The Lethal Target(36)

‘Sure,’ said Jake. ‘Come in and sit down.’

Muir nodded, came into the room, pushed the door shut, then hauled a chair over to Jake’s bedside.

‘How’s the head?’ he asked.

‘Not bad. Considering someone shot at me,’ he said.

‘Yeah,’ said Muir, still looking concerned. ‘Pam Gordon didn’t get off so lucky.’

‘No,’ said Jake. ‘But at least she’s alive.’

‘True.’ Muir nodded. ‘So, do the cops have any idea who shot you both?’

‘No idea at all,’ said Jake.

‘How about — why?’ asked Muir. ‘I mean, have they got any clue as to motive, or are we talking about some mad serial killer roaming the island?’

‘Worried?’ asked Jake.

‘You bet your life I am!’ said Muir. ‘I mean, is it even safe to go walking around here?’ He frowned again as he asked, ‘Any word on your girlfriend? I understand she’s disappeared. The word is that she’s been snatched.’

‘No,’ sighed Jake. ‘There’s been no sign of her.’

‘I hear there’s talk of bringing people over from the mainland to mount a search for her,’ said Muir. ‘If that happens, count me in. I’ve started to get to know this area pretty good since I’ve been here.’

‘Thanks,’ said Jake. ‘I guess the police will be handling that.’

‘Any word from the doc?’ asked Muir. ‘You know, about when you can get up?’

‘Today, he says,’ Jake told him. ‘The bullet just chipped the bone. Nothing serious.’

Muir grunted.

‘A bullet in the head sounds serious to me,’ he commented.

‘Not in the head,’ Jake corrected him. ‘It bounced off.’ He grinned. ‘Luckily I must have a pretty thick skull.’

Muir sighed and shook his head sadly.

‘When I booked to come here I never thought of this as a dangerous place,’ he said. ‘Dougie MacClain dead, John Gordon stabbed, you and Pam Gordon shot, your girlfriend Helen being snatched. My God, we don’t even get that on our bad days in Chicago!’ He gave Jake a serious and concerned look. ‘Listen, if there’s anything I can do, if you need anything . . .’

‘No, I’m fine thanks,’ said Jake. ‘The MacClains are taking really good care of me. And, like I say, I can be back on my feet today. In fact, I thought I’d get up once you’ve gone and take a walk.’

Muir frowned again.

‘If you want my opinion, you ought to think twice about going anywhere on this island right at this moment. Someone shot you once. Who knows, they might get luckier next time.’

‘It’s a chance, but I can’t stay here for ever,’ said Jake.

‘OK, I’ll let you get yourself ready,’ said Muir. He stood up. ‘The police have no idea who shot you, or why?’ he enquired again.

‘No idea at all,’ said Jake.

‘Well, let’s hope it wasn’t personal,’ said Muir.

He headed for the door. At the door, he turned to Jake. ‘Remember what I said about looking for Helen. As soon as they organise a search, count me in. In the meantime, I’ll keep my eyes open when I’m walking around.’

‘So you’re still happy to go out?’ asked Jake.

‘Hell, yes!’ said Muir firmly. ‘I came here to enjoy this place, and no murdering lunatic on the loose is gonna stop me! Anyway, who’d want to kill me?’

With that, he left.

Who’d want to kill Muir indeed, Jake wondered.

The visit by the American puzzled him. Maybe it simply was, as Muir had said, one resident making a sympathetic visit to another who’d been injured. A kind of hospital visit. But Muir had been mostly interested in finding out what the police thought were the motives for the shooting.

Jake got out of bed and dressed. His head still ached, so he took a couple of painkillers, then went downstairs. Alec MacClain was in reception.

‘Mr Wells!’ he exclaimed when he saw Jake. ‘You didn’t need to get up! We’d have brought you up anything you wanted. All you had to do was phone down from your room.’

‘I’m fine,’ Jake assured him. ‘Well, fine-ish,’ he admitted. ‘Anyway, Dr Patel said he thought it would be better for me to get up.’ He looked around to make sure there was no one else within earshot, then asked, ‘Anything happened?’

Alec MacClain sighed. ‘There’s been no sign of your friend, I’m afraid. The police tell me they’re going to mount a major search tomorrow. They’re bringing in coastguard teams, search and rescue and volunteers, and they’ll be covering every square inch.’