Opposing Forces (23 page)

Sabina woke with a fuzzy head.  The New Year celebrations had been great, they had got back around 3am and after a long session of love making, it was late when they finally got to sleep.  A soft knock at the door got her attention.  She pulled on a robe and headed over to the door.  It was Estelle with two cups of coffee.

“I thought you and Philippe could do with this.”

“Thank you, Estelle. This is most welcome,” Sabina grinned.

Sabina headed back to bed and nudged Philippe who was comatose. 

“I’m not moving for at least another few hours,” he groaned. 

“You’re going to drink the coffee your mother made,” Sabina chided gently.

When he didn’t move, Sabina slide her hand under the covers and found something that got his attention. 

“That’s cheating,” he growled and sat up. 

“Made you move though,” she giggled and handed him a coffee.  He wrapped an arm around her.  “Do you remember much about last night?” she asked.

“I recall all of it.” He took a large slurp of coffee.  “But if you’re asking whether I remember telling you I love you, the answer is yes.”

She snuggled in next to him.  “Just checking.”

“And I seem to recall you saying something similar.” He put down his cup and pinned her beneath him.  “In case you need a reminder, I love you, Sabina.”  His kiss turned her to jelly.  “Now if you have any true feelings for me, you’ll let me sleep off my hangover.”

Hubert was surprised to find Jacqueline at his apartment when he got in.  It was stupid of him not to ask for his keys back.  But then again he hadn’t had sex for a while, so perhaps he might use this to his advantage.

“I’m surprised to see you here, Jacqueline.” He gave her his best smile.  “Did you find you missed me too much?”

“No,” she scowled.  “But I have missed something.”

“My bank balance,” he grunted, pouring himself a scotch.

“No. My period,” she retorted. “I’m pregnant.”

Hubert looked at her with a very chilly expression.  “And why would this concern me?”

“Because it’s yours.”

“I very much doubt that.  You sleep around, it could be anyone’s.”

“You’re a bastard, Hubert.  Trust me, it’s your child I’m carrying.”

“Why don’t you get rid of it?  You’re not exactly the motherly type.”

“I couldn’t. It would be wrong.”

“I’ve never known you to have a conscience before.  It’s so obviously money you’re after but you won’t get a cent from me. I’m not falling for this entrapment.”

“You will support your own child, Hubert. Whether I have to go through the courts or not.”

“I will demand a paternity test.”

“And I will be more than happy to provide one.”

“Until then, you’ll not get a thing.”

“On the contrary, Senator, I think you should help out with medical bills, if you want this latest inconvenience kept out the papers.”

Hubert let out a cold laugh. “Now you’re starting to show your true colours.  You’re nothing but a gold digger, Jacqueline.  You can go the press if you want, but it will only hurt your claim, showing that you’re nothing but a money grabbing tart.”

“But I shall also highlight what a sick pervert you are,” she retorted angrily.

“Why, because young girls like to throw themselves at me?”  He pulled her to him and groped her breasts.  “You are nothing more than a whore, Jacqueline.  If I offered to buy you an apartment, you’d spread your legs again for me without a second thought.”

Jacqueline slapped his face hard.  “You are truly vile. I’d not touch you again for your entire wealth, at least what your ex-wife didn’t take.”

“Don’t you dare mention Bettina,” Hubert barked.

“Sorry, I forgot you lust after her now.   Shame she’s involved with someone else.”

“Get out my apartment, you slut.  And leave your keys.  If you want any further contact, it will through my lawyer.”

“With pleasure, you wizen old man,” she hissed back.  “And when I get your paternity confirmed, I’ll take what she didn’t.”

With that Jacqueline stormed out the apartment.  Hubert was steaming.  It was quite possible the child was his, but if Jacqueline started to make a lot of noise then he would have to trash her reputation, make out she had pursued him, wrecked his marriage.  He would make sure he came out looking like the injured party.

New Year’s Eve should have been a highlight in her calendar but Maisie was just not in the mood for celebration.  She had driven with Julianne and James up to the chalet a group of them had rented in Villars and were getting prepped for a party at the top of the mountain.

Julianne was giving her a pep talk.  “For Christ sake, Maisie, you’ve been miserable for months now and you won’t tell me why.  You’re bloody well going to come out with us tonight, no excuses. Even if I have to drag you out.”

“I’m sorry, Julianne, I just feel so tired,” was her poor excuse.

“Not surprising as you’ve been working day seven days a week the last few months. Are you going to talk about the heartache you’re so desperately trying to bury?”

“No,” Maisie managed a weak smile for her best friend. “Now if you’re insisting on dragging me to this godforsaken party, the least you can do is get me a coffee.”

Julianne shook her head in despair.  She would dearly like to know what was troubling her friend, but Maisie simply would not let her in.  It was so unlike her, she would generally open up when pressured.  She thought at first it had been a reaction to the car accident she had had, but something else had happened around that time, something that had affected Maisie deeply.

Maisie had decided to wait until after New Year before mentioning her potential move to Paris. New Year’s Eve was the biggest celebration in the Swiss calendar and she did not want to ruin it for Julianne. She had received the job offer from La Maison Rouge earlier that afternoon and said she’d give them her decision in the next couple of days. She emerged from her room a while later, dressed in jeans and a long sweater.  James, Frankie, Jean-Pierre and the rest of the crew gave her a cheer. 

“Finally,” James beamed, “we can go.”  He threw her a snow suit.  The chalet came with snowmobiles and that was how they, and many others, were getting up the mountain to the party.

“You can ride with me, Maisie,” Frankie offered gallantly.

“Not bloody likely,” Maisie retorted. “You drive like a madman.  I’ll take my own, thanks.”

Maisie had to admit that it was fun, all of them careering up the mountain path. The moon was high offering good light too.  She was well wrapped up and cosy in her snow suit, her scarf tied around her face, protecting as much as possible against the freezing night air. The restaurant at the top of the mountain was just heaving.  They pulled their snowmobiles around the side of the building where numerous others had been abandoned.  Being Switzerland, everyone had left the keys in the ignition.  Theft was just so rare.

A pile of discarded snow suits lay just inside the entrance.  Maisie stripped hers off and followed the others inside.  The place was packed and full of life.  Perhaps this was what she needed after all.  Frankie bought a bottle of champagne and pushed her into a quiet corner.

“When were you going to announce your move to Paris?” he asked bluntly.

Maisie choked on her drink.  “What makes you think I’m moving?”

“I heard you this afternoon in your room.  I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but your door was ajar and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.”

She felt her cheeks get pink.  “I’m considering an offer, that’s all. I have not made my mind up yet.”

“Does Julianne know?”

“No. I don’t want her to find out until I have made my decision.”

“Is there anything I can do to make you stay?” His voice had become quite husky.

She shook her head.  “You’re cute, Frankie, but sadly we are ancient history.”

A rather drunk brunette appeared and slid her arms around Frankie.  “Frankie,” she squealed.  “Do you remember me from last New Year?”

“Last New Year?” Maisie could see him wracking his brain trying to remember this woman.

“Yes, we got to know each other very well in the hot tub at the Villa Santina.”

Frankie turned a lovely shade of bright red.  Maisie rolled her eyes at him and left him alone with the woman.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw him across the room, chatting to a couple of very beautiful women.  His gaze caught hers for a moment before she looked away.  What the bloody hell was he doing here?  Was there nowhere she could go without running in to him, or seeing his face plastered over the news or in a damn magazine?  It was just torture. She felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. 

That was the moment she made her final decision, she was moving back to Paris.  She loved the city and there was absolutely no chance she would run into him.  She still kept in contact with many of her friends from her Laverge days, so would have no problem settling back into a great life.  To hell with Steffen Grundberg, he had tormented her enough. She was well and truly done feeling miserable over him. In fact she was done with Swiss men altogether.

Throwing the last of the champagne down her throat, she went to find Julianne. Her friend was not happy she was leaving.

“I really was enjoying myself but I feel so sick,” Maisie made her excuse.

“You can’t go back alone,” Julianne stated.

“I can and I will.  No-one else is going to miss out on the fun.” Maisie was adamant. 

She suited up quickly and slipped out the restaurant before anyone noticed.  The ice cold air hit her hard; she really did feel a little sick and dizzy now.  She trudged around to the side of the building in search of her snowmobile.  Two identical Yamahas were parked side by side.  Which the hell was hers?  Both had keys in the ignition.  She shut her eyes and tried to recall parking.  Convinced she had got the right one, she turned it on and sped away.

She headed towards the wooded pathway, forcing herself to concentrate.  The damn champagne had hit her hard but she’d only had one glass.  Had she forgotten to eat that day?  Suddenly aware she was travelling a bit too fast, she pulled the brake handle.  It took a few seconds to realise nothing had happened.  She pulled again.  Still nothing.  She pulled with all her strength but the snowmobile kept picking up speed.

Her tired mind was stating to panic.  She was speeding downhill towards the trees with no bloody brakes.  Could her day get any worse?  It did, the steering column on the snowmobile jammed.  Now she was headed straight into trees. 

It struck her as bizarre that when you think you’re about to die, everything goes in slow motion.  She was frozen partly from fear, partly from weakness on a snowmobile which was hurtling closer every second towards the trees. She had no way of stopping or turning.  She knew she had to get off, but she just couldn’t, her limbs would not move.  Seconds before reaching the trees and with a herculean effort, she threw herself off the snowmobile.  As she rolled down the hill, her head connected with a tree.

Steffen was searching for her.  He had spotted her across the room and desperately needed to talk to her, hopefully she was in a better mood than the last time he saw her. He found Julianne instead.

“Do you know where Maisie is, Julianne?” He tried to sound as nonchalant as possible.

Julianne eyed him a little suspiciously. “She left. Just a couple of minutes ago.”

A split second later they heard the most almighty explosion.  Steffen sprinted to the exit and saw a yellow ball of flames just in the treeline.

Julianne was right behind him, screaming Maisie’s name.

His heart really was in his mouth as he tore round to his snowmobile.  He looked for a second at the one that was parked in its place. A Yamaha, but not his. 

Julianne saw his hesitation. “Maisie was on a Yamaha. Did she take the wrong one?”

“Yes. She was on mine.” It was then he saw the fine trail of brake fluid and knew instantly it was not an accident he was looking at. He fired up the one that was left and raced down the hill.  She was lying motionless in the snow, a few feet from the fire ball.  He leapt off the machine and waded through the snow to her.  Feeling her neck, he found a very faint pulse. 

He pulled the phone from his pocket; he needed an air ambulance at the top of the mountain and several officers as they were dealing with attempted murder. Kneeling next to Maisie as he waited, he so wanted to pick her up and hold her tight, but he knew he could cause untold damage.

Julianne and James appeared moments later.  Julianne was near hysterical.  “It’s all my fault,” she wailed. “I should never have let her leave on her own.”

Steffen took hold of her arm and spoke gently.  “We need to get Maisie back up to the restaurant before the air ambulance gets here.  Can you and James see what emergency equipment is stored in the restaurant’s shed?  If it is locked, the owner should have the key.”

Julianne nodded numbly.

Steffen took James to one side.  “Please also make sure no-one moves the snowmobiles.  I have some officers on the way up who need to make a detailed search of the area.”

James looked at him slightly bemused.  “Are you suggesting this wasn’t an accident?”

“I know it wasn’t. The ground under where the bike was parked is soaked in brake fluids. And could you also send someone down with a snowsuit before I get hyperthermia?”

After Julianne and James had gone back up to the restaurant, Steffen knelt back down beside Maisie.  He felt so helpless.  He stroked the side of her face, kissing the small part of her cheek that was exposed.  “Don’t you die on me, Maisie. Don’t you bloody dare,” he whispered in her ear.  For the first time in his life he experienced fear.  He was terrified her life could ebb away at any moment and he would be powerless to save it. 

He saw headlights a few minutes later.  James and Frankie were back with equipment and his snow suit.  They slipped a back board under Maisie then lifted her onto an emergency sled. Steffen wrapped her in a hypothermia blanket before securing her in.

Steffen was just attaching the sled to the back of the snowmobile when he saw the lights in the tree line.  The cavalry had arrived.  He barked brief instructions at the senior officer who kept a couple of men at the scene of the accident and the rest headed up to the restaurant.  Interrogating potential suspects on New Year’s Eve was going to be a thankless task, but one that had to be done.

He drove slowly back up the hill, forever keeping an eye on Maisie in the sled.  He heard the helicopter in the distance.  In fact it had just landed as he pulled up.  The paramedics on board helped detached the sled and carry her on the backboard to the helicopter. 

Steffen looked at Julianne’s stricken face.  “We’re taking her to the CHUV, it’s the nearest hospital with a helipad.”  He looked at one of the police officers who had just arrived.  “These two are cleared to leave immediately.” He leapt inside and the helicopter took off into the night.

James hugged his fiancée.  “Let’s head back to the chalet and I’ll drive you to Lausanne.”

Even in her emotional state, Julianne twigged that something was not right.  “What did he mean that we were cleared to leave?  And why are there so many police officers here?”

James held her hand firmly.  “The brake line on the snowmobile had been cut.  It had been rigged to crash.”

The paramedics went to work on Maisie as they flew to Lausanne.  She was put in a neck brace, IV lines inserted and various checks completed.

“Do you know if she consumed a lot of alcohol, Chief Grundberg?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

He held her limp white hand in both of his trying to warm it up, hoping that the contact might reach her. 

The lights of Lausanne were coming into view.  A few minutes later the pilot was landing with utmost precision on the helipad. The emergency crew were already waiting for them. Steffen and the paramedics followed them down to the emergency room.   She underwent a full body scan; there was no swelling to the brain, no broken vertebrae, no internal bleeding.  She should make a full recovery, although there was a good possibility she might have amnesia, as was common with head trauma.