Sixty-One Nails: Courts of the Feyre by Mike Shevdon Read Free Book Online Page A

this discussion, Niall. You're coming to collect her after you finish work, whatever time. That's what we agreed."
        "I know, and you know I hate to let you down."
        She paused, then said, "I know you're going to."
        "Kath, this is more complicated than you realise. Something happened this morning."
        "Was it something more important than your own daughter?"
    "It concerns Alex as well."
    "What do you mean?"
        "I mean, if I come and get Alex, I'll be putting her in danger."
        "What do you mean? What kind of danger? "
    "There are some people after me."
        "After you? What kind of people? Niall, have you been drinking?"
        "I'm quite serious, Katherine, and no, I haven't been drinking. I'm very sober right now. Look, I know it sounds preposterous but you have to believe me. It isn't safe."
        "What are you talking about? You just think you can make up some story and it will all go away, is that it? Good ol' Kath. She's always there when I want to go gallivanting off somewhere. She doesn't mind. She's used to being the housekeeper, the drudge, the domestic. Is that it?"
        "No, it isn't like that. Something happened to me on the underground this morning. I nearly died. There was an ambulance. I had to be revived."
    "Where are you now?"
        She could probably hear the traffic on the Charing Cross Road.
        "I never made it into the office. I'm not going in. There was a woman, she rescued me."
        "I might have know there'd be a woman involved." 
        "Oh, please. She's about sixty, OK?"
        "Well, I suppose that's a bit old, even for you."
        I sighed. Despite Katherine's accusations I had never been unfaithful to her. "Look, she's a doctor. She revived me. I collapsed on the platform and she was the only one who helped."
    "Where are you? A hospital?"
    "No, I'm in Trafalgar Square."
        "Well, it can't have been that serious then, can it?" 
        "Listen, Kath. I need you to understand. I've got involved in something unexpected. There are some people who are trying to find me. I can't go to the hospital and I can't have Alex with me."
        "Are you in trouble with the police?" 
        "No. There's no police involved."
        "Then go to them. They can protect you."
        "It isn't like that. The police would think I was nuts." 
        "They're not the only ones."
        "This is serious , Kath. Do you want Alex to be in danger? Do you want her harmed?" The other end went silent. "I can't be with her, Kath. I'd be putting her in danger and I can't do that. "
    "What have you done, Niall?"
        "Look," I took a deep breath. "I just need you to explain to Alex that I can't be there tonight. She'll be expecting me and I don't want to let her down, but– "
    "Oh, so you don't want to let her down."
        "Or you, OK? It's too dangerous. These people may be following me and I don't want them anywhere near the two of you. In fact," an idea occurred to me, "could you go away for the weekend?"
        "What? I was planning to go away. Remember?"
        It was suddenly apparent to me that she was lying. Her words sounded sour, somehow, filled with deception. Why would she lie to me about something like that? I shook myself. It didn't matter. I just needed her to look after Alex.
        "I know, I know, but for me, could you take her away with you? Take her to the coast, maybe somewhere in Europe?"
        "Europe? I haven't got that kind of money and you
    damn well know it, Niall Petersen."
    "I'll pay for it," I volunteered.
        "Well, I'm very pleased that you can afford to spend weekends swanning off to Europe, but we have other priorities in this house." Her voice had taken on its familiar sarcastic tinge. I couldn't afford to get tangled in this well-rehearsed debate right now.
        "I can afford it if it means Alex doesn't get