans, but I didn’t. ‘I owe you,’ I said.
‘Yep. So, you want me to intervene?’
‘No. Just keep an eye on what’s going on. I’ll speak to Alex when I come up. Thanks, Dom.’
‘No worries.’
I ended the call and blew out a long breath.
Aaron screwed up his napkin and tossed it on his plate. ‘Other than break Fletcher’s neck, what’s the plan?’ He leaned back in his chair, watching me.