Down in Yon Forest Read online

  “She didn’t need to know,” Matt said. “Now stand down.”

  “I told you. That’s not going to happen.” His radio crackled and he grabbed it off his belt.

  “Jeremiah, are you there?”

  “Yeah, Terry, I’m here, but we’re about to go out. Wait a second. Terry? Aren’t you on sick leave?”

  “Yes, I am. This can’t wait. I need a word in private.”

  Jeremiah looked at the others. “Give me five.” He jumped back into the truck, settling Bowie onto the seat beside him. He shut the door, not wanting anyone to overhear the conversation. “Go ahead, Terry.”

  “I’ve done some checking into that bloke who’s been hanging around. Wolfe. He recently started volunteering at the wolf sanctuary on the other side of the forest, five miles from Turningdale, about twenty miles from here.

  “The thing is, so has Matt. And two missing sanctuary wolves match the rogue ones that are hunting and attacking here. And now there are another two missing, going by the names Lupe and Remus. The staff are going to check all the fences and remaining animals, make sure they are all accounted for. But that’s not all I discovered. Wolfe’s full name is Peter Wolfe Stranraer.”

  “Say again.” Jeremiah’s heart thudded in his chest.

  “Peter Stranraer. Meredith’s brother. He was checked out of Bedlam four months ago by his grandfather.”

  Jeremiah thumped the steering wheel, trying to process this information and keep his emotions in check. “Right around the time Meredith left Brussels and came back to Paradise.”

  “Yes. I’ve spoken to his doctor there. Peter doesn’t have schizophrenia. It’s a slight slowness of his understanding. That’s the layman’s terms there, I didn’t understand the medical one. He doesn’t need meds or anything else. Just needs things explaining like five times before he understands. Whatever meds Matt insisted on him having over the years made him sick. It was only when the medical staff stopped giving them to him, his mind cleared and he told them what he remembered about the night his parents died.” Terry paused. “Peter says Matt killed his father.”

  Jeremiah’s heart sank and his stomach tied into a knot. He looked at Matt out of the car window. “I need you to ring a DI Holmes in Headley Cross. Tell him and ask him to send someone out ASAP to the old Stranraer place on the east of town. And tell him what you just told me.”

  “I thought the house burned years ago.”

  Jeremiah watched Matt through the windscreen. “No, just another of Matt’s lies. OK. I’m heading over to the cottage. I’ll get everyone else to patrol the town in case the wolves show up here. Out.”

  He put the radio down and looked at Bowie. “Stay here, boy.” He left the truck door open as he went back to the others. “I’m going to head east. The rest of you are to patrol here and keep watch. The good news is the wolves are from the sanctuary. Keepers are checking for any missing animals. They think it’s only four, but better safe than sorry. Tranquilize all the animals, shoot on sight. Then call the sanctuary to collect them.”

  As the teams dispersed, he turned to Matt. “I know the truth. I know you’ve been hiding Peter the past few months and I know why. But right now all that matters is finding Meredith.”

  He turned his back on Matt, taking a stride towards the truck.

  Behind him a gun clicked. “You have a short memory. I told you to stand down.”

  Jeremiah raised his hands and turned. “You’re really going to shoot me? Too many people know, Matt. You can’t hide the truth any longer.”

  Matt balanced the gun on his bandaged hand, his good hand curled around the trigger. “I can’t let you go out there and interfere in something that really doesn’t concern you.”

  “Oh, but it does.” He swallowed. The burning need within him grew. He had to go and find her. “It concerned me the moment you charged me with protecting her.”

  “You take one more step…”

  “And you’ll what? Kill me? Then do it, because I swear that’s the only way that you’re going to stop me from getting in that truck and going to save Meredith. Unlike you, I’m not going to stand by and let her brother kill her. Or throw her to the not so metaphorical wolves.”

  Jeremiah turned his back, keeping his hands raised. Slowly and deliberately he took several steps towards the truck.

  “I mean it,” Matt yelled. “I will not have you ruining everything now and interfering in something you don’t understand. Not after all I have done to keep the truth hidden from everyone.”

  “Then do us both a favor and shoot me.” Jeremiah prayed as he walked. After all, what’s one more murder to add to your list? Lord, I don’t often ask favors, but please, either let him miss or let Nate’s men get to Meredith before Matt does.

  A gunshot rang out.

  Pain slashed though him.

  He slumped to his knees as an agonized cry fell from his lips.

  12

  Jeremiah gripped his arm and scrambled to his feet. Matt lay on the wet ground with Bowie standing on his chest. He glanced at his arm, some blood but not much. Just a flesh wound.

  Matt tried to fight off the dog, but Bowie sank his teeth into Matt’s jacket, ripping the fabric. Matt cried out in fear.

  “He won’t hurt you. Not unless I tell him to do so.” Jeremiah kicked Matt’s gun where the man couldn’t reach it.

  A marked police car, blue lights flashing, stopped beside his truck and two officers jumped out. “What’s going on?”

  Jeremiah moved over to them, holding out his forestry ID. “Jeremiah Mantle, forestry service. Are you the backup I asked for?”

  One officer nodded. “DI Holmes sent us on ahead.”

  “Good.” He pointed to Matt’s gun. “That’s his. You can arrest that man for a start. Assault with a deadly weapon. He’s Matt Howell, local PD. Unfortunately he’s been hiding a known fugitive. He’s also responsible for the murder of Roger Stranraer and possibly Lizzie and Gretchen Stranraer.”

  One of the officers strode over to Matt. “Is this your dog, sir?”

  “Bowie, come here.” Jeremiah glanced at the officer as Bowie trotted to his side. “I can give a statement later.” He broke off as wolves howled in the distance. “But right now I have to get going. Get in the truck, Bowie.” He looked at the officers. “I suggest you get him and yourselves off the streets until the all clear is given. We have a wolf hunt going on, and I’m needed out there.”

  “You’re bleeding, sir.”

  Jeremiah glanced down. “I’ll deal with it, but right now I need to be someplace else.” He headed to the truck, hearing the cops arrest Matt just as he climbed in and slammed the door. “Let’s go, Bowie. We have to save Meredith.”

  Bowie nudged his arm.

  Jeremiah looked at him. “OK.” He slid his arm out of his jacket and did a cursory examination of the wound. “Looks worse than it is. You could say his bark is worse than his bite, but that’s a really bad pun and not funny right now.” He tore a strip off the bottom of his shirt and fastened it over the injury. “Now, we’ll go.”

  ****

  Moonlight shone through the window, filling the room as Meredith finally closed the photo album So many holes in her memory sealed, it left only one remaining. She glanced up. Is it him, Lord? Am I right in thinking that this is Peter? There’s a faint resemblance in the photos, but people can change so much, I’m not sure.

  Wolfe turned over the letter in his hands. “You didn’t open it, so I did. The LSO wants you back. They say someone with your talent shouldn’t waste it. They’re offering psychiatric help to get over whatever caused your breakdown in the first place.”

  Meredith scowled. “You had no right to go through my things and open my letters.”

  “I have every right. I have to take care of you.”

  “Why?”

  A huge black wolf rose from the corner of the darkened room, eyes glistening a silvery blue. Meredith scooted back in terror.

  Wolfe ran his hand down the anima
l’s back. “He isn’t going to hurt you, he’s tame. He wants to get to know you. Just like I do.”

  “Me?” She backed as far into the wall as she could get. “Why me?”

  “I hoped you’d remember me. But maybe I’ve been away too long and you forgot me.”

  It was him. “Peter? I didn’t remember anything until yesterday. Grannie and Gramps didn’t mention you at all. No photos, nothing. If I’d known about you I’d have come to visit or at least written to you.”

  “I tried so many times over the years to contact you, but you never answered any of my letters.” He petted the wolf. “I have several friends now at the sanctuary. Lupe and Remus love and protect me more than my family ever did. And they are incredibly loyal.”

  “I didn’t get any letters. Where did you live?”

  “They locked me away. I was in this clinic place for years. No one wanted me. You forgot me. Grannie and Gramps would visit occasionally, but that’s all, and never during the holidays because that’s when it happened. Then, they’d go and stay with you or Annabelle. I got sick because of all these meds I was on. The docs stopped them and it turns out I wasn’t crazy after all.

  “When I got out he let me stay at first, but then I remembered and he said I had to leave. He made me take the meds again, tried to addle my thoughts and make me forget. But I know the truth. He told me I could help at the wolf sanctuary if I stayed quiet. So I made friends with the wolves. Then you were coming to Paradise. So I came home to watch out for you. Make sure he didn’t try to hurt you again.”

  “He? Who are you afraid of, Peter?”

  “If I tell you, he’ll kill me.” He picked up the violin and began to play again.

  ****

  Jeremiah drove like a madman through the forest. He knew from the map where the cottage was, but he’d never been there. There had been no need. His truck lights illuminated the road and surrounding trees. He was sure he could see blue eyes shine at times on the roadside, but he ignored them.

  When he stopped outside the cottage, the Christmas lights around the door seemed incongruous and out of place. He could hear carols. Leaning forwards he pulled up the radio. “Terry, it’s me. There’s someone in the Stranraer place. My assumption is that it’s Peter Stranraer. I need back up immediately.” Not waiting for a reply, he opened the truck door. “Come on, Bowie, but be quiet.”

  Bowie leapt from the truck, growling, his hackles raised.

  Jeremiah put him on the lead. He loaded his gun, taking several spare cartridges with him. He slowly crept up the footpath and peeped through the window.

  Meredith cowered in the corner, flanked by two huge black wolves. Wolfe stood to one side of the room, next to a large decorated tree, playing the violin.

  He didn’t have a moment to lose. Swiftly he crept to the back of the cottage and turned the knob. The unlocked door swung open, and Jeremiah prayed the keen ears of the animals inside wouldn’t hear as he stepped into the kitchen.

  The radio in his pocket crackled. “Jeremiah, are you there?”

  He grabbed the handset. “Terry, where’s my back up? Two wolves on site, along with the person of interest. I have to go in and get Meredith.”

  ****

  Meredith didn’t know which wolf to fear, the two surrounding her, or their human counterpart.

  One of the wolves growled and turned towards the door.

  “What is it, Lupe?” Wolfe asked. “Is someone there? Let’s go and look. Remus, stay here.”

  Blue eyes regarded her.

  Meredith’s stomach dropped and she swallowed hard. Wolfe left the room, closing the door behind him. She glanced through the window, catching a glimpse of Jeremiah’s truck parked by the tree line. A blur of white and grey shot from behind the trees before vanishing. Her heart skipped a beat. Had he come to rescue her?

  A phone lay on the table. She reached for it, but Wolfe hadn’t lied about the lines being down. There was no dialing tone.

  She edged towards the window. The wolf snarled. “Remus, isn’t it?” she said quietly, trying to keep her voice level. “Such a pretty name. Unless you’re male, in which case it’s a real handsome name. Just like you.”

  There was a tin of biscuits on the side. Slowly Meredith removed the lid and picked one up. “Are you hungry? Want one of these?” She tossed one to the floor, holding her breath as the wolf watched it fall.

  He slowly investigated the treat, sniffing it with suspicion, before eating it.

  Meredith tossed a few more, a little further away this time.

  The wolf moved over to them.

  Meredith reached the window. The wolf growled, but its expressive eyes flickered to the treats. Picking up the box, Meredith tossed it. “Here, have the lot.” She turned back to the window, her fingers grappling with the window locks. She could never see the sense in windows with keys. In a fire, or when trying to escape a wolf and a madman, they were worse than useless.

  “Where are you going, Meredith?”

  The soft voice in her ear made her jump and cry out. She hadn’t heard him coming. “I—”

  His hands gripped her tightly, turning her around. “Feeding Remus was kind. You did right because now he sees you as a friend. Would you like some dinner? I usually eat around this time.”

  Meredith struggled. “I ought to leave, Peter. I have a train to catch.”

  “I think you’ll find the next train isn’t until Monday.” He smiled.

  She could see the little boy he’d once been. Maybe he was still there, somewhere. Maybe she could reach him somehow. “In that case, maybe something light before I go and pick up my things. I know you’d let me stay here, so I’ll get my things and come back.” Meredith stared at him, trying not to let him see how scared she was.

  “No you won’t. No one wants me.”

  Meredith struggled to find words to calm him. “Why would I lie to you, Peter? You’re my brother. You said earlier that he wanted to hurt you. Tell me who he is and I’ll keep you safe.”

  “Hands up, Wolfe.” Jeremiah burst into the room. “Make the wolves stand down or I will shoot both of them.”

  Bowie growled and moved to stand in front of Meredith; he looked at her for a moment, then turned his back, standing between her and the two men. Was he protecting her?

  “I have to move to get the treat box. Giving them a treat tells them not to fight with your dog,” Peter said. “What’s his name?”

  “Bowie.” Jeremiah nodded.

  Wolfe picked up the treat box, and gave each wolf a little bone, patting them on the head. He moved towards Bowie, holding out the snack in an outstretched palm, and glanced at Jeremiah, as if asking permission. At Jeremiah’s nod, he turned to his wolves. “Friend.” And then he gave the snack to Bowie.

  The wolves relaxed, their eyes changing from looking menacing to curious.

  The whole situation seemed surreal as Meredith looked across the room.

  Jeremiah kept the gun trained on Wolfe and his animals. “I don’t want to have to shoot them.”

  “Then don’t. They won’t attack now,” Wolfe said. “I only wanted to be friends with Meredith. We are family, after all.”

  She took a deep breath. “I’ll always be your sister, Peter. Call the wolves off. For me, please.”

  He looked at her. Something flickered in his eyes.

  She slowly back to the couch. “I’ll sit right here.” she said, praying that Jeremiah would follow her lead as she perched on the edge of the cushions. “See, you can call them off.”

  Jeremiah nodded. “I’m not dropping the gun.”

  “That’s fine,” Meredith said. “See, Peter, everything is fine.”

  Wolfe hesitated. “Lupe, Remus, down.” The two wolves flopped to the carpet.

  Jeremiah reciprocated the trust. “Bowie, sit.” Bowie looked at him, and then sat at Meredith’s feet. Jeremiah kept the rifle on them. “Meredith, are you all right? Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head. “No, we just talked an
d looked at some photographs of when we were children. You’re hurt though. Your shirt is covered with blood.”

  He gave his chest a cursory glance and grimaced. “I’ll be fine. Wolfe, Peter, I know about your grandfather. I know what you saw.”

  “You do? He said nobody could ever know. That he’d make sure they locked me up and threw away the key.”

  Meredith looked from one man to the other. “What am I missing here?”

  “Gramps got into an argument with Dad. He called him names. Dad was going to play with the orchestra, but Gramps told him that was abandoning us and he had to stay here. They got into a fight. My wolf heard it and came running in to protect us. Gramps shot at it and it went crazy.” Tears coursed down Peter’s cheeks and his voice trembled. “So I told my wolf to stop, but Mum got in the way…I couldn’t make them stop. Gramps shot Dad. I think he was trying to shoot my wolf, but missed.”

  It seemed an eternity before blue lights flashed outside and car doors slammed. Voices echoed.

  Wolfe looked at Meredith. “Did you call them?”

  Jeremiah shook his head. “No, I called them. We’re worried about you.”

  “They’ll take me back.”

  “We’re going to do what’s best for you,” Meredith assured him, “but this time, if they keep you in, Annabelle and I will know you’re there. We’ll come visit. Once they get the meds out of your system again, you’ll be able to come home. Maybe even for Christmas. We won’t forget you again.”

  Uniformed officers wearing bulletproof vests and helmets burst into the room, guns raised and ready to fire. “Armed police. Get down.”

  Wolfe started to resist, but Meredith looked over at him. “It’ll be OK, Peter.”

  Jeremiah put the rifle down and raised his hands. “It’s all right. He’s unarmed. The rifle is mine.”

  “And you are?”

  “Jeremiah Mantle from the forestry service. I called you blokes.”

  “It’s OK, I can vouch for him.” A tall dark-haired man in a suit and overcoat rushed in behind them. He pulled out his warrant card. “DI Holmes.”