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‘I did as you said,’ came a gruff voice. ‘I did everything you asked. He won’t be causing any more trouble. Now pay me what you owe me.’

‘Not until the deed is done,’ came another voice, whinier and greedier. ‘Once I have what I came for, I’ll pay you what you’re owed, and then some.’

‘Just what I’m owed is enough,’ came the first voice. ‘I want no more part in this.’

Aware that she might be interrupting something rather sinister, Kelly took a cautious step backwards.

Beneath her foot, a dry branch snapped with a sharp crack.

‘Hey! Is there someone there?’

‘Did you not come alone as I said?’ demanded the reedy voice.

‘I told you … I’m alone,’ came the reply. ‘I think there’s someone back there.’

Kelly caught a glimpse of two silhouettes through the trees, but she could make out no features.

Aware that she could be in serious trouble if she were discovered, she turned and fled down the path as quickly as she could without tripping in the closing gloom.

At the first fork, she took a path at random, then did the same at the next. She was still heading downhill, but there was no sign of any way out of the forest, and she feared doubling back and running straight into one of the two men.

The crunch of footsteps on the path came from further up the hill, and grunts of exertion as someone gave chase.

Then, without warning, the trees gave way and Kelly found herself near the entrance to the aqueduct. The languid canal was a black strip stretching out across the valley.

She sprinted alongside the water’s edge, not slowing until she was halfway across.

Pausing to catch her breath, she looked up, then let out a shocked gasp.

A man was running towards her.

16

A Welcome Face

Kelly was so surprised and relieved to see Edward that she rushed towards him, wrapping her arms around him as he came to a stop in front of her.

‘Er … Kelly?’

Only when she felt the dampness of sweat on his shirt did she realise he had been jogging, and reluctantly pulled herself away.

‘Oh, Edward … sorry about that. I had a fright.’

‘Are you all right?’ he said. ‘You’re a little flustered.’

Kelly realised that it wasn’t actually his sweat, but her own. Now that she had a moment to allow her body to catch up with her racing mind, she found that she was absolutely drenched. The exertion of fleeing through the forest, coupled with her fear, had done quite a number on her.

It made her feel just a little ridiculous. Having fled from a possibly dangerous situation, the fact that part of her concern was how she appeared to Edward seemed absurd.

She leaned over, resting her hands on the stone wall along the edge of the aqueduct, trying to catch her breath.

‘I’m so glad to see you,’ she gasped. ‘I think I just got chased by two men.’

‘What are you talking about?’ he asked.

‘I wanted to walk up to that old tree, but I got lost. When I finally made it, there were two men up there on the hilltop. I don’t know exactly what they were talking about, but it sounded serious.’

‘Like what?’