Page 136 of Ace My Heart

I hoped I wasn’t already too late.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Betrayal

Joel was in serious danger.

And here I was, riding my pushbike through Sydney traffic in the torrential rain. Racing to save the man I loved from being murdered. By my best friend.

Pain sliced my chest thinking about what Brad had done … to Steve … and Grant … and Ben.

And I might be too late to save Joel. I might be too late to tell him that I loved him.

The tyres of my bike splashed along the rain-drenched streets. I ignored red lights, sweeping around corners like a maniac with a death wish. Even then, it had never felt like such a long journey to Joel’s house, but finally it loomed before me. I keyed the code into the gate and watched it slowly slide open. I dropped my bike just inside the gate and hurried towards the house.

The front door was ajar. My stomach sunk as I tiptoed my way towards the house, stopping just outside under the shelter of the porch, to allow myself a breath. Inside it was very dark, which was unusual – Sandra was all about ambient light of an evening.

Wrenching off my rain jacket, helmet and shoes, I slipped inside. My drenched clothes and skin dripping on the floors as I climbed the stairs to check the bedrooms first. All deserted.

I crept down the stairs. The living room was also in darkness. Ipaused to adjust to the gloom; although I could navigate this house with my eyes closed, I didn’t want any nasty surprises sneaking up on me. I’d already had enough nasty surprises for one day.

I scanned the room: empty. I slipped silently through the master bedroom; also empty.

I couldn’t let myself feel relieved. There was still a whole other level to this house.

I turned and tiptoed down, thanking God that this house was so well-built that the stairs didn’t creak. There was no one on the lounge. The TV was off. The room was mostly shadow, the gym end was in utter darkness.

No one was home.

Then I heard a moan from the far end of the room. I raced towards the sound, not caring if I made noise now.

It was Sandra. She was tied to one of the machines. Her mouth was gagged with what looked like a CANTEEN bandana. I gagged; who would use an item from a kids’ cancer charity to gag someone?

Someone who worked in a kids’ cancer ward and probably had things like that just sitting in his car.

“Sandra!” I hissed, crouching down beside her. She looked up at me with fear in her eyes and I tried to swallow mine.

With shaking hands, I fumbled with the knot on the gag and managed to drag it free from her mouth. Sandra took a deep, shuddering breath. I leaned around behind her and tried to untie the rope that was holding her against the machine.

“Joel,” she gasped croakily. My heart stopped beating for a second and I stopped trying to untie the rope. I leaned around until I could see her face.

“Where is he?” I asked frantically. I followed Sandra’s horrified gaze until I was staring at a still form on the floor near the lounge, mostly obscured from view.

I leapt away from Sandra and staggered towards Joel’s lifeless body, breath scissoring in and out of my lungs. My legs gave way and I collapsed to my knees beside him.

He was lying half on his side, facing the back of the lounge. I rested one trembling hand on his shoulder and rolled him over untilhe was on his back. His hair and face were matted with blood, and more oozed sluggishly from a split on his forehead, just on his hairline.

“Joel,” I whispered in agony. I was too late. Tears burned my eyes, but they refused to fall.

Joel’s chest rose and fell once, and I stopped breathing.

He wasn’t dead.

“Joel!” I hissed, shaking his shoulder to try and wake him up. He groaned, opening his eyes a slit.

“Oh Joel!” I cried, not caring whether Brad was still in the house or not anymore.

“Mel?” Joel rasped. His hand went up to his forehead and touched the bloody wound. “Ouch.”

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