The Daily Dormouse. (aka Bike) Part 1849 by Angharad Copyright © 2012 Angharad All Rights Reserved.

I got Sammi to leave the copies of the emails with me I was too shocked and angry to do anything but wish I had Cortez’s neck between my hands because I would strangle him–slowly. When threatened, you can see I go all girly. Calming down I called James who wasn’t available, even his mobile phone was switched off. I tried for half an hour and finally left a message for him on his ansafone. I felt angry and frustrated, wanting to take the fight to him, but couldn’t think how to do so without doing something illegal–however, I was determined this guy would pay for his crimes.

I wandered about the place like a poor imitation of the ancient mariner, wanting something to happen so I could react and yet not wanting anything to happen to those I loved. Finally, I went down and closed the gates and secured them. Now without the code or a bleeper, they could only be opened from the house.

The house had shutters, so they could be used to protect the occupants, the front and back doors were made of wood, lined with steel, reinforced hinges and locks, so no one without high explosive or an oxy-acetylene torch was getting in that way. We had escape routes and fire extinguishers, so should be able to withstand an attack until the police arrived. It was yet to be proven of course, but fort Cameron was resistant to attack except by overwhelming force and should keep a local bandit’s thugs out.

I changed into sweats and went for a work out with the punch bag in the garage. I made every blow feel like I was kicking Cortez or his goons in the face. After an hour, I was exhausted and showered before going to bed early. I think I was probably there before Danny and I zonked into a dreamless sleep I was so tired.

I felt Simon come up to bed but my eyes refused to open and my body wanted rest, so I more or less ignored him. Then at five o’clock I was awake and worrying all over again. I checked my phones and emails–not a word from James–where was he? Typical bloody man–never around when you want them.

I was sitting in my study at six drinking tea when Simon came down. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

I showed him the emails.

“Can’t you show these to the police?”

“If I did they would know I was intercepting his emails, or some of them.”

“Yeah, so?”

“It’s illegal, remember? Besides you can’t use them in court.”

“Can’t you get them to check Marple’s computer?”

“On what grounds, that I’d had a poke about and found something they wouldn’t like? They could accuse me of planting it there.”

“Damn, I hadn’t thought of that.”

“We’re going on security alert from today, the gates stay locked and the children stay in.”

“Julie and Phoebe won’t like that.”

“So, they can move somewhere safer then, we can’t allow dissent because they’ll be waiting for us to show weakness. I don’t want to see this lovely old house burned to rubble and any of us perish in the flames and that seems to be his modus operandi.”

“Why don’t I just ask around and have him taken out–poof–like that?”

“Because it’s illegal.”

“So what?”

“Darling, if the police investigate they’ll possibly link it back to you.”

“This lot couldn’t find sardines in a tin.”

“Some of them are quite bright, never underestimate them.”

“I’m still waiting to see evidence of that.”

“I was dealing with one earlier–DCI Fowles–he’s a bright cookie.”

“Yeah, but one in an entire force...”

“What about Andy Bond?”

“Okay, two then...”

I shook my head. “I can’t seem to find James.”

“Is he lost then?”

“Very funny.”

“Sorry, it was the way you said it. What d’you want him for?”

“For extra muscle and firepower.”

“And you said I was thinking illegally.”

“Yeah, well I’m hoping we can do something between us, and James has lots of skills no one should have.”

“Like?”

“Being able to kill someone with a piece of blotting paper.”

“How the hell d’you do that?”

“You pick up the desk it’s on and bash them over the head with it.”

He laughed loudly, “That is so funny, babes.” He paused then added, “What do you want me to do?”

“If he gets me or any of the children, pay James to execute him–I don’t care how he does it–preferably without getting caught.”

“If he harms you or the children, I think I might enjoy killing him myself, babes.”

“Why? Get James to do it–he’s done it before and you are guaranteed a result. Promise me you’ll ask him.”

“No way! Nothing’s going to happen to you–you know I couldn’t live without you.” I saw a tear run down his face and I stood up and hugged him.

“I’m not planning on leaving you, but sometimes things happen you didn’t foresee...”

“Let me ask James to take him out now.”

“I’d prefer to see him convicted of the deaths of the young woman and her children, and Mrs Howse.”

“Yeah, but he’ll be out in five minutes.”

“Hopefully he won’t and once he’s investigated the police might be able to link him to all sorts of assaults and murders.”

“Justice is never done though, is it? Shites like him get off relatively easy, it’s the poor or the stupid who feel the full force of the law because they can’t fight back.”

“Si, could you check if you bank has any money owed by him and if so call it in.”

“What excuse?”

“What d’you mean?”

“What should we be calling it in?”

“On account of his shortened life expectancy–tell him not to start reading any library books either.”

“You’re really cross with this guy, aren’t you?”

“I’m a trifle miffed, yes. If I was really cross, he’d be dead already.”

“Remind me not to upset you.”

“Don’t upset me.”

“Eh?”

“That was your reminder.”

At nine o’clock the phone rang. I dashed to answer it–it was Neal wanting to speak with Phoebe. I was hoping he’d want her to stay with him, but no such luck he just wanted to talk to her. I invited her to ask to stay with him in the hope that I’d have one less body to worry about but she insisted on staying–‘It’s like, excitin’ innit?’

It was nearly lunch time when James did call–he’d been in France on a job. I asked him to come down for a few days because violence was threatened, he agreed he would the next morning. I suppose it could wait until then.

To keep myself busy, I checked the batteries in my night vision goggles and the image intensifier. I also checked out my compound bow and the number of arrows I had–the bow was fine and I had a couple of dozen arrows–enough for all I was likely to have to do–and these were barbed arrows with pointed ends–they’d need a surgeon or undertaker to remove them. Highly illegal, but so is carrying guns and these are quieter and just as deadly.

It was going to be a long night.