Dead of Winter, page 6
Would she be able to get anyone out to fix the car tonight?
The snow seemed to be getting heavier, and the wind was picking up too, the icy flakes swirling around her face, batting in her eyes and stealing her breath.
‘We should head indoors,’ Rose urged. ‘It’s getting worse.’
Knowing she didn’t have a choice, Lola followed after her, ignoring the jitter of unease as she glanced towards the house.
Like it or not, for now she was trapped here.
11
NINE YEARS EARLIER
Oxford
Rose Campbell almost hadn’t gone to the interview the day she met Daniel Whitlock.
She had moved into private care work a couple of years earlier and was enjoying the benefits of a better wage, as well as getting to pick and choose what jobs she took on, and caring for the paraplegic adult son of Nigel and Annie Whitlock didn’t particularly appeal.
When the agency she was registered with had first contacted her about the job early in the spring, she had initially said no. She already had enough clients and didn’t need the extra hours.
But then the agency had mentioned how much the Whitlocks were willing to pay, and Rose had decided there and then to push her concerns to one side.
The morning of the interview, it had seemed that the world was conspiring against her leaving the house. First, her mother had called in a state, as she’d had a bad fall. Despite Jimmy being just round the corner, she had contacted Rose, who lived over 400 miles away. Typical of her selfish mother, and after going through the motions of calming Agnes down, it had been left to Rose to track down Jimmy and get him to take responsibility for the situation.
Finally off the phone and knowing she was going to be late, she had choked on a mouthful of cold coffee, spilling it down her clean white blouse.
After a change of clothes, she had got into her car, only to have the engine splutter and die.
Everything was working against her and she decided it was a sign that she wasn’t supposed to meet the Whitlocks. It was only the temptation of the money that kept her focused and calling for a taxi.
The ride had been expensive, the Whitlocks living twenty minutes outside of Oxford, but as she caught her first glimpse of Hartleigh House, where the family lived, her annoyance slipped away, her mouth dropping open at the size of the place.
No wonder they were willing to pay well.
The grandeur of the building had her smoothing out the creases in the replacement blouse and running an anxious hand over her hair. She wished she had a mirror on her, so she could double-check her appearance. This was a different world to what she was used to and it suddenly seemed important that she make the best impression possible.
As it turned out, she need not have worried. Annie Whitlock was down to earth and welcoming, brushing away Rose’s apologies that she was late and sympathising over her mother’s fall, her brow creasing in concern.
‘I hope she’s okay. You must be worried.’
‘It was a bit of a scare,’ Rose had agreed, playing the role of the doting daughter.
Nigel hadn’t been home that day, having been called away to an important meeting, but Rose did get to meet Daniel and they clicked instantly.
His story was a tragic one and she couldn’t begin to imagine his internal anguish at losing his freedom and, in turn, everything he held precious. Not only had he been a keen sportsman, regularly enjoying golf, rugby and cricket, as well as skiing, which, of course, had taken the use of his legs, but he had also travelled extensively. Something that he could still do, though it now came with its limitations.
Before, he told her, he had enjoyed camping on safari in Tanzania, rock climbing in Spain and kayaking on the Amazon River. Now, if he travelled, every tiny detail needed to be planned and assessed. Adventure holidays were no longer an option and had to be traded for more traditional hotel packages that catered to his needs.
He was a paraplegic man who had been forced to swallow his pride and accept help for some of his most basic needs, but still he remained positive, explaining to her as he stroked the black Labrador puppy by his side, that he hadn’t given up hope of walking again. Willing to try anything and with money no object, he had looked overseas for pioneering treatment and was currently in contact with a team of doctors in the US who were working on a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Later, when the two of them were alone again, Annie told Rose that her son believed the doctors would soon be able to fix him. He was grasping at straws, though, and refusing to accept that a cure was unlikely to happen for decades – certainly not in his lifetime – if at all. The research was still in its infancy and there were a lot of obstacles to overcome.
For now, Daniel needed help and company, and that was where Rose came in.
Annie had initially wanted to employ someone on a permanent basis, but Daniel was against the idea, and Rose tended to agree that he didn’t require full-time care either. He was fiercely trying to protect what little independence he had and she understood that.
She was glad Annie had put her son’s wishes first too, in part because she would have had to turn the job down if it was full time, but after meeting with the pair of them, she agreed to their twenty hours a week request.
At first, caring for Daniel Whitlock was the same as looking after any of her other patients. It was just a job that came with better pay, a nicer setting, and someone she genuinely liked looking after.
She got along well with Annie, appreciating that the woman didn’t try to interfere with her job, and although she was less fond of Nigel, who was a little sharper around the edges, he was seldom at home whenever she was there.
That was better for Daniel too, who she sensed had a difficult relationship with his father, the pair of them scarcely seeing eye to eye, and Annie was often left to play peacemaker between the two of them.
The first year with the Whitlocks flew by and by the time spring came around again, Rose had dropped her other clients, increasing her hours to look after Daniel. He hadn’t necessarily required the extra time, but equally, he hadn’t complained.
As their friendship steadily deepened, priorities shifted.
Despite her job role, Rose had never seen herself ending up with someone who had a disability, but her needs adjusted. When Daniel proposed, she didn’t hesitate to accept. Yes, the lure of great wealth was a factor, but Daniel was an attractive man and he was kind too. It was no hardship being with him, or helping him to look after his dog, Monty, and she would never want for anything. She would be a good wife to him.
Annie had been delighted. Nigel more reserved. He was suspicious of her motives. Rose understood she was marrying into money and she was determined to prove him wrong. So, it stung when Nigel told them they needed to have a prenup in place, making her feel as if her motives for marriage were devious.
She told Daniel she would sign it to keep the peace, but he was insistent they didn’t need one. Following an explosive argument, though, he and his father didn’t speak for several days, while Rose and Annie walked on eggshells around them, and knowing something had to give, Rose had talked Daniel into letting his father draw up the paperwork. It was just a document, she told him. And it would never be needed, as they would be together always.
The wedding ceremony was low-key, neither Daniel nor Rose wishing to draw attention to themselves, but while Annie smiled and wiped tears of joy from her eyes, Nigel was cordial, but stony-faced. Even with the prenup, Rose sensed he didn’t like her joining the family.
Once married, she gave up her flat, moving in with the Whitlocks. She had hoped to persuade Daniel to move out so they could have their own place, but he was insistent they stay with his parents for the time being, arguing that there was plenty of space.
Rose wasn’t looking forward to sharing a home with her father-in-law, but reminded herself she was built of stern stuff and would not cower to him.
It helped that she continued to care for Daniel after the wedding, and Rose knew that Nigel was quietly impressed she hadn’t been quick to throw her job in.
She would win him over eventually, she figured.
And if she didn’t? Well, the man was in his seventies, much older than Annie, and he didn’t lead the healthiest of lifestyles. It was only a matter of time before he met his maker.
12
PRESENT DAY
Jimmy had only been in the Black Horse pub a handful of times, so he was surprised that the bartender recognised him.
Maybe it was because the man knew he lived at Midwinter Manor. The place was far bigger than any other property in the surrounding area, and they liked to keep to themselves a lot of the time. People were probably curious about the elusive Whitlocks.
Usually, Jimmy preferred to drink alone, but Rose had given him thirty quid, offering to treat him to a few beers, and he wasn’t stupid enough to turn her down, even though he knew full well why she wanted him out of the way.
It was because of her. Lola Henderson. Daniel’s sister.
For some inexplicable reason, they had invited her to the house and Jimmy hadn’t held back in telling them what a stupid idea it was. No wonder they wanted him gone.
Jimmy often rued the day he had moved in with his sister and her husband, just as he bitterly regretted going along with such a dangerous plan.
Rose had dangled the carrot, though, and he had been too weak-willed, too greedy, to walk away. The irony was that he’d liked Daniel when he moved in, and they got along well.
But that had been before. Now, all thoughts of his brother-in-law left a nasty taste in his mouth, and he avoided being anywhere near him.
The size and grandeur of Midwinter Manor had at first enthralled him. It was like something out of a fairy tale, and when he had shown up to visit his sister in the summer of 2023, he had been green with envy.
How quickly things had changed.
He had nothing left to his name, though, the alcoholism that had consumed him, destroying his marriage and getting him sacked from his caretaker job, stealing his home and emptying his bank account. He had been grateful when Rose took him in.
Despite there being five years between them, they had enjoyed a close relationship when they were younger, though they had grown apart in more recent years, especially after Rose had moved to London to train to become a nurse. She had wanted to get away from the quiet Scottish village where they had grown up, claiming life there was too boring, but Jimmy had been happy to stay. At least before his fortunes had changed.
Here in Norfolk, he hoped he might have a fresh start. What had started as a visit turned into something longer, even though none of them ever had a conversation about whether this was a permanent move. Jimmy surmised that Rose and Daniel had plenty of money, and it wasn’t as if they didn’t have the space to put him up.
He even made an effort to cut back on the booze, and for a while he had felt truly content.
But then his sister had asked him to do something for her, and, scared that he might lose everything if he refused, he had agreed. It was the biggest regret of his life.
Of course, she had allowed him to stay. She couldn’t risk him shooting his mouth off. Neither of them could.
It was why they mostly left him to his own devices, letting him drink himself stupid – because there was no way he could stay sober after what he had done.
And for his part, Jimmy kept quiet.
This was his life now. He hadn’t chosen it, but he would have to live with the role he had chosen.
As he finished his third beer, he dreaded the thought of returning to the house.
The bartender was clearing tables and as Jimmy waited for him to return, ready to order another drink and debating whether to move on to something strong, he glanced around the room. It was much emptier than when he had first arrived. Emptier, in fact, than when he had ever been here before. A young couple sat at a corner table and three older men were at the other end of the bar, but other than that, it was Jimmy and the bartender.
‘Where is everyone?’
He was still sober enough to notice he was slurring his words.
The young bartender glanced up, tray of empty glasses in his hand. ‘It’s the weather. Everyone wants to get home before it worsens.’
‘The bookies will pay out big time on Christmas Day if it doesn’t clear,’ one of the men at the end of the bar muttered.
It had been snowing on and off during the mile and a half walk to the pub, but Jimmy hadn’t taken a whole lot of notice, but now he moved to the window, blinking in disbelief as he took in the wild scene outside the pub. The benches and tables in the beer garden were covered in snow and white flakes were furiously batting the windows.
It took his alcohol-soaked brain a few seconds longer to register that he too had to walk home in this.
Fuck!
He didn’t suppose he would be able to get a taxi. Besides, it was only just after 8 p.m. and Daniel’s sister would probably still be at the house. Rose would be annoyed if Jimmy made an early return.
Returning to his bar stool, he decided he would have a double whisky and wait a little bit longer, before he attempted to trudge back to the house. The longer he stayed away, the better for everyone.
13
‘Could you let me have the code for your Wi-Fi, please? I’ll see if I can get someone out to look at the car.’
Lola had waited until their damp coats were discarded in the foyer before she asked the question. She was hurrying to keep up with Rose, who was leading the way down another hallway towards the opposite end of the house from where Lola had met with Daniel.
For a moment, the other woman didn’t appear to have heard her, but then, as they stepped through into a ginormous kitchen, she turned to face her.
‘It’s on my phone. I’ll go get it. Stay here.’
She almost barked the last words as an order before disappearing out of the kitchen, leaving Lola wondering what the rush was for.
As when she had first arrived, she was left to wait and as she glanced around the room, she realised she felt just as uncomfortable as the first time Rose had abandoned her.
At least Monty was here, she realised, spotting the black Labrador lying in a tatty-looking dog bed on the far side of the room. Noticing he had company, his tail started thumping and he rose unsteadily on tired old legs to bring her a soft ball.
As Lola scratched behind his ears, grateful for the company, she took in the circular room.
It was beautifully designed and, unlike the rest of the house, it looked fresh and modern, with navy-coloured units and a glossy white worktop. A large Aga cooker heated the room, and all of the appliances – the microwave and air fryer, the coffee machine and toaster – were shiny, new and expensive brand-name labels. The American fridge-freezer looked top of the range, while a large central island held a vase filled with a decorative winter floral display.
Everything was spotlessly clean and there was no clutter, but as with the rest of the house, something about it made Lola uneasy.
Perhaps it simply was the isolated location on a bitterly cold winter’s night, or maybe it wasn’t the house at all. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what was troubling her.
She couldn’t even blame the feeling on Daniel and his treatment of her, as the creeping up her spine sensation had been there from the moment she had stepped inside.
Was this why Rose was acting so edgy? Was she fearful of telling Daniel what Lola had done to the front post?
Wishing like hell she wasn’t stuck here, she went over her mental checklist.
Once she had access to the Wi-Fi, she would contact the rental company. If they couldn’t get help to her tonight, she would leave the car behind for now and get a taxi back to Ely and the comfort of her hotel room. It would be costly, but worth it, and at least she wouldn’t piss Rich Bradford off. He was such an awkward client and she had no idea how he would react if she wasn’t there for their meeting tomorrow. Not well, she suspected.
Although this wasn’t technically her fault, she knew from history he didn’t accept excuses. He had even been a little tetchy with her when she had to take some personal time to be with her mum.
The last thing she needed was to lose his account.
Once she had sorted the car, she would message Quinn, too. Let him know what had happened so he didn’t worry as he hadn’t heard from her.
Having a plan of action settled her and she was relieved to hear approaching footsteps, wanting to get things moving.
Rose returned to the room a little more relaxed than she had left it, though tension lines still creased her forehead. She wore a brittle smile and had a bottle of red wine in her hand.
Was it really so stressful having Lola there? It wasn’t as if she had a choice, or even wanted to be here.
Rose held up the bottle. ‘Wine?’ she offered, the smile almost cracking.
‘Wi-Fi?’ Lola reminded, trying her best to keep her tone patient. ‘I don’t want to waste any more of your evening than necessary.’
‘Yes, I have it.’ Rose set the bottle down and reached into the pocket of her trousers for her phone.
Lola pulled her own phone out and clicked into the Wi-Fi settings, the knot in her stomach loosening a little as Rose read out the code and the signal bars appeared on the screen.
Within seconds, she was getting email and WhatsApp notifications. A lot of it junk, but the message that popped up from Quinn quickened her heartbeat. Three simple words. Are you okay? Telling her that he was worrying about her.
‘Which breakdown service are you with?’ Rose asked.
‘I’m not.’
‘Oh.’
There was no point. Lola had a car, but living centrally, she seldom used it.
