‘Out searching for Elise; Ruth is missing too. Where could they be, Dad? And all the blood … it’s so scary.’ I sound almost childlike, as though I expect him to have the answers like he did when I was young. ‘This is freaking me out,’ I go on. ‘Two people go missing on the anniversary of Lark and Jackson’s disappearance, from the same place. Another blonde, teenage girl vanishes.’
He pulls off his woollen hat and runs his fingers through his hair. ‘We have to find them, but it’s so cold out there. None of us should be roaming around in these conditions, particularly Rosamund.’
I look up towards the landing. ‘I was upstairs when you came to the door. It’s awful up there.’
He buries his head in his hands, as though in denial.
‘We need to know what went on up here, Dad,’ I say, turning on my phone torch and heading up the stairs, leaving him crouched by the fire. This time I reach the top within moments, the thought of Dad in the cottage too calming some of my jangled nerves.
I glance into the shower room, my eyes falling on the pool of blood once more, before I carry on into Elise’s room. I crouch down bringing the torch to floor level – looking at the bloodstains on the carpet. I rise, spotting a rom-com paperback and Elise’s phone on the dresser, before heading towards the wardrobe, and yanking the doors open. A couple of pink jumpers, her pink padded jacket, a black jacket that looks more like something Lark would wear, and a pair of jeans hang inside. But there’s no sign of Elise.
I move towards the window where the curtains are pulled across, and take a deep breath before dragging them open, steeling myself, ready to jump back if a body should fall.
There’s nobody behind them – dead or alive.
But what I do see sends my head reeling. I fall backwards, dropping onto the bed. ‘Dad!’ I yell. ‘Dad, come here. Now! Please! Oh God, you need to see this.’
Chapter 26
Present Day
Me
Sometimes you come to me. Want sex. Other times, like now, you don’t look in on me at all.
Sometimes I think of ways I might kill you. But there’s nothing here that could do the job. You don’t even give me a knife to cut the food. You’re far too clever for that.
When I’ve finished eating chicken nuggets, and an apple – I quite like apples – I feel the familiar blurring of my mind. You’ve been drugging my food lately. I’ve no doubt of that. Are you going to kill me? Is that your intention?
But I must eat. Starving to death is a painful way to die.
I lie back on the pillow, my mind swimming. There’s no way out of this, I know that now.
My eyelids fall heavy over my eyes, and Misty curls beside me, warm and comforting.
Another day in hell is over.
Chapter 27
Present Day
Amelia
I flash my phone torch towards the macabre sight – smears of blood on floral wallpaper below the window, smudges of red on the painted frame, bloody fingerprints on glass.
‘Someone got out this way,’ I say, as Dad reaches my side. I fling open the window and a gust of snow swoops into the room. ‘Someone covered in blood,’ I go on, as the wind grabs the frame from my hand, and it slams against the side of the cottage, cracking the glass. I bring my torch closer to the open window. It’s a sharp drop down to snow-covered bushes. There’s something down there.
‘We need to look outside.’ I turn from the window.
‘Do you really want to go out there tonight, love?’ There’s doubt in his voice. Is he afraid? Or maybe he’s having flashbacks to a year ago, as I am. But for me those memories only make me more determined to find Ruth and Elise.
‘We have to, Dad. The snow will cover every trace of what happened by morning. There could be footprints – drops of blood leading into the wood like breadcrumbs.’
We head out of the room and onto the landing. The wood burner is ablaze now, its glow lighting the open tread of the staircase as we hurry down. I’m on a mission, and I dive across the room and throw open the front door. ‘Damn,’ I whisper. The wind is deadly, the snowfall heavy, and my face stings within seconds of stepping outside. I pull my scarf high around my face. Although the sky is charcoal black, the moon is bright, reflecting off the snow. I look towards the ruins, and then scan the area. There’s no sign of anyone.
I turn to see Dad pulling on his gloves. He shrugs as though reluctant, but steps out behind me anyway. The door clicks closed behind him.
‘We should go around the back,’ I say, the wind whistling human-like as we make our way down the side of the house, towards the forest.
It’s darker behind the cottage, and as we push through the twisted hedgerow we can barely see in front of us, despite my phone torch. The wind is less fierce here, where tall trees shelter us, but the open window still bangs rhythmically against the cottage wall sending a chill down my spine. I wave my torch in the general area below the window. There’s something on the ground.
‘Oh God … no … that’s not … it can’t be,’ I cry.
Dad pushes past me. ‘Jesus.’
I take in the body lying face down in the snow, my heart thudding. I can’t move from the spot, and my teeth start to chatter. Dad crouches down, and my whole body shakes, as I hover the torch over the darkness, picking out the crumpled heap, flashes of an orange fur jacket soaked in blood. He turns the body over, and slaps both hands over his mouth. ‘It’s Ruth,’ he whispers through his fingers.
My knees buckle, and I grab a tree to stop myself falling. ‘Is she dead?’ My voice is shaky, bile rising into my throat.
‘Someone’s hit her. Hit her hard. There’s so much blood.’
‘Dad?’
He fumbles with her wrist.
‘Can you feel a pulse?’
After a beat he shakes his head, says, ‘She’s dead, Amelia.’ He turns away from her body, closes his eyes. ‘Who the hell would do this?’
I want to spin round. Run. But take a deep breath and flash the torch around me. There are no footprints. No trail of breadcrumbs. Nobody has escaped this scene. I look up at the window still banging against the wall. ‘Somebody threw her out, didn’t they?’ My words are calm, on a monotone, and I know I’m in shock.
Dad looks up to where my torch is shining. There’s blood on the outside of the frame. ‘Or maybe she fell,’ he says. ‘Trying to get away from someone.’
‘Who would do this?’ I look about me once more. ‘And where’s Elise? Did she witness this? Was she taken? Did she …?’ I’m about to suggest Elise could have done this, but I stop and shake my head. Why would anyone have it in for Ruth? But then I’ve never understood evil. It’s something that has kept me awake at night since Lark and Jackson went missing. The fear that there are wicked people out there. That someone deranged could have taken my sister. Could still have her. And now Ruth’s dead, Elise is missing, and we’re trapped here at Drummondale House with a killer. And the biggest question of all is how would we know if we’d met a psychopath.
I turn, eager to get away from the gory sight, and begin pushing through the hedgerow once more. ‘We need to warn Thomas and Maddie that there could be a killer on the estate,’ I say, the words sounding alien on my tongue. Dad is right behind me, so close I can hear his rapid breaths. ‘Remember the strange footprints leading to Elise’s window? And she saw someone with a mask on looking in at her.’ I’m talking too fast, my breathing rapid as well, the air turning misty around my mouth as the words fall out. ‘Oh God, do you think—?’
‘I don’t know, love. But we should probably stick together. Maybe we should all stay in Bluebell Cottage as it’s bigger than the others, at least until Finn and Rosamund get back.’
‘Safety in numbers,’ I say.
‘Safety in numbers,’ he echoes.
Chapter 28
A Year Ago
Amelia
It was gone seven. The dining room buzzed with chatter, everyone relieved that Amelia and Robert had found Lark sa
fe and well on the beach. But Amelia felt displaced somehow. If it wasn’t for the hunger pangs – she’d built up an appetite walking the stretch of sand with her dad searching for her sister, and had barely touched the picnic earlier – she would have gone straight to her cottage to get her thoughts in order.
Once they were all seated, Ruth brought out trays of vegetables, roast and mashed potatoes, and a plate each with a hunk of steak and kidney pie on, and a vegetable pie for Lark. It looked and smelt good, and Amelia couldn’t wait to tuck in.
Once they had eaten, and Ruth had served drinks, she and Finn disappeared into the main house.
Amelia looked around the table. Her mum and Jackson were chatting with Rosamund and Neil, and a separate conversation was taking place between Robert, Thomas and Maddie. Lark looked pale and tired as she fiddled with her phone. It was as though she didn’t belong – an outcast, an outcast who chose to be that way.
Truth was, Amelia had no enthusiasm or inclination to infiltrate either conversation, and was just about to announce she was leaving when there was a tap on her shoulder.
‘Are you married?’ It was Elise, her tone serious. Amelia turned to see the girl’s bright blue eyes fixed on her. She had an angelic face; her cheeks pinker that evening, her lips curved upwards, even when she wasn’t smiling.
‘No, but I have a partner. We live in London.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘William.’
‘Do you love him?’ Her eyes narrowed.
‘Yes, I think so.’ Amelia checked herself. ‘Yes, I do.’
‘But he’s not here with you?’ She tilted her head on one side, trapping Amelia with her stare – a stare that made her feel uncomfortable. It was as though she could see right into her head.
‘He had to work.’ The words caught in her throat as she spoke. William should be supporting me. My mum’s dying. He should be here.
Elise moved in closer. ‘Do you have children?’
‘No. But I would like a baby one day.’
‘Rosamund wants a baby,’ she whispered, from behind her hand. ‘I hope she can’t have one. I don’t like babies much – especially hers.’
Amelia felt her eyes widen, unsure what to say. ‘I have a cat.’ It came out squeaky. ‘Do you like cats?’
She shook her head, no. ‘I like dogs more.’ She moved in even closer, so their heads touched. ‘I want one. But Rosamund is allergic, so I don’t think we’ll get one anytime soon. She’s ruined everything.’
Amelia glanced at Rosamund, who seemed oblivious to their conversation, then back to Elise who slumped back in her chair.
‘I looked up Drummondale House on the Internet before we came,’ she said. ‘A young boy died here a hundred years ago.’
‘Yes, I heard,’ Amelia said, recalling the ghost walk from the night before.
‘It’s a pretty depressing place isn’t it?’ Elise screwed up her nose, and looked about her. ‘The atmosphere is heavy. Like it’s cursed or something.’
‘Elise.’ It was Neil, who was sitting the other side of Amelia, and leaning forward staring at his daughter. ‘Enough!’
‘Flip sake, Dad,’ she said, shrinking further down in her seat. ‘I’m only talking.’
‘I’m sorry about that, Amelia,’ he said. He had a kindly face, his full cheeks reddened by the warmth of the room, and possibly the two glasses of red he’d drunk. ‘Take no notice of her. It’s an amazing place. We’re glad to be here sharing this special time with your mum.’
Elise’s face morphed from sweet to sulky as he turned back to his conversation.
‘One day you’ll be sorry,’ she muttered under her breath, giving Rosamund a sideways look.
A few moments later Elise had pulled herself back up in her seat, and was tapping on Maddie’s arm. ‘Are you American?’
Maddie turned from Thomas and Dad. ‘Yes, I grew up in Portland, Oregon.’
‘I want to go to America one day. Daddy and I were planning to go, just the two of us, before Rosamund came along.’ She looped her hair behind her ears.
‘Well, it’s a great place if you get to go. You’ll absolutely love it.’
‘Do you like playing games?’
Maddie nodded, and smiled. ‘I do, yes.’
‘What’s your favourite game?’
‘My, I don’t know. Maybe Clue, which is fun. How about you?’
‘I like Monopoly. I like it when I get all the hotels and money, and everyone else goes bankrupt.’ She paused before adding, ‘Is there an American version?’
‘Aha, yes, there’s even a New York edition, with Tiffany’s and Trump Towers for sale.’
‘Really? That’s so cool. Do they have a dog token?’
‘Sorry?’
‘On the US boards, do they have a silver dog counter?’
‘Ah, I see. Yes, sometimes. It depends which version. There are so many these days. I saw a Pokémon version once.’
Elise leaned to one side, and looked past Maddie at Finn, who had just returned to the conservatory, and was standing silently at the counter.
‘I’m guessing you like dogs, then,’ Maddie went on, seeming to enjoy their conversation. She took a gulp of her wine. ‘I like Golden Labradors – what about you?’
‘I want a rescue dog. One that’s grateful I saved it and never lets me down.’ She moved her eyes back to Maddie. ‘So shall we play Monopoly?’
‘It’s a bit late,’ Maddie said, looking at her watch. ‘Maybe another time.’ She glanced at Thomas, who grinned.
‘When we do, I want to be the dog.’
‘And I’ll be the top hat,’ she said. ‘It’s a deal.’
‘Hey,’ Elise said her eyes bright, as she glanced round the table. ‘Let’s play Truth or Lie.’
‘OK. But only if it’s a quick game,’ Maddie said. ‘You’ll have to explain the rules.’
‘It’s easy. We all take it in turns to say something about ourselves, or something that happened to us, and everyone else has to guess if it’s true or a lie.’ She clapped her hands, and everyone stopped talking and looked her way. ‘We’re going to play Truth or Lie,’ she said.
‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea,’ Rosamund said.
‘Well that’s typical.’ Elise rolled her eyes. ‘You spoil everything.’
‘Oh come on, Rosamund, it could be fun,’ Jackson said. ‘Are you up for it, Caroline?’
‘I don’t mind.’ She sounded tired, as though she would much prefer to return to her cottage.
‘Thomas?’ Maddie said.
‘Yep, why not?’
‘Count me in too,’ said Neil, rubbing his hands together.
‘Yay, thanks, Dad,’ Elise said. ‘Love you.’
‘Love you too, sweetheart.’
‘More than anything?’
‘More than anything.’
‘Will you play, Robert?’ Elise asked.
Amelia glanced at her dad. His eyes were closed, clearly desperate to shut out the evening. ‘Not me,’ he said. ‘I’ll be heading back soon.’
‘Nor me,’ Rosamund said. ‘I hate this kind of game. Far too intrusive.’
Elise rolled her eyes. ‘Amelia, will you play?’ she asked. ‘Lark, what about you?’
Lark didn’t look up from her phone. ‘Not even if my life depended on it,’ she said.
‘I’ll watch,’ Amelia said, and her dad smiled, as though acknowledging their similarities.
‘OK. You start, Caroline,’ Elise said.
‘OK then.’ She smiled, but her eyes were dull. ‘When I was young I had a beautiful collie dog and we named her Lassie after the films.’
Lie. You would have told me, Mum, Amelia thought.
‘What films?’ asked Elise.
‘They were about a beautiful dog who was a hero.’ She was wearing the wig she had on earlier, and kept fiddling with it, scratching her forehead. She seemed self-conscious, and Amelia wanted to tell her she looked beautiful with or without the wig.
‘The films were long before your time, Elise,’ Neil said. ‘And mine too, come to that.’
‘Lie,’ Elise said bluntly.
‘Aren’t you going to ask my mum some more questions first?’ Thomas said.
‘No, I can tell she’s lying. I have a gift. I always know when Rosamund is lying.’ She glared at her stepmother. ‘Don’t I, Rosamund?’
‘Lie,’ said Thomas, ignoring Elise’s dig at Rosamund. ‘I’m sure you would have told us about it, Mum.’
‘Unfair advantage,’ Jackson said with a laugh. ‘I’ll say lie too.’ His eyes were on Lark again. Amelia had seen it before. The way he looked at her. Couldn’t Mum see it?
‘Lie,’ Neil and Maddie said together.
‘Yes, it’s a lie; you caught me out.’
‘Dad, it’s your go.’ Elise was in full control of the game, and loving every moment. She was a spoilt girl – a little irritating.
Neil tapped his lip with his forefinger. ‘OK. When I was at school, a bunch of boys locked me in the caretaker’s cupboard over the weekend. I had to use a bucket for the loo.’
‘That’s so gross,’ Lark muttered, turning up her nose, eyes still glued to her phone.
‘Oh, Dad, that’s awful,’ Elise cried. She jumped up and came up behind his chair. Wrapped her arms around his neck.
‘You don’t even know if it’s true yet,’ Lark said, finally looking up.
‘True,’ Jackson said. ‘I bet you were a bit of a dork at school, so it kind of has a ring of truth about it.’
‘How did it happen, Neil?’ Maddie asked, her voice soft and caring.
He widened his eyes, and glanced over his shoulder at Elise. ‘Am I supposed to say?’
‘Yes, people can ask questions, Dad.’
‘Well, the boys grabbed me and shoved me in there for being a swot, which, to be fair, I was.’ He gave an awkward laugh.
‘Well I’m hoping it’s a lie,’ Elise said, ‘but if it’s true, I’ll track them down and kill them. Sometimes revenge is the only way.’
I Lie in Wait: A gripping new psychological crime thriller perfect for fans of Ruth Ware! Page 11