The Lethal Target(25)

‘All the people involved in the dig have Russian passports and valid visas,’ said Manvers curtly. ‘We’ve checked.’

They continued walking until they reached the far headland. Jake turned to look at Manvers, doing his best to put on a worried expression.

‘I don’t understand this,’ he said. ‘We should have seen her by now.’

‘Are you sure she was here?’ asked Manvers.

‘Of course I’m sure!’ said Jake. ‘There aren’t that many places around here!’ He went to the edge of the cliff and looked down. ‘This is where Dougie MacClain was found,’ he muttered.

‘I understand it was you and Miss Cooper who found the body,’ said Manvers.

‘Yes.’ Jake gestured down to the shore. ‘With that happening, you can understand why I’m worried about Helen.’

‘You think she might have fallen off the cliff?’ asked Manvers. ‘Couldn’t she have gone for a walk in some other direction?’

‘If that was the case, why did she head off back to the guest house first?’ demanded Jake.

Manvers’ face remained impassive.

‘I don’t know,’ he said coldly. ‘You tell me.’

‘I can’t!’ exploded Jake. He turned inland and looked at the expanse of heath and heather. ‘She could have fallen down a crag or something. She could be lying somewhere helpless!’

‘In that case I think it would be a good idea to call in search and rescue,’ said Manvers calmly. ‘Do a thorough search of the area.’

Which would mean looking in every small outbuilding, realised Jake. Including Dougie MacClain’s boat hut. But hopefully he’d be able to get a message to Lauren to give her time to get away from there and hide somewhere else. Perhaps in the secret tunnel up to the cottage where the Russians were staying.

‘Yes.’ Jake nodded. ‘That’s what we have to do.’ He turned and set off back the way they’d come. ‘I’ll talk to Alec MacClain. He’ll set things in motion.’



The walk back to the guest house was at a much faster pace than the walk out, Jake made sure of that, determined to show the urgency he felt about getting the search for ‘Helen Cooper’ under way. He could tell, however, that Manvers didn’t seem impressed. The Immigration officer remained silent all the way back.

Susan Webb was standing outside in the parking area as they returned, and Manvers broke away from Jake and went to her. They put their heads together and engaged in a whispered conversation, and then the two of them went off again but in a different direction. Jake felt a bolt of fear. Had Webb found something out? Had she discovered where Lauren was hiding?

As Jake entered the guest house, he ran into Alec and Jeannie MacClain. The worried-looking couple had obviously been waiting for him.

‘Can I have a word with you, Mr Wells?’ asked Alec MacClain.

‘Of course,’ said Jake.

‘Outside would be best,’ Alec MacClain added. ‘Less chance of being overheard.’

Jake followed them through the guest house, and out the back door into the rear garden. It was obvious that both were under stress. Jeannie MacClain, in particular, looked very strained. Alec followed them past the raised beds with vegetables to the compost bins, a good distance from the house. Alec turned to Jake, his expression grim.

‘What are you up to with our children?’ he demanded.

‘Both Rona and Robbie have come back in strange moods,’ said Jeannie. ‘Robbie’s angry and Rona . . . Well, Rona’s suddenly very nervous and secretive.’

Jake hesitated. This was no time for lying, Alec and Jeannie would see through him easily. And the MacClains were already involved.

‘It’s about the hidden books,’ said Jake. ‘The Order of Malichea.’

Alec and Jeannie exchanged concerned looks.

‘I know that your brother, Dougie, was a Watcher,’ Jake continued. ‘And that Rona and Robbie are too.’

‘But that’s over now,’ said Jeannie. ‘The Russians have got the book. Robbie told us.’

‘It’s not over,’ said Jake, shaking his head. ‘We plan to get the book back off the Russians.’

Jeannie frowned.

‘Why have Immigration turned up?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know,’ admitted Jake. ‘It’s all a bit too much of a coincidence, if you ask me . . .’

He was cut off by a scream, followed by a girl’s voice from inside the house calling: ‘Help! Help!’

‘That’s Rona!’ said Alec MacClain, and he rushed towards the guest house, closely followed by Jeannie and Jake.