Page 116 of Never Too Late to Date

Alex repeated the words in Greek, which made the guy cry even more. Vicky was beginning to feel slightly sorry for him, but catching a glimpse of the cross that marked Bruce’s grave just metres away hardened her heart.

‘We need the police.’

Alex already had his phone out of his bag.

‘Yes, and we’ve got concrete proof this time. Let’s hope a spell in the cells will make him tell us who’s behind all this.’

The police came surprisingly quickly, and soon the youth and the deadly contents of his backpack were whisked away to the station.

Alex stomped off as soon as the red taillights of the police car appeared on the road above. His angry strides meant she had to double her usual pace.

When they reached the sanctuary car park, he turned to her.

‘We need to talk. Not tonight, neither of us is in the right frame of mind, but soon.’

With that, he nodded briefly once, got into his car and sped off into the night. Vicky stood open-mouthed at his departure. She didn’t want to talk either, but he hadn’t even given her a choice.

She managed to avoid him for the next few days, and any spare time was taken up with the arrangements to buy half the sanctuary. Lengthy talks with the bank alternated with sitting down with Maeve and Seamus to talk budgeting and practicalities. Yesterday, the couple had updated her on a visit from the police to say that the youth they’d caught with the poison had confessed to his crimes. More importantly, he’d admitted to being paid to do it by the real culprits, the owners of a hotel conglomerate on the island. The investigation was still ongoing, but there was plenty of evidence and they were hopeful of positive result. A police conviction for the hotel group, coupled with the news of her investment in the sanctuary, should stop any further poisonings, which would be a weight off all their minds.

This morning she’d been informed that the final documents for the sale were ready and just needed her signature and the bank transfer.

She had one last thing to do. She glanced at her iPad. The special ringtone she’d assigned to Tasha filled her bedroom.

‘Mum, is everything OK? Your message said it was urgent. You’ve had me really worried.’

Her daughter’s lovely face appeared on the screen.

‘I’m fine, sweetheart. I just wanted to talk to you about something…’

‘Okaaay. What is it?’

Vicky took a deep breath.

‘You know that account set up by Granny and Grandad to pay your uni fees?’

‘Yes, so nice of them. I wouldn’t have been able to cope without that.’

‘True. There was also some extra money in there, quite a lot of money, which has been invested wisely and has increased in value.’

‘Right. And?’

‘I wanted to let you know that there’s enough in the fund to give you a hefty deposit on a house or a flat when you’re ready.’

‘Wow!’ Her daughter’s face lit up. ‘That’s amazing.’

‘It is.’

‘But…’

‘What is it you’re not saying, Mum? I can’t take much more of this.’

Tasha knew her so well. It had been the two of them against the world at times, so she couldn’t be surprised at her daughter’s intuition. There was no point drawing it out any longer.

‘With the money that’s left, I’m going to buy half the animal sanctuary.’

She’d rushed through the last bit at twice the normal speed.

‘Did you really just say you’re buying half the animal sanctuary where you’re volunteering?’