The Border Part Four (8 page)
Read The Border Part Four Online
Authors: Amy Cross
“Ben -” Jack began.
“Let’s do this in a more appropriate setting,” Alex said firmly, putting a hand on Ben’s shoulder.
“Don’t touch me,” Ben hissed, pushing him away before stepping back over to Jack. “Don’t ever touch me. What the hell do you -”
Before he could finish, he was slammed forward by Alex, landing hard against the table and knocking both beer glasses over. He tried to get up, but Alex already had a pair of handcuffs around one of his wrists and he quickly finished the job.
“Don’t hurt him,” Jack said, unable to match Ben’s angry stare.
“I’ll read you your rights along the way,” Alex continued, pulling Ben back and starting to lead him to the door. “All the lawyer stuff, we can arrange down at the station.”
“It’s for your own good,” Jack called after them as they headed out the door. He waited for a response. “Ben! I’m doing this to help you!”
He waited, but the door swung shut, leaving him sitting alone.
“I’m your brother,” he sighed, leaning back and taking a deep breath. “I’m just trying to help you.”
Nine years ago
“Oh yeah,” Jane laughed, landing on top of Jack as they fell onto the bed. “Kids asleep, phones off, weekend ahead. A handsome man to kiss. Could life get any better?”
“What the Border?” he asked.
She paused, staring down at him with a hint of shock in her eyes. “What’s… what?” she replied finally.
“The Border,” he continued, with a faint smile. “You were talking about it last night in your sleep.”
“I was?”
“You kept saying something about how you didn’t want to go back to the Border, and about how you were done with it, and about how you weren’t that kind of person anymore.” He paused, waiting for a reply. “I guess you were having a dream, but it seemed very specific.”
She opened her mouth to reply, but no words came out.
“Jane?”
“Huh,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I have no idea.”
“You don’t remember the dream?”
“Sorry.”
“You’ve…” He paused again. “You’ve talked about the same thing before, actually.”
“I have?”
“It seems like you dream about it quite a lot. I never said anything before, I guess I didn’t think it was important, but now…” Again, he waited for her to offer an answer. “Even if you don’t remember the specific dream, maybe you know what it was about?”
“The Border?” she replied, swallowing hard. “No, I really don’t know what that means.”
“You don’t?”
“Would I lie to you?”
He paused. “No,” he said finally. “Of course you wouldn’t. You couldn’t.”
“I couldn’t?”
“I know you,” he continued. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Jane, but I can see right through you. I’d know if you were lying to me. Sorry.”
She smiled. “Well, that’s… good to know.”
“I guess I’m just a good judge of character,” he continued. “Plus, you know, one of the reasons I fell in love with you is the fact that you’re so open. These days, everyone seems to have secrets. I love that you’re…” He paused, before starting to laugh. “I’m trying to think of a synonym for ‘simple’ that won’t sound wrong.”
“Let’s stop worrying about silly nightmares,” she continued, leaning closer and kissing the side of his face, breathing in the scent of his aftershave, “and let’s start having some fun. Come on, we never get a chance these days. Does everything have to end up as some kind of super-serious interrogation?” She kissed him again. “I’m not a story you’re chasing for your newspaper, you know.”
“Mr. Crutchlow says hello, by the way.”
She flinched slightly. “He does?”
“Yeah. He said he’s seen you around town. He says hello.”
She paused. “Well, that’s nice of him. Considering I’ve never met him.”
“You seem tense.”
She shook her head.
“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?” He frowned, as if for a brief moment he was seeing a flicker of something unusual in his wife’s expression. “Are you -”
“Do you want me to do that thing?” she asked quickly, as if she wanted to shut him up.
“What thing?”
“The thing I don’t really like doing, but that you like a lot.” She stuck her tongue out for a moment.
“Oh.
That
thing.”
“Maybe I’ll learn to like it,” she continued. “If I try it enough.”
“Maybe you will.”
She took a deep breath, before starting to make her way slowly down to the lower half of his body.
Leaning back, Jack closed his eyes as he felt her getting into position. He’d been worried for a moment when he’d seen that glimmer of fear in Jane’s expression, but he told himself that he was worrying about nothing. Jane truly
was
an open book, someone who couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it, and he was glad about that. The last thing he wanted was to have to deal with complications. As he waited for her to get started, he reminded himself that he was the luckiest guy in town, and then he let out a gasp as he felt Jane’s tongue against his bare skin.
***
After pulling the door shut and turning the key in the lock, Mac Crutchlow stepped back and looked up at the night sky. It was almost midnight, and as usual he’d stayed late to finish off his latest editorial for the newspaper. Once he was satisfied that the rain was only light, he turned to head across the town square.
“Hey, old man.”
Stopping, he looked along the sidewalk, just as a figure stepped out of the shadows.
“Huh,” Mac said with a smile, “I heard you were back in town again.”
“Good news travels fast,” Ben replied. “So, I was wondering. Have you got any new jobs you need doing?”
NEXT
The Border
Tension is running high in Bowley. Jane is convinced that the killer is about to strike again, and a newly-discovered diagram seems to indicate the precise moment when it will happen. Unfortunately, she has no idea where to look, or who will be the next victim. Meanwhile, Beth realizes she’s gone too far to turn back, Bob is offered an opportunity to escape, and Katie is offered the chance to go through another of The Border’s doors.
Available now to pre-order. Release date: August 6
th
2015
The Border
With another victim in the hands of the killer, Alex and Jane struggle to track him down in time. The whole town is about to get a glimpse of the darkness that lurks underground, but as long-forgotten secrets are dragged into the light, it becomes clear that the residents might actually know more than they’re willing to admit. Meanwhile, Jack struggles to deal with his brother, until a shocking event threatens to change his life forever.
Available soon to pre-order. Release date: August 20
th
2015
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The Haunting of Emily Stone
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Asylum
American Coven
The Night Girl
Devil’s Briar
Ward Z
Ward Z: Revelation
The Devil’s Photographer
Fantasy / Horror
Dark Season series 1, 2 & 3
The Hollow Church (Abby Hart 1)
Vampire Asylum (Abby Hart 2)
Dead Souls volumes 1, 2 & 3
Lupine Howl series 1 to 4
Grave Girl
Graver Girl (Grave Girl 2)
Ghosts
The Library
Journey to the Library (The Library Saga 2)
The Ghosts of London
Archangel (The Ghosts of London 2)
Thriller
Ophelia
The Dead City (Ophelia 2)
Fallen Heroes (Ophelia 3)
The Girl Who Never Came Back
The Dead and the Dying (Joanna Mason 1)
The House of Broken Backs (Joanna Mason 2)
The Pornographer’s Wife
Other People’s Bodies
Dystopia / Science Fiction
The Shades
Mass Extinction Event series 1 to 4