Can't Buy Health 6: Can't Buy Health, #6

By Yvonne Marrs

Austin and Yvette have been kidnapped. His pledge that he will protect her no matter what happens echoes in Austin's head, but can he protect her from the masked men holding them captive?

Without any idea why they have been kidnapped, Austin and Yvette at an immediate disadvantage. Their basic security system was triggered, but not fast enough to ensure the emergency services found the couple still in their car.

Taken to a remote location after their abandoned car is blown up, are their chances of rescue also blown?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WTSMP Publications
• Release date: Jun 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9798201337407

Yvonne Marrs

Invernesian Yvonne Marrs (1982-present day) has loved writing for as long as she can remember, moving to the London area at the age of 19 to pursue her dream of becoming a published author. Yvonne graduated from UHI (Inverness College) with an HND in Administration and Information Management, a set of skills she puts to good use to organise herself and her work - especially as she has her own publishing company, WTSMP Publications. Currently Yvonne has published several fictional series - the 'When The Sax Man Plays' series, the 'Football Crazy' series, the 'Aiden Lewis octet', 'Can't Buy Health' series and 'Undeserved'. Yvonne dreamt up the idea that formed the "When The Sax Man Plays" (WTSMP) series after falling in love with saxophone music, and being inspired by Leona Lewis' dream X Factor win. To throw an ordinary person in an ordinary job, with an extraordinary talent into superstardom is the story behind WTSMP. The central character, Jason Bottelli is such a person, although we soon discover he is far from ordinary! If you like your fiction easy going, entertaining, enthralling and heart-warming, you'll fall in love with the musical romance that is the WTSMP series. The ever popular "Football Crazy" series follows our central character, Aiden Lewis, as he rises through the football ranks. From club player to International sensation; through to his management career, leading England into the World Cup and then his brother's local team, the London Giants, from nowhere into the Premiership as the series progresses. Aiden's story continues with the 'Aiden Lewis octet', finishing with 'Undeserved'. There are standalone books as well as those in a series: 'Castiliano Vulgo' - a fictional work on 16th Century London life written using both Elizabethan English and Modern English. 'Inexorable' - a murder erotica written as part of the NaNoWriMo challenge in 2016. 'Putting the Visible into So Called Invisible Illnesses' - a work of 50 poems about living with invisible illnesses, as Yvonne does. 'Harbourtown Murder' - a murder mystery set in fictional Cornwall where a stray cat is the only witness.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Aus, Yvette's quiet voice broke Austin's concentration.

When it was safe to take his eyes off the road, he looked across at her. Although she hadn't said much, she didn’t need to; he knew something wasn't right.

The feeling washed over her again like a wave. She swallowed hard.

Eve, what's wrong? Are you not feeling well?

No, she whispered.

Hang on, sweetheart. I'll pull over. Searching for the best - safest and quickest - place to stop, Austin pulled the car over when he could.

By that time, the anxiety chest pain had her in its grip.

Easy, Eve. It's okay. From their seats, Austin leant across to hug her.

Yvette groaned against him. She let his soothing words work their magic, feeling her chest ease after several very long minutes.

Although she had calmed, Austin felt it, and she now had the strength to put her arms around him, she hadn't moved otherwise. Once recovered, she usually nodded and let go of him, so he knew it was safe to let her go.

Whatever you need, Eve, just say. I've got your inhaler and the spray if you need it.

It was very rare that they had to use the GTN spray, this Austin was very thankful for. He wasn't sure what was plaguing her, plumping for general comforting, in order to give her what she needed if she couldn't speak much.

I've got you, Eve. You're okay. He gave her a gentle squeeze, dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

I don't... I can’t... She ran out of words.

Austin kissed her again. It's alright, sweetheart. We'll stay here until you feel a bit better.

She nodded against him. Describing it was almost impossible, so she was relieved he wasn't pushing her to try.

You've been through such a lot, Eve. It's perfectly natural to not feel right. He reassured her. I'm sorry, I thought getting out for a drive was a good idea.

Shaking her head, she then nodded. It was, she replied.

Kissing her head again, he sighed, not convinced. Maybe we shouldn’t have come out for so long. We'll go home when you feel like it.

Feeling tearful then, Yvette shook her head. It was a good idea to come out. I needed out. Austin squeezed her gently. You're so wonderful, Aus. She sighed against him. You always know what I need.

Austin sighed again. I wish I did. He closed his eyes, hoping that she wouldn't be ill because of him.

They both jumped as the back car doors were wrenched open and the masked men got in behind them. Yvette shrieked as the cold steel of a gun pressed into the back of her head.

Because he’d had his eyes closed, Austin hadn’t seen the car stop behind them, nor the men get out before it drove off again. For a split second, he wondered if he was dreaming... That moment, the man directly behind yanked him away from Yvette, and Austin knew this was no dream.

Let’s go. Act normal, and drive. Came the command. Digging the barrel of his gun into the back of Austin's neck as he spoke, the man continued. I'll tell you where we're going. Don't ask questions, just drive.

Realising he had no choice, Austin gave in to the demand. Slowly turning his attention to the road, he pulled into the light traffic when it was safe to do so. Was it possible that someone would see what was going on and raise the alarm? The thought flitted through his mind.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yvette was frozen in fear. Another man had his gun at her head, in the same way that the man behind him was doing. That image hurt the most. They could do what they wanted to him, so long as they left Yvette alone...

Don't hurt her! He began.

Did they want the car, or something else? There weren’t many clues as to what their motive was. Many hijackers had a firearm only to give their act more seriousness; more often than not, the occupants were left unharmed at the side of the road somewhere and the car was taken, soon sold on or scrapped. Or used as a getaway car for another crime, then abandoned.

Austin tried to cling to the sanity of this thought. Years ago, he and Yvette had been warned about threats to their personal safety. With hype dictating his future as the best player the country had ever seen; coupled with Yvette’s successful writing career, they were a double target. But that had been many years ago, what would anyone want with them now? Whilst he'd contemplated the matter more during their time in the capital, he had forgotten about it in the sleepy rural Cornish countryside they now called home.

The masked men collectively laughed at Austin's plea, the sound bringing him back from his thoughts.

From behind him, the man prodded at Austin with the gun. Only speak to answer my questions, understand?

A silence fell.

It made Austin more nervous: it would have made anyone nervous, he told himself. Taking several deep breaths, he tried to think. The important thing was to establish what the men wanted and give them answers quickly, hoping no harm would come to either him or Yvette.

You can have anything, everything. He tried again.

His words triggered more laughter.

We will. But, thanks for being so obliging. One man laughed.

In the rearview mirror, Austin saw he was the one who was in the middle of the back seat, his gun wavering between him and Yvette.

I told you not to talk. The man tutted, but strangely didn't do anything.

Austin had half expected some kind of punishment, but the man had simply smiled. Or rather, grimaced.

Keep going. At the next junction, go left. Then take the first right. Instructions were given after what felt like an eternity.

This led them down some unfamiliar, quieter roads. That was not good. Four or five minutes of travelling in silence was broken by another instruction.

Pull over by that building and park. The same man continued.

Austin swallowed hard. This was make or break - here, they'd likely either be transferred to another vehicle, or left. Closing his eyes briefly, he sent up silent prayers that they'd be left here. The sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach told him this wasn't going to be the case.

Turning off the ignition, he sat quietly as their captors argued amongst themselves. Suddenly the thought came to him - his basic security system. This was the perfect moment to activate the SOS while the men were distracted. The only problem was that it would take the professionals to their car: it was no good if they were no longer inside. But it was something.

While he didn’t have private security, he had an SOS linked directly to the emergency services, and an entry system at home that allowed access to whoever he gave it to via their handprints; himself, the system retina scanned for watertight security. Naively, he'd thought that was good enough.

Reaching then for Yvette's hand across the console, they were told to get out. Austin shook his head, but before he could speak, he received a blow from the butt of the gun for his rebuke.

Yvette shrieked. She had wondered if the men were going to harm them or if they maybe had orders that the couple were to be handed over unharmed... Now, she knew they were in real danger.

Reeling from the pain, Austin managed to get the words out: Yvette couldn't get out herself; he had to help her. Pausing, he expected something, but nothing happened: nobody spoke, or argued, and no further instructions were issued. Grudgingly two of the men got out of the back to follow him out and round the car to the passenger side.

One man remained inside, watching them, still with his gun pointed at Yvette. He pressed the gun barrel into the base of her skull as she began to sob, telling her to shut up.

Did this mean that the trio hadn’t done their research? Surely they knew of Yvette’s paralysis, if they knew of the couple? Austin's brain clung to the idea that this might not be as bad as he initially thought...

Chapter 2

As Austin opened the passenger door, he saw the remaining man in the backseat was angry. He had heard him threaten Yvette, but was helpless to defend her. Slowly and carefully, he leant over to hug her.

Crying against him, fear getting the better of her, she was soon wheezy and breathless. For a moment, Austin floundered. He’d be coaxing her into calm, controlled breathing usually by now as the medication worked...

Carry her across. The man who'd remained inside waved his gun in the direction of a waiting blacked out minivan. His words interrupted Austin’s thoughts.

She needs her medication, can't you see? Austin's temper rose.

She'll need more than that if you don't hurry up. An equally terse reply came back.

Not that either of them could see, but the two men already out of the car nodded and smiled at this statement.

Despite this, Austin took his time undoing Yvette's seat belt, pretending the fastening was stuck. Retrieving her inhaler from her bag, he gave it to her to hold while he lifted her out of the car, ensuring her bag was also in her lap.

Taking it with shaky hands, it took several attempts to get her breathing in line with the burst from her inhaler. It was difficult enough at the best of times, never mind in a situation like this. Yvette told herself that Austin would do all he could to keep them both safe. She tried, in vain, to calm her fear. The man behind her also got out, standing beside his fellow gunmen, his gun wavering between them, his gaze fixed.

I'm going to be as careful as I can, Eve. I'll try not to hurt you. Austin spoke loudly, scooping her into his arms when she clasped her hands around his neck.

The three masked men snorted with laughter.

Cut the charade and get on with it! One man said, when he deemed after 30 seconds Austin wasn't moving fast enough.

Despite his promise, the movement of him walking over the bumpy gravel jarred painfully through her. Yvette tried not to cry out, knowing Austin was doing his best not to cause her more distress. Of course, he usually only carried her short distances, maybe from her chair to the bed. This was completely different.

Approaching the van they were directed to, Austin sat with her on the bench seat inside, as bidden. One man sat in the front of the vehicle, but turned around to face them. His associates