Lies of the Dead

by Shauna Bickley

  ‘We went to bed.’ The words came out in a rush; as if now she’d started she just wanted to say it all. ‘I couldn’t believe Greg fancied me. We danced, and it was pretty obvious.’ Her voice was low, and her gaze firmly on the floor, so Andi had to strain to hear what she said. ‘The party was at someone’s house, so we went upstairs and found an empty bedroom.’

  Only then did she look at Andi, as if she expected a thunderstorm to erupt.

  Andi wasn’t sure how to react. If this had been before Liam’s problems and their present circumstances, she would probably have shouted by now. ‘Did you use anything?’

  ‘No, but it was a couple of months ago, so I’m not pregnant.’

  That was a relief, even though it wasn’t the only reason to use a condom, but the safe sex speech could wait for another time.

  Kristen sniffed. ‘I thought it would be special, but it was all over so quick. I’d liked him for ages, and I thought after that we’d go out together, but he just got off the bed and went to see his mates. He hasn’t even looked at me since.’

  Andi wanted to put her arms around Kristen and cuddle her. She stretched out her leg, and rubbed her foot along Kristen’s calf.

  ‘Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry, and so angry with him that he hurt you. I want to punch him. Sometimes we wish for things, but it doesn’t happen, or not the way we think. Wrong person, or maybe just the wrong time. Did Sophie know?’

  Kristen nodded.

  ‘Good. I’m glad you could talk to her, it’s so hard otherwise.’

  ‘I felt stupid. Another thing to add to the list.’

  ‘You’re not. He’s the one that’s stupid. We all do things we regret. It’s part of life. Not just growing up. Adults make mistakes.’

  ‘You don’t.’

  ‘Oh Kris, if only you knew the half of it. I make mistakes all the time.’

  She told Kristen about Saul. ‘I was just another silly girl, in another sleepy town on the way to somewhere else.’

  ‘Did you love him?’

  ‘No. I probably thought I did, but I was more in love with the idea of running away.’

  ‘I don’t want to do that,’ said Kristen.

  ‘Me neither,’ added Sophie.

  ‘So you’ve listened to my guilty secrets as well.’

  ‘It makes me feel better to know you’ve done silly things,’ said Kristen. ‘I always thought you were perfect.’

  Andi laughed, even though it was the last thing she felt like. Her, perfect? She’d thrown Steven out for one mistake, and then dated the man who had them in handcuffs.

  ‘Kris, I’m so far from perfect, I can’t even see the finish line.’

  She stopped. The house wasn’t near the road, and the few vehicles that went past made a distant whoosh. This car had driven up to the house. There were voices downstairs, muffled, so she couldn’t hear what they said. Why hadn’t Martin and Barbara bought a modern house with paper-thin walls?

  Doors opened, and then more voices. She could only hear fragments. Please let it be Tom. Please let him have the money. Who cares where it came from, just have the money.

  The gravel crunched as people walked across it. Then she heard voices in the hall below.

  Chapter 27

  Tom

  Large hands dragged him out of the car, and then dropped him onto the gravel.

  ‘Mickey.’ It must have been a rebuke. As Tom struggled to stand, Mickey grabbed hold of his arm and hauled him to his feet.

  ‘Hello, Tom. Good to see you again,’ said Dave. He stood next to a tall, slim man.

  ‘I’m Vincent,’ said the man. ‘I do hope you’re not lying to me, like Liam.’ His expression was neutral and his tone matter-of-fact, but the blood lust on Mickey’s face would give Tom nightmares, without the thought of lying to Vincent.

  ‘I’ve got it.’

  ‘Good, that’s what I like to hear. Better for everyone.’ Vincent nodded at him, as if to say, “Show me the money”.

  ‘I need to see Andi and the girls first.’

  ‘You’re hardly in a position to make demands, but I’ll humour you for now. Just remember, if you try to cross me you’ll regret it, but before that I’ll let Mickey and Al do what they want to Andi and those girls.’

  ‘I’m here to pay Liam’s debt and get you out of our lives, but first I need to know Andi is okay.’

  Mickey elbowed him, and Tom staggered towards the house.

  ‘I think Mickey wants you to try something. I haven’t let him play yet, and he’s longing to hurt someone.’

  Mickey pushed him up the stairs, waiting for any sign of retaliation to give him the opportunity to inflict pain. Tom clenched his teeth. This would soon be over.

  Andi sat on the floor, her hands handcuffed to a radiator. She must have been uncomfortable, but smiled as soon as she saw him.

  ‘Oh Tom, you look awful.’

  ‘I’m fine, how are you?’ He glanced at Sophie and Kristen.

  ‘We’re okay, but so glad to see you.’ Andi’s voice sounded strained, but there was obvious relief on her face. ‘Steven and the others are here somewhere.’

  Sophie and Kristen both looked as if they were ready to cry.

  ‘I’ll get things sorted out downstairs, and this will be over.’ Tom tried what he hoped was a man-in-charge voice.

  Downstairs Vincent and Dave waited for him.

  ‘The money’s in the car.’

  ‘I didn’t think you’d helicopter it in.’ Vincent’s voice had a sneer to it, and Tom looked at him sharply.

  ‘You’re not backing out on the deal, are you?’

  Mickey’s brother came in with the rucksack.

  ‘Let’s see what you’ve got here, Al.’ Vincent took the bag from him, and he and Dave went into another room. Mickey pushed Tom in after them.

  Tom took a quick look around. This must be the living room. Mickey shoved him onto a chair and left. Vincent and Dave sat on the couch, and started to count the money.

  ‘He didn’t get it all.’ Tom nodded at the rucksack. ‘There are two smaller bags in the boot, between the carpet and the car body.’

  Dave got up and yelled instructions to Al, and a minute or so later he returned with the other bags.

  Once they’d counted all the money, Vincent looked over at Tom.

  ‘You managed to sort out your brother’s mess. I won’t ask where you got the money.’

  Tom’s breath escaped in a small sigh. ‘Just keep your part of the bargain and leave us alone.’

  ‘You might not like the way I work, but it has to be done, and I keep my word. I’m a businessman. Your brother was happy to take my credit. He knew the interest and repayment system, and what would happen if he defaulted.’

  ‘Just tell me this is over,’ said Tom.

  Vincent nodded. Something smashed against Tom’s head. The force propelled him out of the chair, and onto his knees before everything went black.

  Chapter 28

  Andi

  Andi couldn’t remember what she’d said to Tom, babbled they were okay. He looked awful, so pale and haggard.

  After he’d gone downstairs, she strained to hear what happened.

  The outside security lights went on and off a number of times, and she heard footsteps on the gravel. There was a loud crash, as if a piece of furniture had been knocked over, and then silence. What was going on? Tom had given them the money. Surely Vincent would let them go now.

  The stairs creaked, the sound eerie in the semi-darkness. Vincent stood in the doorway.

  ‘Andi, I’m off now, and we won’t meet again. You’ll probably be glad, but we could have had some fun.’

  He left before she had the chance to answer. What about them? Surely he wouldn’t leave them handcuffed like this?

  Mickey came in. From the expression on his face she knew this wouldn’t be good.

  He moved behind her, and then the smell of him was all around, as he held her tightly. ‘Keep quiet, and this won’t be painful.’<
br />
  She yanked at the handcuffs securing her to the radiator, writhing and twisting to kick him. His arms were around her, holding her tightly. He pinched her breast, squeezing her nipple, and pushed his other hand down between her legs.

  ‘I don’t want you,’ he said, his breath over her face. ‘Too old, I want ’em younger. But I like to play rough, bet you’d enjoy that.’ He gripped the soft flesh of her inner thigh, and laughed as she screamed. ‘Al, get in here.’

  He put his arm around her neck, and pressed down. She thrashed and strained, darkness buzzed at the edge of her vision. The handcuffs clanked against the radiator as she heaved and wrenched at them. She struggled, and tried to get her feet round to the wall to push against Mickey, but his grip was too strong. Her lungs burned for air, and the marks on the ceiling blurred and merged. She couldn’t leave the girls to Mickey and Al, but her feet drummed helplessly against the floor, and still Mickey kept the pressure on her throat.

  Al loomed over her. He held a cloth across her mouth and nose, pressing it into her skin. Mickey released his pressure slightly, and she inhaled to scream.

  *

  ‘Andi. Andi.’

  Her head hurt. Why was Steven yelling? She tried to roll over, but her arm wouldn’t budge. He kept shouting. Although his voice sounded far away, it still hurt her head. She opened her eyes, but the world spun round and she closed them again.

  ‘Andi.’

  She couldn’t remember such a bad hangover since university.

  There were crashes and thumps. What the hell. She needed to sleep this off.

  ‘Shut up. I feel sick,’ she tried to mutter, but her throat hurt at the effort.

  ‘Andi. Tom.’

  Why yell for Tom? She couldn’t make out everything he said, but recognised panic in his voice. More thumps and bangs.

  She tried to pull herself up, but something clanged dully and stopped her. What the hell? She squinted, and metal gleamed in the pale light. Handcuffs? She and Steven hadn’t done that for a while. And why was she on the floor?

  ‘Tom. Andi.’

  Why didn’t he come to see her instead of yelling so much? Why so much noise? He’d break something. She struggled to sit up, but her limbs were like jelly and wouldn’t do what she wanted.

  A violent boom and crash, and then Steven’s voice sounded louder. He groaned and swore, and ran upstairs.

  ‘Andi.’

  ‘In here,’ she muttered.

  He helped her to sit up, kissed the top of her head and held her as if she was a child.

  ‘Are you okay? No, obviously not. Do you want a drink? Where are the girls?’

  Her mouth was dry, and her throat hurt so much. A drink would be good. Where are the girls? She jolted upright and strained to look behind her. Kristen and Sophie weren’t there.

  ‘Andi, where were they?’

  ‘They were here. Try the other rooms.’

  He ran out, and doors banged as he searched for them. He rushed downstairs still yelling their names. Things went quiet and she held her breath, listened for their voices.

  ‘Steven, what is it? Have you found them?’

  She knew from the slow tread of his footsteps on the stairs, they weren’t in the house. He came into the room, and at that moment he looked old.

  He knelt down next to her and unlocked the handcuffs. She stared at the key in his hand.

  ‘The girls aren’t here, are they?’

  He shook his head. Something inside her shattered.

  All the horrific images she’d ever seen on TV rushed through her mind, and she screamed.

  Her screams became tears. ‘I’ll kill him. I’ll kill him.’ Then words were too much.

  ‘Andi, listen to me.’ Steven held her, trying to quieten her.

  ‘We have to find them.’ She pulled away from him. ‘Now.’

  ‘I know.’ He looked so quiet and serious; she knew he had more to say.

  ‘What?’

  ‘They left a note with the key. It said if we wanted the girls back, not to ring the police.’

  She shook, and her brain couldn’t see beyond the images of Kristen and Sophie in some hellhole.

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘I think he’s using Sophie and Kristen as insurance, to give him time to get away.’

  She couldn’t take it in. Surely Tom had given Vincent the money.

  ‘Where’s Tom?’

  ‘Downstairs, and there’s a woman in one of the other bedrooms.’

  ‘Janine.’ She couldn’t stop the tremors in her arms and legs. ‘Help me up. I’ve got to see Tom.’

  Tom sat on the floor, his back against the sofa. He had a large lump on the back of his head, and his face was bruised.

  ‘You gave them the money?’ asked Andi.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘He’s taken the girls.’

  Tom moved his head fractionally. ‘They knocked me out after they counted the money, but it was all there.’

  She turned to Steven. ‘You really think he’ll let them go, once they’re away. But they must have left here hours ago.’

  Steven sagged against the wall. ‘He’s got the money. There’s no reason for him not to let them go.’

  Andi shuffled over to the sofa and sank down. She put her hand on Tom’s shoulder. ‘Do you think we can trust Dave?’

  ‘It seems a funny thing to say, but yes, I think we can.’

  ‘I thought so as well. I was frightened of Mickey.’ She tried to remember what Vincent had said. He only wanted what was his. He didn’t want her and the police hunting him down. If he did anything to hurt Sophie or Kristen, she would never stop until she found him. But if she did nothing, she felt as though she had given up and let him take her daughters. Tears trickled down her cheeks and she couldn’t stop them.

  Steven sat next to her and held her. ‘I’m not sure what time they left. It seemed to take me ages to get free and break out of that room, but it might not have been that long. It’s six now, still early. Shall we give them until seven, and then call the police if we haven’t heard from them?’

  That hour might be vital, but what if Vincent meant to keep his word and they jeopardised that.

  She sniffed, and rubbed her forehead. Nothing made sense, and she couldn’t think straight or come to a decision.

  ‘We’ll call the police at seven,’ said Steven. He pulled her close and held her. His warmth seemed to flow into her.

  ‘Okay.’

  Tom felt around the back of his head. ‘Vincent said he just wanted his money. He’s got that. He knows if anything happens to Sophie or Kristen, we’ll never stop looking for him.’

  ‘How’s your head?’ asked Steven. ‘That must have been some whack to knock you out for so long.’

  ‘It hurts like hell, but it wasn’t just that. They used chloroform or something, as well.’

  Andi flinched as she remembered Mickey’s hands over her. ‘That’s what they did to me, and to Janine. She felt sick and dizzy when they got her out of the car.’

  Tom looked at Andi. ‘Janine? She’s here.’

  ‘Hell, sorry,’ said Steven. ‘I saw a woman in one of the bedrooms when I looked for the twins, I guess that’s her.’

  Tom struggled to his feet.

  ‘The key to the handcuffs is on the table.’

  ‘Are we doing the right thing?’ Andi asked Steven.

  He looked at his watch. ‘I wish I knew.’

  His eye was bruised and swollen, there were cuts on his cheek, and his T-shirt was ripped. His hands were grazed and cut. She ran her fingers lightly down his face.

  ‘Did Mickey do this to you?’

  ‘Some of it.’

  ‘You were in that darkroom place?’

  He nodded.

  ‘How did you get out?’

  ‘They tied me up pretty tightly at first. After Mickey beat me up, Dave told him to let me wash my face. As Mickey tied me up again, one of the others yelled for him, so it wasn’t quite as tight. I k
ept working on it. Everything was muffled, but I heard Tom arrive, and then sometime later several car engines. I yelled, and when nobody came I guessed they’d gone. Finally I managed to get free. It was hard to break out of the room, but I did it eventually.’ He looked at his watch.

  It was a simple gesture, but Andi couldn’t stop the tears. Where were her girls? Could she trust Vincent? Steven held her tightly through her tears.

  ‘I’ll be okay,’ she gulped.

  ‘Have you seen Martin and Barbara since this started?’

  ‘No. When we were first locked up, I thought they might be with you.’

  ‘That leaves the garage and workshop.’

  ‘You go and look for them,’ said Andi. ‘I’ll stay here.’

  ‘It’s not seven yet. I’ll only be a minute, and then be right back.’

  She nodded, although she didn’t think she’d ever feel okay again. It was hard without the girls when they stayed with Steven, but this was so much worse. She paced around the room. She couldn’t think like that. Vincent had to keep his word. Dave would make him.

  Had they made the right decision? She’d never known anything like the black despair that engulfed her. If they rang the police, she might never see the girls again, but doing nothing felt so wrong. She’d drive herself insane trying to figure out what was right. In the darkest part of her, she felt whatever they did would be the wrong choice. She couldn’t live with the consequences of that.

  There was a familiar jingle of notes. She looked around, then jerked upright. Her phone. She staggered over to the cabinet. A number she didn’t recognise appeared on the screen, and she jabbed at the phone icon.

  Chapter 29

  Andi

  Andi couldn’t stop crying. She needed to talk coherently, but snivelled like a baby.

  Steven came into the house with Martin and Barbara. He stopped talking when he saw her, and she held the phone out to him, unable to speak. His face drained of colour as he reached out to take it.

  ‘Hello.’

  ‘Dad.’ Andi heard Sophie’s shriek.