Page 64 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
There’s a frantic pulling-and-pushing, during which sheseems to be getting the upper hand, as I delve into my pocket and yell atHudson to come quickly. My hand closes over the key, which I pulled out of thelock before I came out of the bathroom, and with a final effort of will andstrength, I finally manage to insert the key and lock the door with Joannainside.
And then Hudson comes running along the hallway. ‘What thehell’s going on? I got your message but I couldn’t make out what you weresaying.’
‘Oh, Hudson.’ Weak with relief, I fall into his arms. ‘ThankGod you’re here. It’s Joanna... she’s got a knife and I’velocked her in the bathroom.’
‘What?’ He holds me away from him. ‘A knife? What are youtalking about?’
‘It’s her. She’s the one who’s been threatening Bee. Sheabducted Jodie and goodness knows what would have happened if Mitch hadn’tarrived.’
Behind the door, Joanna laughs. ‘For God’s sake, Ruby. Haveyou gone quite mad? Don’t listen to her, Hudson. I knew she didn’t like me butnow she’s accusing me ofabduction? Just let me out of here, will you?’
‘Hudson, don’t,’ I beg. ‘You have to believe what I’mtelling you because it’s all true. And we have to call the police. Now!’
He shakes his head. ‘But I can’t actually believe that she’d–’
‘Neither could I!’ I burst in, sounding a bit hysterical inmy desperation to make him understand. ‘But she’s clever. She was doing all ofthis... horrible stuff... while pretendingto be really sweet and a lovely person. I’m not surprised you were taken in byit. She’s a very good actor. But she’s not what she seems to be. I’m callingthe police.’
‘Don’t listen to her, Hudson,’ calls Joanna in a perfectlycalm voice. ‘Just let me out of here and we can talk about it.’
My hands are trembling but I manage to punch in the numberand ask for the police.
A noise from the bathroom alerts us as I start explainingwhat’s happened.
‘She’s escaping through the window.’ Fumbling with the key,I unlock the door. And sure enough, Joanna has gone.
I rush outside with Hudson thundering after me, and we runround to the parking spaces – just in time to see Joanna’s car speeding offinto the distance...
CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO
Having reported what I know about Joanna to the police– including her number plate so that they can track her down quickly – Hudsonand I are sitting in living room of Moonstone Cottage, trying to make sense ofeverything.
My head is all over the place.
The encounter with Joanna and her knife outside the bathroomhas left me feeling deeply anxious and very vulnerable. ‘The thing I reallydon’t understand iswhy.’
Hudson, who’s still trying to come to terms with Joannabeing a villain, nods in agreement. ‘Why would she do all those things? To Beeand Jodie?’
I lean forward, burying my burning face in my hands. ‘Joannadoesn’t evenknowthem. At least, I don’t think she does. She certainlynever mentioned that she’d met them before.’
Hudson rubs my back. ‘But then again, it seems as if JoannaVickers has been telling us lies all along. I wouldn’t care but she was such anamazing employee, always eager to help out and fantastic at taking theinitiative.’
‘And a secret psycho in her spare time,’ I snap, not reallywanting to hear about how super Joanna was at her job.
I could have ended up skewered on the end of her knife,like a bloody kebab!
I round on Hudson. ‘Itoldyou there was somethingnot quite right about her. I kept telling you. But I think you thought I wasjust jealous of her or something.’ I frown at him. ‘Maybe next time you’lllisten to me!’
‘Okay, okay.’ He holds up his hands. ‘There’s no need tohave a go at me. I know you’re upset but I’m on your side, remember?’
‘Upset?Upset?I could havedied. I don’tthink you quite realise what a monster your precious Joanna actually is!’ And Iget up and storm out of the room.
*****
Later, I come back down and tell Hudson rather coldly thatI’m going over the road to see Bee and Jodie.
He offers to come with me.
‘Fine.’ I’m still cross with him for his reaction to whathappened. I know I’m probably being stupidly illogical, but actuallycomplimentingJoanna’s business skills after everything she did – including nearly running methrough with a knife – has really annoyed me. It doesn’t help that I’m stillfeeling really shaky.
