No Going Back

41

‘What the hell are you doing hiding out here in the dark?’

‘I think that should be obvious. Considering you were supposed to have gone back to Florida, who else was going to get Samuel when he turned up?’

‘Jesus Christ,’ I said. ‘How long have you been here?’

‘Couple of hours,’ he said. He was over the initial shock of my appearance now, his voice a little steadier.

‘I was that close to killing you.’ I held my index finger and thumb close to his nose: you’d have been hard put to push a piece of paper between them.

‘Good job you recognised me, then.’

‘Wasn’t it just?’

Scott was wearing a grey hooded top and faded jeans. The hood was pulled over his head and it was a damn good job he’d looked up at me when he had because I’d been a hair’s breadth from pulling the trigger.

‘Where are the other two, your buddies?’

‘Back at Indian Wells. They’ll be drunk by now, I guess.’

‘Smells like you’ve had a couple yourself.’

‘Dutch courage,’ he said.

‘And a sure way to get yourself killed, you idiot.’

Scott’s shoulders rose and fell. ‘Those bastard Logans murdered Helena. What did you expect me to do?’

Who was I to preach?

I rested a hand on his shoulder, while I checked back over mine. The Walkers and Challinors were still gathered outside the hotel. They were chatting animatedly. They were exposed. But it looked like I’d misread everything. Standing there in the shadows with Scott, I felt as much of an amateur as he was.

‘Go home, Scott. Have another drink with Robert and Burt. Raise a glass to your wife’s memory for me.’

‘I’m not going.’

‘You are. Leave this to me.’

‘What gives you the sole right? Helena was my wife.’

‘Yeah, and she wouldn’t want you risking your life like this.’

‘I’m not leaving.’

‘Lower your voice at least. I don’t want anyone hearing us.’

‘If Samuel’s around, I think it would be a little too late for that. Don’t you?’

‘I’m not talking about Samuel.’ I indicated the group at the hotel entrance.

Scott followed my gesture, and I saw that his mouth had hollowed again. I knew who’d caught his attention. Nicole was the obvious one. He leaned forward, and even in the darkness I could see tears welling.

‘It isn’t her, Scott,’ I said gently.

He slowly blinked, and was unaware — or careless — of the tears that streamed down his cheeks. ‘Is she one of the girls that the Logans snatched?’

‘Yes. Her name is Nicole.’

‘I remember now. From those photos you showed me. God, I didn’t realise how much she looked like Helena till now.’

I didn’t think that was true, because I’d raised the issue of their similarity with him. But seeing Nicole standing there must have opened the floodgates to memories of his wife. He was looking at Nicole but seeing Helena, and ignoring any of the superficial differences that existed. For a second I expected him to walk out of the trees and rush towards her. To prevent this, I gripped him by the elbow.

‘I don’t want them to know I’m out here,’ I warned.

‘Why not? You’re here to protect them, aren’t you?’

‘It would panic them if they knew. They’ve suffered enough. Let’s just keep an eye on them until they’re safely inside.’

‘Then what? You expect me to go back to my fucking trailer and get drunk with my buddies. No way. I’m staying.’

‘What are you going to do… sit out here in the woods all night?’

‘I might ask you the same thing.’

‘I don’t need to. I’ve got a room.’

Scott stared at me.

‘I’m not leaving,’ he reiterated.

‘Jesus…’

‘We could take turns,’ he offered. ‘You can’t stay awake all night, and neither can I. C’mon, Hunter. Let me help.’

I didn’t know what to say. Scott was a liability. He’d be someone else I’d have to protect, and the odds would rise in Samuel Logan’s favour. But he did have a point. Once the families were back inside, my place would be beside them, not out here. From within I couldn’t keep an eye on all the approaches to the hotel, so maybe an extra pair of eyes would help. If it had been Rink or Harvey Lucas offering assistance, I’d have snapped their hands off, but it was neither. I wasn’t about to change my mind.

‘Go home, Scott.’

The Walkers and Challinors had exhausted whatever conversation had held them outside and were now heading for the entrance to the hotel. Jameson paused to hand notes to the valet. By the look of things Jameson was a more generous tipper than the elderly couple earlier. The valet was positively beaming. They shared a joke, and the others joined in with the laughter. While I was distracted, Scott crouched down once more and held his pistol out before him. ‘You’d best get yourself inside,’ he said.

‘Scott,’ I warned.

‘I’m not leaving.’

I didn’t have time for this.

‘Have it your way.’

Using the butt of my SIG I struck him hard behind his right ear. His eyes rolled up at me, but already they were unfocused, unseeing. I held him and lowered him to the ground silently.

Then I moved forward, heading for the edge of the treeline, homing in on the movement I’d noticed on the opposite side of the parking lot.

From behind a large sign that welcomed guests to the hotel and offered instructions for parking their vehicles, I’d seen a man bob out for a closer look.

He was a middle-aged businessman in a suit, his short white hair combed neatly to one side. But I wasn’t fooled.

It was the monster I’d been waiting for.

Samuel had finally arrived for our showdown.