A Time of Peace (12 page)

Closing the shop door against the icy wind, Kate blew on her fingers. ‘Thank goodness we haven't any more outside assignments until after Christmas. It's freezing out there.'

Pete took the camera from her and ginned. ‘Come to the kitchen and I'll make you a hot drink. What do you want?'

‘Is there any soup in the cupboard?'

‘Tomato?'

‘That'll do lovely.' She sat in front of the single-bar electric fire they had in the back room, slipped her boots off and wiggled her toes at it. ‘All I'm going to do the next few days is lounge by a blazing fire and eat.'

‘Me, too; it's going to be a cold Christmas by the look of it.' Pete poured the steaming soup into two mugs and then produced some crispy rolls.

She took the mug, bit into a roll and groaned with pleasure. ‘What would I do without you?'

‘You'd manage very well on your own, Kate,' he said.

‘I wouldn't.' She clasped her hands around the hot mug, and marvelled at how much he'd changed since they'd opened the shop nearly two months ago. He had grown in stature, confidence and skill, and was taking on more and more of the everyday running of the shop. This left her free to go chasing after pictures they could
sell to newspapers and magazines. She'd been getting some decent commissions. ‘Our business is doing well, and I could never have done it without you. You're the best manager anyone could have.'

He spluttered over a mouthful of soup. ‘Manager?'

‘Yep, I've just promoted you. I think you're ready for more responsibility.'

‘Wow!' He cast her an amused glance. ‘Does this mean a rise in pay?'

‘Of course.' She drained her mug. ‘How much do you want?'

Another two and six a week.' He spoke with a touch of laughter in his voice.

‘It's yours, starting this week. And I think you need a trainee assistant, so we'll advertise after Christmas.'

He was staring at her open-mouthed. ‘Are you serious?'

She held out the mug. ‘Completely. Is there any more soup?'

He filled it with the last of the soup from the saucepan and handed it back to her.

‘Don't look so stunned. You've earned every penny, and the way the business is increasing, you're going to need help.'

‘I can't thank you enough for giving me this chance.'

‘We've got an ideal partnership. You enjoy running the shop, and I love roaming around looking for exciting pictures.'

Pete smirked. ‘I'm a partner now, am I?'

She gave him a teasing smile. ‘Play your cards right and I might make it official one day.'

He began to beg like a dog and they both ended up roaring with laughter. The tinkle of the doorbell stopped
their foolery, and they went into the shop ready to greet another customer.

A stocky, smartly dressed man was standing there, and when he saw Kate he smiled. ‘Miss Freeman?'

‘Yes.' Why had he called her Freeman? She was known as Webster here. She didn't much like the look of him, even though he was totally respectable-looking. Pete could handle him.

‘My name is Derek Howard. I work for your brother. He would like to see you urgently and he's asked me to collect you.'

Kate frowned. Why would James send for her like this? He could have telephoned if he'd wanted her …

‘We're having trouble with the phones at Grant Phillips,' he said, as if reading her mind. ‘Mr Freeman thought it would save time if I came for you.'

‘Did he say what was so urgent?' Kate was worried now; this was not a bit like her brother. Had something dreadful happened, something with her father? She looked into the street and saw one of James's cars sitting outside, the dark blue Wolseley. She knew it well: it was the car in which they'd gone to the New Forest. Perhaps it was something to do with the trouble he'd mentioned, and he didn't want to alert their parents at the moment.

‘Please hurry, Miss Freeman. Your brother is most anxious.'

She hesitated only for a moment, dreadfully worried by this unusual request from her brother. ‘Very well, but I'll take my own car.'

‘There's no need for that,' he insisted. ‘Your brother was adamant that I should drive you, and it's more than
I dare to disobey him. Mine's right outside and I'll bring you back.'

This sounded like her brother; he could be a hard taskmaster if need be. She nodded and turned to Pete. ‘I won't be more than an hour or so.'

‘Okay. Do you want to take your camera with you?'

‘No. I'll just get my coat.' She patted her pocket to make sure her purse was still there with some money in it, and, on impulse, she slipped a small camera into the other pocket before hurrying out to Mr Howard, who was standing by the car.

He opened the rear door and she slipped into the back seat, anxious to find out why her brother had sent for her.

Derek Howard drove as fast as the traffic would allow and never said a word. By the time the building came into sight they were travelling at speed. As they shot past the premises Kate gasped in surprise. ‘You've gone past the building!'

‘Sit back and relax, Miss Freeman, we're going for a little ride. I've fixed the doors and windows so they won't open,' he said smoothly, checking on her in the rear-view mirror.

She reached for the door and was horrified to find all the handles had been removed. Oh, what a damned fool! She should have insisted on using her own car, but the man had been plausible and clever. He'd played on her love for her family. She started to shake in terror as she realized what terrible danger she was in.

For about the first time in her life she didn't stop to think. In blind panic she lunged forward, leaning over
the seat to try to pull his hands from the wheel. She had to stop him any way she could!

He swore. Took one hand off the steering wheel, turned slightly in his seat and aimed a punch at her head. It caught her a stinging blow, and at that moment he lost control of the car and hit the kerb. As Howard fought to gain control and get the car back on the road, Kate was thrown violently sideways, hitting her head on the metal part of the door …

‘Sir.' James's secretary came into his office as he was packing up for the day. ‘There's a young man downstairs, and he insists on seeing you. Says his name is Pete and he works for your sister.'

James stopped what he was doing. ‘What's he doing here? You'd better send him up.'

Pete fell into the room in a state of agitation. ‘Is Kate here?'

‘No.' James frowned. ‘What made you think she would be?'

‘You sent a man for her nearly four hours ago. She said she wouldn't be long, but she hasn't come back!'

‘I didn't send for her. I'd phone if I wanted to speak to her.' James was not unduly alarmed. He knew his sister lost track of time when she was taking photographs. Pete must have been mistaken about someone collecting her from the shop.

‘But the man said all your phones were out of order.' Pete was becoming more distressed with every passing moment.

Now James was worried. He didn't like the sound
of this at all. He made Pete sit down. ‘Tell me what happened.'

Pete babbled out the story, hardly able to keep in the seat. ‘I shouldn't have let her go. I could see she wasn't easy about it, but she was worried about you …' He leapt to his feet, started walking to the door and then back again, gazing at James with frightened eyes. ‘She didn't expect to be long. What's happened to her?' he whispered.

‘Calm down.' James caught hold of his arm to keep him in one place. ‘Tell me what this man looked like.'

Pete described him in detail, and James swore. ‘Derek Howard.'

‘That's his name. Do you know him, sir?'

‘Oh, yes, I know the bastard!' James strode to the door, flung it open and called to his secretary. ‘Get me all the information we have on Derek Howard, and find everyone who worked with him or knows him. I want them in here right now!'

‘Should we call the police?' Pete asked, when James stalked back to his desk.

‘It's too soon. They won't consider her a missing person yet.' He patted the distressed boy's shoulder. ‘Thank you for coming, but you go home now. I'll deal with this.'

‘I can't!' Pete shook his head, eyes wide with worry. ‘Please let me stay, sir. I can't go until I know what's happened to her. I can help. I saw the man and know what he looks like.'

James could see the desperation in Pete's eyes and knew it wouldn't be kind to send him away. ‘I understand.
Give my secretary your home address and she'll let your family know where you are.'

When Pete left the room, James gazed out of the window, not seeing the impressive view of London as dusk descended and the lights began to come on. He bowed his head as worry gnawed away at his insides. ‘Oh, dear God, I'm so sorry, Kate,' he murmured.

‘Sir?'

He lifted his head and turned at the sound of his secretary's voice.

‘Everyone's here.'

‘Send them in.' He sat behind his desk and made Pete take the seat next to him.

Most of the staff filing in to the office had their coats on ready to leave and didn't look too pleased about being delayed.

James didn't waste time. ‘My sister has been abducted by Derek Howard, and I want each of you to tell me what you know about him.'

There were gasps of disbelief, but he evidently hadn't been well liked and they were only too ready to air their opinions. As James listened the fear for his sister grew until he could feel cold sweat running down his back. He was almost eight years older than Kate and he still looked upon her as his little sister, but she was a woman now – and in terrifying trouble. He forced himself to concentrate and to write down all the places Howard was known to frequent.

When they'd all had their say, he thanked them, and as they left his mind was already trying to sort out the fabrication from the truth. Howard obviously had upset a lot of people. He was sure that some of the tales had
been motivated by malice, but, whatever the truth was, the man was clearly dangerous.

Fear swamped James. He shouldn't have sacked him. It would have been wiser to hand him over to the police straight away. But even if he had, Derek Howard would still have been out on bail until the case came to court. That thought didn't make James feel any better.

His secretary closed the door behind them and handed James a file. ‘All Mr Howard's details are in there.' She paused. ‘Have you taken out the dark blue Wolseley and left it somewhere, Mr Freeman?'

He looked up quickly. ‘No. It should be in its parking space.'

‘The doorman has just told me the keys are missing and the car isn't there. Shall I report it to the police as stolen?'

‘Please – '

‘It was a blue car that came for Kate,' Pete said, breaking in.

James swore under his breath again. ‘She would have recognized it and assumed the message was genuine.'

‘Is there anything else I can do?' the secretary asked.

‘No, thanks, you go home now.' He let out a ragged sigh. ‘This is up to us.'

‘I hope you find her, Mr Freeman.'

‘We'll find her,' he ground out through clenched teeth, then stood up. ‘Come on, Pete, we need more help.'

In less than an hour, James screeched to a halt in front of the Roehampton house, jumped out of the car and ran indoors.

‘James, what's the rush?' his mother asked as he burst into the kitchen with Pete right on his heels.

‘Where's Dad?'

‘Right here, son.' Bill was standing in the doorway.

James drew in a deep breath. His father looked calm as usual. His wartime years as a naval captain made him no stranger to danger, but he had a weak heart. James balked at telling him that a man out for revenge had abducted the daughter he loved – and his greatest fear was that she might already be dead.

‘What is it, James?' His father spoke quietly but with firmness.

‘Kate's missing.'

‘For how long?'

‘About six hours, we think. A man by the name of Derek Howard fooled her into going with him.'

‘Howard?' Bill frowned as he sat on the chair James had pulled out for him. ‘I know that name.'

‘He'd only been with us for a year and worked in accounts.' James was alarmed at how white his father was becoming, but he appeared outwardly calm. His mother always claimed that nothing could ruffle his father's placid temperament, but this was going to hit him hard.

‘I remember. So why has he kidnapped Kate?'

‘I sacked him last week.' James hit the table with his fist in frustration and anger with himself. ‘I should have handed him over to the police straight away. I was too damned soft with him and he's getting back at me for chucking him out.'

‘What's he been up to?' Bill beckoned to Pete, who was still lurking in the doorway, and made him sit down. ‘And why didn't you tell me about it?'