Troubled Waters by Trevor Burton Read Free Book Online

enough to turn my head to one side, but it still feels like I’ve been whacked by a brick on my left temple. I crash backwards off the kerb into the street, and my assailant, still holding my wrists, is dragged down with me. Fortunately, turning my head has put him completely off-balance, and he crashes face-down onto the tarmac next to me. Meanwhile, Amelia is wrestling with the other thug. Although groggy, I’m up first. My combatant turns and jumps up, blood streaming from his nose, and makes ready to advance on me once again. Pumped up and with adrenalin at full flow, a well-aimed kick in the groin puts him down instantly, groaning in agony. I take a quick look over to check on Amelia, and see her martial arts expertise has won out: the other man is also looking the worse for wear as he staggers over to my assailant and hoists him up sharply. Cursing and swearing, the two move off as quickly as they are able, cursing, swearing and making threats.
    ‘We’ll be on the lookout for you, Sophia,’ the larger one spits out.
    I’m still pumped up and looking for more when a loud voice stops me in my tracks.
    ‘That’s enough! I know who they are.’
    The two attackers limp off down the street.
    ‘Dad!’ a startled Sophia shouts. ‘Are you OK?’
    ‘I’m fine,’ Carlo answers. ‘But how are you? And what about your two friends here?’
    In shock, Sophia mouths weakly, ‘I’m OK.’ She turns to us. ‘And you?’
    I look at Amelia, who smiles and winks back at me, as bright as a daisy.
    ‘We’ll be OK,’ we reply, nodding in unison.
    ‘Please come inside and get cleaned up and I’ll get you some refreshments,’ Carlo invites.
    We don’t need to be asked twice, and Sophia, the colour now back in her face, leads the way as we follow Carlo into the restaurant.
    Carlo nods to an expectant waiter, who slips behind the bar.
    ‘Anything you fancy,’ Carlo says. ‘I’ll have my usual.’
    Sophia opts for a glass of red wine.
    I look questioningly at Amelia, and her nod is telepathic. ‘May we have two Bombay Sapphire gin and tonics with lime, please?’
    ‘Any preference for the tonic?’
    ‘Fever Tree,’ Amelia says decisively, and I nod to confirm.
    We settle down at a table, and there is a period of silence. No one wants to be the first to speak. Carlo breaks the deadlock.
    ‘Does anybody know exactly what is going on here?’
    ‘What did those two men want in here?’ I ask Carlo. ‘Did they attack you?’
    ‘You haven’t met some of my kitchen staff, have you?’ he says wryly.
    As if on cue, two of the tallest men I have ever seen come out of the kitchen. They must be pushing seven feet tall.
    In what sounds to me like an East European accent, but could be Italian, the smaller man says, ‘Everything OK now, boss?’
    ‘Meet Luigi and Paulo,’ Carlo announces. ‘From Croatia. They are brothers; they come from a big family,’ he chuckles, then pauses for effect. ‘Everything is fine now, thank you.’
    The brothers retreat back into the kitchen, and Carlo continues. ‘They were actually looking for Sophia. It’s a good job she was late getting here.’
    Sophia wipes away tears. ‘I didn’t come straight here; I did some shopping first before meeting my friends at the train station. It’s all my fault!’ she wails. ‘I should never have told the police anything. They would never have found out, if I had kept my big mouth shut. Barry’s right about that.’
    I instantly remember the face of my attacker, and now know his name. ‘That was Barry Milton?’ I stammer, immediately realising Sophia didn’t use his surname.
    ‘Yes, he’s the boss of my section at work.’
    In bewilderment I recall the face of one the leaders of the fracking protesters at the farm days earlier. ‘Wait… I…’ I’m about to admit that I have seen him before, but have second thoughts and stop myself in time. First I need to know more about Barry, as Sophia’s boss. No one seems to have noticed my