Waves of Guilt, page 25
Katy could tell how fond Craig was of Sarah by the way he spoke.
‘I wonder whether she broke the vase as a message,’ Craig said. ‘Well, I hope that was the case, and there wasn’t a struggle.’
‘We’ve got two patrols looking for Joe’s car,’ said Katy. If he’s tried to leave the area, we will pick him up on traffic cameras. I think it’s likely he’s not gone far.’
‘Yes, but he might already have injured her, or killed her!’ shouted Craig. ‘He might be a psychopath!’ He shook his head in despair.
Once again, a message interrupted them on PC Pierce’s radio. ‘Go ahead,’ he said, listening carefully. ‘OK, got it. Yes, I know it. We’ll come down and join you. Thanks!’
Craig and Katy were hanging on the policeman’s words.
‘Joe’s car has been spotted on the seafront at Dumpton Gap. Two of our guys are down there now and awaiting instructions.’
‘Come on,’ said DS Forbes. ‘You come with me, Craig. Don’t forget to lock the door!’
The group was re-energised. After a depressing wait, there was some hope. Craig just hoped they weren’t too late.
Chapter 54
I estimated that I had been in the beach hut for around an hour, although I was far from certain. There was no way I could see my watch. I thought back over the events of the evening and calculated that it must now be well after 10 p.m., possibly as late as eleven. My stomach grumbled with hunger. I’d last eaten ten hours ago. Not that I was hungry, my fear was suppressing any appetite, but I was feeling weak and thirsty. That wasn’t good if I was going to be able to mount any sort of defence. I felt the tweezers in my pocket, closing my hand around them in such a way that I could use their pointed end as a weapon.
I pressed my ear against the door. I wanted to hear police sirens, but I could hear nothing apart from a muffled sound of wind and waves. Deep breathing exercises managed to slow my racing heartbeat a little, and at least it gave me something to concentrate on.
Suddenly, I heard a metallic rattle. Joe had returned, causing my heart to race again and my stomach to lurch. I swallowed down some rising bile, grimacing as I tasted the bitter tang in my throat. I stood, willing myself to be brave. In truth, my legs felt like jelly, and I was afraid of collapsing in a heap. I positioned myself so that I would be behind the door when Joe opened it, but then remembered that the door on the beach hut opened outwards. Could I push past him as he opened the door? My mind was racing with possibilities, but I didn’t fancy my chances of being able to burst past him to freedom. He would easily be able to grab me and push me back into the hut. Somehow I had to engineer an element of surprise and use that to my advantage.
‘I’m back!’ Joe shouted in an almost singsong voice. He sounded different. Had he been drinking? Was that a positive or a negative? Would the alcohol embolden him or make him more vulnerable?
I remained silent as a torch beam swung across the inside of the hut. This was it. I would only get one chance, and even that might not be enough. If this was my moment of reckoning, I was determined not to go down without a fight.
‘Oh, you want to play games, do you?’ He called playfully. ‘Coming ready or not!’
Surely Joe was drunk? I couldn’t imagine another reason for his change in demeanour. I noticed a hand poking out past the edge of the door. With all the force I could muster, I slammed my hand down on his in a karate chop. He dropped the torch, but sensing where I was hiding, he stumbled inside the hut. My attack had partially unbalanced him, and as he straightened himself, I kicked out at his face.
I made contact, but as I was barefooted, my kick had little effect. However, I felt my big toe crack as it struck him. I didn’t have time to worry about my foot, so I gritted my teeth against the pain.
‘Bitch!’ he shouted. ‘Come here!’
I tried to push past him, but he grabbed my injured arm. Pain tore through me, and I screamed out.
In our scuffle, the torch had skidded across the floor of the hut, coming to rest against the sidewall and blocking some of the beam’s strength. Joe produced his knife from his pocket and lunged at me. I tried to deflect the blow, which earned me another cut on my arm. How I wished I’d been able to kick the knife into the sea earlier.
I screamed again, but instead of grasping my latest injury, I jabbed the pointed end of my tweezers at his face. I was aiming for his eye but missed my target. However, I must have made some contact as I heard Joe scream.
This was my chance and my only chance. I ran forwards, bashing my shoulder on the door frame, which made me wobble as I stumbled outside into fresh air and freedom. I was now out on the narrow promenade in front of the beach huts. Which way? I turned right towards the beach access road, which was about twenty yards from me.
I managed around ten steps before being felled as Joe lunged for me from behind. I fell heavily, smashing my forehead on the concrete.
Chapter 55
DS Forbes followed the marked police car down towards the seafront at Dumpton Gap. She had instructed them not to use their siren. Craig strained his eyes, searching for a silver car, or signs of Sarah and Joe.
About fifty yards from the access to the beach, on the opposite side, they could see another marked police car, and in front of it, Joe’s vehicle. A policeman and policewoman were standing on the road, waiting for their other colleagues.
‘Right, any signs of Joe Fisher?’ asked DS Forbes.
‘No, ma’am. The car’s locked and we’ve not seen anyone around, but we’ve not gone down to the beach area.’
‘OK. You two patrol along here. Check the alleyway along there. I’ll go with this team down to the beach. Craig, stay here with these officers.’
‘I want to come with you!’ Craig wasn’t prepared to hang around anxiously, wondering what was happening.
DS Forbes sighed. ‘Keep behind us, but you must follow my instructions. No arguing, OK?’
‘OK,’ Craig replied, and the group of four jogged along to the beach access road. The uniformed officers lit the way with their torches but kept the beams on the ground to avoid alerting anyone to their presence.
‘Look! There’s a light!’ Craig shouted.
One of the uniformed officers shone his torch towards the beach huts, illuminating two people fighting. The duo was too engaged with each other to notice the approach of the police. One was dragging the other towards the edge of the promenade, and the wind blew the sound of screams towards the rescue party.
‘It’s Sarah!’ shouted Craig as he ran as fast as he could down the steep slope. His momentum carried him forward, and he stumbled, falling heavily against some railings. The police followed in pursuit, identifying themselves as they ran.
Craig picked himself up and bolted towards Sarah and Joe. Somehow, Sarah had managed to stand up, but it was a foolish move. Joe lunged at her, slapped her across the face, causing her to topple into the sea. As she fell, she managed to grab at Joe’s arm, and as he too lost his balance augmented in part, by the force with which he’d struck Sarah.
Craig watched in horror. The tide was high, the waves rough. He could only see one person. Who was it?
‘Alert the coastguard!’ shouted Katy. ‘Get a rope and try to release the barrier at the top. We need a car down here to shine some light!’ The uniformed police ran towards the beach access road.
‘Oh, God!’ shouted Craig. ‘I can’t see her!’
Katy shone her torch over the turbulent waves.
‘There’s Joe!’ she shouted. ‘I can’t see Sarah!’
Katy continued to pan across the waves with her torch. ‘She’s there!’ she exclaimed.
Craig could swim but was no fan of water. He wasn’t afraid of it, he just never really enjoyed the sensation. Despite living in the area for twenty years, he’d never actually swum in the sea. As a child on holiday with his parents, he had paddled and splashed in the water, but since then, he had largely avoided swimming. However, it was now a matter of life and death. He threw off his jacket and shoes in readiness to jump in.
‘Don’t!’ shouted Katy. ‘It’s too dangerous!’
‘I’ve got to save Sarah! She’s going to drown!’ shouted Craig. ‘There’s no-one else!’
Katy tried to pull him back from the edge, but he pushed her away. Bending down, he held on to the side of the promenade and jumped into the water.
Although the June days were reasonably warm, summer wasn’t far enough advanced to have warmed the water, and the sudden cold made Craig gasp. He also banged his arm on the concrete side of the promenade wall as he jumped in. He could feel his whole body shaking, both with fear and the chill, but he knew he had to overcome those sensations. He thrashed about treading water and trying to warm himself in the process.
He began to swim towards where he’d last seen Sarah. It was exhausting. The contrast with swimming in a pool was huge. He was putting in an enormous effort but didn’t seem to be making progress. However, the tide was going out and dragging him away from the beach.
Craig took in mouthfuls of water as the waves bombarded him. He spat them out and continued to fight against the power of the water. Even though the seawater was filling his ears, he could hear Sarah’s faint shouts, and that was enough to drive him forward.
Craig saw the unfolding horror about ten yards ahead. There were only seconds left to save Sarah. He could tell she was weakening. Her arms no longer fought back. Craig willed his legs to propel him and work in tandem with his arms. His chest ached with the effort of breathing and battling against the waves which never tired.
Finally, he felt within an arm’s reach of Sarah. Then a sudden wave caught him, pushing him away from her. Craig disappeared under the water, then resurfaced, but Joe was now in front of him trying to grab Sarah. Using every ounce of his remaining energy, Craig managed to clutch at Joe’s shirt collar, causing him to lay back on the water, looking up at the sky. The two men thrashed about. Arms and legs must have seemed indistinguishable by onlookers.
On the shore, activity had increased considerably. Paramedics and more police joined DS Forbes and the original two police teams. Car headlights illuminated the scene, and the atmosphere was frenetic. The emergency services unravelled lines to aid rescuers, and in the distance, Katy could see the approach of the inshore lifeboat.
Craig saw none of this. He was close to collapse. He wanted to call Joe every profane name he could muster, but that would only waste more of his precious energy. He knew that his chances were fading fast. He was battling with every last fragment of strength, gasping for breath, his chest searing with pain. He flailed out with his arms one last time before holding on to what he hoped and prayed was Sarah.
Chapter 56
My ordeal became more horrific every second. Joe had struck me with such force that I must have momentarily blacked out. I remembered falling against the concrete of the promenade, but not how I fell into the sea. The shock of the cold water brought me to my senses, bringing with it the stark fear of drowning. I came to the surface coughing and sputtering, flailing with my arms to try to gain buoyancy. However, one arm felt useless. Joe’s second cut to an already injured arm had rendered it impotent. The saltwater was making it sting like fury. I knew the cut was deep, and I was sure I must be losing a lot of blood. Normally, with four functioning limbs, I was a reasonably strong swimmer. Today was different. Not only that, but the tide was dragging me into deeper water, making it impossible for me to touch the sand beneath.
At least we weren’t alone. I could see a figure by the beach huts and the light of a torch. The figure began to run, and then it tossed something into the water. A lifebelt, but it fell short of me, and however I tried, I couldn’t swim towards it. I was living one of those dreams where just when you reached your target, it was snatched from your fingers, only for you to start the process over again. I was Tantalus, the sea his pool of water, and the lifebelt, his grapes.
I tried to float on my back as I could feel myself beginning to tire. My arms and legs felt heavy, no longer made of flesh, but filled with lead. I breathed as hard as I could, trying to fill my lungs without taking in too much water. A huge wave washed over me, bringing with it a large clump of seaweed. The tendrils wrapped themselves around my face. I tugged at them in horror. The thick rubbery strands were persistent, and I struggled to free them. Everything was against me. If only the tide could change direction and deposit me on the beach, then I would be safe. How cruel of Joe to choose this particular time when the elements would be in his favour.
I could feel myself fading, but I willed myself to stay strong. To my relief, I felt an arm reach for me. It was too dark to identify its owner. I reached out towards the body and grasped the welcoming arms. I was safe. I could relax.
Suddenly, I felt a hand pressing down on my head. I thrashed with my arms and legs. My mouth filled with water, and I swallowed, which triggered violent coughing. I struck out at his hand, but it was more of a tap than a blow, impotent against the water which provided such resistance.
I was being pushed underwater by a malevolent force. Had I been religious, I would have prayed. If only I could hold on to a line or rope, I would have a chance, but my energy levels were fading. I didn’t want to die, but I was being overcome. I had nothing left in reserve. My head went down under the water again. My mouth, eyes, ears and throat filled with water. The sea had claimed me as its victim.
Everything was black. Images of my parents, then David and Craig flashed into my mind. I tried to reach out to each one of them to save me, but they were never within my grasp. I tried to propel myself with my legs, but they felt leaden, uncooperative and feeble. I knew that my time had come. My life was over. I couldn’t fight any longer.
Chapter 57
I was sinking. Though I kicked as hard as I could, I was slowly losing the battle. With my mouth clamped firmly closed, my lungs were running out of oxygen. There was a weight pressing on me and however I thrashed, this way and that, the weight remained. Darkness surrounded me, isolating me, and rendering me powerless. The world was slipping away. My time on earth was reaching its end. ‘David, I loved you more than you ever knew. Perhaps I’ll see you again soon?’ Why did my chest ache so much? Had I been struck or beaten?
‘Craig! Craig! Help me!’
‘Sarah? Sarah? Can you hear me? Can you open your eyes?’
‘Is that you? Craig? You sound different?’
Someone was tapping my hand. I sensed warmth from someone’s body close to me. How could that be? I was in the water. But I sensed light. Suddenly the world seemed brighter. Was it morning? I felt totally confused.
‘Sarah? It’s Caitlin. Can you see me?’
Slowly, I opened my eyes to see a young woman smiling at me. She wore a pale blue tunic over black trousers.
‘Hello,’ I whispered.
‘Sarah, you are in hospital. We are looking after you.’
‘Sea. I remember the sea.’
‘Yes, you had rather a bad time last night, but you are doing well now.’
I felt unable to move in the bed, and as my eyes focused, I could see one of my arms was heavily bandaged. As I moved my head, a lancing pain shot through my skull, causing my face to contort in agony.
‘You’ve got a nasty head wound, a dozen or so stitches in your arm, and a broken toe. We are going to keep you in for a few days.’
I closed my eyes, and I was transported back to my ordeal at Joe’s hands.
‘What happened last night? I mean, what about....,’ my words petered out, and tears filled my eyes.
‘Sarah, shush, it’s OK. You are safe now.’
‘Craig?’
The nurse looked over towards the entrance to the six-bed bay and nodded.
‘Why don’t you ask him yourself,’ she said. ‘I’ll be back in a short while.’
I couldn’t speak. My body gave way to racking sobs as Craig shuffled towards the bed and leant over to hug me. After a while, he pulled away from me and wiped my tears away with the edge of the sheet. My nose was full of mucus and tears, and I tried to wipe it with my useable arm.
‘I’ll get you some tissues,’ said Craig.
He returned with some paper towels, and I tried to blow my nose, but my chest hurt too much. Craig pulled the chair next to the bed closer and held my hand.
‘How are you?’ I whispered.
‘A bit worse for wear, but I’ll be OK. What about you?’
‘My arm and head hurt like hell, and my chest is aching like I’ve been punched with a sledgehammer. Other than that, I’m not sure what the medics say.’
‘I’m sure they are looking after you well. There’s no rush to leave here. They’ll want to keep an eye on you for a few days, I’m sure.’
‘What about you? Will they keep you in?’
‘They think I should be able to go home later today. I’ll have to contact my neighbour to bring in some clothes. I don’t fancy going home like this,’ said Craig, pointing at his hospital gown and bare feet. ‘I’m not sure I’ll be able to drive for a couple of days. My car is still at your house, by the way. Well, I hope it is!’ joked Craig.
‘What exactly happened last night after I phoned you?’
‘Oh, it was so, what’s the word, frenetic?’ Craig closed his eyes as he recalled the events. ‘You were so clever giving me a clue that you were in danger. I’d no idea what was happening, but I knew I had to get to you.’
‘I must have watched too many mystery dramas,’ I said.
‘I phoned the police, and then DS Forbes phoned me. I can’t quite remember the sequence of events, but Cyril was the biggest help.’
‘Cyril?’
‘Yes, your nosey neighbour. At times, it pays to watch what’s going on. He wrote down Joe’s car registration number. That’s how we worked out who had taken you.’
‘Oh, God,’ I groaned.
‘Sarah, what’s the matter? Do you feel faint?’
