A Time of Peace Read online

  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?’

  ‘I was going to as soon as I had a clearer picture, but his crime was very clever and well hidden. It’s taken weeks to unearth the extent of his fraud. He’d set up a series of fictitious building supplies companies and was invoicing us for non-existent goods. The money was paid into a special account only he had access to. We don’t know the full extent of the fraud yet. The accountants are carrying out an investigation. If it turns out to be a substantial amount of money, then we’ll prosecute. I warned him we would.’

  His mother lit the stove to boil a kettle. ‘Just how vindictive is this man?’

  ‘I don’t know for sure, Mum, but we must get Kate away from him as soon as possible.’ He had no intention of telling his parents the full extent of Howard’s brutal nature. One member of his staff had been forthcoming on the subject. He prayed the man had been exaggerating. His mother guarded her emotions but he could see she was blazing mad and worried as hell. This room was usually a happy and relaxed place, but now the atmosphere was tense.

  Pete appeared more angry than frightened. ‘If he’s hurt her, then I’ll kill him!’

  Rose grimaced. ‘That would be my instinct, but once we’ve found him we must leave this to the law.’

  James opened the folder and handed the papers round. ‘This is all the information I’ve been able to glean at short notice. I want every place checked out. Mum and Dad, you go together, and Pete will come with me. On no account take on Howard: we don’t want to do anything to put Kate in more danger.’

  ‘What about getting Reid and Will to help?’ Bill asked.

  James shook his head. ‘I think it’s better if we keep this to ourselves for the time being. No point sending everyone into a panic; that won’t help.’

  There was a knock on the front door and James went to see who it was. ‘Beth!’

  ‘Hi, is Kate ready?’

  ‘You’d better come in.’

  Once in the kitchen, Beth looked at the strained faces. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘Kate’s been kidnapped by an ex-employee of Grant Phillips.’

  Beth’s face drained of all colour and her eyes filled with tears.

  ‘We’ll find her,’ Bill said through stiff lips.

  ‘Where were you going?’ James asked.

  ‘We’ve got tickets to see the Shadows in Hammersmith this evening.’ A tear trickled down Beth’s face. ‘Kate would never have missed that. Is there anything I can do?’

  ‘No, Beth,’ Rose said. ‘You go home and we’ll let you know when we find her. Take young Steve with you tonight. Don’t waste the tickets.’

  Rose stood up after Kate’s friend left. ‘I’ll report her missing to the police, then we’ll start searching.’

  ‘I hope they’re still in London,’ Pete murmured.

  ‘Let’s pray he’ll stay on familiar ground.’ Bill scribbled down the location he and Rose were going to check on.

  James watched in concern as his father stood up and swayed for a moment. Shock was taking hold. ‘Wouldn’t it be better if you stayed here, Dad? Howard might phone in with a ransom demand, or something.’

  Bills mouth tightened into a grim line. ‘If money had been his motive, then we’d have heard from him by now. And you’re not keeping me out of this, James.’

  ‘Let’s get going.’ Rose strode back with her own coat on and Bill’s over her arm.

  They filed out and got into their cars. No one spoke, knowing full well that they were taking on an impossible task. But they had to do something! James roared off towards London, and he knew there was only one thing on everyone’s mind – was Kate still alive?

  12

  The next thing Kate knew was that she was being dragged from the car. It was dark now, her head was pounding, and she felt sick. She took some deep breaths to try to regain her senses.

  ‘Move!’ Derek Howard pushed her forward.

  She stumbled over rough ground, losing her balance. A building site? No, there would have been lighting of some kind. A demolition site!

  She was pulled upright again and made to take a few more steps. Her head was clearing now, and in the gloom she glimpsed a building in front of her. Once he got her there, there would probably be no chance of escape. She stumbled again, and, as she fell, she wrenched herself out of his grip, but he soon had a firm hold on her again. The camera she had in her pocket had her name and address inside the case, so while she was down on the ground she placed it beside a heap of rubble. It was an action born of desperation, because Derek Howard would probably see it when it was light. Her only hope was that someone would find it before he did – and that they were honest and would want to return it.

  There was no more time to do anything. He was pushing her up some wooden stairs. Kate couldn’t see a thing, but he obviously knew every inch of the building. She made it as difficult as possible for him to manhandle her, but he was incredibly strong. He unlocked a door at the top of the stairs and threw her inside.

  ‘I’ll deal with you later.’ He was out of breath as he locked the door and hurried back downstairs.

  The room was in pitch-darkness. Kate wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to stop trembling with a mixture of fear and cold. She listened to the footsteps echoing on the wooden staircase as Derek Howard left the building. She gave a ragged sigh – at least she was safe for the moment, but the wild look she’d seen
in his eyes when they’d been in the car made her very frightened. He was a man under great stress and was not to be trusted; she was in grave danger. She made herself move and groped along the wall until she found a light switch. Nothing happened when she turned it on, and the thought of spending the night in total darkness terrified her. She began to explore the room by touch. There were strips of wallpaper hanging off the walls, and she jumped when a large piece of plaster came crashing down. Dust filled her nose and mouth. She whimpered in fright. More cautious now, she moved forward again. A floorboard creaked loudly, so she eased one foot forward, testing with her toe to see if it was safe. It seemed to be, and she inched her way along until her fingers curled around the icy metal of an iron bedhead. She found the mattress and sat on the edge. It appeared to be very worn, with springs sticking through in places. It was also very cold and damp in the room.

  Easing herself further on to the bed, she huddled against the wall in an effort to keep warm, and away from whatever was scuttling around in the room. She felt so alone, and that was something she was not used to. She sat there trembling, unable to grasp what was happening to her. She felt herself start to crumble inside. She was supposed to be out with Beth tonight to see the Shadows. They’d had a terrible job getting tickets …

  She scrambled off the bed and swore violently. If she allowed herself to fall apart, the chances of her coming out of this would be slim. Once morning came, she could try to find a way out. She bowed her head and prayed for sunrise.

  Her eyes were becoming accustomed to the dark, and a sliver of pale light caught her attention. She edged her way across the room towards it and reached out her hand: she felt what seemed to be rough sacking. When she pulled it aside, she found herself looking out of a small window. It was a clear frosty night, and the sky was filled with stars. Kate was relieved to have something other than darkness to see as she gazed up at the twinkling lights.

  She started to shiver violently. Was he going to leave her here to die of cold and hunger? Her family and Pete must be frantic with worry. How she loved them all. Would she ever see them again?