Richard raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘We’ll go and ask her then.’ He pulled her towards the back door.
‘Please, stop!’
‘No, you’re calling your sister a liar. Let’s see what she has to say about that.’
Louisa struggled but he dragged her along the path. She had to do something to stop him causing more trouble. Before they got to the annexe, she balled her hand into a fist and hit him on the side of his face.
He let go of her wrist, crying out in surprise. It gave her time to run back towards the house.
‘Louisa.’ Richard marched after her. ‘Louisa!’
‘Leave me alone,’ she cried, glad she’d hit out at him, but realising she would be trapped in the garden if she couldn’t get back to the kitchen and lock the door before he caught up with her.
Richard levelled with her in no time. He spun her round to face him with such force that she was lucky to stay on her feet. His lips were almost touching hers butthere was nothing sexual about their encounter. He raised his hand and slapped her.
The force made Louisa drop to the ground.
‘Get away from me,’ she cried, holding on to her cheek. ‘I can’t take any more. I’m leaving and Daisy is coming with me.’
‘You’re going nowhere.’ Richard reached for her hair and lifted her to her feet again.
‘Please, let us leave,’ she pleaded. ‘We won’t be any trouble. And you and Sarah can be happy together then. Maybe you could start a new family.’
He stopped. ‘What has she told you?’
‘Nothing, I saw you with her, in the studio. I’m happy for you but I want to leave now. You don’t love me anymore. You love Sarah.’
‘Don’t be so ridiculous.’ He loosened his grip for a moment. ‘You can go, but you’re not taking Daisy.’
‘She’s my daughter.’
‘And you’re an unfit mother. I won’t allow it.’
‘Please,’ she sobbed. ‘Let me take her with me.’
‘You don’t understand me.’ His eyes bored into hers. ‘You’re not leaving either.’
‘You can’t keep me here, against my will.’
‘Oh, yes I can. Because you’ll be buried in the woods.’
Richard’s hands went around her throat. Louisa struggled but he was too strong for her to push away. Still she tried. Her breath became shallow, her lungsstruggling to work without the oxygen they required. All her blood seemed to rush to her head, and her vision began to fade. Darker, darker. Then nothing.
She flopped to the floor.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Sarah had been in the shower. She’d dressed and was sitting on the bed, only hearing raised voices when she finished towelling dry her hair. She went to the window, spotting Richard with his hands around Louisa’s throat. Banging hard on the glass to get his attention, she watched in horror as Louisa collapsed.
‘No,’ she whispered, tearing down the stairs and out into the garden. ‘Louisa!’ She dropped to the ground next to her. ‘Louisa, talk to me.’
It was happening again, just like it had with Poppy. Louisa had that same look in her eyes.
‘Louisa! Oh, no, no, no!’ She turned to Richard. ‘She’s dead! What have you done?’
He paced beside her, running a hand through his hair. ‘Fuck!’
‘You’ve killed her!’ Sarah sobbed. ‘You’ve killed my sister.’
