Page 89 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
‘What’s happening in there?’ the jogger called out again. ‘I hear screams.’
The man had a wild glare in his eyes. Seeing the canister in the jogger’s hand, he took one last look over his shoulder at the room behind him before thrusting forward and running down the steps. Pushing the jogger aside, he was unable to stop the alarm spray, which had already been activated. A spray of red paint, as though ejected from a gun, showered his face and clothing as he scrambled onto the beach and began running away.
Momentarily stunned, the jogger dropped the ringing alarm. Reaching to pick it up and holding it before him, he slowly ventured into the cottage.
Atticus was no further than five hundred yards from Casita del Mar when he heard a loud ringing noise. Instinctively, he knew something was wrong. His pace shifted into a run, with Ness bounding beside him. As the cottage came into sight, he saw a man stumbling down the steps, covered in a red substance, before running in the opposite direction.
‘Oh, no!’ Atticus wailed. ‘Please, God, NO!’
Terror gripped his heart like icy fingers, and fear pulsed through his veins, fuelling his every stride as he raced toward the unknown.Had an assailant harmed his precious Britta?Sweat beaded on his forehead, and hismuscles screamed with exertion, but overwhelmed by the need to protect her, he was unaware of any pain.
He reached the cottage, panic clawing at his throat. Taking the steps two at a time, Atticus flung himself into the room, where a man in jogging clothes crouched beside Britta, a phone held to his ear.
‘Britta!’ Atticus cried out.
The man held up his hand, and Atticus recognised him as the jogger who’d passed him on the beach.
‘La mujer ha sido atacada, necesitamos una ambulancia y la policía.’ The jogger spoke rapidly into the phone, then turned to Atticus who crouched beside Britta. ‘She okay,’ he said. ‘I find her. I call ambulance and la policía.’
The jogger’s English was broken, but Atticus instantly understood. He touched the man’s shoulder and nodded his thanks. ‘She’s my girl,’ Atticus said.
‘It’s okay, help come.’
Atticus took Britta’s hand and gently stroked her face as she struggled to sit up. Her fingers shook uncontrollably, and her skin was unnaturally pale. ‘It’s alright, my darling,’ Atticus whispered. ‘I’m here. You’re safe.’
The jogger moved away as Atticus gently lifted Britta into his arms and held her trembling body with great tenderness as Ness whimpered and lay down beside them. A dark stain marked Britta’s sarong, and Atticus felt a wave of relief when he realised the stain was paint, not blood. But tears blurred his vision as he cradled her, his whole world narrowing to the fragile figure in his embrace. ‘Who did this to you?’ he asked.
Britta’s body shuddered, andher fingers gripped Atticus’s hand tighter. ‘Daan,’ she whispered. ‘It was Daan… he… wants to… k-kill me…’
As Atticus waited for help, he whispered apologies and stroked her hair, urging her to feel his love and strength.
A siren wailed in the distance, growing louder, and moments later, paramedics hurried into the cottage. Britta was able to talk to the medical team, who told Atticus to move away while they examined her.
Atticus asked the jogger his name and learnt that the man was named Luis and lived in La Marina. He was returning from his morning jog when he heard a cry and saw a man running from the cottage.
‘You’ve saved her life,’ Atticus said as they stood on the terrace, and he took Luis’s hand. ‘I don’t know how to thank you.’
‘It’s okay, she safe. Intruder is red now, la policía find him.’ Luis grinned and showed Atticus his alarm.
Atticus was surprised as he took the small canister and studied it. Not only did the alarm give off an ear-splitting sound when activated, but it also released a burst of red paint that adhered to skin and clothing, marking the assailant and remaining impossible to remove for several days.
‘Yes, I hope the police can find him,’ Atticus said, thanking Luis again.
Atticus sat down. His heart was hammering, and he realised that he’d begun to feel shaky. It must be the shock, he thought. Ness was by his feet, and as she placed her head on his knee, he stroked her silky ears.
‘I get water,’ Luis said and disappeared into the kitchen.
Atticus reached for his phone and dialled Cheryl’s number.
‘Hello, cowboy,’ Cheryl said brightly. ‘Are you and Britta joining us for breakfast?’
Atticus explained what had happened and asked Cheryl if she would mind taking care of Ness for a while, as he would be going to the hospital with Britta.
Cheryl assessed the situation immediately, and with a reassuring voice, calmly told him that she and Ruby were on their way.
The police arrived just as Luis handed Atticus a glass of water, and suddenly, the situation was under control.
As Britta was lifted into the ambulance, Atticus climbed in beside her.
