Sticks and Stones

by Ilsa Evans

  ‘He’s been poisoned,’ said Maddie, staring at the vet so that she wouldn’t have to look at Sam. ‘Most probably about two hours ago.’

  ‘Do you know what the substance was?’ The vet pulled open Guess’s eyelid and a crescent of white shone blindly. She glanced up at Sam, doing a double-take at his black eye. ‘Looks like he’s not the only one who’s been in the wars.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Maddie shortly.

  ‘So, the substance? And has the dog vomited?’

  ‘No. And no, I don’t think so.’ Maddie put out a hand, lightly touching Guess’s grey-black fur. She let it drop again. ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Okay, well we’ll just get him out the back and have a quick look. Try to stabilise him, and then we’ll come get your details.’ The vet shot them a smile that was meant to be reassuring but wasn’t, because its brevity only emphasised the urgency. The receptionist was already walking towards the far doorway with Guess in his arms so the vet ducked around him and went ahead.

  Maddie stared after them as they disappeared. One of the huge cartoon dogs had his paw on the top of the doorway, so that it looked as if he was wishing them luck.

  ‘Did Dad do it?’ asked Sam quietly.

  Maddie shrugged, still staring at the doorway. How did you articulate something like that? How did you accept something like that?

  ‘Will he be okay?’

  ‘I honestly don’t know.’ Maddie turned, finally, to face her son. He was staring at his feet, his arms now hugged across himself as if holding in some essence of Guess. An imprint. ‘But we couldn’t have got here any faster.’

  ‘Yeah.’ Sam glanced up and Maddie saw that his eyes were shining. He looked away again.

  Maddie put out her hand, rubbed his back. Over by the windows was a cluster of plastic chairs, all facing a television that had been suspended from the ceiling. ‘Come on, you might as well sit down.’ She used her hand to propel him slightly. The news was on, the volume low, showing a retired football player who was apparently being stalked by an unknown male. His house vandalised, acid thrown on cars, nuisance phone calls. ‘I’m not scared for me,’ said the burly man, holding back the tears, ‘but I’ve got two daughters. I’m scared for them.’

  Ashley.

  This thought was immediately followed by the oily, nauseous realisation that what had happened to Guess sent everything ricocheting to a whole new level. So that it wasn’t about mere logistics, like whether or not she was at home when the girl was delivered, but so much more. On the television was now grainy footage of the intruder in the front yard, caught on the football player’s elaborate security camera. But Maddie stared without really seeing because a singular thought had taken over. She had to get Ashley. And even though she knew she was overreacting, she didn’t unpack the thought, didn’t question it, because that was terrifying in itself. Instead she just acted on it, first getting up to check the closing time. Nine o’clock. Excellent. She turned to Sam, who was watching her questioningly. ‘I’m off to get Ashley. From your dad’s.’

  ‘Cool,’ Sam nodded, as if this made sense.

  ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ Maddie stared at him for a moment and then ducked over, grabbing his face and kissing him on the cheek. Feeling the sparse stubble of his adolescent skin. She straightened before he had time to think, to wriggle free.

  The rain started again on the way to Silver’s Creek, just a thin drizzle that forced her to concentrate. She did, however, take the time to rehearse how she would play this out. Knowing that if he was there, with Ashley, it would mean the police hadn’t been yet. So the safest angle would be to pretend that she didn’t suspect him of what had happened to Guess, and insist, with a simulated expectation of coopera tion, that Ashley come along in case this was her last chance to say goodbye. Maddie even practised what she would say when he opened the door. Quickly, before he had time to say anything. This is an emergency, Jake, so we have to put everything else aside. It’s not about you and me. It’s about Ashley.

  But before she had coasted to a stop across the road, Maddie knew that it had been for nothing. The driveway was empty, while the house stared back at her through darkened lids. Not a single light anywhere. Disappointment and concern slithered greasily within the pit of her stomach like medicine that refused to settle. She thought fleetingly of going up to the house, peering through the windows and making sure, but there seemed to be no point. Instead she drummed her fingers against the steering wheel, trying to think. Where were they?

  And remembered, quite suddenly, the little green light blinking on the answering machine at home. Her fingers stopped instantly and, seconds later, Maddie was driving down the road and turning back towards the highway. Becoming steadily more convinced that it had been Ashley who had left the message, perhaps something that was going to explain everything. Make sense of this nightmare. Or maybe it was even to say that she was on her way home. Was there right this very minute. And then she, Maddie, could take the time to report the poisoning and head back to the veterinary hospital with Ashley in tow.

  Maddie pressed her foot down, driving as fast as she dared in the miserable conditions. Even so the trip seemed to take forever, although the clock on her dashboard read just six-eighteen as she pulled into the driveway. Being washed by disappointment, but not a huge amount of surprise, to realise that the lights were all off here as well. But knowing nevertheless that it was still the answering machine that was the key.

  She jumped out of the car, leaving her handbag on the floor, and ran. The drizzle was a little heavier now, appearing like magic out of the semi-darkness and coming in at an angle so that her jumper clung to her breasts by the time she reached the back door. Getting a momentary shock to see it wide open and then remembering the haste with which they had left. Maddie flicked the light on in the kitchen and threw her keys onto the table before going straight through to the lounge room and the answering machine. She jabbed Play, almost sliding her fi nger off the button with haste. The machine whirred, clunked, and then suddenly there was Ashley’s voice, so clear and so familiar that it was as if she was there herself. Almost.

  Hello, Mum? It’s me. I’m using Georgia’s phone because Dad took mine. Oh yeah, I already told you that. Anyway, like I’m at school and it’s . . . What time is it, George? . . . it’s ten in the morning. So what it is is that I thought I should tell you . . . George, can you go over there? This is private . . . that Sam’s got a big black eye. So, anyway, does that mean we can come home? You can ring me on Georgia’s phone, the number’s in our address book. Love you, see you.

  Maddie felt tears of frustration prick at her eyes. But even if she had checked the machine when she and Sam had got home, it would have been too late. If only Ashley had tried her on the mobile. But then again that had spent the better part of the day in the locker at work and she hadn’t checked it since. So maybe the girl had done exactly that. The machine whirred to the start of the next message and a strange woman’s voice rang out, tense and terse.

  Hello, we met a few weeks ago, at the airport. My name is Natalie and I’m a . . . friend of Jake’s. Your husband, I suppose I should say. I’m calling because frankly I can’t just sit by and do nothing. Let me just say this, you must be the most selfish, evil woman I have ever come across. To take a man’s children from him for all these years and then make him suffer like this even after he finds them again. To push him over the edge the way you have. I hope you’re happy. I don’t know how you live with yourself. You disgust me.

  And the machine stopped abruptly, with an audible clunk, before beginning to rewind. Maddie stared at it, stunned. The most selfish, evil woman? You disgust me? She sat down on the armrest of the couch, rubbing her arms as she glanced over at the broken window, with its patchwork of cardboard and masking tape. She thought of her dog, fighting for his life, and her son, with his black-blue, bloodshot eye. And yet she was evil? She was disgusting? It was all too wrong for words.

  ‘Hard to hear, isn’t it?’
asked Jake pleasantly. ‘Even though it’s the truth.’

  Maddie froze. Unable to turn in the direction of his voice.

  ‘But then you’ve never liked the truth, have you?’

  Adrenalin was trickling along her veins, but it seemed to ice over before it could do anything.

  ‘Oh, and thanks for leaving the door open. Although I did have my own set of keys.’

  The sound of keys jingling finally brought Maddie’s head around. He was standing in the passage doorway, swinging a pewter key ring around one finger. She stared at the word Twilight swinging gaily, along with a little silver apple. ‘Where is she?’

  ‘Don’t worry about her. Worry about yourself.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Maddie, but she had to force the word. It emerged harshly, like a croak.

  ‘Because I’m going to kill you. That’s why.’

  Her eyes flicked up to his face, searching for clues. But it was impassive, expressionless. So familiar and yet so very, very scary. A face she had once stroked, with the tips of her fingers, or watched hover above hers in fierce concentration as their bodies slid against each other. A sheen of sweat the only thing between them. She opened her mouth, but there was nothing left.

  ‘Oh, don’t bother trying to talk your way out of this one,’ Jake sighed, as if this was a cause for regret. ‘Too little, too late. You’ve left me with nothing to lose.’

  ‘You poisoned Guess.’

  ‘Good guess,’ he chuckled, the sound bizarre. ‘Get it? Good guess.’

  ‘Where’s Ashley?’

  He sighed again, but this time a little crossly. ‘I told you, she’s fine.’

  ‘I have a nosy neighbour.’ Maddie stood up slowly. ‘He’ll ring the police.’

  ‘Let’s recap, shall we?’ said Jake, as if she hadn’t spoken. ‘You promise till death do us part and all that, and then you throw everything away as soon as it starts getting a bit like hard work. But just to shut me up, you then promise that we’ll keep trying. Give it a go. Next, and this is the bit I really like,’ he smiled, as if inviting her to join in, ‘you tell me you’re coming back home. You even give me a date!’

  ‘I only did –’

  ‘That’s a whole lot of promises, isn’t it? And more fool me for still trusting you! What a fucking idiot!’ He shook his head, as if amazed. ‘So there I am. It was a Thursday. I finish work early and rush home. All excited. Get dressed up to the nines because we’re going out. Remember? To celebrate? And then I sit in the lounge room, waiting, wondering why you’re late. Do you know I even started to worry? Thought you’d been in an accident?’ Jake laughed flatly and then stared at her, his face suddenly grey. Like cement. ‘You really are a fucking class one bitch, aren’t you? I mean, who the fuck does that?’

  ‘Jake.’ Maddie got his name out but it tasted thick and damp, like soggy bread.

  He held his hand up, smiled, but it was if his lips were forced. Stretching into an oddly frightening caricature. ‘But wait, there’s more!’

  ‘Jake . . .’

  The smile quivered, and then vanished, as if the effort had been too much. He took a step into the lounge room and then stopped. ‘So for six years I spend every last minute, and almost every last cent, hunting you down. Putting my life on hold, living through every Christmas, every birthday. Until I finally find you. Them. And I get my day in court, get my kids back. But even then there’s no fucking happy ever after, is there? Not with you in the picture. No, you just keep on brainwashing them and now you’re after my fucking house as well! Christ all fucking mighty!’

  Maddie found her voice. ‘What did you expect?’

  ‘What I deserved, that’s what!’

  ‘Oh, you’ll get that,’ said Maddie softly, almost under her breath, while moving slightly to her right behind the couch. ‘Don’t worry about that.’

  ‘What did you say?’ Jake took another step forward, so that he was beside the computer desk. He took the swivel chair by the backrest and rolled it smoothly across the carpet until it was in front of him, like a guard.

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘Come on,’ he pushed the chair forward and then pulled it back again. And now his grin seemed genuine. ‘Give it a go. Make a run for it.’

  Maddie watched him intently, tensing every time he moved. It was like he was a matador, and the chair his red cape.

  ‘If I’d had enough time I’d have gone home, got the rifle. Made it easier on you.’

  Maddie glanced up from the chair to his face. And she was staring straight into the barrel of the gun. A ring of smooth, cold steel that was perfectly steady, with not even a tremble to indicate doubt. But she didn’t drop her gaze, couldn’t drop her gaze, because that was all she had.

  ‘Except this time it would’ve been for real. No blanks.’

  ‘You gave it up,’ she said hoarsely. ‘The rifle. Years ago. At that amnesty.’

  ‘You’d believe anything. But it doesn’t matter anyway. It’s not here so it has to be the hard way. Sorry about that.’

  Maddie felt a whisper of cold moist air massage the back of her neck, from the broken window, where the masking tape had come loose. It invigorated her, sharpened her senses. ‘It doesn’t have to be like this. It never did.’

  ‘Oh my god!’ Jake moved forward with the chair, stopping just in front of the couch. ‘You are such a little liar! You know as well as I do that you’ve backed me into a corner. Turned my kids against me. I can just imagine what you would’ve had them say at this thing tomorrow. All lies and exaggeration, that’s your style. Oh, and the pièce de résistance, let’s not forget that. Traipsing straight down to the cops.’

  ‘You hit him!’ said Maddie, instantly incensed. ‘Gave him a black eye!’

  ‘And that’s a reason to go to the fucking cops?’

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘No!’ he roared, and quite suddenly thrust the chair to his left and lurched forward, so that it seemed he was about to vault straight over the couch.

  Maddie reared backwards, automatically, and then made her move. Bounding to the right around the couch and leaping forward. Seeing the brightly lit kitchen, the open back door, all just ahead, almost within reach. She stretched a hand out, as if that would help her speed, and then suddenly she was flying sideways, hitting the television with force, crumpling to the ground. With the swivel chair on top of her, its castors rotating uselessly in the air.

  ‘Got you!’ said Jake, laughing as though this was a mutually enjoyable game.

  Maddie groaned and then rose slowly to her knees, trying to push the chair off her. Her shoulder throbbed painfully and she also knew her hip was badly hurt, from where she had hit the television. And then suddenly the chair was lifted clear and she looked up, stunned, almost grateful, to find Jake holding it poised in the air. Grinning. And she had just enough time to crouch and cover her head with her hands before it hit her again, across the back this time. She cried out, a high-pitched whimper that sounded animal-like, desperate.

  ‘Having fun yet?’ asked Jake cheerfully. ‘Want to ring the cops?’

  Maddie shook her head, then twisted so that she could look at him through the armrest of the chair. Her back ached sharply. ‘Have you thought about the kids? If you hurt me?’

  ‘Oh, I’ve thought of little else.’ Jake hoisted the chair off her yet again, but this time even as she flinched, preparing herself, he tossed it casually back towards the computer. It struck the desk, gouging the soft pine, and then rebounded off to settle with a wobble, ridiculously upright. ‘And the truth is that I couldn’t do them a bigger favour if I tried.’

  Maddie struggled to her feet quickly. The painful effort well worth it because she felt so much less vulnerable upright. ‘That’s not true.’

  Instead of answering Jake took a step towards her, grinning when she took an automatic step back. Another step, and she was now pressed against the wall. He stood there, only centimetres away, staring at her with that odd, horrible smile.

  As she m
aintained eye contact Maddie thought furiously, assessing her options. There was no point trying to run as he was far too close. Which left fighting back, which would delay and probably even exacerbate the inevitable but at least give her a small degree of satisfaction. Or she could try and extricate herself with words. Promises, whatever it took.

  ‘So how many men have you fucked?’

  Maddie blinked, stunned. ‘Pardon?’

  ‘You heard me.’ Jake wasn’t smiling now. ‘How many in the past six years? Huh?’

  ‘None.’

  ‘Christ, you really are a fucking liar. There’s no way you’d last that long. Not you.’

  Maddie shook her head, not wanting this conversation.

  ‘So how many?’

  ‘Not as many as you,’ she shot back. ‘Not with your Natalie.’

  He raised his eyebrows, lowered them again. ‘Actually you could take a few lessons from her. Pretty good in the sack, that one.’

  Maddie stared at him, letting the words bounce off her. Like a cartoon she had once seen, years ago, with Gulliver brushing off the Lilliputians’ tiny arrows.

  ‘Gives great head. Amazing.’

  She elongated her spine, despite the pain in her back, making herself taller.

  ‘Loyal too. Do anything for me.’

  ‘Well, I hope you two are very happy together.’

  ‘Shut the fuck up.’

  Maddie flinched, surprised by the sudden turn. She watched him warily, trying to anticipate what would come next. Knowing she had never had much idea, and she had even less now.

  ‘You ruined my life. You ruined my life.’

  Maddie shook her head. ‘No, I didn’t.’

  ‘Taking my kids. Turning them against me.’

  ‘No,’ she said softly, staring. ‘You did that. You stupid fool.’

  His fist shot forward and connected with the left side of her chin, bouncing her head back against the wall. The plaster caved with the force, retaining a clear oval impression as she whipped her head back again and lifted her arms to protect it. But the next blow was to her stomach, a full-force clenched fist that folded her in two, hands now clasped around her waist as she heaved. Trying to draw breath and throw up at the same time. And now the blows rained down, head, chest, stomach, arms, so that she slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor, knees up and arms over her head. Making herself as small a target as possible. Groaning, moaning, grunting, yelping as the heavy, relentless punches found their marks across her body.