I almost feel sorry for her. I almost feel sorry for you too, Faye.
Almost.
CHAPTER 72
THE GRAVEDIGGER
Dina’s gone.
One sweep of the bothy tells him that. And the car and all the money.
“Fuck.”
He slaps his forehead, once and then twice. God he’s tired. He’s sick of this. Sick of being stuck here in Scotland with these… these women.
Dina could turn herself in and make some sort of deal with the police. Revealing his location in exchange for a reduced sentence. Or maybe she’ll die out on the Scottish moorlands. He beat her within an inch of her life, he’s sure of it.
Well, he won’t make the same mistake a third time. He marches over to Penny on the bunk bed. She’s awake now and starts bawling at the sight of him. He grabs her bound wrists, pulling her into the other room. He wants her where he can see her. He’s not letting her out of his sight until it’s time. He throws her down onto the floor, then he steps over her to get to the fridge. He grabs the milk. His nose curls at its sour smell and there’s only half a packet of digestive biscuits left. He shoves a few in his mouth and then tosses a couple at Penny, laughing when they hit her in the face.
“We’re finally alone,” he says. “How romantic.”
She whimpers.
“Please, Tim,” she says.
“Tim?” He walks over to her and drops to his knees so that they’re face to face. “Who is that?”
“She called you Magnus. Is… Is that your name?” She starts to cry. “I loved you. And you lied to me.”
He shoves a biscuit in her mouth and gets up from the floor. She’s proving to be more irritating than Dina, nothing but a whiny cry-baby who wants her mother. He’s bored of her. He doesn’t even find her attractive anymore. He watches her slowly eat the biscuit, struggling with the restraints, crumbs spilling from the corner of her mouth.
“Thirsty,” she croaks.
Reluctantly he gets up to pour her a glass of water. He crouches next to her again, rushing the water into her mouth. She splutters, blinking as the water splashes in her face.
“Pathetic,” he mumbles.
He leaves her down on the floor as he paces, trying to think of his next move. He could call Lisa. The malleable trophy wife. He’s always been able to influence her thoughts. And he would like to see his kids again, one last time. But he knows he won’t. That idea is too risky.
Survival is what matters.
He can start with getting over to the Orkneys and finding work there. He might have to clean out gutters to begin with. Anything cash in hand.
The girl is on her feet. Her bound hands clutching a knife.
Shit.
“Put the knife down, Penny,” he says, approaching her slowly.
“Just let me go.”
Magnus shakes his head. “I can’t do that.”
He moves quickly, snaking his arm around her throat. She lets out a gasp. With her hands tied, she can’t stab backwards which makes it easier for him to disarm her. In just seconds, he has the weapon. He has control.
He dumps the knife on the kitchen counter and yanks Penny away from the door. She stumbles, screaming, but he keeps hold of her, dragging her all the way back to the bunk beds. He throws her on the lower bunk.
“Shut up!”
