‘I know you’re in here,’ said a matter-of-fact voice. ‘You can’t go anywhere and if I have to find you, I’ll get cross.’ There was a short silence. ‘AND YOU WON’T LIKE IT WHEN I GET CROSS.’
God, he sounded like a villain in a film, except this was all too horribly real. On the back of my neck, my hairs stood to attention. A river of sweat inched down the ‘V’ between my breasts. I crouched lower fighting an overwhelming instinct to curl up into a ball and whimper. I wasn’t going to give up.
Being so close to the floor, I could hear the crunch of the dust on the concrete floor, which was cold and gritty underneath my cheek.
Crunch. Crunch. As each step got nearer, my muscles turned to jelly. I couldn’t move. The steps stopped, an ominous scrunch along with a puff of fine grit grazing my forehead. He was right in front of me. Nothing happened. I waited. My heartbeat was roaring in my ears. Kaleidoscope patterns danced behind my tightly closed lids. Orange and yellow like demons swirling.
There was a slight scratch as if he’d shifted his weight. And then his steps moved away. Still rigid, I didn’t dare raise my head.
Every now and then his steps would stop and then move off again. My knees were stiff. I’d never be able to move quickly if I stayed put much longer. Did I dare make a run for it? How long had I been here?
I had no idea what time it was but there was no sound. Peter must have moved through to one of the other rooms. Easing upfrom my cramped position, I tentatively raised my head above the sideboard.
No sign of him. As quietly as I could I stood and forced my knees into action, creeping silently towards the back door.
I could see daylight and there was still no sound from behind me. I took a step into the yard and took a deep intake of breath. Thank God. I’d made it.
‘Guess who?’ sang a cheerful voice. Jumping, I didn’t even get chance to turn around. My heart contracted, my bladder almost emptying as an arm slipped around my neck.
* * *
He cranked up the CD, the infectious rock music suiting his mood perfectly. Even the hideous traffic on the A4 couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. Olivia’s sultry voicemail message showed a new side to her, one that he’d like to get to know better. Although looking at the time, her bath water would be stone cold by now. He’d have to scrub her back another day.
Damn, the traffic had come to a complete halt now. If only he’d left work early like he’d intended, instead of getting stuck in a meeting that had dragged on and on. It meant hitting the worst of the rush hour.
When his phone rang, he reached eagerly for it, hoping it might be Olivia but to his dismay it was Emily. Christ hadn’t she said enough to him? Boy, he’d been taken in by the soft, breathy voice and winsome smiles. He hadn’t told Olivia half of the things she’d spat at him. Disappointment rankled and he couldn’t decide which was worse, that he’d been such a dickhead for being so taken in or that she could be such a bitch when she didn’t have to be. Hell, she had tons going for her. She didn’t need to behave like that.
He shook his head grimly. Thank goodness for Olivia. Straight down the line. He knew exactly where he was with her.How could he have ever believed Emily’s lies? He had to concede she’d been smart in knowing which buttons to press.
He tossed the phone back on the seat. Within seconds he heard the strident beep of the phone again. She wasn’t giving up that easily. Eyeing the standstill traffic he warily answered.
‘Daniel, its Emily. Do you know where Olivia is?’ Her words tumbled down the phone in a breathless rush.
‘Yes, she’s at the flat.’
He heard muffled conversation as if Emily had put her hand over the phone.
‘Are you sure?’
His senses went on alert, the hair on the back of his neck rising.
‘Yes, she rang me a couple of hours ago, said she was at home. Planning to have a bath.’
Another voice muttered in the background and then Emily spoke again. ‘Barney’s been doing some digging... I’ll hand you over.’
‘Daniel,’ Barney’s voice, clipped and decisive spoke. ‘It’s Barney. I’m trying to get hold of Olivia but she’s not answering her phone or the one in the flat.’
Daniel’s heart faltered and for a second, he felt as if he were falling. Her message had told him she was waiting for him. She’d hardly have gone out.
‘Where are you?’ he snapped, trying to work out how long it would take him to get there.
‘On my way to the flat. Emily’s got a key.’
Daniel didn’t ask why Emily was with Barney. At this moment it didn’t matter.
‘How far away are you?’
‘About ten minutes. Do you think Olivia’s home? Any chance she might have gone out?’
