Trapped by Isla Whitcroft Page B

up towards the town square.
    The market was finished for the day and the water cannons from the town’s cleaning department were hosing away the last of the day’s litter. Cate narrowly missed being splashed with dirty water as she walked briskly through. Now the dusty townsquare was in front of her, the traffic roaring around it at a tremendous rate.
    Everyone seemed to be ignoring the pedestrian crossings and Cate felt she had to take her life in her hands just to cross over into the child’s playground which dominated the centre of the square.
    There was no sign of Marcus. Young children wandered about in the heat, pottering from slide to swing to roundabout, whilst their parents lounged on wooden benches in the shade.
    Suddenly Cate thought of Arthur, remembering how cute he was when little and how the two of them had clung together after her mother had suddenly and inexplicably left home.
    With a huge effort she brought herself back to the job in hand and, reminded of Arthur and his advice, she sat down on one of the park benches and brought out her phone. She still wasn’t sure about these two men and no one knew she was meeting them. She didn’t want to overreact but she needed to tell someone where she was going.
    She searched around in her rucksack for the tracker device and to her relief found it in a side pocket. She texted Arthur.
Just checking out the tracker. I’ll call in one hour.
    Overreacting or not, she felt happier knowing that he was monitoring her. The text sent, she activated the tracker. From now on Arthur would be following her every move – wherever it was she was being led.
    Cate stowed the phone back in her rucksack and walked around the edge of the square, skirting the scrubby sand that stood between the playground and the road. She had all butgiven up looking for Marcus when he appeared through a cluster of trees. He was not alone. By his side was the man who she had just shaken off in the alleyway – it was indeed Piot.
    â€˜Well done, Cate,’ said Marcus. ‘Good work. You completely lost Piot here.’
    For a few seconds Cate was speechless. Then she let rip. ‘Why was Piot following me?’ she demanded. ‘You asked me – well, begged me – to help you last night and I told you everything I knew. Now I find that you are playing some stupid game with me. I’ve had enough, really I have. I’m out of here.’
    â€˜Wait, Cate, calm down.’ Marcus had her by the arm now. ‘Cate, I won’t deny we need some help. And we – I – think that you’re the ideal person to give us that help. You’re clearly brave – you showed that when you saved Andrei’s life – and you are great at thinking on your feet.
    â€˜Not many sixteen-years-olds are as smart as you. You were right to trust your instincts and confide in me. Shaking off Piot just now – well, that was just a test – and you passed with flying colours.’
    Cate’s eyes opened wide and she stared from one man to the other. Now she really had no idea what to think. Outrage took over. These men were not being straight with her. Finally she spoke, trying hard to contain her anger. ‘Just who the hell are you to be setting me a test?’
    Marcus shot Piot a questioning glance. There was a silence and then Piot slowly nodded.
    â€˜That, Cate Carlisle,’ said Marcus, looking her full in the eye, ‘is what you are just about to find out.’

C HAPTER 5
    Marcus led Cate back down the hill at a pace so fast she had to jog; her rucksack holding her phone and tracking device bumped comfortingly into the small of her back. The trio – Piot behind her – came to a halt outside a fish shop. The fishmonger was still doing a roaring trade.
    Today’s main catch was sardines, and hundreds of the little fish were piled high in a shimmering pyramid of silvery scales. A middle-aged woman with two tiny children