Shiver Sweet by H Elliston Read Free Book Online Page A

cupboards were open, a can of pop was next to the microwave and the chocolate cake was an upturned splat like a pile of animal mess on the floor. 
    Two words stuck in her mind; Sarah, computer.
    "Why are you here?" she demanded to know.
    He hesitated to answer.  "I-I'm not going to hurt you."  He stared, awaiting a response.
    Nicola stood stiff and let the silence ride for a moment.  Why didn't he answer my question?  Her gaze slid around his face, scrutinising every movement, perfectly aware that he could spring at her in a blink.  "I asked, why are you here?  This isn't your home anymore." 
    "That's debateable," he mumbled, then reached out an open palm.  "Look, I'm sorry, but please, put the knife down."
    She padded along the wall, stole a peek through the patio doors behind and then whipped back into position.  Oh, crap.  Yes, her attacker was there all right, out cold, face down in the snow.
    John's eyebrows flicked up and then he slid both hands into his pockets.  "I came to pick up my motorbike.”
    “Your bike?  But it’s been here for months.”
    “Yes.  I’ve finally found a garage to store it, and my knee’s on the mend so I can ride again.  I’ve got the trailer hooked to...” he heaved a sigh and motioned around.  “And then all this.”
    “But your bike’s in the shed,” she said accusingly, still not convinced of his innocence.  “So why did you come in the house?”
    “I wanted to speak to Sarah.”
    Oh, crap.  The threat, the secret...
    “Christa knows I was going to pop round before the morning.  Is she here?" 
    “No!”
    “Look, enough questions.”  He glanced out at the guy in the snow.  "That doesn't seem so important right now," he said in a gentle manner that reminded Nicola of how charming he used to be when he first married Christa. 
    Was it all an act?  No.  Yes. 
    Her thundering pulse was scrambling her brain.  She had to get it together.  Although she suspected John was not here under friendly circumstances, his stricken face suggested he knew nothing of the guy outside.   “Call the police and prove you’re not part of this.”
    Then the house phone rang.  John eyed the phone on the counter near the range cooker, but didn't move.  "Go ahead.  Answer it," he said, and didn't even twitch. 
    So she went for it.  Knife still pointed at John, she dived for the phone and panted down the line.
    “Nic?”  It was Christa.
     

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 8
    CHRISTA
     
     
    “Nic?” I said, sitting on the roadside, rubbing my sore shoulder.
    “Christa!  Oh, my God.  Christa!” she panted through the line. 
    “Nic?  Hey! Calm down, love.  What's up?"  I heard a mumbled voice in the background.  "Who’s there with you?”
    “Your husband’s here and..."
    “John?”  I leapt to my feet on the pavement.  "He's what?"  Oh, crap.  That couldn’t be good. 
    "Christa, listen.  Oh, God.  Sarah's in trouble–"
    "Trouble?  What sort of trouble?" I yelped.
    "We’ve got to get to her before he...”  The line went dead.
    I frowned at my mobile. 
    “What’s up?” Brian asked, slamming the bonnet shut on his smashed up car.  “How’s your shoulder?”
    “Okay, I... ummm...  Nicola sounds panicked.  The line just cut off and...”  I met his eyes.  “She said something about Sarah being in trouble and that my husband's there at my house.”
    “Your husband?”
    I nodded, shivered in the cold and chewed my nails, letting Nicola’s words sink in.  “Brian, she sounded frightened.”
    “Really?  You sure?”
    I leaned against a wall, keyed my mobile and waited, but was unable to reach either Nicola or Sarah to find out what the problem was.  “I hope Sarah's not broken a leg or something in the snow.”  I circled the battered car, thinking a moment, then stopped and stood rooted to the spot replaying Nicola’s words.  “But why did she say 'he’s going after Sarah'?  Who?  My husband?"  It certainly wasn’t another