Dangerous Discovery. Laura Martin

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СКАЧАТЬ a mistake. I was such a fool to believe all the lies. But now at least something good has come out of my stupidity. I know Hunter too well. I don’t want him charging in, causing me more pain, more anguish. Haven’t I suffered enough already?

      ‘Have you got the key?’

      She felt the cold metal against her fingers and nodded dumbly. I must not cry, she repeated silently over and over as she retrieved the key from her pocket. I must not get upset now. It’s not going to get me anywhere, going over and over what may have happened. There’s nothing I can do to bring Connie back.

      Estelle climbed the steps, acutely aware of the fact that Hunter was following her. She turned at the door, raising herself to her full height. ‘I’ll be fine now,’ she informed him steadily, thankful for the dusky night which was closing in with every minute that passed, because he surely wouldn’t be able to see the sheen of wetness that had, despite her determination, formed on her cheeks. ‘Thank you for the lift but you’ve no need to waste your time with me any longer.’

      ‘I’ll wait until you’re safely inside,’ he replied evenly. ‘In this sort of neighbourhood it pays to be careful.’

      ‘And what do you mean by that?’ Estelle flashed irritably. ‘You make it sound as if there are rapists and muggers on every corner!’

      ‘You know very well what I mean,’ Hunter informed her lazily. ‘This end of the village has a reputation. There’s a pub around the corner that attracts the worst kind of drinkers. Don’t tell me you haven’t heard them when it’s throwing-out time and that you’re not the slightest bit nervous as they pass by your door on a Saturday night, because I won’t believe you for a moment.’

      ‘OK, so there are a few rowdies from time to time,’ she conceded snappily. ‘But that doesn’t automatically mean anything. And don’t think I didn’t see the look on your face when you first arrived here,’ she added, angry at his cool arrogance. ‘I know it’s a mess, I know it’s tatty, but I’m the one who lives here day in day out. I think I can judge better than anyone whether it’s safe for me or—’ Her voice came to an abrupt and sudden halt. She had been about to thrust the key angrily into the lock. Now she stared at the chipped front door that was already swinging open, at the splintered frame with its jagged edges and rough, angry scars.

      ‘What is it?’ Hunter’s deep voice was alert as he moved forward out of the semi-darkness.

      Estelle, a small moan of frustration escaping from her lips, stood aside, wrapping her arms around Joseph’s body, watching despairingly as Hunter’s large, capable hands swiftly examined the door and the frame.

      ‘Stay here! I’ll check it out.’

      ‘But...what if—?’

      ‘Be quiet!’ His commanding voice was weirdly reassuring in the gloom. ‘Just stay here and don’t move.’

      She watched, every part of her alert and on edge as Hunter opened the door wide and moved cautiously into her flat. What would she do if there was someone still in there? More to the point, if there were several of them what would Hunter do? However much she despised him, the possibility of some thug violently attacking Hunter filled her with horror.

      After only a few short seconds he reappeared, and even in the failing light she could see that his expression was grim.

      ‘There’s no one here now.’ He flicked on the light switch by the door. ‘But I’m afraid you’re in for a bit of a shock. Come on, look for yourself.’ He took her hand and she knew automatically by the faintly reassuring squeeze and the strength of his grip that she must prepare herself for the worst.

      Estelle stood motionless just inside the door and scanned the one large room that served as her and Joseph’s bedroom and living area with disbelieving and troubled eyes.

      ‘There are some pretty mean, low-down swines around, aren’t there?’

      Estelle swallowed, aware of the hard, disgusted tone of Hunter’s voice as he stood beside her and surveyed the scene. She tried to reply but she couldn’t. Her eyes saw, but her mind didn’t want to register the mess and destruction that was facing her right at this moment.

      ‘Are you feeling OK?’

      She heard Hunter’s deep voice and turned towards him, not aware of what he had said to her, not aware of anything at that moment except the agonising feeling of dreadful despair and desolation, the feeling of utter hopelessness that was so sharp and so strong.

      ‘Hey...’ He paused and gently twisted her towards him. ‘Look, I don’t even know your name. What is it?’

      She felt his hands touch her shoulders, was aware of their strength and steadying firmness. ‘Estelle Rogers.’ It was a whispered reply. Her lips hardly moved. She stared blankly across at a wall where vivid slashes of red paint had been daubed in an incomprehensible mess.

      ‘Look, I’m going to call the police,’ he informed her briskly. ‘You haven’t a phone in here, have you, by any chance? No, I thought not,’ he added when she vaguely shook her head. ‘Now just stay where you are and don’t touch anything.’

      ‘But where are you going? Please, I...I don’t want...’ Estelle blurted unsteadily, her eyes widening with alarm as Hunter moved towards the door.

      ‘Don’t worry,’ he replied swiftly. ‘I won’t be more than a minute or so. I’m going to use the phone in my car.’

      She hardly moved a muscle. Her back ached with carrying Joseph for so long. Her throat ached from trying not to cry, her head was thumping violently with shock or tension or just plain weariness and misery, but she didn’t dare sit down, didn’t even want to so much as look at the scattered belongings and ruined objects that lay all around her.

      ‘How could anyone do this?’ she asked helplessly as Hunter reappeared through the doorway. ‘I’ve got so little, nothing of any real value.’ She shook her head and threw him an agonised look. ‘I...I just don’t understand.’

      That makes two of us,’ he replied grimly. ’God! It really is one hell of a mess, isn’t it?’ His hard jawline tightened as his eyes swept over the scene. ‘’Well, the police will be here shortly. But until then all we can do is sit and wait.’

      The shock was subsiding a little now. Estelle struggled to get her mind functioning again. ‘There’s no need for you to stay with me,’ she murmured quietly. ‘I mean, this has nothing to do with you... God. I’m sure you have more important things to see to...’ Her wide green eyes slid away from his face. Please! she cried silently. Please, please don’t leave me here alone like this! ‘I’ll be all right,’ she added, raising her head again to stare determinedly into his face. ‘I’m perfectly capable of—’

      ‘Stop trying so hard to convince yourself!’ Hunter ordered bluntly. ‘I’m not going anywhere until the police arrive. Now, you look absolutely worn out so let’s get this thing upright.’ He moved over to the far side of the room, to the corner where Joseph’s cot was kept, and picked it up in one swift movement. ‘Then you can at least be relieved of some of your excess weight.’ He moved towards Estelle and cast intrigued eyes over the baby sling. ‘So how do you get this thing off?’

      ‘I’m all right, honestly!’ Estelle tried to twist away from Hunter’s enquiring hands, but he was far too swift for her.

      ‘You’re СКАЧАТЬ