Blood Ransom by Sophie McKenzie Page A

came
out from behind a dark cloud.
    I could just make out the coastline ahead – a dark beach under a jetty lit with a single lamp. Another boat – larger than ours – was already moored against the jetty.
    ‘Only one boat to disable,’ Lewis muttered.
    I peered at the lamp. It was fastened to the shelter at the end of the jetty. Beneath it, a small security camera was swivelling away from us.
    ‘That camera is sweeping the jetty,’ I whispered. ‘We’ll have to moor up behind the big boat so it doesn’t see us.’
    Lewis followed my gaze. ‘Good thinking,’ he said.
    He cut the engine and paddled us up to the hull of the other boat. As the camera on the jetty shelter turned away from us, Lewis hauled himself up, clambering silently into the other boat. There
was the swift ripping sound of a knife tearing through plastic. I watched the camera. It was still focused on the other end of the jetty. Lewis’s head appeared over the hull. He beckoned me
towards him and I crawled into the other boat too.
    My heart was hammering away, the adrenalin coursing through me.
    ‘Okay, I’ve killed the engine,’ Lewis whispered. ‘Their boat’s out of action.’
    I nodded, pointing towards the camera, which was now moving slowly back in our direction. We lay face down, prostrate against the deck, as we waited for the camera to swing all the way towards
us and begin its journey back again.
    Several long seconds passed. There was no sound from the shore, just the slap of the waves against the boats and the whistle of the wind above our heads.
    At last I risked a glance. The camera was pointing away from us again. I raised myself, ready to move.
    Damn.
    A tall, thick-set man was walking along the path towards the jetty. I dropped back down, my breath ragged and shallow. Had he seen us?
     
    31
Rachel
    I lay awake for hours on Tuesday night. Another long day had passed. Elijah had appeared at lunchtime – looking exhausted again – and taken blood from me. He
hadn’t explained any more about why I was here. I’d spent most of my time talking to Milo and walking on the beach when it wasn’t raining.
    I was still no closer to finding a way into the radio room, but at least I had a better sense of how life here at the house worked.
    Elijah’s word was law. Both bodyguards and Milo were clearly terrified of him – and he, in turn, expected absolute and immediate obedience from them.
    Elijah kept odd hours, spending most of his time in the mysterious lab he’d set up in the barn. However, whenever he did appear, he expected Milo to be on hand providing him with food at a
moment’s notice.
    One guard was on duty at all times. John and Paul took shifts outside the barn that contained Elijah’s lab while Elijah was inside – and through the night. I was pretty sure that,
most of the time, the house where we all ate and slept was unguarded, but there was still no way for me to get outside. Though I was allowed to roam about under Milo’s supervision during the
day, I was locked in my room after supper and left there till morning.
    I pumped Milo for more information while we ate the shepherd’s pie he’d made.
    ‘Once or twice a week one of the guards goes to the mainland for fresh provisions. I’ve only been off the island that one time – to fetch you.’ He blushed.
    I smiled, determined to make him think I was interested. ‘It was clever, the way you tricked me,’ I said. ‘I mean, I hate to admit it, but you really fooled me.’
    Milo blushed even more deeply. ‘I know, I’m so sorry I had to lie to you Rachel, but I promise everything else I’ve told you is the truth.’
    ‘I understand,’ I said, forcing another smile. ‘It’s hard to say “no” to Elijah.’
    Milo nodded.
    ‘There is one thing . . .’ I hesitated, trying to assume a look of slight embarrassment. ‘I hate being locked in that room overnight,’ I said softly. ‘It’s
humiliating not being able to go to the bathroom. I was