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  Oh no. She placed a hand on his arm, surprised he didn’t already know. “He was jealous,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’ll heal. Tell me how you are. It’s a shock to lose Grandpa like this.”

  They entered the warm restaurant, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The room was already full. Some people she recognised as extended family, and others as people from town, but many were strangers.

  Don’s hands unclenched and his shoulders slumped. “He was sick.”

  “Doesn’t make it any easier. He was teaching you the ropes at the winery, wasn’t he?”

  A scowl crossed Don’s face before he said, “Something like that.”

  She frowned. A faint memory tugged at her. When had she last heard Don’s name mentioned? She couldn’t remember. She poured herself a cup of tea from the urn and perched herself on a stool out of the way. Mark’s mother was surrounded by people her age, presumably friends, and Kay and Craig moved around the room talking to guests. Mark was by the bar, drinking. Please let him be too sad today to beat her. She turned her attention back to Don. “If you need to chat about anything, you can call me any time.” Knowing Kim and his friends were there if she needed them had lightened her soul, even if she’d never call them.

  He gave her a long look. “Thanks. Can I sit with you?”

  “Sure.” She gestured to the stool beside her and then winced.

  Don’s younger brother, Tyrone joined them, sliding onto a stool with a whole plate of food.

  “Got enough?” Don grumbled.

  He flashed them a grin. “Just about.”

  Alyse smiled. The only positive of being with Mark was watching these boys grow up.

  “Can I get you some food?” Don asked her.

  Her heart warmed. “That would be great. Thank you.”

  Don returned with two plates and they chatted until the guests started thinning out. Now though, the bathroom beckoned.

  Only about half a dozen people remained talking to Mark’s mother and Mark and his siblings weren’t in the room. Alyse shuffled past the bar towards the bathroom. Angry voices came from the kitchen. She froze. That was Mark. Should she leave so he didn’t see her, didn’t turn his anger on her?

  “What the fuck was he even doing there in the first place?” Mark growled.

  “Who knows?” Craig replied. “He wasn’t in the right century some days.”

  “That cave had to have meant something to him,” Mark insisted.

  “It’s where he used to smuggle things in,” Kay said, fatigue in her voice. “He was mumbling something about a shipment being due when I found him, and the pulley system is still in the rocks.”

  Alyse’s skin prickled. Smuggling? She understood Mark was smuggling, but why would his father, a successful vineyard owner, need to smuggle anything?

  Craig swore. “Maybe it’s best he died.”

  “How can you say that?” Mark was pissed. “He was our father, our leader. He knew everything.” His grief was clear.

  “He was becoming a liability.” Kay’s matter-of-fact tone sent chills through Alyse. “The dementia made him forget to be cautious.”

  “It sounds like you’re happy he’s dead,” Mark said. “Maybe you pushed him off the cliff.”

  “Don’t be stupid,” Craig snapped.

  Alyse shifted away. It was far too dangerous to stay here. She winced as she moved to the other side of the hallway.

  “Watch it, Mark,” Kay barked. “It’s bad enough Alyse shows up to Dad’s funeral bruised and battered. If people hear you running your mouth off, they won’t hesitate to report you.”

  “It’s not so bad.”

  Kay’s sound of disgust was loud. “Of course it is.”

  Alyse moved quickly past the open doorway, not daring to glance in and her shoulders relaxed when she pushed into the female bathroom. Safe. For the moment.

  The mirror showed her the bruises had darkened since the morning. Her makeup wasn’t fooling anyone.

  But this was the first time she’d been allowed in public showing her injuries. Normally Mark kept her hidden.

  Now the whole town had seen.

  Could she use it as evidence? Probably not. She couldn’t risk writing down any of the conversation she’d just heard either. Mark might find it.

  She’d have to figure some other way of gathering proof of Mark’s crimes, some way of getting it to the police without him finding out.

  Because if she understood the conversation correctly, Mark wasn’t the only Patton involved.

  She shivered.

  This could be more dangerous than she’d thought.

  Chapter 7

  It was already light when Alyse woke the next morning. Concerned, she sat up and flinched as pain flooded her. That’s why she’d overslept. It had been almost impossible to find a comfortable position to lie. She’d ended up piling pillows and sitting almost upright to relieve the pain in her chest. She panted, trying for shallow breaths. If her ribs weren’t broken, they were definitely bruised.

  Was Mark already awake? Normally she left the house before he woke, so she didn’t have to deal with him.

  He’d been subdued when they’d arrived home from the wake. He’d sat in the lounge room and watched a football game but hadn’t yelled at the screen as usual. She’d taken more painkillers and told him she was going to bed. He hadn’t responded. Once in bed, she’d put together a mental list of where she could gather evidence. His office was the obvious starting point. He had a filing cabinet full of the business contracts and his laptop contained the login for the accounting software he used for her business.

  Carefully she climbed out of bed and dressed. A button-up shirt meant the least amount of pain. Maybe she’d drive into town today and see a doctor, if only to get some decent painkillers. She unlocked her bedroom door and pulled it open. Down the hall, Mark’s bedroom was also open. Mark was awake. Her footsteps made little sound on the wooden floorboards as she walked to the kitchen. Empty.

  She breathed a sigh of relief and flicked on the kettle.

  The cereal was on a shelf too high for her to reach with the pain she was in, so she dragged out the toaster and popped in two slices of bread.

  “You’re up late today.”

  She jumped. “I forgot to set my alarm.”

  Mark stood at the doorway watching her, his expression unreadable. “How are your ribs?”

  Surprise swept through her. He’d never asked about the injuries he’d inflicted before. “Sore.”

  “I wish you didn’t make me so angry all the time.”

  Of course it was her fault. “I don’t mean to.”

  “Doc Eriks will give you some painkillers if you see him today.”

  Damn it. She didn’t want to see the family doctor. She wanted to go to the emergency department where they would record her injuries, but if she didn’t go to Eriks, Mark would be unhappy. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll be at Mum’s most of the day,” Mark continued. “But I’ll be home for dinner.”

  So she’d have to prepare something. “All right.”

  The toast behind her popped, and she retrieved the butter and Vegemite from the fridge. Mark left the room. The back door slammed and a few moments later, his ute roared to life. She peered out the kitchen window as he drove away.

  Gone. She relaxed.

  She leaned against the kitchen bench, eating her breakfast, too sore to sit at the table. Though Mark had said he’d be gone all day, he’d lied before. Sometimes he tried to catch her doing things she hadn’t received his approval for. But if she was quick, she might achieve the first item on her freedom plan—get a copy of her accounts.

  She swallowed the last bite of toast and checked outside to make sure Mark hadn’t come back. Then she grabbed a pair of latex gloves from under the sink and slipped them on. It might be her house, but she wasn’t allowed into Mark’s office and couldn’t leave any traces behind.

  She crept down the hallway, checking each room in case one
of Mark’s associates was inside. It had happened before. When she was certain it was clear and she double-checked Mark hadn’t returned, she hurried to the office, her heart thumping in her chest.

  His laptop was in the centre of his desk. She switched it on, pleased when it booted immediately. Sometimes Mark’s need to have the latest technology was an advantage. When the password screen appeared, she typed the password he’d used three years ago when he still told her those kinds of things. The computer logged on.

  Bingo. She clicked on the desktop link to the accounting software. It logged her right in. Last night, after the painkillers had kicked in and the icepacks had grown warm, she’d searched for information about how to make a backup and now ran through the process, glancing at the doorway as the file was created. She opened her webmail—an address Mark didn’t know about—in incognito mode and then attached the file and emailed herself. The sounds of an engine and tyres crunching over the dirt outside reached her.

  She froze, heart pounding.

  Shit.

  While she waited for the email to send, she shut the accounting browser, deleted the file from the desktop and the rubbish bin, and then closed her webmail. A car door slammed. Her skin prickled and she frantically pressed the buttons to shut down the computer. She slammed the screen shut.

  Someone knocked on the front door.

  Not Mark. Her heart rate settled, and she took a moment to check that nothing was out of place before she closed the door softly behind her. She shoved the gloves in her jacket pocket and hurried to the door.

  Her heart fluttered for an entirely different reason. Kim. He shouldn’t be here.

  He held her work boots in one hand and her jumper in the other. “Hey. I thought you might need these today.”

  She’d forgotten all about them. “Thank you.” She winced as she took them from him. “I’ll get your jacket.” She fetched it from her bedroom and Kim waited by the front door.

  He tucked the jacket under his arm. “How are those ribs?”

  “Painful,” she replied. “I’m going to the doctor today.” She wanted to invite him in, offer him a coffee, but there was still the risk Mark might come home, might have forgotten something.

  “Want me to take you?”

  The offer shouldn’t surprise her or make her feel so warm inside. “I’ll be fine.” If she accepted, word would get back to Mark that she’d been seen in Kim’s car.

  “Mark isn’t home, is he?” Kim peered behind her.

  She shook her head. “He’s gone to his mother’s.”

  “Good.” Kim stepped forward, took her hand. “Aly, I meant what I said about helping you, whatever you need.”

  Her throat closed over and tears pricked her eyes. “Kim…” She swallowed so she could speak. “Mark is dangerous. You don’t want to get involved.”

  His eyes were fixed on hers. “Yeah, I do. I want you safe, Aly. I want you happy.”

  It was too much. He was offering her more hope than she deserved. She had to keep him safe. “He threatened you,” she said. “He said if I see you again, something bad will happen to you or your family business.”

  Kim’s expression turned to thunder. “I’d like to see him try.”

  “No, you wouldn’t.” How could she convince him? She stepped past him, heading towards his car. Could she trust him, tell him her plans? Perhaps if he knew she was doing something about her situation, he’d stop interfering. She closed her eyes, prayed she was doing the right thing. “You’re right. I’m not happy, and I’m not safe.” She turned to him. “Having dinner with you and your friends on Saturday night showed me I wasn’t really living.”

  He touched her arm. “I’m glad.”

  “So I have a plan to escape—”

  He grabbed her hand. “Let me help.”

  She snatched it back. “No, I can’t endanger you, Kim. Not when you’ve shown me so much kindness.”

  He opened his mouth to argue but she interrupted when she realised how he could help.

  “Who’s your business accountant?”

  He blinked, tilted his head confused. “Accountant?”

  She nodded. “Mark’s been managing my accounts for the past few years. I don’t think he’s been doing it properly.” If she told him too much, he might go to the police.

  “We use a friend of Fleur’s and Hannah’s who lives in Perth,” Kim said. “I can give you her details.”

  “How quickly can she look at my accounts?”

  “I’ll call her right now.” Kim pulled out his phone and dialled. After a short conversation, he hung up. “Olivia’ll make time this week if you email her today.”

  Her chest tightened. This was it. She was really doing it. “What’s her address?”

  She memorised it and then smiled at Kim. “Thank you. You’ve helped a lot. I need to go.” She turned and then hesitated. “Maybe, when this is done, we could catch up over coffee?”

  His dimple showed when he smiled. “I’d like that. And if you need anything in the meantime, you call me.”

  She nodded although she would never risk it and hurried inside to send the email.

  ***

  Kim waited until Alyse was inside before he got into his car. Frustration bubbled in him. He should be happy she’d admitted to wanting out, but he wanted to carry her away now and save her like some white knight.

  Mai would tell him he was a chauvinist.

  His three younger sisters would be split between whether it was so romantic or just plain creepy.

  So he pushed down his frustration and drove back into town, parking near Mai’s bakery. Alyse was already living with a control freak, he’d only make things worse by forcing his way into her life. He had to be happy with what she gave him.

  He frowned. Why had she asked him for an accountant recommendation? How would getting her accounts in order help her get rid of Mark? Unless he’d been stealing from the business… He dialled Adam.

  “What’s up?” Adam asked.

  “How long does someone go to jail for if they’re caught stealing money from a business?”

  Adam grunted. “And here I thought you were calling about footy training. Give me a second.” A muffled sound, then a hint of voices before Adam came back on the line. “Depends on how much they stole. They might get a fine or could be up to ten years in jail. Why? You thinking of stealing from your old man?”

  Kim laughed. “No way. Alyse asked me for the name of an accountant, said she wanted to get her accounts checked because she wasn’t sure if Mark was doing them properly.”

  “When did she ask?” Adam demanded.

  “Just now. I dropped off the boots she left on the Marine Rescue boat the other day.”

  “Who’d you recommend?”

  “Olivia does our accounts. You met her at Fleur’s wedding the other day.”

  Adam was silent a moment. “So does this mean Alyse is leaving Mark?”

  “I think so. She’s working on an escape plan but won’t let me help.”

  Adam spoke to someone, their voices muted as if he’d placed a hand over the speaker. When he came back he said, “Will she talk to the police?”

  “I don’t know. I can ask.”

  “Do that. We can’t get too close to her in case Mark sees us.”

  Hope filled Kim. “I’ll call her now.” He checked no one was in the cars around him and dialled Alyse’s number. It rang and rang and then went to voice mail. He hung up. No way he could leave a message Mark might intercept.

  Instead he walked across to his sister’s bakery and pushed the door open, inhaling the sweet scents of baked goodness and fresh coffee. “Hi, Jodie. Is Mai in?”

  “Out the back.” Jodie gestured for him to go through.

  Mai and Penny were still up to their elbows in flour as they prepared new treats for the customers. “Hey, Kim. What are you doing here?”

  He shrugged, leaning against one of the stainless steel benches out of the way. “Thought I’d visit my older sis
ter.”

  She raised her eyebrows as she expertly cut what looked to be scones from the dough in front of her.

  “Need a hand?” He didn’t only drop in when he needed something. Today he wanted the comfort of family, but his younger sisters were home from uni and still in the driving-him-crazy stage.

  “You can make a dozen banh mi for me,” Mai said.

  Pushing off the bench, he fetched the ingredients from her walk-in fridge. When he was set up, Mai said, “Penny, do you want a break?”

  Penny nodded and put the items she’d finished preparing into the oven. After Penny left, Mai turned to him. “So what do you want to talk about?”

  He smiled. “Nothing in particular.” He sliced open the fresh bread rolls to let them cool and chopped the vegetables. “I saw Alyse this morning.”

  “Where?”

  “Took her boots back to her.”

  Mai transferred the scones to a tray and rolled the remaining dough flat. “How did Mark take that?”

  “He wasn’t there.”

  Mai glanced towards the cafe and lowered her voice. “Didn’t we agree you’d stay away from her for a while?”

  He grimaced. Their discussions at the pub the day before hadn’t been fruitful. While everyone agreed they wanted to help Alyse, no one could come up with a concrete plan. Mai and Hannah had suggested Alyse would be safer from Mark’s wrath if Kim stayed away. But he couldn’t. So when he’d seen Mark drive past while he’d been at the shop getting milk, he’d jumped in his car and headed out. “Does Alyse ever come in here?”

  She frowned. “Yeah, but I don’t know how often.”

  There had to be ways he could run into her, check on her, without her worrying Mark would get jealous. “If she stops by, will you call me?”

  “Why?”

  He focused on the coriander. Mai had been involved in some nasty business at the beginning of the year when she’d been targeted by someone wanting to hurt Nicholas. Perhaps she’d understand. “Alyse asked me to stay away, because Mark is jealous,” he said. “But I figure if I bump into her in town, I can at least check on her that way.”

  His sister gave him a long look and sighed. “I’ll ask the others to tell me if she comes in.”