Dead of Winter, page 16
Her chance to escape would come. She just had to be ready to take it.
35
EIGHTEEN MONTHS EARLIER
‘Anything for me?’
Rose was in the hallway, having opened the morning mail and cursing at the contents, and she flinched when she heard Daniel’s voice behind her.
His wheelchair was too quiet when moving on the hard floor.
‘No, afraid not,’ she told him, crumpling up the one letter that had arrived in her hand, glad the dress she wore had pockets as she hid it out of sight.
Not quite quick enough, she realised, seeing him narrow his eyes.
‘Just a catalogue trying to tempt me to resubscribe,’ she added lightly, grateful when he didn’t ask which one, instead turning his attention to the daffodils she had picked from the garden and arranged in a vase on the console table.
‘Fresh flowers,’ he commented.
‘I thought they’d brighten the hallway up.’
‘They’re pretty. As are you, my love.’
After he had learnt about her affair, he had stopped paying her compliments, but in recent days he had made more of an effort and it was appreciated.
‘Do you fancy any breakfast?’ she asked. ‘I’m going to make some poached eggs.’
‘That would be nice.’
He wheeled himself up to the table, while Rose fished out the saucepan she wanted from one of the lower cupboards, then made casual conversation while she boiled the water for the eggs, and she tried to push the letter from her mind.
It was just the two of them. Brett had left the house early, muttering something about an appointment, while Jimmy was still in bed and Agnes in her room. Rose had taken her mother up a plate of toast and some juice in a plastic cup, locking the door after her. A habit she had started doing recently. When Daniel had suggested it was cruel, she had pointed out that the house had too many hazards. It was safer this way, she insisted, even though she knew deep down he was right.
Nothing more had been said about her affair following their conversation a couple of weeks ago and although everything he had said that day was still very clear in her mind – especially the threat that he might want her to help him kill Brett – she was now hoping it had all been a sick joke, one to punish her and make her cool the affair. Even if Daniel had said he didn’t want that.
Rose had been on tenterhooks waiting to hear more about these challenges he had spoken about setting, but it was almost as if he had forgotten about them, and she certainly wasn’t going to bring the subject up.
She had already made efforts to back away from Brett, terrified that she might end up the loser in this scenario. While she had enjoyed their time together, her marriage was too precious to her. He had satisfied her needs, but she had no intention of ever leaving her husband for him. Continuing their affair came at too great a risk.
Since Daniel had confronted her, she had consciously tried to avoid being alone with Brett, though it wasn’t easy when they were living together, and she could tell that Brett, who had at first been confused, was now getting frustrated as he tried to get her to one side.
She hadn’t made doing so easy for him, disappearing out early most mornings. She was spending a lot of time at the gym, making use of their pool and spa facilities, or taking herself off to different towns on shopping jaunts.
Daniel was almost always at home, so when she was in the house she had taken to spending more time with him, and perhaps it was now that her secret was out in the open between them, but it felt like he was making more of an effort with her.
If he was aware she had backed away from Brett, then he didn’t say and Rose hoped that it was something they could now put behind them, though it bothered her that Brett continued to stay at the house and Daniel made no move to ask him to leave.
She couldn’t say anything about it. Not without bringing the awkward situation up.
‘Do you fancy doing anything today?’ she asked brightly, clearing the plates away from the table after they had eaten.
‘What did you have in mind?’
Truthfully, Daniel did very little these days.
When Rose had first met him, he had led quite an active social life and he often wanted to be out and about, but since his mother’s death he had wanted to stay close to home, where he spent much of his time locked away in his study talking in online forums with people he had never met.
‘It’s a nice morning. I thought perhaps we could go out and get some fresh air.’
She was always careful not to say ‘for a walk’. When she had first started working for the Whitlocks, she had slipped up a couple of times, grateful when Daniel, amused, had laughed it off. But in the months after Annie’s death, he had snapped at her when she said walk.
‘How the fuck do you propose I do that?’
Although it was four years ago, that moment had stuck with her.
‘Is it warm out?’ he asked now.
‘It’s a pleasant temperature and the sun’s out. I went into the woods yesterday and the bluebells have already started to sprout. It’s pretty in there.’
The woods surrounding the house had often been her solitude, but yesterday she had gone there to escape Brett. Although they wouldn’t be able to go off the main path, as she liked to do, delighting herself with the myriad trails that snaked between the trees, at least it was level enough for Daniel’s chair. It would do him good to get outside.
For a moment, she thought he was going to say no, but then he surprised her.
‘Okay then.’
They spent over two hours out wandering through the woods, some of it in conversation, but mostly in companionable silence, with only birdsong and the crunch of twigs on the dirt floor beneath them offering any noise.
Again, nothing was said about Brett, but as his car overtook them as they headed back up the drive, Rose’s stomach tightened and she noticed Daniel, who had been telling her about an occasion he had gone hiking, suddenly fell silent.
Brett was already out of the car and watching their approach by the time they neared the house, and Rose didn’t miss the look he gave her. It was almost accusatory, as if she had done something wrong. How dare she go out with her husband?
‘Where have you two been?’
‘For a walk,’ Daniel told him.
There was a challenge in the words and he held eye contact with Brett, who glanced at the wheelchair but chose – perhaps wisely – to say nothing.
Instead, he unlocked the front door, stepping back for Rose and Daniel to enter.
As Rose passed him, his fingers brushed against hers and she flinched away.
‘I’m going to put the kettle on. Let’s go and have a cup of tea, Daniel.’
‘Do you mind bringing mine through to my study? I have something I need to check on.’
Shit.
‘I fancy a cup too,’ Brett told her.
Rose pretended not to hear him, aware that he was following after her as she headed into the kitchen. Ignoring him, she filled the kettle at the sink, stiffening when his warm body pushed up against her back, pinning her to the counter.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispered close to her ear, his breath hot against her skin.
She managed to slide out from beneath him. ‘Careful,’ she hissed. ‘Daniel might come in.’
‘He said he was going through to his study. We’re fine.’
‘We still need to be vigilant,’ she pointed out, switching on the kettle to boil.
‘You didn’t say that the last time I fucked you on the table in here,’ Brett reminded her, yanking up her dress.
Heat spread to Rose’s cheeks remembering the encounter and the huge risk they had taken. No wonder Daniel had caught them out. Their affair hadn’t been discreet.
‘Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?’ Brett asked when she said nothing. He sounded sulky now, a mean edge to his voice. ‘You’re having second thoughts.’
‘I’m not avoiding you,’ she told him, purposely keeping her own tone light. There was no way she was going to admit the truth, that Daniel had found out about them, frightened of what fireworks she might set off.
It would be easier if this thing with Brett just fizzled out and he moved on to pastures new.
‘So what is this then?’ he demanded. ‘You think you can just have your fun and then drop me?’
‘This is nothing.’ To pacify him, she turned and smoothed the palm of her hand over his cheek, mustering up a smile. ‘Like I said, I just think we should be more careful. That means no more fucking on the table.’
He caught her hand roughly, tugging her close against him when she tried to pull away. ‘Looked like you and Danny boy were having a nice romantic time in the woods this morning.’
Rose glared at him. ‘He wanted to go out for some fresh air. I’m his carer as well as his wife. Do you really have a problem with that?’
Instead of answering her, Brett twisted her hand, sending pain shooting up her wrist.
She winced. ‘Ouch, that hurts. Let me go. I mean it, Brett.’
‘You’d better not be fucking with me. I don’t like to play games, Rose. If I find out that you’re messing me around, you’re going to regret it.’
‘I’m not. I swear,’ she promised him, her heart thumping, and a little unnerved by his threat. ‘But we do need to be careful.’
‘I’m not sure I believe you.’
For a moment, they were at a stalemate, staring at each other, neither willing to back down. Then a cough from the hallway startled them both, eyes widening as Jimmy entered the room.
Brett was lightning quick, dropping Rose’s hand and stepping away.
‘All right, mate?’ he asked smoothly, turning his attention to Jimmy, who looked too hungover to have spotted a thing.
As the two of them spoke, Rose rubbed at her sore wrist, a little shaken by Brett’s reaction. Was he really so jealous of Daniel that he didn’t want her spending time with him?
She had assumed this was a passionate fling for Brett too, but now she was worrying she had judged him wrong, and she was fearful that unless she could persuade him to back off, then this whole mess could implode around her.
No matter the fallout, she could not allow that to happen.
36
PRESENT DAY
Now the power was back on, the house was really starting to warm up, while the flickering lights of the two huge pine trees Rose had decorated – one in the hall, the other in the living room – and the background music of the television, which was tuned to a festive music channel, was making it feel Christmassy again.
Beneath the tree in the living room was a pile of wrapped gifts, and Monty lay beside them, keeping a close eye. Jimmy knew the dog was hopeful there would be something for him. Knowing Rose, she had probably wrapped a couple of bones up and maybe a squeaky toy. Most of the time she saw Monty as an inconvenience, but even he was spoilt at this time of year.
His sister had always loved Christmas, though they had endured a few lousy ones after their dad had left, their mum refusing to celebrate. Perhaps it was because of those miserable years that Rose now pulled out all the stops, especially since moving into Midwinter Manor. She made sure the house was impeccably decorated, and went overboard buying festive food and presents.
Of course, this year the only gift they all wanted was a solution to their problem upstairs. Until they had figured out what to do about Lola Henderson, no one could relax and enjoy Christmas.
It didn’t help that Jimmy’s head was raging with the mother of all hangovers and although the alcohol would still be in his bloodstream, he was starting to sober. If it had been his choice, he would have carried on drinking throughout the night, but Rose had put her foot down after Lola had been locked in the bedroom, telling him she needed him fully aware. He had tried to point out that he needed a drink to help him think straight, but she was having none of it.
‘We can’t keep her locked up there indefinitely,’ Rose reminded them both, earning herself a scowl from across the room.
‘But if we let her go she will tell everyone what she saw and what we did to her!’ Jimmy pointed out, panicked.
‘Look, first things first, we should look at her phone,’ Rose suggested. ‘We need to see who she’s been speaking with and find out who knows she was coming here.’
It was a good idea, but they would need to get it from her first.
As they discussed the logistics of that, a noise rumbled outside. It was an engine, Jimmy realised, as the three of them looked at each other.
Shit.
Rose’s eyes widened in realisation. ‘Crap. It’s the Ocado delivery!’
They were all on their feet now, Monty included, as he wondered what they were all so excitable about.
Glancing out of the window, Jimmy saw the familiar van heading towards the house. He looked at the others, panicked, as they all reached the same conclusion.
They needed to get to Lola before she could alert the driver she was here.
37
When the chance came, Lola grabbed at it with both hands.
She had been pacing the room restlessly, finally giving in to the urge to empty her bladder and using the urn she had earlier spotted for the task. It was humiliating, but what choice did she have?
Daniel and Rose had locked her up here for hours and she was desperately thirsty and hungry too. The one blessing was at least she had started to warm up, the radiator now hot to the touch.
Just how long did they plan to leave her up here? They couldn’t keep her locked away indefinitely.
Lost in thought, she almost missed the delivery vehicle.
Up here on the second floor with the window shut, she was too far away to hear the engine, and it was by chance she happened to glance out towards the driveway, seeing it heading towards the house.
An Ocado van. She had to alert the driver.
With sudden urgency, she tried to open the window, frustrated to find the lock sticking. She likely wouldn’t get another chance; she couldn’t let him leave.
He was already out of the van and unloading groceries, and Lola pounded frantically on the pane of glass, hoping to attract his attention.
When he didn’t look up, she tried the lock again, her finger and thumb hurting as she attempted to force it aside. It was with sheer determination that the catch finally gave.
Ignoring the pain, she forced the window open, screaming as loud as she could.
‘Help me, please! They’re keeping me a prisoner! Call the police!’
He wasn’t looking up and frantic, Lola tried again.
She was so focused on trying to get his attention, she didn’t hear the sound of footsteps on the stairs or the key unlocking in the door, but she heard the loud scrape as the dresser slid across the floor; the door opening wide. Her head snapped around.
Daniel stood in the doorway, a menacing sight, Jimmy hovering behind him.
And in the moment before hell broke loose, Lola had to decide whether to keep yelling to the delivery driver, or to try to make a run for it.
As Daniel took a sudden step forward, she panicked, acting on instinct, brushing past him as he grabbed for her and barrelling into Jimmy, hoping the momentum would knock him off his feet.
Instead, he managed to hook an arm around her chest, the reek of stale alcohol almost choking her as she fought to free herself. Kicking and screaming at him to let go, she punched out with her elbows, hearing a satisfying grunt as she hit soft flesh, pleased when she made him yelp.
He loosened his grip, but it wasn’t enough. And then Daniel had hold of her ankles and despite her frantically bucking and squirming, aware that her one chance was slipping away from her, they managed with ease to carry her back into the bedroom.
‘Why are you doing this?’ she demanded.
Neither of them answered as she was unceremoniously dumped face down on the floor. A heavy weight pinned her down as she tried to get up.
Daniel, she realised, begging him to stop. Her words were silenced as he clamped his hand over her mouth.
‘Close the window, then find something to tie her up with,’ he barked at Jimmy, as Lola frantically tried to break free. ‘Keep still,’ he growled, as the window slammed shut, then drawers opened and closed behind them.
She ignored the instruction. Whatever they were about to do to her, she wouldn’t make it easy for them.
Were they going to kill her?
Although she shuddered at the thought, she wasn’t stupid. They all knew that if she left here, she would go to the police and report them.
‘Here you go.’
Whatever Jimmy had found, he threw to Daniel, who roughly yanked her arms behind her. Briefly freeing her mouth, he wrapped something around her wrists, binding them tightly together, and Lola used the opportunity to scream for all she was worth.
It was short-lived, though, his hand returning the moment he was done.
Knowing her opportunity to get help was over, she had no choice but to wait as the seconds ticked by.
‘He’s getting back in his van,’ Jimmy announced, on watch duty by the window.
Daniel gave it another few seconds, before releasing her.
Lola managed to roll over, her hands touching the floor at the small of her back, as she stared up at them.
Her heart was racing and fear spiking through her, but she tried not to show them how scared she was.
‘You won’t get away with this,’ she snarled, trying, without success, to pull her hands free.
Neither man was taking notice of her as they spoke quietly between themselves and a few moments later there were more footsteps on the landing, as Rose joined them.
She glanced briefly at Lola, before looking away.
Did she feel guilt at what they had done?
‘We need her phone,’ Daniel said. ‘Find out if anyone is looking for her.’
