Capital Falling | Book 4 | Sever Winkless, Lance (most popular ebook readers TXT) 📖

he knows that they are closing in on it. Catherine and Andy’s daughter Emily are going to wonder what the hell is going on when the helicopter closes in and lands in the grounds next to the cottage. Winters prays once more that Catherine will keep their conversation to herself as the helicopter slows for its descent.

The helicopter manoeuvres around, changing Winters’ view, and then he sees it, the cottage just past the sand dunes. He doubted he’d ever see the building again when he left it and yet there it is, growing larger in front of his eyes.

Light suddenly pours out of the cottage’s front door as it is swung open for a moment and a single person comes out of the building. Winters focuses on that person and sees it is a woman, her dark hair swirling above her head, caught in the downdraft of the rotors. He is not surprised to see that it is Catherine who has come out to face the unexpected arrival. She waits close to the cottage for them to land, her arms crossed and a stern look etched across her face.

As the helicopter touches down, Winters notices two of the men in the cabin, Major Rees’s supposed ‘medical assistants’, pad the left side of their chests under their windbreaker jackets. Any notion that the two men have any significant medical knowledge is dispelled from Winters’ mind. They are here for one reason and one reason only, just as he had suspected.

The engines begin to wind down and just as before, the co-pilot jumps out of the cockpit to open the cabin door to let Major Rees out. Rees doesn’t hesitate; he climbs straight out of the cabin and strides across the grass, towards the cottage and the waiting Catherine. This time, Winters doesn’t delay, he follows Rees straight out, apologising to the two armed men as he goes, who stall in their seats as Winters beats them to the door.

Following Rees, Winters keeps pace with the Major whilst not crowding him, keen to give Catherine some kind of warning signal. The last thing he or Andy needs now is for him to be up on charges of insubordination and out of the game.

“Catherine Hamilton, I take it?” Major Rees demands as he approaches the woman before him.

“Who are you and what business is it of yours?” Catherine answers, her arms still crossed and appearing unfazed by the Major.

“I’m Major Stephen Rees. I was due to meet Captain Richards for his appointment at the hospital today. He didn’t attend his appointment, so I thought I’d drop by to see him, where is he?”

Catherine’s head turns slightly to look at Lieutenant Winters as if unsure what to say. The look is obvious, and Rees’s head begins to turn to look at Winters also. Winters’ bulging eyes and the faint shake of his head evaporate in the instant before Major Rees’s eyes fall on him. Winters, his nerves prickling, can only hope that Catherine saw his signal and thinks fast to divert the Major’s attention.

“Lieutenant Winters, I didn’t think we’d be seeing you again so soon.” Catherine’s words covering her look perfectly.

“I thought I’d tag along with the Major to see Andy at the hospital and to see how he got on,” Winters replies.

“That’s nice of you Lieutenant,” Catherine plays along.

“He didn’t turn up though, where is he?” Winters asks, knowing full well.

“I’m afraid he was called away suddenly on urgent family business. I told him to phone the hospital to tell them he couldn’t make the appointment, but it must have slipped his mind.”

“What family business?” Rees asks, his attention now back where it should be.

“Private family business, Major.” Catherine bats Major Rees’s question away.

“Ms Hamilton, I demand you tell me where Captain Richards is,” Rees snaps.

“It is none of your business, Major. But if you’d like to leave me your number, I will try and get a message to Andy to contact you as soon as he can.”

“That is not acceptable Ms Hamilton. I’m here in an official capacity and I need to speak to Captain Richards immediately,” Rees barks, edging forwards, losing his cool.

“If you need to speak to Andy urgently then I suggest you try and phone him, Major. Lieutenant Winters has his number,” Catherine replies coolly.

“He isn’t answering his calls, Ms Hamilton.”

“Then I can’t help you,” Catherine retorts.

“Are you sure he isn’t here, inside maybe?” Rees presses.

“He isn’t here. If he were, I wouldn’t be out here being interrogated. You are welcome to look.”

Rees turns and nods sternly at the two men with weapons under their jackets, who immediately step forward, towards the cottage’s front door.

“Just one moment, please,” Catherine says, stepping back towards the door and blocking the men’s path.

The two burly operators come to a sudden stop in their tracks, unsure what to do. They look at each other and then at the Major, foiled by the woman in front of them with the windswept hair.

Catherine leaves the two men where they stand and turns for the front door. “Girls, can you come outside for a minute please?” she shouts as she opens the door. Almost immediately, Emily and Stacey emerge from inside the cottage, both wearing their pyjamas and both obviously listening close by inside.

“Gentlemen,” Catherine says, when the girls are by her side, showing the men inside with one hand and an annoyed expression on her face.

The two men accept Catherine’s invitation to go in, even if they do so sheepishly.

“Are they looking for Dad?” Emily asks, looking up to Catherine.

“Yes, Emily, they are.”

“Well, they won’t find him in there, will they?” Emily remarks.

“No, no they won’t,” Catherine agrees.

“Silly men,” Emily says looking back towards the door, her pyjama legs flapping in the breeze.

Winters suppresses the grin that tries to spread across his face as he stands silently waiting. Rees, next to him, turns away from the front door to look at their surroundings, obviously realising that Richards isn’t inside the cottage.

“Captain Richards isn’t inside, Sir,”