He stands silent, stock-still. He looks at me the way he always used to look at the girls he brought back here when they were no longer any use to him. Head slightly back. Eyes slightly squinted. Nostrils slightly flared. A look only I can detect. He shakes his head and, combing his fingers through his hair, leaves the room, slamming the door hard.
I wander around the downstairs of the house in a daze, ending up in the annexe. All Immy’s stuff has gone. The room has been cleaned, the bed remade with fresh sheets. I check the bathroom. Nothing. He’s covered his tracks. The door to the outside is open. I step out and sit at the small table, contemplating my next move. I know what I need to do. I just need to do it. After half an hour or so, I return inside and go to the kitchen.
That DS left a business card. I pick up my phone from the side and find the DS’s card in the dish on the centre island. I study it. I put it down. I pick it up again. An action I repeat three more times before calling the mobile number. It goes straight to his voicemail.
‘It’s Beth,’ I say, breathless. ‘Beth Lakeland. There’s something I didn’t tell you when you were here. I think you need to come back.’
63
SCARLETT
Justin stands at the door to my stall, holding a handful of cable ties and a black body bag.
My body turns rigid. I push my back against the wall and slide my hand behind me, fishing for the cast-iron grate hidden among the hay.
His demeanour has shifted. He’s agitated: wide-eyed, pupils dilated, hair dishevelled, as if he has been absently trying to pull it out. Something’s happened.
Fear tightens its grip on me. Now is the time.
If he thinks for one moment that I’m going to make this easy for him, then he’s very wrong. The time has come to fight for my life.
‘You really shouldn’t have lied, Imogen. Or should I say Scarlett?’ he says in a guttural, thickened voice.
His words hit hard. Thoughts rush through my mind. How did he find out my real name? If there’s ever been a time I’ve had to keep my cool, it’s now. Playing for time, I reply, ‘Lie about what?’
He unfolds the bag and vigorously shakes it out as if he’s about to change the bed sheets. ‘We’ve had a visit from the police.’
‘Why?’ I ask, trying to control the shaking in my voice.
‘It’s ironic that they were the ones to divulge your little secret. The ones who could’ve secured your salvation.’ It’s as if he’s chanting to his hordes of followers.
‘What secret?’ My voice quavers.
‘Daisy was your sister,’ he says flatly.
I flip. ‘You bastard. You killed her. Why?’ The fear turns into something hotter, burning inside me. This man deserves to die.
‘Like you, she shouldn’t have come here.’ He unzips the bag. All the while, his gaze is set firmly on me.
I pull my legs to my body and roll into a squat, ready to pounce, careful not to reveal the weapon behind my back. ‘How did she end up here?’ I ask, stalling for time, waiting for the right moment to strike, knowing all too well I’ll only get one opportunity at this.
‘Silly girl posed as one of her friends. She took their invitation. It wasn’t hers to take. It was an exclusive invitation.’
‘Layla,’ I say aloud.
‘Clever girl, Scarlett. But sadly, not clever enough.’ He turns darker, more sinister, as he recounts what happened to my sister. ‘She was in this very room, you know.’ He throws his arm out, almost theatrically. ‘Kind of fitting, don’t you think? She was drugged and administered a fatal dose to put her to sleep, then I took her to that canal.’
How can he talk about her like that? I tighten my grip on the grate, ready to lash out once this monster comes towards me. ‘Why the canal? Why not the lake with all the others?’
A loud, crazed laugh echoes around the stable block. ‘I wondered if you’d seen too much when you went swimming the other day. I thought you might have. You were a mess when yougot out of the water. You know, I did advise you not to go in there.’
‘Answer me,’ I say through gritted teeth.
‘I had to make it look like an accident. An overdose. People would’ve come looking for her, wouldn’t they, Scarlett?’ He takes a purposeful step towards me.
Enough.
I can’t take this.
