The Determined Widow (The Matthew Holland Mystery Series) by Adam Melrose

Author:Adam Melrose [Melrose, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Refract Speech Press
Published: 2021-08-11T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Matt sat for a moment, trying to process what was happening and to come up with the practical, calm solution that would explain what was going on.

‘So you are saying the wind is blowing one way, and the water is moving in the opposite direction?’

Ava gave a solemn nod, ‘Yes.’

In Max’s head alarm bells were beginning to sound very loudly indeed. He had good sea legs and these dinghies were not even rocking, yet deep in the pit of his stomach he began to feel sick. Properly sick. As he tuned into his body he also noticed his heart was racing. He rubbed his hand along the side of the dinghy, it left a sweat mark. He was sweating and he had not even noticed. His anxiety had built very subtly.

Ava spoke again, ‘So from still air and still water, we now have a breeze and a tidal flow. Since when do tunnels contain their own weather systems?’

Joe, Max and Bruno chorused together in the same slightly stilted voices, ‘They don’t.’

Matt was experiencing the same physiological symptoms Max and the rest of the team were. He had to regain his composure, he had to function properly, he had to ensure their client and his team were OK. From his seated angle, Matt was able to subtly clock Bella’s face and posture without making it obvious. For now, she was either doing a tremendous job of pretending to be calm, or she was oblivious to the impending dilemmas Matt felt sure were on their way. Breathe Holland… breathe, slow small breaths in and out; one, two, one, two… good. Matt could feel his body relax a little. He consciously focused his mind; he wanted the next sentence out of his mouth to be authoritative without being alarmist.

‘Everybody, make sure you are well positioned in your spots, and that you can secure yourself from slipping. Have you all done that?’

He could hear the word yes in six different voices. Good.

‘Captains, more speed now please.’

Two voices came back, both with the same word.

‘Affirmative.’

‘Good.’

Matt turned to look at Bella with purpose. Despite the poor light, she clocked him doing this out of the corner of her eye, and turned to face him as best she could. He had decided to tell a small white lie in an attempt to keep things calm.

‘Bella, I don’t want you to be alarmed, the reason I want us to get out of here quickly, is that I think The Portal floor may have collapsed somewhere behind this roof fall. I think that is why the water is now pouring in that direction. These dinghies are only really for light inland water use, and I don’t want to risk us getting pulled against the bricks at any speed; and then having to swim nearly two miles out of here.’ Matt managed a convincing and reassuring smile.

‘Understood, yes I wouldn’t mind giving a two-mile swim a miss today thanks.’

Her answer seemed to contain enough of a relaxed tone, that Matt took it that, for now anyway, Bella was oblivious to their potential danger.

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