Free Midnight Never Comes - PC 04 (v5) by Jack Higgins

the noise of it seemed to fill the night and it braked to a halt outside. There was a quick step, the rattle of a key in the lock and the door was flung open.
    The man who stood there was of medium height with a weak, sullen face and badly needed a shave. He wore a shabby tweed suit that was a size too large for him and yellow hair poked untidily from beneath the tweed cap.
    He held a double-barrelled shotgun in both hands, and lowered it slowly, astonishment on his face. 'Would ye look at that now?'
    Asta returned his gaze calmly. 'What do you want?'
    'What do I want?' He laughed harshly. 'Now that's a good one. You're trespassing, did you know that? And how the hell did you get in here anyway?'
    'Through the kitchen window.'
    He shook his head and ran his tongue over his lips quickly, his eyes on her legs, on the skirt that was rucked up above her knees.
    'I don't think my boss would like that at all. He's very particular about things like that. I mean, if he knew, he might even consider calling in the police.'
    His eyes carried their own message and she took her foot off the stool and pulled down her skirt. 'I turned my ankle back there on the track somewhere. I've just come over Ben Breac.'
    'Oh, a hiker? That's nice.'
    Asta took a deep breath and stood up, not in the least afraid. 'It's lucky you came. You'll be able to give me a lift, won't you?'
    He reached out, clutching at her arm. 'That depends now, doesn't it?'
    She was tired and the blotched whisky face was suddenly completely repulsive. 'What's your name?'
    He grinned. 'That's more friendly. It's Fergus--Fergus Munro.'
    She pulled her arm free and sent him staggering with a vigorous shove of both hands.
    'Then don't be stupid, Fergus Munro.'
    For a moment he gaped in astonishment and then anger twisted his mouth. He dropped the shotgun and grabbed at her as she turned away, fingers hooking into the neck of her blouse, the thin material ripping along the seam of one shoulder.
    She gave a cry of anger, striking out at him, aware of his hands on her, the staleness of his breath, the blotched, drink-sodden face and then beyond him, she saw a man materialise from the darkness to stand in the doorway.
    It was the face which held her, the handsome, devil's face, eyes like black holes above high cheekbones, full of cold fury, flaring into a ruthless action that was almost frightening in its efficiency.
    One hand fastened on her assailant's collar, another in his belt, tearing him away from her, sending him across the room with a tremendous heave.
    Munro crashed against the opposite wall and slid to his knees. For a moment he stayed there, staring up at Chavasse, bewilderment on his face and then he flung himself forward, reaching for the shotgun.
    Chavasse kicked it away from him, grabbed for the man's right wrist with both hands, twisting it round and up in an akaido shoulder lock, and sent him head first across the room to crash into the wall for the second time.
    When Munro picked himself up, blood trickled down his cheek from a cut above the right eye and his face was contorted with fear. He plunged for the open door in complete panic and Chavasse went after him.
    'Let him go!' Asta cried sharply.
    Chavasse paused, a hand on each side of the door frame and when he turned, the killing mask was still firmly in place. And then he smiled, becoming in that moment almost a different person.
    'Are you all right, Miss Svensson?'
    She nodded slowly. 'Who are you?'
    'My name is Chavasse--Paul Chavasse.'
    Outside, the engine of Fergus Munro's Land Rover roared into life and he drove rapidly away down the glen. Chavasse closed the door and when he turned she was sitting in the wing-backed chair again, her right leg back on the footstool.
    She chuckled suddenly. 'You know, I was really beginning to despair, Mr. Chavasse. I thought you were never going to catch up with me.'

6
    Chocolates and kisses
    'Was I that obvious?' Chavasse said lightly.
    'But of course. On the station