The Air You Breathe (HEARTFIRE Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  THE AIR YOU BREATHE

  by

  Jave Kavfi

  Copyright © 2016 Jave Kavfi

  All rights reserved.

  Chapter 1

  "Who were you talking to?" Ana says.

  "No-one."

  "Caden, I just heard you."

  "My phone – a client."

  "Oh ... okay. Why are you looking so shifty?"

  "I'm not. Look, I'll be down in a minute. I'm just going to make another call."

  "Fine. You're acting weird today. Or weirder than usual. By the way, I told Henry you injured your shoulder at the gym, so shouldn't be doing any heavy lifting. I don't know how he believed that, as it's obvious you've never seen the inside of one. But I couldn't tell him you're still recovering from a gunshot wound, could I? Caden?"

  "What? Yeah, that's great."

  "You didn't actually listen to a word I just said, did you? I give up ... sometimes you're in a world of your own." She goes out and closes the door behind her.

  The girl is there, against the wall at the back of the door. Arms by her side, one partly covered by trailing bandages. Head down, dripping water.

  "Leave us alone," Caden says. "I can't help you."

  She raises her head and her mouth opens wide, but there are no words, no sound. Her white dress is stained and ripped.

  "I'm sorry," Caden tells her. "There's nothing I can do." He leaves her then, in that attic room, and goes back downstairs.

  "Yes, good to see the old place open again," Henry is saying. "Been boarded-up since Curtis Mortimer died ten years ago. He was a recluse and wouldn't have anyone in, so it's been badly neglected for a good long time."

  "Who's moving in?" Ana asks.

  "His daughter Lucinda and her family. Been living abroad. They wanted the ground floor cleared out – doing the rest themselves. The gardens have to be finished by the weekend – they're at the hotel until then. Good job Caden's jumping in with the supervising. As I said, no lifting, what with the shoulder. He just needs to make sure the job gets done. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but what with me having to go out of town, well, it's a bit of an emergency."

  "About that," Caden says. "Sorry, I can't do it. I just got a call about another job."

  "What are you playing at?" Ana says in the car. "Letting Henry down like that. I talked him into giving you the work."

  "Like I said, I've got another job on."

  "Liar. And a bad liar at that. What's wrong? Spit it out."

  "Leave it. I don't want to do it."

  "Henry was going to pay you a fair amount – and I know you need the money. You didn't take the payment for that last job. How are you going to pay for your fake identity if you turn down jobs and don't charge for the work you do?"

  "She was an old lady – I couldn't take the last of her savings."

  "I get that, but you said you haven't had a dream in days. No dreams means no work. You need this job."

  "I am dreaming – just not the right kind. They'll come back. Don't worry about it."

  "So what kind are you getting? Are the dead still talking to you?"

  "Yes and no. Look, could you drop the subject? You're giving me a headache here." He's fiddling about with the car stereo. Puts it on full blast and takes off.

  "Headache, huh? You big fibber. Give me the silent treatment all you like, but I'll get it out of you. You think I don't know when you're up to something?"

  He hears the crash and runs into the back shop. Books are scattered all over the floor. "Ana – you all right? What the hell happened?"

  "The encyclopaedias flew off the top shelf. I hadn't even touched it. Good job I wasn't standing under it – some of these weigh a ton."

  "They didn't hit you?"

  "No, I'm fine. You don't think it's starting again, do you? There's been nothing for well over a week, and I've been hoping we were going to be left alone."

  "No, it's probably just the shelf is wobbly. You know what this place is like. Leave them – I'll do it."

  "Okay. I'll get back to the front ... that's weird." She picks up a book from the floor. "A children's annual among all those. Inscribed too. 'To Evangeline – my special girl. Have a wonderful Christmas. Daddy'. Isn't that lovely?" She hands him the book.

  "You'd better go through," he says. "Sounds like it's getting busy out there."

  Evangeline. Too much of a coincidence. She's here?

  *

  "Pip, don't go near that. It's falling down and could be dangerous," the woman calls out as the little boy shoots from the car and runs towards the stone maze.

  "Did you see the speed of him?" Jonny says. "Like a bullet out a gun. He's getting better, Lucinda. I think he's finally on the mend."

  "I do hope so, Jonny. The doctors did say it was only a matter of time." She looks around the grounds. "I don't think I can stand that hotel much longer – can't wait to move in."

  Jonny puts an arm around her shoulders and pulls her in for a hug. "Me too. Us living like a family, in a real traditional family home. About time – it's been a difficult year. There was some delay in getting the work started, but I'm told it'll be ready by the end of the week. If I wasn't so tied up with business matters, I'd do it myself." He's looking at his son. "What is it, Pip?"

  The boy points behind them. "A lady. I saw a lady."

  They look. Just the lawn and the trees. "No lady," his father says. "Come on – we'll go take a look at the lake."

  *

  "Your hand – what happened?" Caden is saying to Ana.

  She finishes serving a customer before she answers. "The kettle flew off the worktop for no reason. Just missed me. Got very slightly splashed by boiling water. Luckily, I've got fast reflexes."

  "No... You got it checked?" He's gently lifting her arm.

  "The pharmacist along the road had a look at it. Put a dry dressing on. It's not that bad."

  "You didn't see a doctor?"

  "Stop making a big deal out of it. What's going on, Caden? Don't treat me like I'm stupid – I know something is. Things don't fly through the air for no reason. You sure it's not them?"

  He's holding her gaze and slowly shaking his head. "Not them, not this time. Something else. I'll tell you, but I need to make a phone call first." He walks to the door and she hears him telling Henry that if the job offer is still open he'll take it. He finishes the call and indicates she should come outside.

  They're on the bench in front of the shop. "Shoot," Ana says.

  "I
went out to Ryden last night to have a look. While you were busy with the book group. You know I'm not easily spooked – well, I wouldn't be, given the circumstances. But the whole set-up there would be pretty creepy for most people. Crumbling Gothic mansion, all those weird statues, the overgrown gardens. Not that late when I got there, but the light was fading – just an all-over gloomy atmosphere. Entirely different in daylight. Anyway, the contractors were on their way out, but I managed to catch up with them. They're not going back there, Ana. Two fairly sensible-looking guys and they're quitting the job. I thought there was something up – Henry taking someone like me on. I'm like a kid to him, not qualified for the job."

  "You're saying something frightened them off?"

  "The place has probably got a reputation around here from way back. Usual thing you'd expect from a property lying empty for so long. Those guys didn't give a reason. Just that they weren't being paid enough to work there. They'd be embarrassed, I reckon. Didn't want to say they were scared – but they looked it."

  "You think they saw something?"

  "Maybe. I did."

  Her eyes widen. "I thought that only happens in your sleep. What did you see?"

  "A girl. Not totally solid, but there. Near the orangery. There was something moving on the other side of the glass. Fleeting. But enough for me to take in it was a girl. Checked all around but there was nothing, so I went into the house. I'm upstairs, just about ready to go, when I look out the window, and there she is again. I knew right away."

  "That she was dead?"

  "Yeah. So dead. She was looking straight up at me and one arm was held out, like ... like she was asking for help. When you came into the attic today and thought I was acting weird? She was there. Right behind the door."

  Ana gives a visible shudder. "Oh, that's ... horrible. I mean, you're used to it, but not when you're awake. Why didn't you say?"

  "I was trying to protect you from any more stress. You've been through enough. We seem to be getting a break from it and then this. I didn't want anything to do with it. Thought if I kept away from Ryden, then it would be over. I didn't reckon on anything happening here." He nods towards the shop. "The kid's book that flew off the shelf – the name inside?"

  "Her?"

  "Yep. After the sighting, I did some quick research on the house. There wasn't much, but enough, including her picture. Evangeline Mortimer, sister of the present owner – twenty years dead. So, I think, poor kid, but not my problem. I go to sleep but don't get any of my usual dreams – I get one about her. She's on a swing, talking to someone, but I couldn't see who it was or hear the conversation."

  "But in the dream she didn't ask for help like the others do?"

  "No, this was entirely different from the other dreams – she seemed unaware of me. It was more like watching a scene from a movie. She's swinging, laughing, talking. And it's a sunny day, but then not, and there's this overwhelming sense of threat. I immediately know for certain this is the day of the girl's death – the events leading up to it.

  "At that point, it doesn't appear to be a direct request for help. I was relieved, because she looked like a child, and I avoid that whole area – children and their deaths. It's too ... just overall heart-breaking, them not getting a chance to live. But today in the attic, I knew for sure she wanted help."

  "She wants you to give someone a message, is that it?"

  "I don't know – there's a sense of pleading, but no actual communication. I thought if I stayed away from Ryden, then I wouldn't have to get involved. But it looks like I've got no choice, because if I don't go to her, she'll come to us."

  "What happened to her?"

  "She drowned in the lake when she was thirteen years old. According to the newspaper report, it was an accidental drowning. But that's not what I'm getting from this at all."

  Chapter 2

  How sweet. The perfect little family in the perfect little town. Three kids, him the successful doctor, wife nothing special to look at, but adequate for a man's needs. Let's face it – you can always go elsewhere to get something more to your tastes. Plenty of it about. Yeah, Mark Blake – Dr Blake, did well for himself. Not surprising, seeing he had a decent start in life. Spoon fed. The other bunch are at the hotel. Too precious to dirty their hands with actual work, so getting the riff-raff to gut out their house. Typical. Spoiled rotten and always were. They think he's nothing? Soon find out things have a way of evening out.

  Is that cop watching him? Nah – why would he? No, he's watching the young couple sitting outside the book store. She's hot – what he could do to her... She'll be another Princess type, just like the snooty little bitches back then. This whole town stinks and always did. Crammed with smug nobodies living their safe, privileged lives. Tree-lined streets and twee little shops ... what does this old bat want?

  "The animal shelter," she's saying, with an inane grin on her face. "We're collecting. Updating the cattery." She rattles a tin under his face. God, but she's ugly.

  "Of course. I'm real fond of the kittys." He drops a bunch of coins into the tin. She doesn't recognise him, and why would she, seeing as it's been twenty years and he was near-enough invisible back then. The stupid old bint bends down to pat Nelson and he nearly takes her fingers off. Good dog. Got such a fright she's jumped a mile and all her stuff has flown out of her basket. This is the kind of place it is – women with baskets instead of carrier bags like any normal person. He's making a big show of helping her pick it all up. Just to let her know what a thoroughly nice guy he is.

  "I should have known better," she's saying. "Many dogs are very protective of their owners. I didn't think."

  "No problem. Nelson here wouldn't hurt a fly. Just a bit nervous." Yeah, right... He picks up the envelope that's lying at his feet and hands it to her.

  "Oh, my telephone bill – just off to the post office to pay. Thank you for the donation." She takes off down the street, her stick-like legs moving like pistons. Mavis Platt. Address right on the envelope. Interesting.

  *

  Henry puts the keys on the counter. "Just dropping these off. Tell Caden to hand them back to the owners when they get there. There's another few day's work, as they now want the stone maze taken down – I've sent him a text. Glad he changed his mind. This damn christening – my brother's wife pops one out every year like clockwork. Still, it keeps the family name going." He's moving towards the door.

  "Wait, can I have a quick word with you?" Ana says. "About Ryden."

  "You can have anything you like from me, darling. Your every wish is my command. I suppose you've heard the gossip about the place. Damn provincial, Dashbury. Nothing to occupy their minds, so there's always tongues wagging."

  "We did hear something. Can you tell me a little about the house and the family who lived there?"

  "Not a great deal. Didn't take much to do with the goings on here in my youth. Curtis Mortimer was a bit of an eccentric. Sculptor, and you know what those arty types are like. Lived there with his daughters. One of them died in her teens. He had some type of a break-down, and lived there alone until he popped his clogs. Lovely family, and the elder daughter has turned out a bit of a corker. Unfortunately, the locals are nervous about the place – hence my staff doing a runner. Pity Gertie's away on one of her treks, she'd be the one to set you straight. Mavis might be able to fill you in, seeing as she has no social life to speak of and lives for gossip. Tell, you what – that was a bad idea taking her to my reunion. Old girl did her best, but my chums expect a man like me to have a fine filly on his arm, not some fusty old spinster."

  Ana's shaking her head. "Honestly, Henry, you're such a–"

  "Ha – a male chauvinist pig? Heard it all before from the girls in the office. Bit too long in the tooth to change my ways now. Caden not around?"

  "He's upstairs doing some repairs. You want to speak to him?"

  "No, just ... any reason the law would be interested in him?"

  Her heart gives a little lurch. "No. Why do
you ask?"

  "It will be nothing. Young Dean was giving me a bit of an interrogation. Wanted to know if I knew anything about Caden. Told him the boy is a fine upstanding citizen. Pretty cagey about his past, I'll admit, but we've all got our little secrets. We're not harbouring a criminal in our midst, are we?" He gives a wink.

  "I've no idea why Dean would be asking anything like that. There's nothing criminal about Caden." She can hear the nervousness in her voice. Damn.

  "Yes, well, I think the boy in blue may have had his nose put out of joint, seeing as that cousin of yours seems to have attracted the attention of the lovely Holly Carmichael. Everyone knows Dean has been lusting after her for years. Flogging a dead horse, I'd say – no chance. Yes, he'd be punching above his weight there. Looks like young Caden might have a lot more of what the ladies want. Hell, there's Mavis on her way in. I'd better scarper."

  "Oh, Henry, a moment," Mavis cries, as Henry goes shooting past.

  "Sorry, old girl, must dash," he says, giving Mavis a body-swerve and Ana another wink.

  "What a rush he's in," Mavis says. "He must be terribly busy recently. Hasn't been answering his phone and is always too busy to talk in the street. Ana, I'm not one to criticise, but I'm sure Mr Cribber wouldn't be too pleased to see children in his shop – you know he doesn't approve." Her eyes go to a small group of children sitting around a low table, reading books and playing with building bricks.

  "He's away, Mavis, so won't know. And what harm will they do? Profits are well up, now we've made the shop less ... unwelcoming. That should please Mr Cribber."

  "I suppose so – but wait until you hear my news. Or you might have heard – the town is all agog. The old Ryden place is opening up again and Lucinda Mortimer has returned with her family."

  "I had heard. You know much about the Mortimer family?"

  "Oh, yes, but I must take the weight off my feet. I've been doing my bit for the animal shelter charity." She takes a collection box from her bag and gives it a rattle. "And how is your dear little pussy?" she says, as Ana puts some coins in.