He was no longer sure. The chanting filled his mind, confusing his thoughts.
“A guy,” Isaac squealed. “They have a guy.”
“Shh.” Aaron put a hand over his brother’s mouth for a moment. “We need to go.”
“I want to stay.”
“No. Dad will be back or the baby will wake. And we don’t want Tanis seeing us.”
“They might have fireworks, too, as they have a guy and sparklers.”
“Those are flame torches not sparklers.” Aaron pulled his brother away, tears blinding him. He tried to run, only he tripped, landing heavily. He bashed his head on a rock. It hurt.
Isaac looked at him. “You’re bleeding.”
The chanting filled his head, so he didn’t notice the pain. Mum had been there, he’d heard her, hadn’t he? Surely she’d kissed him goodbye when he went to school this morning.
Leah was a week old, he’d seen her in her crib, cuddled her with Mum at his side…
Or had he? A voice in his head told him that Mum was dead. That she actually died a week ago. She died when the baby was born.
Aaron stood in the farmyard, tears streaming down his face as the memory became clear. His fingers ran over the scar on his forehead, the outward reminder of that night. It wasn’t a guy in the fire, he knew that now. He’d known then, but the chanting had worked on his mind, compounding the effect the terrifying images had on his nine-year-old mind, blocking the memory completely.
Until now.
Tanis had murdered his mother. She and Drake Stormcrow had dragged her from the farmhouse after his father left. They’d tied her to a stake and burnt her like Joan of Arc. And if Tanis had killed Mum, then what about Nancy and his baby? He’d always doubted her suicide, but now a sickening feeling grew that Tanis had murdered his wife as well. What would she do to Meggie? Especially if she was found where she shouldn’t be?
Meggie needed him.
God, help me get to her in time…
****
Meggie crept though the field, not wanting anyone to hear her coming. She had to discover why people were using Aaron’s land without his knowledge. Had to be something illegal. Why else sneak around in the dark dressed in black?
Or was it something else? Abject terror had shone from Aaron’s eyes back there, and he’d been rooted to the spot.
The chanting grew louder. She clicked off the torch, and slid it into her jacket pocket. There was a light ahead. A multicolored flickering light, which seemed to fade in and out of focus. As she drew closer, she could make out black robed figures dancing around the fire.
Meggie pressed into the hedge, hoping to remain hidden. What was she doing? Pastor Jack and Cadfael had both prayed and warned her to be careful. She’d gotten cross with Aaron for being stupid on the roof, and here she was doing something equally as foolish and possibly just as dangerous. A voice inside her told her to run, but something else tugged her closer.
She edged nearer, fascinated by the movement and chanting. Unable to make out any of the words, the sound was nonetheless hypnotizing. Almost in a trance, she drew closer.
Two figures caught her gaze. One, taller than the other, stood with arms raised. Something metallic glimmered in the firelight as the arms plunged downwards. A cry, quickly cut off, resonated above the chanting. There was another scream, what sounded like a shout of “No,” but she wasn’t sure.
Meggie drew closer.
The second figure raised both arms. The light from the fire illuminated the face. Tanis. Her arms plunged downwards, cutting off the scream. Her eyes glinted, the expression on her face pure evil.
Lord, God, please…
Meggie had to go for help. Call the police or someone.
Tanis looked straight ahead, her gaze meeting Meggie’s. Tanis’s arm raised and pointed. Her lips moved, barking orders of some kind.
Meggie tried to move away, but she couldn’t. Every muscle was locked and frozen. Her heart pounded and her stomach churned. Why hadn’t she listened to Aaron and just gone home?
God in Heaven,
Help me…
An arm went around her, holding her fast. A hand clamped over her mouth cutting off her scream. It was too late. She struggled but the figure held her too tightly.
“Don’t move,” the voice hissed in her ear. “Just do exactly what I tell you.”
18
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. Psalm 22:18
Fear paralyzed her for an instant before the adrenaline kicked in. She struggled, biting the hand over her mouth.
“Owww…Meggie,” the familiar voice hissed. “She’s already seen you. Just let me get you out of here in one piece, will you?”
“Aaron?” The pounding in her chest eased a little.
“Yes.” He eased her back against his hard body. “OK. We’re going to take five backwards steps through the gap in the hedge.”
“‘K.” She let him guide her, the screams still ricocheting through her mind.
Once through the hedge, Aaron hurried with her. “Don’t put your torch on. Just trust me to lead you.”
“Where did you come from?”
“I told you, the gap in the hedge. Keep walking. Don’t look back.”
The flames from the fire suddenly leapt high into the sky, illuminating the entire field, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.
“Get down.” Aaron tugged her to the ground, covering her with his body, keeping her flat against the damp earth. “Lord God, protect us,” he whispered.
Something flew overhead, the flapping wings creating a chill breeze that froze Meggie. Powerful terror filled her, penetrating her all the way through. A whoosh came from above as a shadow shot over them. She resisted the overwhelming desire to look up, and instead concentrated on the whispered prayer falling from Aaron’s lips.
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
The shadow passed once more, lower this time, as if searching, before going back into the other field. The light from the fire faded and the darkness returned.
Aaron rolled off her. “We need to move. Now. Before it comes back.”
“No arguments from me.” She took his hand, running with him. Her feet slipped and slid in the mud and over the uneven ground, but he led her unerringly back to the farmhouse.
Their footsteps clattered over the cobbles in the quiet farmyard. He led her to her car. “Go home, Meggie. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Aaron…we need to get the police up here. I saw—”
His fingers covered her lips. “Not now.”
She brushed his hand aside. “Yes, now. Aaron, there was someone in the fire. There was a knife, a scream. They killed someone or something and—”
“Meggie, please. Just go home before something else happens.”
“We should call the police.”
“Trust me, it won’t help. They won’t come and if they do, they won’t believe us.”
Meggie shivered as the darkness grew deeper. Glancing upwards, she saw clouds shaped like a huge hand creep across the sky, reaching for her. One by one the stars were going out. “Aaron…”
“There’s a storm coming, Meggie. Go home, please. You’ll be safe there.”
His lips covered hers, the intensity of the kiss taking her by surprise. When he broke off, he leaned his forehead against hers, holding her gaze.
“Please, Meggie. Go home and pray. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“OK. Come with me, please.”
“I have to stay here. I’ll be all right. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He kissed her cheek. “Go.”
She got into the car and started the engine. She watched Aaron’s reflection get smaller in the mirror, until she lost sight of it as she turned onto the main road. Her headlights lit the way before her, and she flipped the beam on full.
She drove quickly, wanting to get home before the storm hit. Glancing in the mirror, she slammed her foot on the brake hard. The car screeched to a dead stop.
Tanis sat in the back seat, her face illuminated by firelight. “You saw nothing. You left the farmhouse after putting the guy into the barn and got straight into your car, trying to get home before the storm hit. You were never on the field. You saw nothing.”
The face vanished and darkness returned.
Meggie shook her head. Why had she just done an emergency stop? There was nothing in her way. She shivered and started driving again, the first spots of rain hitting the windscreen.
****
The sun was well up the next morning as Aaron sat on the side of the tractor, directing the men repairing the barn roof. He felt worse than useless. He should be up there doing, not down here watching. He shifted his arm in the sling. “Looking good,” he called.
Hal grinned down at him. “Thanks, boss. It should be done by tonight or early tomorrow. In plenty of time for the church to start bringing their gear over for the bonfire.”
“Good.” The sun peeked from behind a cloud, temporarily blinding him. He shoved a hand up to shield his eyes.
Tanis stuck her head out of the office door. “Aaron, phone. It’s some lawyer from Wales judging by his accent. He wouldn’t give me his name. Just said it was urgent.”
“Coming.” He stood and headed across the farmyard to the office, sidestepping a flock of ducks and gaggle of geese, which seemed determined to trip him up.
Tanis glared at him. “I didn’t think you could raise the cash to pay me for the farm, never mind afford to hire some fancy lawyer. Or is someone suing you?”
“You wish.” He smiled, trying not to sound too happy about it. “Yes, I found one. He specializes in family and corporate law. He’s looking into a few things for me.”
“Like what?”
“You know better than that, Tanis. I can’t tell you anything. Besides, it’s none of your business.” He picked up the phone. “Now if you don’t mind, this is
my
office and this is a private conversation with
my
lawyer.”
He failed to suppress the grin as Tanis flounced out of the office, the door slamming shut behind her. “Hello, Aaron Field speaking.”
“Hi, Aaron, it’s Gareth Knight. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. Right, I’ve been on to your father’s solicitor. He has no record of a codicil ever being filed with him. He’s going to check around as its possible your dad used another solicitor for that.”
“I don’t see why. He and Tanis use the same one.”
Rapid typing came from the other end of the line. “Thank you, he didn’t say that.”
“Would it be valid if it hadn’t been kept with a solicitor?”
“Assuming the signature wasn’t a forgery, then yes. But you can contest it.”
“OK. Would that cost more?”
“Only if we lost.” Gareth paused. “I also contacted Tunstell Refineries. According to them, you gave them new bank details a year ago.”
“I didn’t.”
“I also spoke to the bank. According to them, you gave instructions, written and signed, to stop payment on several bills, and to stop the trust funds. That money was diverted to a numbered account in the name of TFS Holdings.”
“That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.” Aaron sighed and sat heavily in the chair. He spun around and faced the window. “I’m guessing I don’t need to tell you who that particular company belongs to.”
There was a deep breath. “That would depend on which of the two public records I look at. According to one set of paperwork, you are a silent partner. The company was redefined about ten months ago, and you are not listed on those papers.”
Anger flashed through Aaron. The familiar curses bubbled up within him and almost spilled from his lips. He caught them in time, praying for forgiveness and the strength to remain calm. “I promise you I have never been part of her company. Too much like making a pact with the devil for my liking. Besides, she wants to build houses on my farm land. Why would I want to help her destroy what my father and his father and his father…?” His voice rose and he got to his feet, pacing the room as he spoke.
“Aaron, yelling at me isn’t going to change anything. I’m merely reporting to you what I have found so far. I’m driving down tonight and need to see you tomorrow. You’ll need to make time if necessary.”
“I can do that.”
“Good. I’ve made an appointment for us to see Gavin Barstow, the CEO of Tunstell Refineries, at ten thirty. And then at twelve-thirty we have a meeting with Brad Dickson, your accountant. I’ll pick you up in the morning.”
Someone tapped on the window, and he turned to see who it was. A large crow sat on the window sill, staring unblinkingly at him. Aaron felt a chill as he closed the blind and moved to the other side of the room. He’d never liked crows, but they seemed to like the farm no matter how many scarecrows he set up. This one, however, was just plain nosy and hung around the house more than most.
He shook his head, pulling his mind back to the phone call. “No.”
“No? Megs said you’d broken your arm so you can’t drive.”
“I’d rather not have you bump into Tanis or her boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Drake Stormcrow. At least I’m assuming boyfriend, although he’s been around for years. They both moved into her room last night. I’ll meet you in the lane at ten.”
“Ten is fine. It should give us plenty of time to drive to the refinery.”
“OK.” Aaron took a deep breath. “Gareth…If, say, something illegal happened on my land, hypothetically speaking, and I knew about it, but didn’t say anything or report it, does that make me complicit or an accessory?”
“In the eyes of the law, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“In order for you to be an accomplice, you’d have to either take part or do something illegal yourself. Just knowing about it and keeping quiet isn’t a crime in and of itself. Why?”
“No reason.”
“Aaron? As your lawyer, I have to advise you to be honest with me. What’s going on?”
“It’s just…” Aaron broke off. “I can’t talk here as the walls have ears and so on.”
“Tomorrow then, in my car.”
The uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach grew heavier. “Sure.”
The door opened and Hal stuck his head around the edge. “Got a minute, boss?”