A Time of Peace Read online

  That thought snapped her alert. She began to stamp her feet and pump her arms up and down in an effort to keep warm. She couldn’t do much, but she must get through this night.

  She increased her activity, gritting her teeth in determination.

  It was the worst night of Kate’s life. She’d been grateful she was wearing boots, trousers and a warm coat. The cold had even seemed to penetrate her mind: it would have been so easy to collapse on the bed and sink into oblivion, but she fought the desire with all her might. She’d spent the long hours trying to keep her blood circulating, as she knew that hypothermia was a real danger. She ripped the old piece of sacking from the window and wrapped it around her head to help conserve body heat. The fact that it smelt disgusting didn’t bother her. Her attention was focused on one thing: staying alive.

  As soon as it was light enough to see, she checked the room. It was completely empty except for the old bed pushed up against the wall, and a bucket in the far corner. There was a thick layer of dust everywhere, and old newspapers were strewn across the floor. What was left of the wallpaper was hanging in shreds, like tongues sticking out and mocking her. An inspection of the door showed the frame had been repaired and a stout lock added. It was very secure. She turned round and gazed helplessly at the small room. Derek Howard had chosen well: only a mouse could get in and out of this room.

  She went over to the window. Rubbing the glass to remove enough dirt so she could see through it, she gave a moan of despair: the whole area was uninhabited and appeared to be ready for demolition. She’d been banking on catching someone’s attention, but the place was deserted. She tugged at the window. It had been nailed up and wouldn’t budge.

  She continued to peer through the window, her mind whirling. She had to get out of here! She’d been looking forward to the holiday season with her family. It was always such fun, and she’d promised to go to see the children at Wilkins House. She had presents for all of them, and Eddie was looking forward to her visit …

  The sound of footsteps coming up the stairs made her spin round to face the door, her heart thumping against her ribs as the lock turned with a smooth click.

  Derek Howard stepped into the room, took in her dishevelled appearance, and burst out laughing. ‘I must have a picture of this. The mighty James Freeman will be horrified to see his elegant sister with an old piece of sacking tied round her head.’

  Still chuckling in delight, he produced a camera – not hers, she was relieved to see. Kate guessed he intended to send pictures to her brother. Well, they weren’t going to see her cowed by this brute, even if she was so terrified it was difficult to think straight all the time; it would only add to their worry. She struck an exaggerated pose she’d seen the models use many times.

  ‘Cocky enough to play games, are you?’ he said, after he’d taken several snaps. He was scowling now, angered by her defiance. ‘We’ll see what you’re like after a few more days in here.’

  ‘If you’re going to keep me in this disgusting place, then I’ll need some heating and a visit to the bathroom.’ She wasn’t sure where her bravado had come from, because all she wanted to do was to beg him to release her. She was disgusted with her cowardice!

  Howard tossed a paper bag and a bottle of lemonade on the bed. ‘There’re a couple of sandwiches. That’s all you’re getting.’

  ‘Very generous of you,’ she remarked, as she tried to assess her chances of rushing past him to reach the unlocked door.

  He guessed what she was thinking and gave an evil leer. ‘Come on, then, try it. I guarantee you’ll regret it if you do.’

  Kate was now under no illusions about him; he was a big man and would enjoy hurting her. She stepped back. ‘I need to go to the bathroom.’

  He pointed to the bucket in the corner of the room and sniggered. ‘You’ll have to use that. See, I have provided everything for your comfort.’

  She looked at it with disgust but lifted her head proudly. She wouldn’t let him see that Rose Webster’s daughter was scared. ‘Thank you so much.’

  ‘You would have had the pleasure of my company earlier, but by the time I’d dumped the car the trains had stopped running. But you appear to have survived the night without too much harm.’

  ‘Would you have cared if I hadn’t?’ she snapped.

  ‘You’d be less trouble to me dead, but I’m not ready to get rid of you yet.’

  It was hard not to let her terror show. Her instinct was telling her that he was not going to release her once he’d had his revenge on her brother. This man was evil. Her stomach lurched.

  ‘What are you intending to do with me?’ She wanted to know what he had in store for her, praying that she was going to be brave enough to deal with it.

  ‘Nothing yet.’ His smile was malicious. ‘It’s your brother I’m after. If he doesn’t agree to drop all charges against me, then I’ll probably have some fun with you first.’

  ‘First?’ Kate’s heart was hammering.

  ‘Before I kill you.’ His gaze raked over her as if he relished the prospect. Then he dragged her into his arms and laughed. ‘That’s right, Miss Freeman, you’re not getting out of this room alive. You’re a beauty, all right. I think I’ll change my mind about waiting.’

  Kate was no weakling, but Howard was built like a rugby player. She brought her knee up and heard him grunt in pain, and when his grip loosened for a moment she tried to wrench herself free. He caught her a stinging blow across the face, laughing as he swung at her.

  ‘Missed your target but nice try. Now I’ll make you suffer for that.’

  She was stunned by the punch, and all her efforts to stop him from ripping her trousers from her body were useless. The thought of this animal raping her was more than she could stand. She fought, kicked and even bit him in desperation.

  His demented laugh caught her attention and through her terror she recognized the danger. This was just what he wanted!

  ‘This is going to be fun. I really like a woman who struggles.’ He pushed her on to the bed and came down on top of her.

  It went against all her instincts, but Kate knew what she must do. She stopped struggling and became passive, turning her head away from his excited face.

  He erupted into fury, hitting and shaking her, but she didn’t respond – not by cries of pain or even a twitch of her hand; she remained frozen. That infuriated him even more, and she felt his hands tighten around her neck. The life was being squeezed out of her. She began to gasp and lose consciousness. Her ordeal would soon be over. She was going to die. The overriding feeling was one of great sadness at leaving her family and little Eddie …

  Suddenly the pressure on her neck was gone and she took in great gulps of air to fill her empty lungs. She became fully conscious as he hit her hard.

  ‘Lost your fight already, have you?’ he snarled, getting off the bed. ‘Well, I’ll see you don’t next time. I’ll take everything your family owns until they’re back in the gutter where they started – and then, as the final blow, I’ll kill you.’

  As soon as she heard the door lock behind him, Kate curled into a tight ball with a whimper of anguish; she wasn’t capable of screaming, which is what she felt like doing. Slowly the cold started to seep into her body and she scrambled back into her torn clothing as quickly as she could, then huddled up again. The sheer terror she was experiencing was something beyond her understanding. She heard the downstairs door close. Howard had stopped this time, but she knew he would be back and then her torment would really begin. Rape first, and then death.

  She pushed the terrifying prospect to the back of her mind, forcing herself to think clearly. All the time she was alive there was hope. He’d dumped the car some distance away, by the sound of it, but where the blazes was this place? The only comforting thought she had was that her family would be looking for her …

  Kate uncurled herself, wincing as she became aware of her bruises. The first thing she must do is eat. She hadn’t had anything since the
soup Pete had prepared for her. She must keep up her strength, so that if a chance came to escape she would be able to take it. She ripped open the paper bag, not caring what it was, but was shaking so much it took two hands to bring the food to her mouth. After finishing the sandwiches she allowed herself a few mouthfuls of drink to ease her sore throat, knowing that she must make this last as there was no telling how long it would be before she was given anything else – if he even bothered. And to be truthful she prayed he would never return. It would be better to die of hunger and cold, than at the mercy of this brutal man. She swore again at that defeatist thought. She couldn’t die! There was too much to live for.

  Kate eyed the bucket and knew she would have to use it. She picked up some old newspapers and placed them over the top of the bucket afterwards, and then went back and sat on the bed again.

  Her eyes began to close, so she forced them open. She had to find a way of either escaping or alerting someone to her plight.

  ‘Think!’ she shouted at herself. ‘Don’t just sit here, do something!’ This was not the time to size up the options in her usual careful way – this was a time for action!

  She made her legs move and went over to the window. The wooden frame was rotten and she began to pick away with a small piece of broken china she’d found, loosening one nail after another until they were all out. The sash on the window was broken and it took a great deal of effort to open it, but she eventually managed to push her head through and have a better look at her surroundings. What she saw made her groan in despair. Although she was only on the second floor, there was a huge crater below the window, making the drop twice as far.

  She was about to close the window again when a movement caught her eye. There were some children playing in the ruins of another house, but they were too far away to see or hear her, even though she shouted as loud as her bruised throat would allow. Perhaps the place wasn’t as deserted as she’d first thought. She leaned right out and looked sideways, first one way and then the other, but there was nothing but ruins.

  She was thoroughly chilled by now, so she closed the window. That line of action was obviously useless. She’d have to find another way. If she could throw the mattress out of the window it might cushion her fall, but the window was much too small to push the bulky mattress through. Another useless idea!

  The only thing that might help her family was the camera – but would anyone find it? Her mother was well known in London, and it would have a chance of reaching her. Providing Derek Howard hadn’t taken her out of London of course. Her head bowed as she sent up a silent prayer, hoping that there was someone up there who was listening to her plea, because she just didn’t know what else she could do. Kate wasn’t used to feeling helpless, but she did now. She felt utterly alone and very frightened.

  That was all she could do for the moment. She must sleep now; she was exhausted.

  ‘Why don’t you try to get some rest, Bill?’ Rose told her husband. ‘I expect James and Pete will soon be back. I’ll wait for them and wake you if there’s any news.’

  Bill turned away from the window, looking haggard and every one of his sixty-seven years. ‘I feel so bloody helpless, Rose!’

  ‘So do we all.’ She clenched her hands. ‘I swear that if I could get hold of that man at this moment I’d knock him into next week.’

  ‘I couldn’t be responsible for my actions either.’ Bill ran a hand over his eyes. ‘Howard’s hit our family in the most effective way by targeting Kate. He must have known that was how to hurt us the most.’

  Rose was incandescent with rage and sick with worry about their daughter, but she mustn’t give vent to her anger. It had been a long night, and Bill was liable to have a heart attack if he didn’t rest soon. She wouldn’t add to his burden by erupting like a volcano.

  ‘Go to bed, Bill,’ she ordered in a firm tone. ‘We can’t do any more at the moment. We’ve given the police all the details. They’ll have more chance of finding Kate than us.’

  He sighed and dropped into an armchair. ‘You’re right of course. I’ll rest here until the others return.’

  Rose watched in concern as his eyes closed; he looked so ill. She allowed her mind to drift, remembering all the years they had been married, and she thanked the Lord for every one of them. Bill was a quiet placid man, but could be tough when necessary. But this disaster was tearing him apart.

  She sat in another chair and rested her head back; eyes wide open, remembering the attack on herself when she’d been only fourteen. She hadn’t given it a thought for years, but now she prayed that her daughter wasn’t suffering the same fate. If that man Howard raped Kate, then she would see he spent a very long time in prison!

  She didn’t dare consider that he might have already killed her.

  13

  Eddie ran over to the window for the umpteenth time, peered out and then came back to sit in front of the fire again. He was more dejected with every visit.

  ‘What are you looking for?’ Jon asked him.

  ‘She said she’d come and see me today.’ The child appeared to be utterly dejected.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘The pretty lady.’ Ed’s bottom lip trembled. ‘She promised she’d come this morning, but it’s nearly dark now. I’ve drawed her a picture and I wanted to give it to her for Christmas, but she don’t care about me any more.’

  ‘I’m sure that isn’t true, Eddie,’ Mrs Green told him. ‘She’s very busy and I expect she’s been delayed.’

  ‘Who are you talking about?’ Jon asked Mrs Green. He’d only arrived back from the Congo last night and was puzzled by Ed’s distress. He was usually excited when he came home, but when he’d arrived this afternoon Eddie had been too preoccupied to show much enthusiasm. And that wasn’t a bit like him!

  ‘Mrs Freeman’s daughter, Kate, she’s been coming regular to see the twins and talk to the rest of the boys. Eddie’s become very fond of her.’

  ‘I didn’t know Rose Freeman had a daughter.’ Jon was trying to picture her in his mind. ‘Is she anything like her mother?’

  ‘Oh, yes, she’s a lovely girl. She isn’t quite as tall as her mother, but she has the same dark colouring.’ Mrs Green warmed to her story. ‘She used to work for your newspaper as a photographer.’

  ‘Really?’ Knowing Andrew Stevenson’s dislike of women, Jon found that hard to believe.

  ‘She didn’t stay long, though,’ Mrs Green continued, ‘because she had trouble with the boss. And when he refused to print a story about Standish and Wilkins that her and her mother had worked on, she left.’

  ‘They did a write-up on the homes?’

  Mrs Green smiled and nodded. ‘Yes, did a lot of good as well. Kate and Mrs Freeman came one day, took loads of photos and put it in the paper, asking for volunteers to give the children a bit of their time.’

  ‘Which paper did it go in?’ Jon asked.

  ‘Oh, yours, she won in the end.’ Mrs Green stood up as one of the boys called her. ‘Such a nice girl, and very determined.’

  ‘She’s ever so kind,’ Eddie said.

  ‘Ah,’ Jon turned his attention back to the solemn-looking boy. ‘You like her, do you?’

  Eddie dredged up a small smile. ‘I asked her if she’d be my mum when she gets married. She said she’d think about it – serious like,’ he added.

  Tom came and joined them, sitting on the floor next to Eddie. ‘You can’t take any notice of what people say. Nobody bloody wants us, you ought to know that by now.’

  ‘Why?’ Eddie spun round on his bottom to face Jon. ‘Why don’t nobody want us?’

  Jon gave Tom a quick clip around the ear. ‘Don’t tell Ed lies, and watch your language. Mrs Green wants you, I want you, and everyone who works here wants you.’

  Tom rubbed his ear and scowled at Jon. ‘Nobody adopted you and you’re clever. He ought to see that a posh lady like that won’t adopt him.’

  ‘She would too!’ Ed was angry now and Jon had to keep the two boys ap
art before they ended up in a fight.

  Jon thought it was time to change the subject, as he knew the hopeless anger these boys were suffering. ‘Will you show me your drawing, Ed?’

  He scrambled to his feet, tore up the stairs, and, after much thumping of feet and banging of doors, reappeared with a sheet of paper in his hand.

  Before looking at the drawing Jon gave Tom a warning glance as the kid started to snigger. Then he examined the childish drawing. ‘This is very good, Ed.’

  Eddie squirmed with shyness at the compliment. ‘It’s Kate.’

  ‘Miss Freeman.’ Mrs Green corrected him, coming back to join them.

  ‘She said we could call her Kate,’ Tom informed them.

  ‘Oh, that’s all right, then.’ Mrs Green left them again to see why one of the babies was crying.

  Tom sloped off as well, and Ed came and sat beside Jon on the battered old sofa. ‘Do you think she’ll like it?’

  ‘She’ll love it.’ He studied the picture carefully. It really was rather good, except for one thing. ‘Has she got wings?’

  The boy giggled. ‘ ’Course not, but she’s pretty enough to be an angel, so I drawed her as one. She’s ever so kind and makes us laugh. I’ve got a special present for you on Christmas Day.’

  Ed was about to go and look out of the window again but Jon stopped him. ‘She’ll come as soon as she can. Now, what’s this present?’

  ‘I’m not telling! You’ll have to wait and see.’

  He was pleased to see that the boy was brighter now, but he was angry with this woman for breaking her promise. Didn’t she realize that these children had so little in their lives that every treat or visit was waited for with much eagerness? She couldn’t be much like her mother, he thought. He was certain that Rose Freeman would never let anyone down.

  Rose showed the two policemen out, closed the door and bowed her head as fatigue swept through her. There wasn’t anything else they could do. It was the third day since Kate’s kidnapping, and all their efforts to find her had proved fruitless. It was now up to the police.