I Lie in Wait: A gripping new psychological crime thriller perfect for fans of Ruth Ware!

by Amanda Brittany

  ‘Yes, under the plant pot. There’s no sign of Elise.’

  ‘We should get back,’ I say, pulling on my hat. ‘Where’s Finn?’ I hate that I’m growing suspicious of everyone. ‘Has anyone seen him?’

  They shake their heads.

  ‘Come with us to the holiday cottages, Julia,’ I say. ‘You really shouldn’t be here alone.’

  She’s silent for a moment, as though her mind is processing my words. ‘I’m not afraid,’ she says.

  ‘Well you should be. There’s a killer out there.’

  ‘I would rather stay. I feel safe here. Anyway, I need to care for the cat.’

  I think about my little cat at home, hoping the woman with the pink hair isn’t spoiling her too much and she’ll still love me on my return. But, if I’m honest, being in London feels like a lifetime ago.

  ‘Amelia?’ It’s Finn voice, and I know by the way it echoes he’s heading through the conservatory. ‘Robert?’

  ‘In here,’ Dad calls, and Finn appears, his eyes darting to each of us in turn.

  ‘Where have you been?’ I say.

  ‘I thought I saw someone, so headed into the copse, but I must have been mistaken.’ He looks over at Julia. ‘Hey,’ he says.

  Julia walks over to him, and touches his arm. ‘I’m so sorry about your mum.’

  ‘Yeah. Thanks.’ He looks down at the floor, his teeth pressing into his bottom lip. ‘When I find whoever did that to her, I’ll rip their head off.’

  There’s a connection between them I hadn’t noticed a year ago – too full of finding Lark – and my heart, which seems to have forgotten for a moment the distress it’s in, sinks. Under all this mess and sadness, I like Finn. I like him a lot. I straighten up, knowing my thoughts are random, stupid. I would have to be some kind of idiot to think of romance when things are so awful.

  ‘Let’s get back,’ Finn says, and Dad and Rosamund follow him from the room.

  ‘Are you sure you won’t come with us?’ I ask Julia.

  She shakes her head. ‘I’ll be fine here.’

  ‘Well make sure you lock all the doors, including the conservatory.’

  ‘I will. Thanks.’ She smiles. ‘You take care too, Amelia,’ she says.

  I go to leave, but I have to ask her. ‘I saw a photo in your father’s lounge just now,’ I begin.

  She folds her arms across her chest. ‘There are lots of photos in the lounge.’

  ‘There’s one of a pretty blonde teenage girl.’

  ‘What of it?’

  ‘I wondered who she is.’

  ‘My sister,’ she says, and I’m thrown. She just said she was lonely growing up.

  ‘Your sister? But I saw the same photo in Ruth’s cottage.’

  ‘Can we leave it, please,’ she says. ‘This is really none of your business, and hardly the time to be discussing family histories.’

  ‘No, you’re right, sorry.’ I leave the room, but I’m curious. My mum had remembered Ruth from when she came to Drummondale House as a teenager. I wish I’d asked her more questions. Discovered what went on when she camped here with my grandparents.

  We congregate in the conservatory. ‘Where’s Julia?’ Finn says, eyes on the door we’ve just come through.

  ‘She’s not coming,’ I say.

  ‘But there’s a killer out there.’

  ‘She’s determined to stay, Finn. You won’t change her mind.’

  ‘Then I’ll stay too,’ he says. ‘I can’t leave her.’

  Julia walks into the conservatory and glances at us gathered by the exit. She thumps down on the sofa, and the cat looks up at her, rises and stretches, releasing her claws as Julia tickles her ear. ‘I’ll be fine,’ she says.

  ‘I’m not leaving you, Julia.’ Finn sits down next to her. ‘Not after what happened to my mum.’

  ‘OK. Fine. Whatever you say,’ she agrees. ‘I’m guessing you’re not the killer,’ she adds with a small laugh.

  His smile is grim. ‘Mum annoyed me at times, but I’d never—’

  ‘Of course you wouldn’t.’ Julia takes his hand. ‘You’re the kindest person I know.’

  We head through the door, and the cold takes my breath away. I look towards the summerhouse in the garden, desperate to see inside.

  ‘I’ve already checked in there, love,’ Dad says, seeing where I’m looking. He puts his arm around my shoulders. ‘Let’s get back, shall we? Before we all freeze to death.’

  Chapter 35

  A Year Ago

  Amelia

  Amelia broke free from the family as they made their way towards the conservatory for breakfast, making a detour towards the car park. And she knew as soon as she stepped onto the cobbled area that Jackson’s car was missing. The only cars were Rosamund’s Mercedes, and Dad’s Ford Freedom. Jackson had gone. Had he taken Lark with him?

  Her heart thumped as she ran to the conservatory.

  ‘Jackson’s car’s not there,’ she cried, breathless as she entered to see everyone taking a seat at the table.

  ‘Oh God,’ her mum said. ‘Where could he have gone?’

  ‘The thing is,’ Amelia continued, ‘I saw a car leave in the middle of the night. I thought it was a visitor leaving, but now I’m thinking it must have been Jackson. Do you think Lark’s with him?’

  Her mum shook her head. ‘I’m sure Jackson leaving has nothing to do with Lark.’ She was close to tears. ‘Lark has probably wandered off somewhere, like before. It’s a coincidence that’s all. Let’s just concentrate on finding Lark.’

  The door swung open, and Rosamund, Neil and Elise entered. ‘What’s wrong?’ Rosamund said. ‘You all look as though you’ve seen a ghost.’

  ‘Lark and Jackson have disappeared,’ Amelia said.

  ‘Have you seen Jackson, Rosamund?’ her mum said, her tone suddenly cold as she met Rosamund’s eye.

  ‘No, why?’ Rosamund folded her arms, averted her eyes.

  ‘Well I still think we need to get help,’ Amelia said.

  ‘I agree,’ her dad said. ‘I’ll call the police.’ And as he pulled his phone from his pocket, Amelia’s neck prickled.

  Something was wrong.

  Something was very wrong.

  Chapter 36

  Present Day

  Amelia

  It feels like hours since we left Finn and Julia at the farmhouse, and by the time the cottages are back in view we can barely see in front of us for heavy snowfall.

  It’s 2 p.m. when Dad, Rosamund and I step through the door of Bluebell Cottage, and once again I feel as though my feet and fingers no longer belong to me, they’re so numb.

  Inside, Dad leads the way into the lounge, where we shed our wet outer layers, and hurry towards the burner to get warm.

  ‘You’re back then,’ Thomas says, opening his eyes. He’s sprawled on the sofa, his hair loose to his shoulders, giving him a hippy air. He pulls himself to a sitting position, his socked feet sticking out from under the blanket that covers him from the neck downwards. I blink, feeling sure I see his toe move again, and open my mouth to speak. But I know my eyes must be deceiving me once more, blurring due to sheer cold outside. Anyway, he would have said if there were any signs of improvement, wouldn’t he?

  ‘Where have you been?’ he says. ‘You’ve been ages.’

  ‘Down to Michael Collis’s farmhouse,’ Dad says. ‘We saw his daughter.’

  ‘Julia?’ Thomas says.

  ‘That’s right.’ I rub my hands together. ‘I suggested she came back with us, but she wouldn’t.’

  ‘She’s on her own down there?’

  ‘No, Finn stayed.’

  Maddie appears at the top of the stairs, holding her Kindle. ‘You’re back then,’ she says, making her way down. And suddenly the room feels too full, too claustrophobic – though better we’re all together, I tell myself, safety in numbers.

  ‘I’ll put the kettle on, shall I?’ I say, disappearing into the kitchen.

  ‘Finn got through to the police,�
�� I hear Dad telling Thomas and Maddie, as I pull mugs from the cupboard. And as I cock my ear to listen, my concentration dips, and I catch my thumb on a sharp knife that stands blade up on the dryer next to the sink. I put down the mug. Blood oozes through my flesh, and I shove my thumb into my mouth – it tastes metallic. With my free hand I lift the knife, run it under the hot tap for some time, before putting it in one of the empty slots in the knife rack.

  ‘And we saw a terrifying mask.’ It’s Rosamund, her voice high-pitched. ‘It was on a statue, at the ruins.’

  I pad across the kitchen and stand in the doorway, my thumb still wedged in my mouth, like a child. Thomas is on the sofa, now sitting upright next to Maddie. Rosamund is in the armchair looking exhausted.

  I pull my thumb from my mouth. ‘Where’s Dad?’

  ‘Gone to the loo, I think,’ Thomas offers, and everyone turns to look my way.

  I take a breath. ‘I saw someone at the farmhouse,’ I say, a wobble in my voice. ‘Behind the garden wall – they looked right at me through the window.’

  ‘A man?’ Maddie’s eyes widen.

  I cough, clearing my throat. ‘I think so,’ I go on, as the kettle rumbles behind me. ‘Though I can’t be sure. They were wearing a mask.’ My stomach tips as I recall the eerie sight. ‘The same mask we saw on the statue.’

  ‘This is far too freaky,’ Thomas says, running his hand over his beard.

  I turn back to the kitchen, leaving them with my revelation, my thumb stinging like crazy, and move closer to the window. Outside, trees are almost masked by the heavy snowfall, and I lift onto my toes and lean over the counter, my nose touching the glass. I see faces everywhere; faces I know aren’t there, but still scare me. I drag down the blind, my whole body trembling.

  It takes a while before I’m still, and calm enough to make hot drinks. But once I’ve managed it, I bring the tray through to the lounge with a bowl of sugar and a jug of milk, and place it on the coffee table. And as everyone thanks me, I kneel down on the floor close to the burner.

  We sip our drinks in silence, all deep in our own thoughts, until the shrill sound of a phone ringing pierces the quiet. It’s coming from Rosamund’s pocket. She pulls it out, eyes wide with shock as she looks at the screen. ‘It’s Neil,’ she whispers. ‘How the hell have I got a signal?’ She presses the phone to her ear, and takes a breath. ‘Neil?’ A beat. ‘Calm down, please, we’ll find her, I know we will.’

  ‘Put him on speaker,’ Dad says, his tone assertive, and Rosamund does as he says, and places her phone on the table.

  ‘The police said you’re stuck up there,’ Neil is saying through a crackle on the line, talking fast, his voice tense.

  My mind darts back to just before Mum died, when she gave me a letter to post to him, but the thought evaporates as he goes on.

  ‘They said Elise is missing, and Ruth’s been murdered.’ We all stare down at the phone, and even though we can barely make out his words, I hear he’s close to tears.

  ‘We’ll find her, Neil,’ Rosamund says. ‘We think she could be hiding …’

  Silence drags on the line for a moment, before he continues. ‘What are you doing in the highlands of Scotland, anyway, Rosamund? Elise should be at school. Christ!’

  Rosamund leans forward, her arm embracing her stomach, tears rolling down her face. ‘I had to come, Neil. And I didn’t tell you, because I knew you wouldn’t understand. But Elise did. She said she wanted to come too.’

  ‘But she loves school, Rosamund.’ The line buzzes and crackles. ‘Why the hell didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘I don’t know. I’m so sorry.’

  ‘I can’t hear you – speak up,’ he says, raising his voice. ‘The line’s dreadful.’

  ‘Elise understood I wanted closure, Neil.’ Rosamund turns, her eyes meeting mine, as she dashes tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. ‘She knew I needed to see Robert and Amelia and Thomas. How I needed their forgiveness.’

  ‘Neil,’ Dad cuts in. ‘Robert Taylor here. Listen, what are the cops going to do? Are they coming up here anytime soon?’

  ‘Robert.’ Neil sounds wrong-footed, and I suspect he hadn’t realised he was on speakerphone – that others could hear the conversation. ‘Inspector Beynon said they are having difficulty reaching you. The roads are treacherous, but the ploughs are out, and the coastland rescue helicopter will be heading up there once it’s stopped snowing.’

  ‘They need to get up here as soon as possible.’ Dad’s voice is calm, but his eyes are red, his knees bouncing.

  ‘Don’t you think I know that?’ Neil yells.

  ‘All right, mate. Calm down.’

  ‘Yeah, that’s easy for you to say, your daughter isn’t missing.’

  Dad lowers his head, and covers his mouth, as though holding in the words he wants to say.

  ‘Christ,’ Neil says. ‘Sorry, Robert, I didn’t think, it’s just—’

  ‘Every second is important when a child goes missing,’ Dad goes on, and I know he’s struggling. ‘Get on to Inspector Beynon again. Get help, Neil. We’re depending on you.’

  The line goes dead, and Rosamund picks up her phone, looks at the screen. ‘I’ve got a text as well,’ she says, furrowing her forehead as she presses the screen. ‘Oh God.’

  ‘What?’ I ask, and she hands me the phone:

  I told you you shouldn’t have brought Elise to Drummondale House, but you didn’t listen.

  *

  After a long spell of quiet, Rosamund rises, and places her empty cup on the table. ‘I don’t really want to go back to my cottage,’ she says. ‘But I need to collect my holdall. I’m lost without it.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ I say, rising too. Any excuse to get away from the confines of this overcrowded lounge.

  ‘Me too.’ Maddie is up and putting on her ski suit before we can say anything. But I’m pleased she’s coming. I want to trust Rosamund, trust everyone here, but one of them could be a killer.

  The three of us walk across the untrodden snow towards Honeysuckle Cottage, and as we get closer, the thought of going back inside seems like a dreadful idea.

  ‘Are you sure you can’t get by without your holdall?’ I say to Rosamund, who is ahead now, taking long strides.

  She glances back. ‘I need my iron tablets, and my moisturising cream for my stomach – I dread getting stretch marks.’

  I’m taken aback that she can even think about stretch marks at a time like this, but I stay quiet.

  Once inside the cottage, Rosamund heads up the stairs at quite a speed, as though she’s forgotten about the blood, about what happened up there.

  Maddie and I stay near the door. ‘Is there a lot of blood?’ she says, her eyes skittering around the room.

  ‘A fair bit, yes. It’s OK, there’s none down here.’

  ‘It’s so awful isn’t it?’ Her voice is shaky, her eyes shimmering, and it hits me how young she is, how far away from her home in America. She might not be my favourite person, but I feel desperately sorry for her. I touch her arm, and she tries to smile.

  ‘We’ll be OK, Maddie,’ I say, but they’re words I don’t really believe. ‘We just need to stay together, that’s all. Whoever is doing this can’t touch us then.’

  We stand for some time in suffocating silence. Waiting. ‘Rosamund’s been a while, hasn’t she?’ I say, looking up the stairs, and Maddie gives a nervous nod. ‘Maybe I should check on her.’

  My heartbeat quickens as I move across the room, and stop at the foot of the stairs. I open my mouth to call Rosamund’s name, but something stops me. What if someone’s up there? I look about me, spotting two walking sticks propped against the wall. I grab one.

  ‘Should we get the others?’ Maddie asks, but I’m already gingerly climbing the stairs. ‘Amelia, you just said we should stick together,’ she calls after me.

  Once on the landing, I try not to let my eyes stray, but the sweet metallic smell of Ruth’s blood makes me gag.

  Ros
amund’s bedroom door stands open, and I step towards it and peer around the door. I grab my chest. ‘Thank God,’ I say, letting out a breath when I see Rosamund’s sitting on the edge of the bed. She’s holding something in her hand. It looks like the scan of her baby, and I see she’s crying.

  ‘Rosamund,’ I say, approaching, and she looks up. ‘Are you OK?’

  She shoves the photo in the holdall beside her.

  ‘Yes. I’m fine.’ She dries her cheeks on her sleeve. ‘I was just thinking about Elise, that’s all.’ She rises, takes a deep breath, and looks around her. ‘That’s odd,’ she says. ‘My bed jacket is missing.’

  ‘Is it in your case?’

  Her forehead furrows. ‘No, it was at the bottom of my bed.’

  ‘Do you need it?’

  She shrugs. ‘I guess not.’ She zips up her holdall, and pushes past me, heading onto the landing.

  I follow, and as we head down the stairs, I notice Maddie is standing by the coffee table, staring down at the half-played Monopoly game. She leans over and picks up a counter. By the time I reach her side, she’s rolling the token around in her hand, trancelike.

  ‘Are you OK?’ I ask her, as Rosamund approaches.

  She slips the counter into her pocket.

  ‘Maddie?’ I say.

  ‘Sorry, yes, yes, I’m fine.’ She heads towards the door. ‘We should get back,’ she says opening the door, and we step into the snow once more.

  ‘Actually, I desperately need a cigarette,’ Maddie says as we reach Bluebell Cottage.

  ‘I’ll stay out here with you, if you like,’ Rosamund says.

  ‘No. No, it’s fine.’ She fumbles in her pocket for her cigarettes, her hands shaking. ‘I just need some space. Thanks though.’

  ‘But you can’t be out here on your own,’ I say. ‘I’ll stay with you. Remember what we said about sticking together.’

  ‘For God’s sake,’ she snaps, and glares at me. ‘I’ll be five minutes, is all. Just let me be. I’ll be in shortly.’

  Rosamund and I exchange looks as we head inside, and I slam the door to make a point.

  ‘She shouldn’t be on her own,’ I say, as I pull off my boots. ‘We’re meant to be looking out for each other.’