Part 27 (1/2)

*Put her down on the sofa.' She stared down at Cissy's white face, and then, as Joe had done, reached for her wrist. *Where are Paddy and Kate? Didn't you see them?'

More practised than Joe, she found a pulse almost at once. It was faint but steady.

Behind them Greg emerged from the study. Quietly he shut the front door and bolted it. The candles in the living room flickered.

Standing around the sofa Greg, Roger, Susie and Joe stared down at the still figure lying there. Diana sat beside her, cautiously running her hands over her still form, refraining from any comment about the way Joe had manhandled his wife out of the Land Rover. If her neck or back were injured it was too late to say anything now. There were bruises on her face, a cut on her lip a please G.o.d that was where the blood was coming from a livid bruises on Cissy's shoulders and ribs as Diana opened her blouse.

*Joe, I think you should go back and phone for an ambulance now,' Greg said as he watched his mother's hands. *And we need the police. Somebody has beaten Bill Norcross to death.'

The action of Joe's jaw lifted his scalp until his whole face seemed to slip back in surprise, but still he did not take his eyes off his wife. *You reckon they attacked Cissy?' He looked at Greg at last, a deep flush spreading up from his neck across his face.

*No, Dad. We skidded. There was a man a' Susie stopped short.

*A man?' Greg turned to scrutinise her face.

*What man, Susie?' Joe grabbed her and turned her to face him. *You didn't say anything about a man.'

*He ... he appeared in front of us.' Susie started crying again. *Mummy jammed on the brakes and we began to spin round. I banged my head on the window.'

*What did he look like, Susie?' Greg kept his voice gentle.

*He was dressed in a long cloak thing. He had a sword ...'

*A sword!' As Greg and Diana looked at each other Joe's words were an incredulous echo.

*And you saw no sign of Kate or Patrick?' Diana was feeling down each of Cissy's legs. Nothing broken there at least.

*No.' Susie shook her head violently.

*They had a gun,' Greg put in.

*I think I heard a gun going off,' Susie broke free of her father's hands and went to kneel beside her mother. *Just after the crash. There was a big bang.'

Diana closed her eyes briefly. Somehow she managed to keep her hands steady as she took the rug which Greg handed her and pulled it up over Cissy's inert form. Standing up she turned to Joe. *You must go and get help, Joe. We'll look after her as best we can but she needs a doctor. I think she's only bruised, but she might be concussed. She must have an X-ray.'

*But she'll be all right?' Joe looked down at her miserably. He felt lost and abandoned.

*I hope so.' Diana smiled at him; she rested a hand on his arm. *Susie can stay here; I'll take care of them both, Joe, I promise.'

He nodded. For a moment he hesitated self-consciously, wanting to stoop and kiss his wife, then awkwardly he turned away.

Greg hopped after him. In the hallway he spoke in low, urgent tones. *Joe, there's a maniac out there. Be careful for G.o.d's sake. Paddy and Kate set out hours ago to ring from your place. Keep your eyes open for them, and tell the police what's happened.'

Joe nodded curtly. He reached out to open the door. *You take care of them all here.'

*I will, don't worry.' The grimness of Greg's tone was rea.s.suring.

Joe paused on the doorstep. The world was totally silent, wrapped in whirling snow. For a moment he hesitated, unwilling to cross the few yards of white ground to his Land Rover, then shaking his head, he strode forward, hearing Greg bolt the door behind him.

Walking round to the back he reached in over the tail gate for his gun, wedged into clips which had been screwed onto the vehicle's frame. Wrenching it free he pushed back the lid on the box which sat beneath the side seat. His cartridges were there; left after the last shoot. He could lose his licence for carelessness like that, but who was to know. Almost kissing them he stuffed them into the baggy pocket of his jacket and climbed behind the wheel. Laying the gun on the seat next to him he reached for the key which he had left in the ignition, his eyes on the windscreen which was blanked out with snow.

The key clicked uselessly.

He turned it again and again without success. Behind him the door of the house opened again. Greg had obviously been watching from the study window. *What's wrong?' His voice was m.u.f.fled by the snow.'

*Darned battery's flat. Hold on, I'll try the starting handle.' He climbed out, glad that someone else was there. The silence of the woods was becoming oppressive.

The metal was cold through his gloves as he inserted it and swung it round. The engine remained dead. *d.a.m.ned b.l.o.o.d.y thing!' He tried again, feeling the sweat start on his forehead.

Behind him Greg was watching the trees. He could feel his skin p.r.i.c.kling with fear. Someone a or something a was watching them. He was sure of it. *Joe,' he called quietly. *Joe, bring the gun and get in here.'

*I'll just give it one more try.'

*No, Joe. Don't bother. Grab your gun and come in.'

There was something in the urgency of Greg's tone which stopped Joe in his tracks. He straightened. He could feel it too now, a building panic crawling across him. Leaving the handle where it was he reached in and grabbed the shotgun, then turning, he sprinted the few yards back to the farm house. Greg slammed the door behind him and threw the bolts across. Both men stood for a moment in the small hallway and listened. There was no sound from outside. *You reckon he's out there?' Joe whispered.

Greg nodded.

*You've seen him?'

*Kate and I saw him down on the sh.o.r.e.'

*And Norcross is dead?' It seemed only just to have sunk in. *Are you sure?'

*Quite sure.' Greg's tone left no room for doubt. *What the h.e.l.l do we do now, Joe? We have to have help.'

*I could take your car. I reckon that old Volvo would have a good chance of getting up the back lane.'

Greg shook his head. *Our old Volvo is out on the marsh, Joe. Don't ask how it got there, and our Land Rover is smashed up; it hit a tree.'

Joe stared. *You mean there are no cars working? None at all?'

*And no phones.'

The two men stared at one another. *You reckon he did it. He caused Cissy's crash.'

*And Kate's. He tried to kill me on the beach.' Greg paused. *Wait, Joe. I've just remembered. Kate's little car. The Peugeot. It's in the barn. I don't know if it would make it up the lane, but it might be worth a try.'

*Right.' Joe dug down into his pocket and came up with two cartridges. *I'll put a couple of these up the spout, then we'll have a go. Is the barn unlocked?'

Greg shrugged. He rummaged in the drawer of the table. Two small padlock keys on a large ring appeared and he pressed them into Joe's hand. *I'll come with you. Hold on while I get my boots.'

*No.' Joe shook his head. *I reckon I'll be quicker on my own. You look after your dad and the women.'

*I don't know if she left a key in it.'