Chapter 33
Georgia
Sitting on the beach with Stephanie at Clampton has got to be the most banal yet calming British-style relaxation, ever.
Someone claimed that random folding chair before we came out here, so we’re sitting side by side on the concrete lip, dressed in shorts, shirt, and jumper.
Rafe and Lazlo decided to give us some space and are further out toward the sea, kicking a ball around.
The wind is bearable. Since it’s not a weekend day, the pier is quiet with only a few people strolling along it. It’s Thursday, I think?
“What day is it?” I ask.
“Thursday? Or Wednesday?”
“It’s not that important is it, after what we went through?”
“No.” There’s a comfortable silence for a long while before she speaks again. “So my brother is coming to pick me up soon. You could meet him? I just can’t say who you are.”
“Best if I don’t?”
“Yeah. Less questions. It’s difficult as it is. You know they’re going to pay me compensation, for the rest of my life, millions to start with, and then more than enough for me to help my mum and dad and brother too.”
She eyes me. “I feel wrong taking it yet also happy to do it. It beats being a victim and trying to bring someone to justice, being hauled through the courts. I’ve seen that and it’s pitiful.”
“I know.” I lean over and squeeze her hand. “I also know we have had justice. Are you coping with the aftermath of that spanner incident?”
“Yes.” She hangs her head then I catch her smiling as she looks up.
“I appreciate you stopping me doing more but…that gave me peace more than anything. I know he is dead, and that I helped send him to Hell, no matter that his body has been spirited away.” She grimaces.
“So worth it. My trauma is not from that.”
“Same. There is a question I have that you might have the answer to?”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you ever send texts from Joseph Somersby’s phone? His brother, Alden, got some.” She’s nodding already. I may have the reason for that eerie message from the grave. “They warned of these killers that were chasing me.”
“That was me. They had it lying on a desk. I barely had time to send it, but I did. It helped you?”
Wow. “Incredibly so. You saved my life twice, girl. Thank you, again.”
She nods and looks pleased, smiles at her feet. “I’m glad. Don’t know why, but that chokes me up.” She blinks and swipes at her eyes.
“I owe you so much. You’re a good person, Steph. Remember that.”
“Okay.” Her smile wavers.
“Hey. Let’s go kick the ball around. Can you kick one?”
“Bang-on, yes. I could’ve been a player. Though you need to be careful with those stitches.”
“They’re pretty much healed.” I stand up then check to be sure no locals are close enough to be shocked. It’s cool enough that showing off my tummy in public might be seen as odd. In Australia, nope, here, unsure.
I sneak the T-shirt and jumper above my midriff to show one of the wounds—the staples came out yesterday. “See.”
“Looks good. You’ll have scars but I’m guessing they don’t care.”
“No.”
This morning they both made me stay in bed while they checked my stomach and kissed it.
It brought me back to when we waited for the plane out of Morocco and they both examined me and swore.
Back then I was hurting and freshly bloodied, with puckered, stapled wounds.
Simply seeing the worry lines on the faces of these two big men was well, perfect, and a balm for my heart.
“And you?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “They were old when you arrived. I guess they aimed to make me last, as they gave me time to heal.” She shakes her head and looks elsewhere, and I just know I’ve reminded her—made her relive those scenes.
“Come on.” I grab her hand and pull her toward the game.
The seagulls are doing their thing, wafting up and down the beach on the breezes, scanning the sand and pebbles for food. And the people for food too. I’ve already seen a kid run away screaming after his sandwich was nicked.
One swoop and a loud skraaak and the bird was gone, tucked the sandwich into its beak until it dropped to the beach further along to toddle about and scoff down the food.
We’ve kicked the ball back and forth for five minutes, when the call Stephanie was expecting comes through. She stops and turns aside to answer it.
“Hi! Patrick! Yes, yes, I’m down on the beach kicking a ball with some people who invited me into their game. I know where that car park is. I’ll be up there in five, okay? I cannot wait to see you!”
She ends the call then looks woeful as she turns back to us. “I have to go. My brother expects me up there and yet I’m not allowed to talk about any of you and how we met.”
I open my arms and we hug while Rafe and Lazlo walk in and stand behind her.
“You just get back to your family. Have a good life, Stephanie. Heal yourself and do something worthwhile. I’m hoping to do the same.”
“Philosophy, hey.” She gives me another hug. “We can both do that, but…” She turns to include all of us. “I want to stay in touch with you. I need this, if it’s okay?”
I exchange nods with my men then they come in for a quick hug and wish her well.
“Absolutely,” Rafe says. “Contact any of us. We can meet up here or in another country if that’s okay.”
“Another country. I guess that’s in my budget now. I’ll do that. Same goes for you.”
“Sure. Take care, Steph.” Lazlo actually ruffles her hair and she grins at him.
“You’re like my brother. Okay.” She heaves in a big breath and eyes the promenade where we sat. “I will go now. Going to be a lot of craziness when I see them all again. Thank you, so much, all of you.”
She backs away and I blow her a kiss and wave as she starts marching up to meet the brother she hasn’t seen for months. Her family thought her dead, and mine thinks the same of me, only difference is I don’t plan on telling mine I’m still walking about on this earth.
Rafe has sneaked up on me and surrounds me with his arms, snugs me back into his big, warm body.
“She’ll be okay.”
“Yeah, I know. I wish I could say the same for all the others but…no, I know, don’t tell me. We survived.” I turn in his arms and snuggle in as Laz joins us.
“Here. Get some of this too.” He scrubs his hands in my hair.
“I would turn and beat you for that, but Rafe is nice and cuddly while you are simply rude.”
I can feel Rafe’s chest jolting as he silently laughs.
He gasps. “Rude? I think she is healed, Rafe. Are we telling her what’s next, yet?”
“Shhh. Secret.”
I look up at Rafe. “Secret? What is this?”
“Nope.” He bends down and kisses me, softly. “You’ll see. A picnic back at the estate, first.”