It took Edward a moment to regain hiscomposure. As he had just demonstrated, Risler was no way a match for himand Edward used this knowledge to bolster himself mentally. He drew in aquick, deep breath and shoved Risler’s heavy body from on top of him. Risler managed a weak punch, which glanced off Edward’s chin.
Another crack and rumble of overheadthunder masked Risler’s yelp, as Edward’s tensed biceps thrust Rislerbackwards, banging his head on the boat’s internal ribbing. Edward wastedno time and sent his right fist into Risler’s face. After another punch,Edward stopped to take stock of the situation. Risler was whimpering inthe bottom of the boat. Should I just finish him off? Edwardwondered, desperate to reach Mary. He had visions of getting to theisland only for Risler to follow him into the folly. He needed to finishthe job. Edward drew his right hand back, ready for the punch when hesuddenly lurched back, tumbling off the side of the boat.
Someone was pulling on the back of hiscollar.
A lightning strike briefly lit up thelake, but it only added to the confusion, as Edward fell backwards, plunginginto the cold depths beside the boat. He was momentarily disorientated,reaching and fumbling about under water. His fingers touchedsomething. The boat. He kicked and pushed towards it, feeling forthe slated contours. Finally, he surfaced and took in a huge lungful ofair. He desperately flung his head around, searching the murky lake forhis second attacker. He turned his head towards the folly as a pair ofheavy meaty hands lunged at his neck from behind and began to force him under.
Edward kicked furiously, trying tocounteract the pushing action of his attacker, as the water began to nibble athis chin. The grip on his neck was such that Edward couldn’t turn or usehis arms to neutralise the force being exerted. His only choice was tokeep kicking to stay afloat and try to prise the hands from his neck.
‘Mary! Mary!’ Edward shouted indesperation, before the first mouthful of water entered his lungs. Heknew then that those would be his dying words and that they would be heard bynobody other than his assailants. He knew they were his dyingwords. He had no fight left to match the strength of the person shovinghim under.
The water covered his mouth.
Every muscle in his legs screamed for moreoxygen than his lungs could provide.
There were just moments left.
Using the final reserves of his energy,Edward clawed at the powerful hands that held him, but it was no use. Thehands were locked firm. Whoever it was behind him didn’t want him to dieby strangulation, they wanted him to drown. At that moment Edward sawhimself as an hourglass, the sand quickly passing from top to bottom; the timeremaining in his life had reached the final grains. He thought of Maryand their baby. He saw himself at their impromptu wedding at Winchelseachurch. He saw the baby’s christening at the same place a few monthslater.
Edward smiled as his lungs filled withwater.
Moments later, Bastion released his griparound Edward’s throat. It was done.
Chapter Twenty
Takingno chances this time, Morton parked his Mini directly in front of The Keepentrance. It was a disabled parking bay, but he just didn’t care. Having brought Jenny up to speed with the entirety of the Mercer Case onthe journey over, she too didn’t query his parking choices. The pairmarched confidently into the archives, placed their coats and other items intothe lockers and then made their way into the Reading Room.
Morton visibly slumped when he spotted hisold adversary, Miss Latimer, once again on sentry duty. ‘Oh God,’ hemumbled as their eyes met.
Jenny turned to him. ‘What’s thematter?’
Just he went to answer, Jenny turnedtowards the desk and her eyes lit up. ‘Deidre!’
Miss Latimer grinned. ‘JenniferGreenwood!’
Morton looked on incredulously as the pairbound towards each other, then embraced as if they were best friends who’d beenseparated for years.
‘We haven’t seen you here in a while,’Miss Latimer said. ‘Still digging?’
‘Oh yes! Actually, I’m here with myfriend, Morton Farrier to follow some exciting new leads.’ She turned toMorton. ‘Morton, have you met Deidre Latimer—surely you must have done?’
Morton nodded. ‘Yes, we’reacquainted.’
‘Thought you must know each other well—Iexpect this is a second home for you, Morton!’
Morton tried to smile but a vague painedlook appeared on his face instead.
‘It was actually Deidre here who got meinto this genealogy lark,’ Jenny continued. ‘We’re old friends from wayback and when I told her of my interests, she pointed me in all theright places. I expect she’s been as helpful in your work, Morton?’
Morton, seemingly paralysed by this mostuncomfortable situation, couldn’t find the words which struck the delicatebalance between truth and lies. Luckily for him, Deidre stepped in.
Flashing an incredibly false smile inMorton’s direction, she turned to Jenny. ‘So what’s this exciting newlead, then?’
Jenny, always on her guard, turned andchecked around her then lowered her voice. ‘I’ll see how we get on todayand let you know. Let’s just say that my theory about Cecil andPhiladelphia isn’t looking so implausible all of a sudden.’ Her volumereturned to normal. You know, we really must meet up for dinnersometime.’
‘Well, I’m free after work today if you’dlike?’
‘I can’t today, I’m afraid—I came inMorton’s car.’ She turned to Morton. ‘Unless you’d care to join us?’
Morton waited for his life to flash beforehis eyes. This had to be a near-death experience. Dinner withDeidre Latimer would be one of the worst types of tortures imaginable. Atthe moment, he could not think of a single thing that was a worse idea. He tried to disguise the look of sheer horror on his face. ‘Er… I reallycan’t,’ Morton stammered. ‘I need to get back…’
Deidre, replete with her own look ofhorror, stepped in again. ‘Listen. You don’t want to inconvenienceyour friend, Jenny. Let’s go out for dinner together and I’ll run youhome afterwards. How does that sound?’
Jenny looked at Morton for approval.
‘Absolutely,’ he said,
