‘Suits me. I just want to catch that bloke and give him a piece of my mind. I’m sick of poor Melody having to worry about him. It’s not right.’
‘It isn’t.’
‘Tell you what,’ Callum said as they reached the parking area. ‘My car is faster than yours. You take the shopping to the farm, and I’ll follow you, then we can take my car to St Helier.’
‘Good idea.’
33
MELODY
Melody heard Zac’s and Callum’s voices coming from the yard. They sounded excitable and she wondered what had happened. She hurried downstairs to see them, shocked when she reached the front door just as they sped off out of the yard, dust billowing from the wheels of Callum’s Golf. Where were they going in such a rush? She hoped nothing was wrong.
She decided to go and find Lettie and see what she could do to help her. Unsure where Lettie might be, Melody made for the barn, shocked when she heard Lettie calling her name. She sounded upset, or maybe angry. Melody wasn’t sure.
She turned to see Lettie running towards her from the lower field and hurried to join her and find out what was the matter.
‘Has something happened to one of the animals?’ Melody asked, assuming that’s what might upset her friend the most.
Lettie reached her and bent over to catch her breath, shaking her head and raising a hand. ‘No, they’re fine. It’s Rhys,’ she panted.
Melody’s stomach dropped. ‘Oh, hell. What’s he done now?’
‘Brodie’s just called me and told me he’s seen him in the village. Apparently he was dropped off in town a while ago.’
Zac’s speeding out of the yard made sense now. ‘Oh no.’
Lettie stood and stared at her. ‘What is it?’
Melody explained about Zac. ‘I think he had someone else in the car and I’m presuming it’s Callum.’
Lettie looked as anxious as Melody felt. ‘They’ll be racing off to track him down,’ she said, wincing. ‘Brodie mentioned he had already spoken to Zac about seeing Rhys in the village.’
Aware how vicious Rhys could be, especially when in one of his rages, Melody grimaced. ‘We have to go after them. I couldn’t bear it if Zac or Callum were hurt.’
‘I agree,’ Lettie said. ‘Come on, let’s take Mum’s car. We’ll try to catch them up. The last thing I need is my brother losing his temper and doing something he’ll regret.’
‘Yes, I couldn’t forgive myself if he got into trouble looking out for me,’ Melody agreed as the car slowed at the roundabout at the bottom of Beaumont Hill.
Lettie slapped the steering wheel in exasperation. ‘This damn traffic. Typical that it’s this bad when we need to get somewhere urgently.’
‘It’s bad for everyone though, don’t forget,’ Melody reasoned, feeling guilty that everyone’s angst was due to her ex-husband being a complete pain.
‘Good point.’
It only took them a further fifteen minutes to reach Charing Cross.
‘This one-way system drives me nuts,’ Lettie moaned. ‘It was much easier driving through town before all these changes were made.’
‘It is frustrating.’ Melody’s stomach was in knots. She scanned the area, desperately trying to spot Zac or Callum, oreven better, Rhys. If only she could reach him before the two men managed to.
‘Oh no,’ Lettie shrieked.
‘What is it?’ Melody glanced at Lettie to see the direction she was looking in and spotted Zac and Callum running down the street. ‘Oh no, there’s Rhys. They’ve seen him. Quick,’ she said, going to open the car door to get out and follow them. Rhys was sauntering along without a care in the world. How typical of him.
‘What are you doing?’ Lettie asked.
‘Going after them, of course,’ Melody said.
