Tell Me No Secrets

by Lynda Stacey

  ‘I have a plan.’ She began pulling at the tape that bound her wrists. It was tight and strong. She was wasting time. She looked around. By the fire she saw a toasting fork and grabbed at it, and passed it to Eve. ‘Hold it steady, I’m going to use the prongs to stab the tape.’

  Kate ran through the darkness. Her heart pounded and her legs hurt, not to mention her feet that still wore high heeled boots after her day out with her twin.

  She looked back into the woods, where only a few minutes before she’d left Eve, lying on her belly, cowering under a bush. Kate had managed to drag her to the woods, into the trees and to a place just off the main track where they’d both agreed it would be safe to hide. Even if Rob came back and ran down the track, the chance that he’d veer that far off the path while searching was slim. Hopefully he wouldn’t stop to think that Kate would leave Eve alone. But after a tearful goodbye, both she and Eve had agreed that she’d be faster alone. She had to get help, had to get to some kind of civilisation and phone the police, Ben and an ambulance. Eve could be hurt and Kate was terrified that being dropped and dragged could have affected her paralysis, making it worse.

  The darkness was dropping fast and Kate stumbled over shrubbery as she ran, but didn’t dare stop. She could see the edge of the trees, a clearing where maybe someone would be, and she headed straight for it. Then she stopped as she saw the edge of the cliffs, the drop off and the sea beyond.

  ‘No … No … No … this is not happening.’ She made her way to the cliff edge, looked along it and for as far as she could see it was a sheer drop, with boulders and rock pools far below. She looked back at the trees. How could she have gotten it so wrong? Why would there be a path through the trees if there was nowhere to go?

  She turned, defeated, knowing that she’d have to go back. Maybe she could hide with Eve in the bushes until morning. But what if Rob was back? What if he was in the woods, looking for them? Surely by now, he’d have realised that they were gone. But she had no choice, she had to go back to Eve and find a way to keep them safe.

  ‘Really thought you were clever, didn’t you?’ Came Rob’s unmistakable voice from somewhere within the trees. Kate squinted, and spun around in the darkness trying to see where he stood. But then he emerged, looking both smug and determined.

  ‘Rob, you’re there. I … I was looking for you,’ she lied, while searching the grounds around him, looking for a way to escape.

  He stopped in his tracks. Scratched his chin and held his hands out aloft. ‘And why on earth would you do that?’ He shook his head.

  ‘Because …’ She had to think quickly. ‘… Rob, I love you. I thought we could talk, sort things out. Everything’s such a mess and I wanted to see you. We had a good life together. We shared a home. Surely, that has to count for something?’

  He walked closer to her, stared into her eyes. The look reminded her of the day he’d attacked her, the day he’d dragged her into the bath and the day she’d thought she was about to drown.

  ‘A good life, is that what you think?’ He looked over the edge of the cliff. ‘Long way down, isn’t it?’ He laughed.

  Kate tried not to look back over the cliff. She didn’t want to see how far the fall would be. ‘Look, no one has to get hurt, Rob. No one knows you are here. All you have to do is let me go. We … we could go together, start again.’

  ‘Do you think I’m that stupid?’ he growled. ‘I’m never going to let you go. Don’t you understand that?’ Once again he laughed. A loud, malevolent sound that made Kate’s whole body shudder and her skin crawl.

  Rob’s hands were over his face. ‘It’s all your fault, you see. I was ordered to get close to you. Made to follow you, instructed to be around you. I didn’t want to, but Giancarlo made me.’ He continued to hold his head in his hands, and spun around on the spot. ‘It’s all your fault, everything is your fault,’ he spoke as if in a daze. Lifting his face from his hands, he stared at the sea over her shoulder.

  Tears ran down Kate’s face. ‘What … why … why me?’

  He physically shook before her. ‘I had to infiltrate the village, the women, the homes of the rich. I had to sell them the drugs and you … your grandmother was well loved; you were the daughter of a barrister. Everyone trusted you, they trusted your family.’

  Kate’s world fell from beneath her feet and she dropped to her knees. ‘So you only loved me because of who my family are?’

  Rob nodded. ‘I had no choice. I had to do the drug runs and sell the drugs or lose my family. I couldn’t have one without the other, can you understand that? Yet now, here I am with no family.’ He shook his head fiercely, walked towards her, knelt down and grabbed her by the shoulders, looking pleadingly into her eyes. ‘You have to believe me. I didn’t want to sell drugs … you know how I hate them. What they do. I hated it, hated what it did to people, but I had no choice and I ended up just like my family: importing, selling, killing.’

  She closed her eyes. It was as though she was hearing the story of her own life for the very first time. At last the truth was being told.

  She carefully lifted a hand and risked touching his face. She was prepared to try anything to save both her and Eve, even if that meant seducing him right here, right now, in the darkness on the cliff top. ‘Please, Rob. I love you so much. We can sort this out, I’m sure we can. It was real, wasn’t it? We did love each other, didn’t we?’ Her mind spiralled out of control as the words fell from her lips.

  For a moment Rob’s eyes searched hers with a need almost too painful to endure. His lips lifted towards hers, brushed the side of her face, then his arms grasped hold of her like his life depended on him never letting go. ‘Everything’s such a mess, Kate.’ He sobbed, his face nuzzled into her shoulder. ‘Giancarlo, he’s left the country, he’s abandoned me and I don’t know what to do without him.’ Pulling back his face, his eyes pleaded with hers. ‘I’m in so much trouble. I know I’ve done wrong, but I can’t go to prison. I’d never survive.’ He nestled his face into her neck. ‘No one was supposed to die. The car you were in, it should have just left the road, but the road was covered in mud, the car skidded too far and the water level was higher than I’d thought. I saved both you and Eve, but I couldn’t get to your brother, not in time. I tried, I swear to God, I tried, but I couldn’t save him too.’

  Kate held onto the man that she’d loved, as her breath caught in her throat and her world fell into a million pieces around her. She couldn’t believe what Rob was saying and her mind spiralled back to the accident. First to the car, to how it had swerved and then to how it had rolled, over and over, downward and into the water. Then she’d been on the grass by the side of the road, with Eve at her side … and Rob … she had no memory of him being there. But he had been. He’d caused the accident. He’d killed her brother and he’d crippled Eve. It had all been his fault, not hers.

  Her breathing became shallow and rapid. She hated every millimetre of him and wanted justice for both James and for Eve.

  She tried to calm her breathing and began taking deep, deliberate breaths, while she thought carefully about her next move. No matter what he’d done, no matter how much she hated him for what he’d done, she had to protect Eve and she was prepared to do anything to do that.

  A noise came from deep in the undergrowth. It was too dark to see who it was and Kate began to tremble with nerves as Rob’s demeanour altered. He spun around. ‘Who’s there?’ he shouted, standing up and walking to the edge of the woods.

  ‘Rob, just leave it, it’ll just be an animal or something. Please, we need to talk.’ Kate’s eyes searched the woods, fearing that Eve had ventured out of her hiding place and dragged herself through the trees.

  ‘Ohhhhhhh, so that’s where your sister is hiding, is it?’ He began pulling at the bushes and staring into the darkness. ‘Now then, what am I going to do with you both?’ He marched up and down, towards the trees, just as Isobel stepped out.

  ‘Yes, Roberto. What are you going to do with t
hem?’

  Rob spun around on the spot. ‘W-w-where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you. I told you to stay at the sh-shack,’ he stuttered, obviously shocked by her sudden appearance. He pushed her out of the way and stomped back to where Kate was still on her knees.

  ‘For God’s sake, Roberto,’ Isobel screeched at him. ‘You’ve done some bloody stupid things in your life, but bringing her here has to beat them all. What the hell will Giancarlo say?’

  ‘Don’t you dare bring my family into this. My family love me … do you hear that, they love me!’ he screamed at her and his voice echoed through the trees.

  Kate’s anger boiled. It was because of his family that her brother was dead, that she was scarred and that her sister was paralysed. Yet still, all he cared about was what his family might think of him. ‘Your family don’t care, Rob. You just said it yourself. Giancarlo has abandoned you. He’s left you both here to rot.’ She could see him grinding his teeth, he couldn’t argue with the truth and continued to pace up and down the cliff edge.

  ‘Is that true? Has he deserted us?’ Isobel screamed. ‘Because if I’ve lost everything for nothing, I swear, I’ll—’

  ‘You’ll do what, Isobel? I’ll tell you what you’ll do, you’ll do nothing.’ Rob stopped and stared at the sea.

  Kate watched his movements. She knew he’d stopped watching her to concentrate on Isobel and took the opportunity to stand up, while she watched and waited for him to get closer. Then he turned.

  ‘Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, you think you’re going to push me over the edge, do you?’ He marched towards her, grabbing her by the throat. ‘Such a shame you’re not that strong or clever. After all, it would be so easy for someone to trip and fall, wouldn’t it?’

  Kate screamed. ‘Rob, p-p-please …’ she cried out as he physically moved her by the throat to the edge of the cliff. The heel of her boot caught in the undergrowth and she slipped and crashed to the ground, landing heavily on her back. But Rob easily moved her and now she lay, her head hanging over the edge, with his hand at her throat.

  ‘One more squeeze, Kate, and you’ll suffocate.’ His body lay over hers. ‘Or shall I give your neck just one little push? It would snap like a twig; do you know that?’

  She stared at him. Her eyes felt like saucers, but she refused to close them. Refused to give him the satisfaction that he’d won. ‘Then kill me,’ she managed to whisper, her eyes still penetrating his.

  ‘Rob … stop … I’ve told you before, I won’t be party to murder!’ Isobel screamed and Kate saw her launch herself at his back. ‘You have to stop; you’re going to kill her.’

  Kate was aware of the thuds that vibrated through Rob’s body and into hers, as Isobel struck him from behind. Drifting in and out of consciousness, she was vaguely aware that Isobel was trying to help and then as quickly as he’d grabbed her, his grip released and Kate once again found herself dragging air into her deprived lungs. She heard a scream and opened her eyes, just as Rob swing out, catching Isobel in the face. Isobel stumbled, screamed again and then fell backwards, her head hitting a rock. She was lying by the cliff edge and Kate watched as Rob walked towards her, ready to kick. But Kate summoned up every ounce of energy she had and kicked out, catching Rob hard on the ankle. She was terrified, but she had to do something to stop him from pushing Isobel over the edge. She tried to get up, knowing she had to escape, but also knowing that he’d follow.

  ‘Oh, Kate, you were always stupid,’ Rob said calmly.

  Once again hysteria filled her body. Rob grabbed her by the hair and she felt herself being dragged up from the ground and into the air. Her feet had physically left the ground and Rob laughed in her face. ‘Do you know what, Kate? I didn’t love you. Not ever. Not really. Why would anyone love you, especially with you looking like that? You’re so damned ugly.’ Kate kicked out, catching him in the leg and he let go of her hair, allowing her feet to touch the ground, but then he sneered in her face. ‘And that sister of yours, wait till I find her. I’ll make her suffer so much. I want her to beg me to stop, right before I kill her. Besides, she can’t fight back like you can, can she?’ he snarled as, over his shoulder, Kate saw the outline of Eve loom up behind Rob.

  ‘Oh, yes she can!’ Eve’s voice shrieked as she held a rock above her head and launched it in Rob’s direction.

  The rock fell short, hitting Rob on the shoulder, just hard enough to make him let go of Kate. They both fell heavily to the ground and Kate crawled away as quickly as she could to get to Eve, who was standing … standing a short distance away.

  Rob raised himself to his knees, then slowly to his feet. He looked at the two sisters, standing with arms around each other, staring at him with fear and loathing in their eyes. He shook his head and started to move towards them, but his legs gave way, his footing was lost and he found himself falling backwards over the edge of the cliff, screaming as he fell.

  ‘Arrrghhhhhhhhhh …!’ His scream could still be heard and Kate ran to the edge. He was clinging on to the rocks below, terror in his eyes. Even after all he’d done, she couldn’t allow him to fall and her instinct was to save him, to grab his hand, but as she held her hand out to him, he shook his head in defiance.

  ‘Rob, come on, Rob. Take my hand. You’re strong. I know you can pull yourself up from there. Please, for me?’ Once again she grabbed at his hand, but he shrugged her off.

  ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry … for everything,’ he blurted out, right before the rock gave way and she saw his body hurtle towards the sea.

  Kate fell to her knees and immediately vomited. Then she turned slowly and stared in shock at Eve, who still stood before her, pale, wobbly, but standing, unaided.

  Eve dropped to the floor and they both looked to the trees where a noise could be heard. Within seconds, they were surrounded. Ben, Eric and Luca Bellandini had all emerged and ran towards them.

  ‘Ben, please,’ she looked at where Isobel’s pale, limp body lay. ‘Help her. She tried to save us.’

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  Kate waited for the car to stop, before climbing out and unfastening her four-week old son from his car seat. ‘There you go, go to Daddy,’ she said as she passed him to Ben, who proudly hugged the baby close to his chest, his eyes immediately full of love.

  They both turned in unison and looked up at the church.

  ‘I can’t believe we’re about to christen him, Kate, here in Bedale,’ Ben whispered as his arm went around her shoulders and pulled her to him. He kissed her lightly on the lips. ‘Is it really only a year ago that you wound the window of your car down and called me a moron? Not two hundred yards up this very road.’ He laughed and pointed to where Kate had pulled up that day.

  ‘Well, for what it’s worth, you’re the nicest moron I ever met,’ Kate said as she dug in the baby bag, pulled out a tissue and wiped her son’s mouth.

  ‘And you, Mrs Parker, you gave me everything – everything I thought that I had lost forever. I’m so happy and I love you both so very much.’ His words were sincere and her eyes filled with tears as both she and Ben walked in through the church doors.

  The sound of ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’ echoed throughout the church, making both Gloria and Elizabeth smile at one another. Their mothers had become close over the past months, much to the disapproval of William and Gerald, who both counted the cost after each and every shopping trip, but who also benefitted from their hours now spent on the golf course. Eve and Eric sat together, hand in hand, and Kate smiled, knowing that the next time they entered this church would be in the summer, for their wedding.

  The singing stopped and the vicar walked from the front of the church to the back, where he lifted a jug of holy water and poured it into the font.

  ‘Could I have the parents, grandparents and the godparents please?’ he asked.

  Ben and Kate stepped forward, quickly followed by Gloria, William, Elizabeth and Gerald. Eve inched herself to the edge of her wheelchair, and Kate smiled with
pride as Eve stood up and slowly walked the few steps to take her place at the font, with Eric by her side. It was a sight she’d never tire of. A sight that had happened more and more frequently over the last year, and Kate moved forward, placing a kiss on her twin’s cheek.

  The vicar then held out his arms. ‘May I?’ He took the baby from Ben and walked back to the font. He then paused and turned to Kate. ‘We name this child?’

  Kate locked eyes with Ben, who nodded. ‘I know that up to now we’ve called him Benjamin after his daddy, but …’ She looked up and then individually at each member of her family, before turning back to the vicar. ‘With my parents’ permission, I’d like to name him James Benjamin Parker, in honour of the brother that I lost.’

  Cries of delight filled the church and baby James was held over the font, where holy water was dribbled over his tiny head.

  Kate’s world was complete, but she sighed as she stepped out of the church. Rain had begun to fall and she moved quickly to put James in the car.

  ‘Kate, wait.’ Ben’s words followed her and he held his arms out for their son.

  ‘But he’s getting wet.’ She felt concerned but handed James to Ben, who began spinning him around in the rain. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked and began to laugh as both of their parents began to join in, along with Eric, who spun Eve’s wheelchair around and around.

  ‘Come on.’ Ben held a hand out to her. ‘We’re dancing in the rain.’

  ‘But …’ Kate thought of all the nightmares she’d lived through. The accident, how her brother had been killed, Eve paralysed and the scar on her face; how Isobel had been killed; how Rob had fallen to his death; and how he’d tried dancing with her that night, before almost killing her in the bath.

  ‘Kate, come on, trust me, it’s fun,’ Ben shouted. It was then she realised what Ben was doing. He was turning her worst nightmares into her happiest day. A day where her whole family was together. A day when they all danced in the rain.