The Darkness Beneath, page 30
Tommy Dolan and Dwight Halloran had both arrived within fifteen minutes of Alex’s call, accompanied by Violet Marsden. Tommy hadn’t missed the opportunity to scowl in Luke’s direction as they made eye contact and then he was gone, the four of them locked away in the conservatory leaving the others to wait. It was forty minutes later when Alex eventually came through to the kitchen. He wore a scowl, peeling off latex gloves and tossing them in the trash, before accepting the coffee Nell poured for him.
‘I want you to take Sasha and Teddy and go back to my place,’ he told her quietly.
‘I can wait here with you.’
‘I’m gonna be a while. Luke will give you a lift home.’ Alex shot a look at Luke. ‘That okay?’
‘Yeah, of course it is. No problem.’
Nell looked like she was going to argue the point.
‘This place is a crime scene and I’d rather know you are safe out of the way. Go pour that glass of wine, try and get some rest. I’ll be home as soon as I can.’
She had pouted a little at Alex, but reluctantly agreed, disappearing upstairs to throw a few overnight things into an overnight bag.
‘Is she okay?’
Alex shot Luke a look. ‘She was in a car crash, terrorized by a guy with a knife, and now she’s come home to find a dead body in the house. Would you be okay?’
Luke must have looked visibly shocked, because Alex immediately softened his tone. ‘I’m sorry, that was unnecessary,’ he apologized, raking his hand back into his hair. He looked tired. ‘It’s been a hell of a day. She’s holding up, but I don’t think she can take too much more. Thanks for agreeing to give her and the dogs a ride.’
‘It’s not a problem. Anything I can do to help.’ Luke was aware his words were a little stiff, but he was still bristling, despite Alex’s apology. ‘I expect she’s going to be feeling sore in the morning,’ he added, trying to push past it. Seeing Nell with Alex should be getting easier, but it wasn’t, and that probably wasn’t helped by Nell’s coolness towards him, which he suspected had nothing to do with the day’s events.
‘Yeah, she will.’
‘You think this guy with the knife was personally harassing her or was it a case of wrong time, wrong place?’
Alex cut him another look, ignored the question. ‘I think I’m just glad another car showed up when it did and got her out of there.’
He was just being cagey because it was an active investigation. Luke tried to ignore the slight. ‘Yes, I bet Nell was relieved when the woman stopped. I can’t imagine how scary it must have been for her. You know I can stay with her tonight. I don’t mind keeping her company.’
Something passed over Alex’s face, suspicion, annoyance, realization, and he narrowed his eyes.
Luke’s heartbeat quickened.
He knows how I feel about Nell.
It was stupid. He was tired and reading too much into the reaction. It was an innocent offer and there was no way Alex could pick up from it that Luke wanted his girlfriend.
‘That’s not necessary.’ Nell’s voice had both men looking up. She stood halfway up the stairs, a canvas bag in her hand. She smiled stiffly. ‘I just want some time to myself. It’s been a long day.’
‘Of course,’ Luke agreed lightly. ‘I can just drop you off and make sure you’re home safe, if that’s what you want.’
‘Actually, on second thoughts I need to head home for a shower and a change of clothes. I’ll take Nell myself.’ Alex’s tone gave nothing away. ‘You can head on home.’
‘Are you sure? I don’t mind.’
‘I’m sure.’
Luke glanced from Nell, who looked relieved, and back to Alex, his expression unreadable, and a queasy feeling rose in his belly. He had always been so good at covering his true feelings, at painting on a mask, having learned from a young age it was the only way he would survive life with his grandmother, but somehow the mask had slipped and Alex had figured out how he truly felt about Nell.
They had been friends for the last five years. How would this affect things between them going forward? Would Alex tell Michael and Newt?
He had driven home, his head pounding as he replayed the scene in his head. Nell knew and now Alex had figured it out too. How was he going to fix this?
When he arrived home, he went straight to the cupboard where he kept the Jim Beam, poured himself a large measure and downed the drink in one. The alcohol burned his throat, put welcome fire in his belly, and he refilled the glass, still reeling from the shock of the past two hours.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the body that had been uncovered at the guesthouse, how cool Nell had been towards him, and the look Alex had given him before he had left. And yet Nell still consumed his thoughts and he wanted to know how she tasted, how her flesh would feel beneath his fingertips, how she would react to the things he longed to do to her. The fact she had cooled towards him made him want her even more, and he cursed himself, aware that he could have very well just lost Alex’s friendship.
He had drained his second glass when his phone rang, jarring him to his senses.
‘Hello?’ Luke didn’t recognize the number, but figured it could be a work call.
‘Is this Luke Trainor?’
‘Speaking.’ He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to shake off where the alcohol was already blurring the edges. ‘How may I help you?’
‘My name is Doctor Karen Lockwood. I was wondering if Stacey Monroe is with you.’
Luke squeezed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger, the reminder of Stacey conjuring unpleasant memories. ‘I’m afraid she isn’t. You said Doctor, right?’
‘That’s correct. I’m sorry to be calling you so late, but I’m worried about Stacey.’
‘Why? What has she done?’ Luke asked dubiously.
‘She hasn’t shown up to her last three appointments.’
‘Okay.’ Luke was silent for a moment. ‘I didn’t realize she was seeing a doctor. Is everything alright?’
‘Forgive me, Mr Trainor. Your number was down as her emergency contact. I didn’t realize though that she hasn’t spoken to you about our sessions. Perhaps you could ask her to call me?’
Sessions? Why had Stacey been seeing a doctor for sessions?
‘We broke up,’ he said abruptly. ‘She moved out.’
There was a pause. ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
‘What kind of doctor are you? Why is she seeing you?’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Trainor. I can’t discuss Miss Monroe’s case with you. Doctor and client confidentiality.’ Karen Lockwood was quick to end the call, thanking him for his time and apologizing for disturbing him.
Luke immediately googled her name, curious to know what kind of doctor Stacey was seeing. He found her straightaway, an attractive older blond, who might have been his type if she had been twenty years younger. He read a couple of articles on her, curious to know why Stacey had been seeing a psychiatrist. He noted Doctor Lockwood specialized in anger management, knew Stacey had been prone to unreasonable fits of rage and jealously. It was what had driven them apart? Had she been seeking help for it?
He poured a third glass of the Jim Beam and then a fourth, before he stumbled through to the bedroom, pulling off his shirt and pants, dumping them on the easy chair in the corner of the room, and crawling into bed.
The alcohol was meant to numb, but there was so much raging in his head right now: the currently inaccessible Nell – not being able to have her was driving him crazy; then there was the discovery of the body at the guesthouse, something he couldn’t manage to shake from his mind; and now Stacey and her doctor. Why the hell had Stacey been seeing a doctor and why the hell when he was trying his best to get past her did he keep being reminded she was gone? Luke had worked so hard to build this life for himself and he felt like it was slowly being taken away from him, despite his best efforts to make things work out for the best. He knew he probably shouldn’t have had the alcohol, that it would have been wise to keep a clear head, but for now he needed numbness to quieten the thoughts in his head. He would figure things out in the morning.
He had barely drifted off to sleep when he felt a dip in the mattress behind him, for a moment in his dreams believed it could be Nell. He felt fingers run up the back of his neck into his hair and he rolled over, startled, felt someone climb on top of him, pinning him to the bed.
Luke sucked in a breath, felt pain searing through the shoulder where he had been shot.
As he struggled to fully focus, long hair trailed across his face.
‘Surprise.’
Luke sucked in a breath, recognizing Stacey’s voice. She had gone, she had left him. What the hell was she doing back here?
‘Stacey, what are you doing?’
‘I missed you.’
‘You missed me?’ He felt his heartbeat quicken, recalling his conversation with her doctor. Stacey hadn’t been attending her sessions she had said.
A week ago he might have been relieved to have her back. He had missed her so much and had nothing but regret for the way things had ended. But time had passed and he had reflected, come to terms with the fact she was gone forever, had moved his attentions on to Nell. This wasn’t good.
‘Stacey, you can’t be here. You need to go.’
‘Why? Is there another woman warming your bed?’
There it was: the jealous streak that had driven a rift between them.
‘Why were you seeing a doctor?’ he blurted, needing to know.
‘That is none of your business.’
‘She’s a psychiatrist. What were your sessions about?’
‘I told you it’s none of your business,’ Stacey repeated more heatedly. ‘If you cared you would have paid more attention when I was here.’
‘You’re here now.’
‘That’s to torment you.’ She linked hands with him, pinning his arms above his head, and leaning down to kiss him, trying to slide her tongue into his mouth.
Luke tried to resist, eventually yielding, to his annoyance felt himself grow hard. He kissed her back deeply, her perfume clouding his senses and lust taking over from the anger he felt. For a moment it felt perfect then Stacey bit his tongue hard and he yelped, pulling back, pushing her off him as he tasted blood.
‘What is wrong with you?’
‘What is wrong with me?’ She laughed incredulously. ‘Sweetheart, look closer to home. You’re the one who broke us. You made me this way.’
‘So why the hell are you back? Just go? Leave me alone.’
‘Leave you alone?’ Stacey shook her head, her eyes dark, and her smile malicious. ‘Oh, Luke. You don’t get to have it that easy. I’m never going anywhere.’
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Caleb arrived in New York late Thursday afternoon, checking into his suite at the Four Seasons before going out to dinner with friends. It was supposed to be a vacation after all, to get over his breakup and he needed to be seen in public.
He took his group to one of his favorite restaurants, ordering several bottles of champagne and tipping generously, before heading on to a club. Caleb made sure his friends had a good time, that they were seen by lots of people, buying drinks for everyone he talked to throughout the night, though he was careful to make sure he himself stayed sober, was aware he needed to be up early the following morning and that he had a lot to do.
He sloped back to the hotel around two-thirty with two call girls, a voluptuous redhead and a skinny Asian chick, who had arrived at the club courtesy of an old friend. After indulging in a threesome, he left them to snort coke and watch TV, retired to the master bedroom where he had a fitful night’s sleep. They were both asleep on the couch when he left the following morning, discreetly heading out of the hotel, wearing a baseball cap, jeans and a lumberjack shirt, different and low key to his usual sharp suits. He met his friend, Jimmy Rubenstein, who had supplied the two call girls, over coffee in a downtown diner. Jimmy was a fixer and the pair of them went way back. Caleb knew he could count on his friend to be discreet and ask no questions, and he gladly handed over an envelope of cash in exchange for the sports bag he knew would contain the unmarked revolver and the other items he had asked for, plus the set of car keys.
‘Dark blue Volvo, parked in the bay across the street,’ Jimmy told him.
‘The girls will stay put, they won’t leave the hotel?’ Caleb checked, wanting reassurance. They were going to be his alibi and he needed to be sure they didn’t fuck this up.
‘They know the score. The suite is theirs and they can order as much room service as they like on your tab, but they mustn’t leave, mustn’t let on to anyone you’re not there.’
Satisfied everything was in order Caleb downed the rest of his coffee, thanked Jimmy, and got up to leave.
‘Good luck my friend. Give me a call if you need anything else.’
Jimmy didn’t know Caleb’s plans, was smart enough not to involve himself in his client’s business. He was just the yes man, getting people what they needed at the right price.
The Volvo wouldn’t be Caleb’s preferred mode of transport, but he had to admit it was perfect for the job. It was subtle, easily blending in and not obviously recognizable, and it had a generous sized trunk. As he made his way across the state line from Massachusetts into New Hampshire in the early afternoon, he felt confident everything was going to plan.
It was a little after three when he stopped at the Meredith residence, needing to pay for the cabin and collect the key, and he spent a moment in the car donning sunglasses and pulling his cap low, careful to conceal his identity.
He needn’t have worried too much. Dolores Meredith, who owned the cabin, was in her late seventies at least, possibly older, and from what he could tell the thick-rimmed bottleneck glasses she wore did little to help her sight. He paid cash, took the key and set of directions she gave him, aware she seemed thrilled he had rented the cabin.
He got the impression she didn’t have many people interested in it and wondered what kind of hellhole he was about to walk into. With a pit stop at a local convenience store to pick up basic supplies, he drove the rest of the way out to the cabin, turning off the main road and following dirt track lanes for a good twenty minutes before he laid eyes on the place.
It was perfect, standing alone in the woods and miles from anywhere.
Tired from driving, Caleb heaved his overnight bag and the sports bag from the trunk of the car, unlocked the door to the cabin and stepped inside.
The place was basic with no heating, a sparse and antiquated kitchen, and only one cold water tap, but it would serve its purpose and there was something homely and rustic about the wooden beams and the various animal heads adorning the walls. He assumed Dolores and her husband had been hunters in their day and the cabin had mostly been for their personal use. There were three rooms, the open plan kitchen cum diner cum living room forming one large area downstairs, while upstairs was one large bedroom with a bathroom that had seen better days.
Caleb dumped the bags on the bed before heading downstairs to fetch the groceries from the car. He made coffee using the kerosene stove, sat out on the porch watching as the sun started to set and drank two cups, before returning upstairs and emptying the contents of the sports bag on the bed.
Jimmy had come through for him, as he always did, and everything was there he had asked for, including the unmarked gun and box of ammo. He put them to one side, starting a pile of items he would need to take with him in the morning. A little bottle lay in the middle of a coil of rope. It was filled with clear liquid and he picked it up, uncapping the lid and sniffing. The liquid was odorless, the bottle unmarked, and Caleb wasn’t sure what it was, but Jimmy had assured him it would do the trick, had told him one syringe full would knock a grown man out in two to three minutes and keep him under for at least an hour. He rummaged through the items on the bed, found the syringe and added both to the pile.
An hour should be enough time to get Nell off the island, but he couldn’t risk her waking up on the ferry. Knowing he would have to suitably restrain her he added a couple of pairs of cuffs and duct tape to the growing pile. Once he was certain he had everything he needed for his trip he put the items back in the sports bag, zipped it up and set it at the foot of the bed ready to grab the following morning, scooping the remaining items up from the bed and sitting them on a wooden chair in the corner of the room.
He peered out of the bedroom window, the sight of never-ending trees pleasing him. Out here, far from civilization, he would have the precious time alone he needed with Nell to see if their relationship could be saved, and with no other distractions she would have little choice but to hear him out. She would have to understand that she had betrayed him terribly and she would have be punished, but he was a fair man and once he had taught her a lesson, he was prepared to give her a final chance. He hoped and prayed she would eventually see sense, realize they were supposed to be together and that he couldn’t live without her.
Confident he was prepared both mentally and physically for the task ahead he made another cup of coffee, settled down to eat the sandwich he had earlier purchased then hit the sack wanting to get another good night’s sleep ahead of his reunion with Nell.
This time tomorrow night she would be here with him, back where she belonged.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
2005
Sarah Treadwell made the decision to move to Purity Island the day her divorce papers came through. Knowing she needed to have a fresh start she had studied her map. She considered a number of places, throwing up arguments against each one before finally settling on Purity, which she remembered visiting as a kid on a family vacation.
The place held fond memories and, even though the vacation had only lasted a week, she clearly recalled the bright boats bobbing on the water, the vast expanse of sand where she had built castles with her father, and strolling along the marina eating double-scoop ice-cream cones. While she wasn’t fool enough to believe the place was as good as her memories allowed her to believe, she desperately needed to get away and she knew Purity Island would offer her the chance of a fresh start.
