Angel of Death

‘Two of them swam beside me, keeping me between them, supporting me and moving me along . . . it was extraordinary, I’ll never forget it. I might have died if it hadn’t been for them.’

Dorothy exclaimed excitedly. ‘How wonderful. I’ve heard of dolphins helping people, but that’s amazing.’

She talked about dolphins for some time, then asked, ‘So, was Alex Manoussi involved?’

‘I think he may have been. That’s why I left to come back here. Neil thought I shouldn’t stay there any longer. I’m glad to be home, but, I must say, I miss the Greek weather – London is so grey, but it was still sunny and warm back in Greece.’

‘Why don’t you come here? Freddy will look after us both. You’d have a full-time bodyguard.’

‘I wish I could, but . . .’

‘Why can’t you? With me and Freddy to watch over you? You’d be quite safe.’

Miranda was tempted. It was going to be boring staying in this flat and never going out.

‘I’ll talk to Neil.’

‘Neil?’

‘The policeman in charge of the case.’

‘Oh, I remember. Nice man. All right, talk to him. Ask him to ring me and I’ll talk to him, too.’

She spoke to him that evening when he returned, but he shook his head.

‘I know it will be dull for you here, but it is the last place they’ll think of looking, whereas your mother’s home is the first place they’ll go.’

‘Alex has already rung her.’

‘There you are then!’

‘But he will have realised she still thought I was in Greece. He won’t go there. And even if he did, I’ll have her, and Freddy, to take care of me. I won’t be alone.’

‘Freddy?’

‘Her current boyfriend – he’s an ex-policeman and he’s living there at the cottage to keep an eye on her because the attack on her in London scared her. He can keep an eye on me at the same time. Neil, you know I’m very grateful to you, but I’ll go mad if I have to stay shut up in a tiny London flat forever.’

He looked at her soberly. ‘Miranda, if anything happened to you I’d never forgive myself.’

‘It won’t. I’ll be twice as careful this time. I had such a shock when those Greeks tied me up and threw me in the sea. I was more frightened than I’ve ever been in my life.’

‘You and me both. When I arrived and found you were missing I really thought you’d had it that time. It was such a relief to find you alive. I’m not taking any more chances with your safety.’

‘But Freddy and my mother will stand guard day and night. I’d have company. It’s very sweet of you to go to so much trouble to take care of me, but I can’t

live locked up in your flat for the next year. I’d go crazy.’

He rang her mother and spent half an hour talking to her, and was finally persuaded to let Miranda go and stay at the cottage later.

A week later he drove her down to Dorset at night, under cover of darkness. As they parked outside the cottage, a dark shape reared up in the garden and shone a torch into their faces.

‘What the hell . . .’ Neil burst out.

‘It’s Freddy,’ Miranda said, laughing.

Neil groaned. ‘Well, I can’t say he isn’t alert, I suppose!’

He came to meet them, wearing camouflage trousers and jacket with a hood. ‘I’m camping out here, in a tent, to make sure nobody tries to break in. Sorry if I startled you.’ He offered Neil his hand. ‘Hello. I’m Freddy – a friend of Dorothy. I was in the job myself until they retired me.’