Chapter 11

Pilgrim’s Nest, mid-morning to lunchtime.

Leon and I were just about to climb up the patio stairs when the door swung open and Nadia stepped out, her face as pale as if she’d just seen a ghost. Her eyes were wide, her usual calm replaced by a palpable sense of urgency.

“Turn around and walk back,” she commanded, her voice tight and controlled. I stared at her, my mouth hanging open in shock, struggling to process the sudden change in her demeanour.

“What’s going on, Nads?” I asked, using her nickname, hoping to inject some normalcy into the moment. But I knew, deep down, that whatever she was about to say wasn’t good.

Leon wiped the sweat from his brow and echoed my thoughts. “Yeah, seriously, Nadia. It’s bloody hot out here, and we were just about to grab something cool and wet...”

Nadia cut him off with a sharp look. “Not out here,” she hissed, her eyes darting around nervously. “Not in earshot of the little mice.” Without another word, she brushed past us and started down the patio steps, moving with a sense of purpose that left no room for questions.

Flabbergasted, we had no choice but to follow her. My heart began to race, and a cold sweat broke out across my skin despite the sweltering heat. I could feel the tension radiating from Leon as well, and I knew he was just as rattled as I was.

At the bottom of the steps Nadia veered sharply to the right, heading for the stables. Her pace quickened, her shoulders tense as if she were trying to outrun whatever had spooked her. Leon, struggling to keep up, finally spoke up, his voice laced with frustration.

“Whoa, girl! Slow down a bit!” he called out, but Nadia didn’t even turn around. She didn’t stop until she reached the stables, but did indeed slow down for Leon and I to catch up, her chest heaving slightly as she turned to face us.

“Okay,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I think this is far enough.”

Leon crossed his arms over his chest, his patience wearing thin. “Right! Now, spill it. What’s so damn secret?”

Nadia took a deep breath, her eyes flicking between us. I could see the fear behind her gaze, the weight of whatever she was about to reveal pressing down on her.

“Listen to me carefully,” she began, her tone grave. “And whatever you do, don’t turn your heads or do anything that might seem out of the ordinary. Mai-Loan spotted something, sunlight reflecting off glass on the hill to the right of us. It wasn’t just a discarded bottle or anything harmless. It was the glint of a spyglass. Someone is watching the farm.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a surge of adrenaline course through my veins. Leon’s expression darkened, his jaw clenched in anger and fear.

“Crap!” he muttered, his voice tight. I could see his mind racing, already thinking of the implications.

“We need to get Zara and Ally out of here, and fast,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. The thought of those girls being in danger sent a chill down my spine.

“Yes, but how do we do that without tipping off whoever’s out there?” Leon asked, his frustration mounting. The urgency of the situation was clear, but so was the need for caution.

I took a moment to think, my mind working quickly to formulate a plan. “Leon, go fetch your car and park it in my garage,” I began, speaking with deliberate calmness. “Once you’ve done that, get out of the car, close the garage door behind you, and walk up to the house like everything’s normal.”

Nadia frowned, clearly sceptical. “How is that going to get the girls to safety?” she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

“Just hear me out,” I said, holding up a hand to stop her. “Leon’s car can seat five people. After you park it, Nadia, you, Mai-Loan, and the girls will join him. You’ll slip out the side door that leads out of the house and into the garage. There’s a back door in the garage too, a roll-up door. You can drive out through there and head through the clump of trees at the back. Just make sure to drive slow, so you don’t kick up too much dust. Follow that road for about a kilometre, and you’ll reach a gate. It’s not locked. Once you’re through the gate, turn right, and at the T-junction, turn left. You’ll be on the Walmansthal road leading back to the freeway.”

Leon nodded as the plan started to make sense. “And I take them all back to my place?” he asked, his tone resolute.

“For now, yes,” I confirmed. “It’s safer there, at least until we figure out who’s watching us and why.”

Nadia looked thoughtful for a moment, her eyes darting between me and Leon. Finally, she nodded, her expression grim. “It could work, but we need to tell the girls what’s going on.”

“I’ll handle that,” I said, already turning back toward the house. The weight of the situation pressed down on me as I walked, every step feeling heavier than the last. I had to get this right; there was no room for mistakes.

As I approached the house, my mind raced with thoughts of Zara and Ally. I couldn’t afford to let fear take over. I needed to stay calm, composed. But the idea that someone was out there watching us, planning something, gnawed at the edges of my mind.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I had to do. Zara and Ally’s safety was the only thing that mattered now. I couldn’t let anything happen to them — not on my watch — not ever. I reached for the door, ready to break the news and get them to safety, no matter what it took.

Walking through the front door, I saw that Laura was talking on her phone. She looked up as I entered and gave me a thumbs up sign. I will hear what she had to say, but first I need to get Ally and Zara out of here.

As I stepped into the dining room, I found Ally and Zara seated with Mai-Loan, casually chatting over what remained of their cookies and cool drinks. The moment Ally caught sight of my face, the carefree atmosphere shifted. Her eyes narrowed with concern, sensing something was off before I even said a word.

“What’s up, Alex?” Ally asked, her tone curious but tinged with worry.

I took a deep breath, forcing my voice to remain steady and calm. “Listen carefully, both of you. I need you to stay cool and not panic. Leon is going to take you, Zara, Mai-Loan, and Nadia back to your house, Ally.”

“But why? Don’t you want me here?” Zara’s voice was small, almost hurt, and she looked at me with wide, questioning eyes. “I like it here...”

Her words hit me like a punch in the gut. The last thing I wanted was to make her feel unwanted or scared, but there was no time to sugar coat the situation. I crouched down to her level, trying to keep my expression calm and reassuring.

“Zara, Ally,” I began softly, “there’s been a new development. Mai-Loan spotted someone on the hill outside, watching us. We’re not sure who it is or what they want, but we can’t take any chances. For your own safety, we’re getting you out of here for a little while. Just until things settle down.”

Ally’s eyes widened, a flash of fear crossing her face, but she quickly masked it with a brave nod. “So, are we coming back here?” Zara asked, her voice trembling slightly.

“Yes, Zara. As soon as it’s safe, you’ll be back here,” I assured her, reaching out to gently squeeze her hand. I could see the gears turning in her head, the uncertainty mixed with a stubborn desire to stay put. She was young, but she wasn’t oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

“Okay,” Ally replied, her voice steady now, though I could see the tension in her posture. “So, we don’t need to pack our bags?”

“You’re okay, Ally. You can travel light. But Zara, Mai-Loan, and Nadia might need to pack something, just in case. We don’t know how long this will take, but I promise you, you’ll all come back when it’s safe.”

“Laura stays here with you?” Ally asked, her eyes searching mine for reassurance.

“Yes,” I nodded. “Laura and I will be here, making sure everything is okay. You’ll be back before you know it.”

Laura appeared in the doorway, her expression grave but controlled. “I’ve spoken to Dave and Don. They’re on their way with Leah and Olivia. They’ll be joining you here, Alex, and they’re bringing some firepower with them.”

My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my face neutral. This wasn’t something I wanted the girls to overhear. “You think...,” I started to respond, but the sight of Zara and Ally’s anxious faces made me stop short. I swallowed my concerns and nodded curtly. “Thanks, Laura.”

Just then, Leon entered the room, his presence solid and reassuring. “Okay, all set,” he announced, his voice steady. “We’re ready to go.”

I looked at Ally and Zara, trying to project calm and confidence, though inside I was anything but. The thought of them leaving under these circumstances gnawed at me, but I knew it was the only way to keep them safe.

“Alright,” I said, standing up and forcing a smile. “You’re in good hands with Leon. It’s just a precaution, okay? We’ll have everything sorted out before you even start missing this place.”

Zara gave me a hesitant nod and Ally offered a tight smile, though I could see the questions still lingering in her eyes. I wanted to tell them everything would be fine, that this was all just a minor inconvenience. But the truth was, I didn’t know what was going to happen next. All I could do was ensure their safety and hope we could handle whatever was coming.

Leon ushered them out of the room, and as I watched them go, a knot tightened in my stomach. The farm is usually a place of peace and refuge, but now felt like a ticking time bomb. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play, something we weren’t prepared for. But for now, getting Ally and Zara out of harm’s way was the priority.

Once they were gone, I took a deep breath, trying to steady the nerves threatening to overwhelm me. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot. But with every step they took away from the farm, I felt a small measure of relief. At least they were out of immediate danger, and that was all that mattered. For now.

Outside on the hill.

Sloan watched intently as the girls made their way back to the house, his gaze fixed through the binoculars. He homed in on the one with the striking pink hair, meticulously adjusting the focus until her features sharpened in the lens. Yes, this was the girl he had seen in Spanner’s hotel room, where she had lingered in the shadows, her features partially obscured but distinct enough to be recognized. Now, in the daylight, her identity was undeniable.

The girls vanished into the house, leaving Sloan to shift his attention to the two men standing by the Ranger SUV. As they approached the steps leading to the patio, a woman emerged from the house, engaging them in conversation. Sloan frowned. This woman was new, an unexpected variable. He quickly recalculated: two teenage girls, three women, and two men ... seven people in total. If he was to extract the pink-haired girl from this farmhouse, he would need backup. Reinforcements would be essential.

He could not make out all the features of this new woman. It seems like she had something strapped to her left thigh and under her left arm. Could she be a handyman carrying tools?

He debated his options. He could wait for the girl to be alone, vulnerable, or possibly catch her off guard if she ventured out of the farmhouse. But time was not on his side, and patience had never been his strong suit.

Just then, Leon emerged from the house, heading towards the BMW. Sloan’s pulse quickened momentarily, thinking Leon was leaving, which would simplify matters. But instead, Leon drove the car into the garage and then returned to the house, securing the garage door behind him. Sloan cursed under his breath. Leon wasn’t going anywhere.

With a grim resolve, Sloan pulled out his cell phone and dialled a number he knew too well.

“Yes,” the voice on the other end answered, cold and distant.

“I’ve found the girl,” Sloan reported, his tone clipped and urgent.

“Good. Now get rid of her like you did with her boyfriend,” came the command, laced with an unmistakable threat.

“I don’t have her with me,” Sloan replied, frustration creeping into his voice. “She’s holed up in a farmhouse with six other people.”

“Crap,” the voice muttered, the first sign of displeasure.

“I need help to get her out,” Sloan insisted, his tone hardening. “This isn’t a one-man job.”

“It’s not possible,” the voice responded, dismissive and uncaring.

“Dammit, man! You want her out of the picture, so help me!” Sloan’s patience snapped, his voice a low, dangerous growl.

“It’s your problem. Solve it,” the voice retorted coldly.

“On my own?” Sloan hissed, barely keeping his anger in check. “I don’t even know if those two guys are armed.”

“Why should they be armed? They don’t know anything,” the voice countered, but there was a hint of doubt now.

“What if the girl has spoken to them?” Sloan pressed, sensing the wavering.

There was a pause. “You’ve got a point ... Okay, let me see if I can get some men together. I’ll call you back. In the meantime, make sure she doesn’t leave that farm.”

“Okay, thanks,” Sloan replied, though his gratitude was shallow, born more out of necessity than anything else.

“Send me a location pin. I’ll send in the troops,” the voice commanded.

“Sending it now. How long?” Sloan asked, eager for a timeline.

“Around 22:00,” came the answer, final and precise.

“Okay,” Sloan muttered, and with that, the call ended.

He slid the phone back into his pocket, his mind racing with dark thoughts. Now, the waiting game began, and with it, the mounting anticipation of what was to come. His gaze drifted back to the farmhouse, a cold, predatory look in his eyes. Tonight, the quiet of the farm would be shattered, and Sloan intended to make sure that when it was over, the pink-haired girl would no longer be a problem. Neither the others in the house.

Sloan’s mistake number one.

Inside the Pilgrim’s Nest homestead.

I picked up my phone and dialled Ashwin Windsor. He answered on the third ring, his voice steady and familiar.

“Alex?” he said, his tone just a shade short of curious.

“We’ve got an issue,” I began, keeping my voice calm but urgent. “Someone’s watching the farm from that small hill on the north side.”

“I know. Don phoned me but tell me, how did you notice it?” he asked, instantly alert.

“Mai-Loan spotted it,” I explained. “She saw the sun reflecting off what looked like binoculars.”

“Crap!” Ash muttered, and I could practically hear him shifting gears in his mind. “Can you approach the hill without being seen?”

“Only under the cover of darkness, and that’s still three hours away,” I replied, glancing at my watch.

“Okay, that gives me time to organise something,” Ash said, his voice taking on that familiar tone of someone about to hatch a plan.

“Something as in...?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

“Are you fancying a braai?” he asked, almost too casually.

“A braai?” I echoed, a bit thrown off by the sudden shift.

“Yes, we need a distraction,” he continued, his tone more matter-of-fact now. “Keep Zara out of sight and have two or three of you start a braai. Make it a big one, lots of smoke, lots of noise. That way, the ghost on the hill will think you’re blissfully unaware of his presence.”

“Zara, Ally, Mai-Loan, Leon and Nadia have already slipped away,” I informed him, a touch of pride in my voice. “Leon took them out the back way without anyone noticing. And Laura is with me.”

“Good for you! That shows you can think on your feet,” Ash said, sounding genuinely impressed.

“I should hope so. I was in the Air Force, you know? We did more than just play with aeroplanes, we had to pass the infantry course too,” I quipped, a grin tugging at my lips.

“Hmm ... Do you have any firepower at your disposal?” Ash asked, steering the conversation back to business.