Page 30 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘I was surprised that we won,’ Melissa said as she watched the swimming team slather butter and marmalade over slices of toast.

‘You gave Bill a run for his money,’ Audrey said.

Melissa saw Bill wince and for a moment, she felt sorry for the man.

‘Never mind, there’s always next week,’ Audrey said as she piled her plate high and smiled at Bill. Turning to her team, she continued, ‘Come on, girls, we need to perfect our back tucks today.’

They trooped out of the dining room to head to the pool.

Melissa returned to her notes. The cookery class looked inviting and as she’d never been very good behind a stove, she considered giving it a go. The biscuit makers had been keen for her to join them and today’s schedule included iced buns and fancy cakes. It would be an achievement to acquire a new skill.

Melissa put a tick against the course and poured another cup of coffee. She looked for something to do that morning, toying between a visit to the Shaman in his tepee, or art with Lucinda in the conservatory.

Deep in thought, Melissa didn’t notice a stranger appear at the door.

On the other side of the room, Bill was eating a slice of toast, relieved that the starchy substance had calmed his stomach. He looked up and recognised the man from the car park. Bill watched him walk across the room and stop when he reached Melissa’s table.

‘Good morning, darling,’ Malcolm Mercer said. ‘There you are. I’ve found you at last.’

Bill saw the colour drain from Melissa’s face and her pen dropped to the floor.

‘Malcolm!’she gasped.

Malcolm pulled out a chair and made himself comfortable. Crossing his legs, he clicked his fingers to summon a waiter. ‘More coffee over here,’ he said as he stared at Melissa.

From his corner table, Bill watched as the waiter bought a fresh cup to Melissa’s table and began to pour.

‘This seems like a quaint place,’ Malcolm said. ‘A bit off the beaten track, but that’s probably why you chose it.’

Melissa’s eyes were wide and she covered her mouth with her hand.

Without stopping to consider his actions, Bill stood and carefully edged around the table. There was no one else about and he moved closer to hear what the man was saying. Bill instinctively felt that the visitor was trouble and his calm and menacing demeanour was clearly upsetting Melissa.

‘H…how did you find me?’ Melissa asked.

‘Hardly rocket science, my dear.’ Malcolm smiled. ‘I have a tracker on your car. It gave me your location immediately.’

‘B…but I’ve been here for days.’

‘I thought I’d let you have a little holiday.’

Silence hung thick as their eyes met.

‘I’m not coming back,’ Melissa said.

‘Of course you are, we need to get you to a doctor, you’re obviously unwell.’ Malcolm picked his coffee up and, with a glacial stare, began to sip.

Suddenly, the French doors were wrenched open from the outside, the frames crashing back on their hinges. Bill’s head whipped round and he was astonished to see Alf running into the room. Speeding across the carpet with Ness at his heels, clods of soil scattered from Alf’s boots as he hurled himself towards Jo’s house and disappeared.

‘A resident?’ Malcolm raised an eyebrow.

‘The handyman,’ Melissa replied and winced. Fear was making her stomach cramp and she longed to stand up and run with Alf too. But there was nowhere to go; Malcolm would track her down like a predator hunts its prey.

‘Finish your breakfast then we can pack your things.’ Malcolm ignored Alf. He tweaked the cuff of his shirt and glanced at a gold Rolex.

‘I’m not coming back.’ Melissa’s voice shook. ‘Our marriage is over.’

‘That’s for me to decide,’ Malcolm said. ‘Now be a good girl and get your things.’