Find Her by Denzil Sarah A

Author:Denzil, Sarah A. [Denzil, Sarah A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, Mystery, Crime, Suspense
Amazon: B0BBCXW2WG
Goodreads: 62069895
Published: 2022-11-01T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 24

THE BRIDE

CHRISTMAS DAY

The fire roared. On the carpet by the hearth, a rotund golden retriever rolled over and showed his belly. The bride gradually thawed out, sitting deep in the high-backed armchair. She still smelled the snow on her. Part mildew, part ice.

Denise passed her a sandwich and flopped into the second armchair by the fire. She bent down and rubbed the dog’s tummy.

“Thank you,” said the bride, noticing how Denise didn’t seem afraid or tense. “About that phone…”

“Eat up,” Denise said. “You need your strength in bad weather.” She flicked a lock of curly grey hair from her eyes. “The phone won’t do you any good, girly.”

The turkey was good. Moist, with a layer of sweet cranberry sauce on top. She swallowed quickly. “Why’s that?”

“The line’s dead. It’s the storm, you see.”

“Do you have a mobile phone?”

Denise shook her head. “My son bought me one once, but I lost it.”

“And your son, is he coming home soon?” Worry tickled at the pit of her stomach. But she took another bite, needing the extra energy.

“No,” she said. “He doesn’t live here anymore. Now, what we need is a cup of tea to warm our bones. Don’t you think?” She steadied herself with the armchair as she stood.

“No, I… um. I don’t think you understand. I saw a man with a gun outside. We need to contact the police. Can you bring me your phone, please? I can at least try it.” She placed the half-eaten sandwich on the coffee table.

“Oh, don’t be silly,” Denise waved a hand. “You probably saw a poacher or a farmer.”

“No,” she replied. “Trust me. The man I saw was dangerous.”

Denise left the room as she slipped the phone back into the pocket of her trousers. She ate another bite of turkey sandwich and waited for her to return.

“Well, here it is. But it’s dead, like I told you.” Denise held out the cordless landline telephone.

She grabbed it and dialled, but the old woman had told the truth. There was no dial tone at all.

“Shit.” She sighed and handed the phone back. She took the mobile out of her pocket and dialled the emergency services one more time. Still no signal. Then she checked through the messages. Nothing new. It wasn’t hers, and the threats came from an anonymous number. But in that moment, she had a thought, and it expanded, and she started to understand exactly who it was out there in the snow, who he was texting and why.

“Are you all right, dear?” Denise asked.

“I should go.” She stared dubiously out of the window. “Whoever is following me is going to turn up. You could get hurt.” She bent down closer to the fire, rubbing her hands together for warmth. One last attempt to warm her bones before she went back out there. She glanced back at Denise. “Could I borrow something to take with me?”

“What would you like, dear?” she asked.

“A gun. Most farms have one, don’t they?”

“My son had an air rifle,” she said.

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