If The World Was Ending

Chapter 10

Elizabeth clutches her bag to her chest as she sits in the back seat of the truck. She knew there were security cameras everywhere in the facility and even though she did not know where the camera had been in that room, she still took a chance. She only hopes no one has noticed what she has done.

She needs time to solve this puzzle that just keeps getting more confusing the deeper she digs. The initial reports Dr Kramer had sent her were not enough to base a result on. She had to find the original. She had to find the one where it had started. Elizabeth clutches her bag even tighter as she stares out of the window.

When Shane had first told her that Dr Kramer had been in an accident and that it might have been deliberate it had frightened her, but it had been unbelievable. But now with Dr Kramer actually dead, murdered, she was scared, very scared. And if what she had seen on that video on the plane was true, then she knew why. And that meant she might be in danger.

Shane had been quiet the whole time they had been in the room. He had settled himself onto a chair scrolling through his phone, only pretending to be busy and distracted by his phone keeping an unknowing eye on Elizabeth. He had noticed her hand slide into her bag to retrieve something. She had been nervous and her hands had shook.

He had been briefed about the incident that had happened here at the Prince Albert facility but what exactly had not been specified, except that it could mean disaster if not contained. But it was difficult to contain something if he did not know what it was. And right now he had to contain Elizabeth, which meant her contact with anyone was to be limited.

Something was wrong, he could feel it. Shane shifts in his seat, frowning as he stares at the cars in front of them. It was late afternoon and they were heading to the outskirts of Prince Albert to another guest house on a farm that had been booked for Elizabeth and Dr Kramer. This time he had Thabo make sure there was more than one bed.

This had never been the plan. With Dr Kramer dead and Elizabeth now potentially a target, his plans needed to change. It meant staying close to Elizabeth for the next few days. They had a return flight in four days time and he needed to make sure that Elizabeth and whatever she has discovered returns to America, safely.

The white cottage was much more picturesque than the previous one. Elizabeth pulls a face, this would be perfect if they were a couple on a romantic getaway. The cottage was surrounded by luscious olive trees planted in rows, stretching up a small hill. A trellis covered in grapevines adorned the entrance.

Thabo parks the truck and jumps out. He disappears up a little pathway towards the main farm house. Elizabeth sighs, she desperately wants to take a shower. The day has been long and hot, and she still needs to come to terms with Laura’s death. Elizabeth gives a small smile, rarely even in her thoughts did she ever call Dr Kramer by her first name.

She had worked for Dr Kramer for over five years and had to some extent considered her a friend. Elizabeth jumps as Shane opens her door.

“Come on” he says, holding his hands out towards her. Elizabeth looks at Shane, even though he has his sunglasses on, she knew he was worried. They have hardly spoken to each other all day.

Elizabeth allows Shane to help her out of the truck, albeit difficult with her refusal to let go of her bag. They walked to stand in the shade of a tree just on the edge of the path to wait for Thabo.

“How are you holding up?” Shane asks.

“I am okay” Elizabeth smiles, surprised again at his concern for her. He had tactfully left her alone when they had been in the office, but she had been comforted that he had been there.

Thabo came sprinting down the pathway jingling a pair of keys.

“The lady of the house says she will bring dinner at 7pm, it is included. Breakfast too” he grins as he walks to the cottage. Thabo quickly unlocks the door and then heads to get their luggage from the truck.

Elizabeth steps in and is immediately welcomed by the cooling breeze of an air conditioner. The cottage was much more spacious with the open plan kitchen and the little lounge with two doors. Elizabeth walks over to investigate. The first door led to a bathroom with a bath and shower combo and the other to the bedroom. Elizabeth was almost disappointed when she saw the two single beds in the room.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she had hoped they would share a bed again, which would be inappropriate and much too dangerous. She was feeling very vulnerable right now, and indulging in romantic tendencies would be stupid. But she wants to feel Shane’s arms around her again. Elizabeth takes her suitcase from Thabo when he enters and ducks into the bathroom. She leans against the back of the door with her eyes closed hopefully neither of them had seen her blushing. This is no time for romantic fantasies.  

After thanking Thabo and waving him goodbye, Shane drops down exhausted onto the sofa. It was late and the afternoon was giving way to nightfall. Shane rubs his forehead, he was worried about Elizabeth. Apart from the few tears he had seen earlier she has not spoken or shown any emotion about Dr Kramer. He did not know the extent of their relationship other than that Elizabeth had been her assistant.

Shane looks up when the bathroom door opens. Elizabeth emerges in her cotton night shirt, her damp hair loose around her shoulders. She places her suitcase against the wall and then turns to look at him.

“I wanted to thank you” she says softly, clutching her hands together in front of her.

Shane frowns, “for what?”

“For being there today.”

Shane stands up coming to stand in front of her.

“Are you okay?”

The question was asked full of concern making Elizabeth’s heart turn. All afternoon she has pushed the news of Laura’s death to the back of her mind and now suddenly she was back in the foyer, with her throat closing up. Shane reaches for her and she sags against him crying into his chest.

Shane stood holding her while she cried, until the soft knock on the door made Elizabeth pull away and disappear into the bedroom. Shane sighs, he has no idea what compelled him to hold her other than the need he has been fighting since last night and that she needed it.