Page 57 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘Great.’ He gives a wry nod. ‘That will certainly makemylife a bit easier.’
‘Good. So what shall we do later?’ I smile happily. It’s solovely having Hudson back again. ‘Do you fancy joining all the other pilgrimsat the tower tonight for the summer solstice, to see in the brand-new day? Or...shall we just have a lovely night catching up, just the two of us?’
‘A night in sounds good.’ He stifles a yawn and rubs hishand over his face.
‘Okay. Great. Ellie invited us over to Clifftop Housetonight but I said you’d be back and we wanted to spend some time together, andshe totally understood. Apparently, Jaz and Harry had a big row, although Ithink Jaz phoned him and they’re friends again. But Jaz has Emma with her now,so they’ve all decided just to stay in tonight.’
He nods a little blearily.
‘Hey, maybe you could cook your famous lasagne tonight? Igot all the ingredients in while you were away.’
When he hesitates, I take in the dark shadows under hiseyes. ‘Oh, you’re too tired. Of course you are.I’llmake the lasagne,okay? And you can just relax.’
‘Well, I’m not sure I’ll beableto relax, actually.’
‘What? Why not?’
He sighs, his face telling me it’s not good news but thathe’s really sorry.
‘Work. Of course.’ I can’t help the grumpy tone in my voice.‘No problem. I’ll join the girls tonight, then.’
I’m hoping he’ll say we’ll still have time later, once he’sdone what he has to do.
But instead, he agrees. ‘You should definitely go over toClifftop House. It’ll be more fun than watching me sending emails, losing myrag with workmen and making endless phone calls. And to be honest, I could dowith an early night. I’m totally beat.’
‘Of course. Right, I’ll go and phone Ellie.’
I scrape back my chair and leave the kitchen without anotherword. I hate myself for feeling so petulant, but I was so looking forward tospending the evening together. I’d hoped we might yet be able to salvage alittle of our ‘perfect-get-away-for-two’.
No such luck!
*****
Later, as I’m getting ready to go over to Clifftop Housefor eight o’clock – stopping off at Bee’s on the way – my phone starts ringing.
‘Ruby?’ It’s Bee herself and she sounds out of breath.
‘Hi, there. I’m just on my way over. Tell Jodie to choosewhich book she wants me to –’
‘Ruby, they’ve got her!’ she pants, and I suddenly realiseshe must be running. I can hear her feet pounding the pavement and she’sfinding it hard to get her words out.
‘Got her?’ My heart lurches. ‘Whohas?’
‘She was playing on the grass at the back. I told her tostay where I could see her, out of the kitchen window. I only turned round fora moment and when I looked back...’ She breaks off,struggling to catch her breath. ‘Oh, Ruby, it’s the figure you described...with black robes and a horrible sort of... bird beak mask.It’s got Jodie and I’m terrified I’m going to lose sight of them.’
The plague doctor!
‘Where are you, Bee?’ I demand, putting her on speaker so Ican pull on my trainers.
‘I don’t know exactly. But there’s trees on either side andwe seem to be going uphill. And we’ve just passed a pet cemetery?’
‘Right. I know where that is.’ It sounds like the pathHudson and I took to get to the little deserted cove that time.
‘I’m frightened, Ruby,’ she pants. ‘I keep losing sight ofthem. What if I can’t get to her in time?’
‘Listen, Bee. Stay calm. Everything’s going to be fine. I’mcalling the police and then I’m coming after you, all right? Just keep them inyour sights and I’ll be there in no time.’
My trainers on, I call out to Hudson, but he must be in theshower because there’s no reply. So, knowing I can’t afford to waste a singlesecond, I grab his car keys and race outside, phoning the police and speakingto an emergency services operator on the way. Describing where I think Bee andJodie actually are is near impossible until I remember the pet cemetery, atwhich point she tells me not to tackle the suspected kidnapper myself, and thatthe police will be with me shortly.
