Free Holy Island Trilogy 03 - The Final Countdown by Sheila Quigley

that there wasn’t someone there watching. She dropped her lighter on the far side, away from the windows. Pretending to search for it, she prised a brick loose and pulled out a mobile phone. Quickly she dialled a number and, still on her hands and knees, put the phone to her ear.
    Within moments it was answered by Coral. Ella quickly told her of the locked room. The rest she would tell her when she got back, there was no time now.
    ‘Hmm, interesting. It could of course be full of fresh slaves,’ Coral said. ‘Do what you can to find out without putting yourself in danger. Your post there is too important to lose.’
    ‘Will do.’ Ella switched off immediately. The less time on the phone, the harder it was to trace.
    With the phone tucked in her sleeve, and smoking her cigarette, she walked a further fifty yards and stubbed her cigarette out on an old tree trunk, dropping the phone into a hole in the trunk, knowing that it was too dark for anyone from the hotel to see at this distance. She pushed the piece of loose bark back over the hole and, hands in her pockets, casually sauntered back to the hotel.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
    The sun was just starting its long crawl up a pale pink sky as Aunt May walked down the path, with Brother David close behind and towering above her.  It had been a long night, nearly a six-hour drive from Seahouses in Northumberland to this quiet, unassuming back street in Norwich.
    Just before Aunt May reached the door, and as Brother David was stifling a yawn, the door opened. Aunt May was at once engulfed in a hug by a young woman whose large hazel eyes sparkled as she met Brother David’s eyes over Aunt May’s shoulder.
    Her smile was so dazzling that, slightly confused by it, Brother David stepped back.
    ‘It’s so good to see you, Aunt May.’
    ‘And you too, my lovely Coral.’
    Coral turned to Brother David. ‘And you must be big Mike. Wow, you never told me he was so gorgeous, Aunt May.’
    The next minute she had her arms wrapped around Brother David, and planted a kiss firmly on his mouth. Leaning back, she looked into his eyes and winked.
    ‘Erm… I think you’ve put your bloody foot in it again, my dear,’ Aunt May laughed, and went on, ‘Bloody hell, Coral. This isn’t Mike, this is David. Brother David. He’s a monk.’
    ‘What! Oh, my God.’ Coral backed off. It was hard to tell who had the reddest face, her or Brother David, as she went on, ‘I’m so sorry, so sorry. I mean, you don’t look like any monk I’ve ever met.’ She looked him up and down. ‘Not that I’ve met many, that is.’
    ‘It, it’s fine…really, no harm done.’ Brother David held his hand out. He tried his best to ignore the delicious tingle he felt as they shook hands. With his other hand, just for something to do with it, he nervously fingered his jacket, as he went on, ‘You, er... you weren’t to know, um…were you.’
    ‘OK, again, I’m sorry. It, er... it won't happen again.’ This time Coral laughed, and pulled a face at Aunt May who was still grinning. ‘Kettles on, beds are ready. You will be wanting sleep, won’t you? Gotta be shattered after the drive down.’
    ‘I’m fine, napped nearly all the way, but Brother David drove most of the bloody night. I suspect he’ll need some shuteye.’ Aunt May raised her eyebrows as she looked at Brother David.
    Still slightly embarrassed, Brother David nodded. ‘I’ll skip the tea, if you don’t mind.’
    ‘No bother,' Coral said.
    By this time they were inside the house, and passing the door to the garden. ‘Your bedroom, Brother David, is upstairs, the first door on your right.’ Coral pointed up the stairs.
     Brother David nodded and made for the stairs. He could hear her giggling to Aunt May, who was shushing her with a smile in her voice, as he reached the room. Quickly he opened the door and went in. The bed was a very welcoming sight.
    Stripping his clothes off as he walked the half-dozen steps to the bed, he