"Diane? Get back in the house, you''''ll drown out here." The familiar voice echoed from her past.
Trembling, both from the intensity of the storm and Peter’s sudden appearance, she turned and ran towards the house ahead of him, her emotions now revolving through happiness to anger – and back again. Typical, she thought crossly as he politely stood on the threshold. But, his intense blue eyes found hers.
As always, Peter was reading into her very soul, recognising her years of sorrow and despair. . . .
. . . their stories begin. Diane’s early years and later when Peter’s life tangled with hers. More than thirty years, are about to unfold and be laid bare.
Broken marriages; kidnap; abuse; attempted rape; a fight out of the black abyss of alcoholism and Peter’s staunch support from Linda, the child who entered his life like a guardian angel. Diane’s stories are woven through a bold tapestry of babies growing up, marriages, and the births of a second generation, whilst Peter’s are told against the spectacular backdrop of the Dolomites.
With Diane’s steadfast commitment to family life in England, always at odds with Peter’s passion for the freedom of a less conventional life in Italy, it appears they are destined to remain apart . .
About the author
Pam Fish was born in South London and lived there until moving to Peterborough four years ago. Three children from her first marriage, and two boys coming into her life thirty years ago when she married her second husband, have produced many weddings and seven grandchildren. This, with all the accompanying ups and downs, has been a useful source for the realism of her fictitious families’ lives.
Starting creative (very) writing as a nine-year old in journals, she wrote whenever she could, but since retiring has been able to concentrate fully on her creativity. Pam has written many short stories and is at the moment completing her third novel.
Twenty or so years, first as a successful newspaper photographer and then going freelance, have provided Pam with a great insight into real life dramas. This in its turn has given her writing its realistic edge.
The publication of ‘The Last Resort’, her first novel, has become an enormous achievement and she is hopeful its success will enable her to publish, the second of her three works - ‘Rabbits on the Lawn’. A sensitive story of how a much younger sister helps her brain damaged brother to reach his potential in life.
The Last Resort is a saga with a generous helping of suspense and drama. Broken marriages; kidnap; abuse; attempted rape; a fight out of the black abyss of alcoholism and Peter’s staunch support from Linda, the child who entered his life like a guardian angel. Diane’s stories are woven through a bold tapestry of babies growing up, marriages, and the births of a second generation, whilst Peter’s are told against the spectacular backdrop of the Dolomites.
With Diane’s steadfast commitment to family life in England, always at odds with Peter’s passion for the freedom of a less conventional life in Italy, it appears they are destined to remain apart . . .
Excerpt from Chapter Six
The conversation was halted abruptly by the shrill ringing of the telephone. Maurice Lockwood, put out a hand to stop Paul from answering it too soon. Satisfied that his men were ready, he indicated to Paul to pick up the receiver.
“The second plait is on its way,” came the same muffled voice. “How does it feel to have a child taken away?”
Paul was trying to keep his voice level. “What do you want? What would make you give her back?”
“That’s for me to know, and you to wonder.”
“I need to know if Susie is all right. Is she there, let me speak to her?” Paul wavered a little in his effort to keep calm. “Just tell us what you want and hand Susie over.”
The laughter that followed this time was so loud that Diane and Maurice heard it from across the room. Diane rushed over and took the phone, hoping that her intervention might be a way to lengthen the call.
“Please let us have our little girl back. She must be terrified. How can you do that to a child?” As the phone clicked to silence, Diane visibly crumpled. It all seemed so hopeless.
Paul tried to comfort Diane, but words and hugs were not enough. Turning back to the Detective Inspector, who was heading for the sitting room, Paul said, “the bloke’s a complete madman. How do we deal with someone like that?” He followed Maurice into the room, both anxious to see if there had been any progress in tracing the call.
“Did you get anything?” the Detective Inspector asked the police expert.
“Not really, but we’re pretty sure from the number of repeats on the line that it was a local call. Not long distance.”
A few minutes later, Alice came back with the Sunday paper. There was quite a lot about the missing schoolgirl. Neither Diane nor Paul wanted to read it, but it had a morbid fascination, which sought their attention.
How they all managed to get through the rest of the day, no-one will ever know. There were no phone calls, putting the grieving parents back to the futility of the unknown. The police presence had become routine. Susie had been missing now for two whole days.
It was impossible to ignore the newspaper laying on the kitchen table, where Alice had left it, the stark headline reading, ‘SCHOOL GIRL KIDNAPPED. IS SHE NOW DEAD?”