On The Brink by Kerry J Donovan

Author:Kerry J Donovan [Donovan, Kerry J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-04-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Present Time

Sunday 28th May – Lara Orchard

Cadwallader Farm, Powys, South Wales

Lara woke to the sun shining through the thin curtains covering her bedroom window. She pushed her arms out of the bedclothes, stretched them towards the ceiling, and arched her back.

After a night’s sleep broken by dreams of better times and rejected love, she felt better than she had any right to feel. Sleep had given her brain time to work through her emotions. Time to think. Time to plan. She’d made her decision.

A month.

She’d spend a month on the farm. See the Cadwalladers through the first few weeks of the trekking season. After that, she’d return to Ryan—assuming he’d have her—and they’d see the rest through to the end. Things had gone far enough. He’d suffered enough. They’d get back together and fight the world.

Somehow, she would convince Ryan to release the video to the media. It would be the scoop of the year. The scoop of the decade! It would eclipse any mindless celebrity tittle-tattle doing the rounds. Ryan would clear his name and throw the blame for the eighty-three deaths on the real criminal—Malcolm Sampson.

Heck.

If Ryan dug in his heels and refused her permission to release the video, she’d darn well release it off her own bat and hang the consequences. He deserved better than to remain a fugitive for the rest of his life. Much better. After all he’d done. After all he’d suffered for his country and for The 83, he deserved the restoration of his honour, the restoration of his good name.

Come to think of it, why shouldn’t she release the video evidence anyway?

Lara’s heart juddered.

Why not?

Why couldn’t she do it?

Why shouldn’t she do it?

No, no. Think it through, girl.

She needed to consider the consequences. People’s lives were at stake, not just Ryan’s. The 83. How would they fare as a result? They’d know the truth, certainly, but would Ryan still be able to help them? If not, why not? He’d probably have to return what was left of the millions he’d taken from SAMS to help the families, but would that matter? Would it really? The money they’d “liberated” from the evil men—men such as Teddy Tedesco—would be more than enough to let them continue their good work. Wouldn’t it?

And there was the press. Would the government prevent them from publishing? In these days of instant media, did she actually need the mainstream media anyway?

What about the police? If she distributed the video and the supporting evidence, would the police dare to arrest him? Would they dare hold him on remand? Surely not.

A sharp double-rap on her bedroom door snapped her out of her circular thoughts and brought her back from the brink of doing something rash, something out of character.

“Annie!” Rhod called. “Are you ever getting up?” His voice crackled with excitement.

“Yes, Rhod. Be with you in a minute.”

Lara threw a glance at the clock on her bedside table. Seven fifteen. She’d forgotten to set the alarm.

“You missed breakfast. Can I come in?”

Lara took a moment to check her pyjama top for gaps before sitting up in bed.

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