Page 34 of Four of Hearts

‘I didn’t think it would come to this. I had no idea anyone else would be involved, that Liz and Grace?—’

Ben shook his head.

‘No, that’s not it at all, is it? You just thought you could handle it all by yourself, like you always do. The one-man army that is my big brother, Harry!’

Harry had never heard Ben speak like this, and he wasn’t sure how to deal with it.

‘This isn’t your world, Ben, it’s mine. You don’t understand.’

‘I do, Harry! I understand it better than anyone! I was in prison, remember? I’ve seen stuff you wouldn’t believe! You’ve got to stop trying to protect me, to protect everyone! It’s not all about you!’

That comment stung.

‘About me? I’ve spent my life trying to protect you. I know I’ve not done a very good job, I really do, but I’ve always been looking out for you! How the hell is any of this about me, Ben? How?’

When Ben spoke next, his voice had suddenly lost all its anger. There was a tenderness to it that Harry wasn’t prepared for, and it hurt to hear it.

‘Because this is how you are. I’m not saying it’s selfish, or that you’re doing what you do to just get off on it, but you need to stop, Harry, before something goes wrong. For you, for Grace, even, never mind anyone else.’ Harry tried to get a word in, but Ben wasn’t having any of it. ‘You need to realise that the best thing about being where we now are, this new life we have? It’s the people, Harry. All of them. You’re not in the Paras anymore. You’re not trapped in Bristol. And Dad’s dead! You’re not a one-man police force, tasked with keeping an eye on everyone around you for the rest of your life. You’re my brother, you’re a husband, you’re a friend.’ Ben looked over to the minibus. Harry did the same, saw faces staring out at them, wide-eyed. ‘Everyone in that minibus,’ Ben continued, ‘all the friends we’ve both made across the Dales, they love you as much as you love them, not that you’d ever say that, I know, but that’s the way that it is. So, just accept it, and stop being so bloody minded about everything! Please!’

Harry stood stock still, momentarily in shock. They were up on the moors, in the middle of the night, having followed someone who had just kidnapped both his and Ben’s wives. And it was now, of all the times he could’ve picked, that Ben had decided he wanted to give Harry not just a piece of his mind, but the kind of speech he’d go on remembering for the rest of his life. The words had hit harder than a freight train.

‘Thanks,’ Harry eventually said.

‘What?’

‘I needed that. What you just said. You’re right, Ben. I know it. So, I’m saying thank you.’

‘I am? Really?’

Harry heard the confusion in his brother’s voice.

‘Yes.’

‘Oh.’

For a second or two, Harry and Ben stood there, just staring at each other.

‘Shall we go see what this is all about, then?’ Ben then said.

‘Wasted journey otherwise,’ said Harry.

Together, they continued on their way, walking down the lane towards the lights, Harry’s ears ringing with Ben’s words. Then Ben stopped dead.

‘Harry, look...’

Harry stared into the dark at the lights they’d been walking towards. Soon, the landscape around them came into focus, as did the two silhouettes standing at the side of the road.

Harry was running, then he was in front of Grace. Next to him, Ben was with Liz.

‘You’re okay? Tell me you’re okay. Please, Grace, you have to be okay!’ Harry was checking her over, looking for injury, for blood. ‘You’re not hurt? You promise me that, right?’

‘Harry?’

Harry stared at Grace.

‘Yes?’

Harry half-wondered from the look in Grace’s eyes if he was about to get a left hook and be sent unconscious to the ground.