‘Can’t sleep?’
Dave stands in the doorway. His chestnut hair mussed from sleep.
‘No.’
‘Come back to bed.’ He holds out his hand.
I get up and take it. I let him wrap me in his arms, take me to bed and love me. The whole time I’m wrapped in him, I’m not thinking.
DC Seth Logan shakes my hand at the Police Station. His hair is dark and close shaved at the sides, longer on the top. He reminds me of that bloke from Maroon five, Adam, the one with the tats. Except this man is wrapped up in his smart dark suit. It’s not sexy. It’s too goddamn serious. I hate being here.
‘I’m the detective on the investigation now.’
My head flinches at the word investigation. It sounds so serious. I refuse to associate that word with my friend. She’s just on holiday and I’m having the biggest overreaction ever and when she gets back, we’re going to laugh and laugh.
‘I’m working alongside a Missing Persons Safeguarding Officer.’
My forehead creases.
‘Don’t worry, they like fancy sounding names. We’re looking for your friend, that’s all you need to know.’
‘Oh. Okay.’
‘We’ve had access to Eden’s bank account. She has withdrawn no money from her account since Wednesday 24 September, which, per the statements, would be the day Mr Harrington saw her near the house. The money was only a small amount and taken from the cash machine of a supermarket.’
‘There’s been nothing since?’
He shakes his head.
I slump in my chair.
‘The house to house enquiries have yielded nothing untoward. No-one really knew the couple who owned the house. They were seen regularly and on nodding terms with neighbours, but that’s all. One neighbour believes she saw them get into a taxi on the morning of the twenty-fifth but can’t describe the vehicle. We’re looking into the records. There was no evidence in the house of a struggle. No traces of blood. Nothing to show Miss Stark left the house under duress. We’ve searched their business. They abandoned the premises. We found an address book with client details and we’re interviewing everyone who’s in the book, trying to get a better picture of Jack and Sienna Loxley. I don’t want to get your hopes up. So far its consummate professionals who gave little of themselves away. They have left no jobs they had unfinished. They had their work all completed and up to date. This would indicate that they’d planned to leave at some point. There’s still a chance they’re on a cruise somewhere, or travelling.’
‘Incognito? With a third person who isn’t using their bank account or phone?’
DC Logan gives me a half-hearted smile. ‘It’s not impossible. Don’t give up hope.’
My lip curls in a sneer. ‘I’ll never give up on Eden. There must be someone who knew of their lifestyle, like Bridget did. What did she have to say, anyway?’
‘Ah, Miss Lomas. She denied knowing anything about that side of their lifestyle.’
‘She what?’ I leap out of my seat. ‘The lying cow.’
‘She says she told you about a PA job, nothing more. Whether it’s the truth or not, that’s all she’s saying.’
‘She’s lying,’ I snarl.
‘That may be. Or maybe she’s too scared to say so. Is it possible she’d lose her current job? We’ll keep investigating. Something’s bound to turn up sooner or later.’
‘So she gets away with lying?’
‘The investigation will consider the reliability of the people approached. Unless something arises that tells us otherwise, we have to go on what she’s said.’
Our eyes meet.
‘Please don’t get any ideas, Miss Mitchell. I don’t want to pick you up for Actual Bodily Harm.’
I sink back into my seat. It’s all too much. My friend has been missing for twenty days, and the one person who knows Jack and Sienna aren’t all they seem won’t admit to it for fear of losing her job. What about my friend’s life?
‘I won’t patronise you by saying I know what you’re going through, or how difficult I know it must be.’
‘Good,’ I snap.
‘But please, know that we are doing everything we can. All the hospitals in the local and surrounding areas have been checked. She’s not there.’
‘Why don’t you put out a request for information in the media? Why not see if anyone has seen her?’
‘We may go down that route, but right now we’ve had no contact from Jack and Sienna Loxley. There’s been no ransom demand. We want to keep it away from the media unless we have to. There’s still some way to go in our investigation.’
I exhale loudly. ‘So what’s next?’
‘Next, I make an appointment to go and see a Mr Drew Wilson.’
I laugh. ‘Eden’s brother. What’s he got to do with it?’
‘Probably nothing. But I’ll leave no stone unturned until I get some answers. I promise you. We’re also working through lists of people who travelled from the local airports around the days she went missing.’
I lower my chin to my chest. ‘It all takes such a long time.’
‘I know.’ He nods, his eyes brimming with sympathy. ‘Do you have a good support network? Family? Friends?’
‘Yes. But Eden’s my best friend. The one I spoke to most of all. No secrets between us. That’s how close we are. That’s why I know something’s wrong.’
He reaches out in what I presume is meant to be a reassuring touch on my arm. Instead, I feel the warmth from his fingers, notice the corded veins in his hand that runs up his wrist. His smooth skin. A flash of him placing cuffs on my arm comes to me, though not in a being arrested way. God, what’s wrong with me? My friend’s fucking missing and I’m perving over the Detective. I shrug him off, nod and walk away.
Chapter Sixteen
Eden
A glimmer of hope is huge when you face hours upon hours of quiet with your own thoughts. The next day, Sienna posts a thin gossip magazine through the hatch. She’s written hide me on the front. It goes under my mattress, underneath the sheet. I allow myself to read one page, to savour it. I pour over the print, studying the actress’ make-up, what she’s wearing, how much I think the picture is photoshopped. I imagine where the photo was taken, what I thought happened there. Thoughts spread like raindrops running down a window, eking out until they lose substance.
The following day Sienna props open the hatch and sits at the other side of the door. I hesitate.
‘Eden, come and talk to me.’
Slowly, I lower myself to the floor at my side of the hatch.
‘How are you doing?’
I lower myself further to the ground so I can see through the hatch. ‘Please let me out,’ I beg.
Her mouth turns downward, and she stares at the floor, eyes unwilling to meet mine. ‘I can’t. I’m sorry Eden. Not until he gives me permission.’
‘But please.’
‘If you ask me again, I’ll have to close the hatch.’
I swallow. ‘Please don’t. Talk to me for a while, please.’
She raises her eyes to mine and smiles.
‘Jack is sorry for all this. He just wanted us to stay together, the three of us. To give it a proper chance. Then you said you were leaving. I told him Malcolm was a mistake, but he never listens to me. He insisted on inviting him and it was too much, too early.’
‘I don’t understand?’
‘After a while, he usually involves other males in the scenes we play out.’
‘He said he would only do that with my agreement.’
‘Malcolm is pushy. Jack felt pressured as he’s a main player in our world.’
I rub my forehead. ‘I wish I’d never got involved.’
‘Oh, please don’t say that. I’m very fond of you. I want to get to know you better. If we can trust that you’ll not try anything stupid, we can stay here awhile. Then we can look for somewhere else to live.’
‘Why do we need to find somewhere else to live? You have a home
. Why can’t we go back there? I promise I’ll not tell anyone about here. You can get a legal document drawn up. I’ll sign it, I promise.’
‘We don’t exist there anymore, Eden.’
My mouth slackens and I rub my arms absentmindedly. ‘Pardon?’
‘Jack and Sienna Loxley. They’re not our real names. We took on new identities for our lifestyle. Like we said before, our families didn’t approve, so we started over.’
‘But why can’t we go back?’
She sighs. ‘Malcolm. He was causing too much trouble. We can’t go back there.’
‘Why?’ I repeat.
‘You ask too many questions. I want you to know that if you can be good, let Jack see your attitude has changed, then you can come out of this room. Eden, I miss touching you. I want you back.’
Another twisted sick fuck. Is she for real? Telling me she wants to touch me when I’m imprisoned in this room.
‘Well, that’s not going to happen while I’m in here, is it?’ I kick the stick holding the hatch up. I see it fly towards Sienna before the hatch clatters shut.
Footsteps walk away.
Well played Eden, you fucking idiot.
When Jack returns that evening, even though it kills me inside, I let him think I’m horny as fuck for him. I imagine Xavier in the club. It’s the most recent, enjoyable encounter I can think of. I gather all thoughts of him in my mind while Jack humps away inside me.
‘Oh, my little Eden. I think you’re coming around. You’re certainly coming around me.’
Like fuck I am. I’m fantastic at faking. I want to be sick. I need this to be over so I can scrub my skin raw. Instead, I run my tongue around my top lip. ‘That was amazing, Jack. Thank you.’
He tracks the movement of my tongue and leans over to kiss me. Sliding his tongue in my mouth and twisting it along with mine. I return the kiss, trying to keep the bile down in my throat.
He lifts his head and places a hand on my breast, squeezing my nipple. It hurts but I don’t let it show. ‘Tomorrow, there might be a treat for you.’
‘Whatever you think, Jack. You’re in charge.’
I feel his dick twitch at the side of my thigh.
‘Oh, Eden.’ He pushes me back against the mattress and shoves his cock in me again. Once was bad enough. I lie there, realising that the way to Jack’s heart is through letting him believe you think he’s a god.
When he leaves, I rush to the bathroom and vomit. Then I brush my teeth repeatedly. This time I dissolve some of the washing tablet in the sink and cleanse myself with the harsh detergent, as if I can soak away the stains he’s made.
Cold and shivering, I leave the bathroom, ready to get my clean sheet for the mattress. I notice the hatch has been opened. At the side of my door is a meal comprising of soup and bread, a fish salad and some ice cream. Reward for my submission. As I move closer to collect the food, the hatch opens again and I startle. Sienna posts a towel through and quickly leaves. When I pick it up, there’s something hard inside it. Unwrapping the towel, there’s a hairdryer within. I cry with relief at the simple item I’d always taken for granted. If I only use it after Jack has left, I should be safe. I sit and dry my hair. I spend an hour moving the warm air from the electrical item all over my body. Warming me outside because I’m so chilled within. I eat every bit of my meal this evening, even though I have no appetite. I need to keep up my strength because once I have a chance to get out of here I’ll be taking it. There’s no space for the weak.
Morning comes and I hear the lock on the door being opened. I quickly jump up and stuff my sheet under the mattress. The quick movement makes me go dizzy and I sit back down on the mattress, trying to restore my equilibrium.
Jack steps inside the room. His presence large and commanding in the doorway.
‘Well, Eden. It’s a beautiful day. Would you like to come and have breakfast with us?’
My eyes widen. ‘P-please. I’d love to.’
His eyes narrow. ‘Any stupidness. Any trying to escape or hurt us. You’ll be back in here. Do you understand, Eden?’
I swallow and nod. ‘Yes. Yes, I do.’
He walks closer to me with a set jaw. ‘I didn’t want to have to say that. It spoils what we’ve been re-establishing lately. Let's pretend I didn’t say it. Come and join us.’
He holds out his hand and I take it. I can barely stand as he leads me up the corridor to the dining area. Just walking around the confines of the room hasn’t been enough. I need more physical activity. I realise I’m going to have to build up my strength before I try to leave. To gain my strength and exploit their weaknesses. Even if it nearly kills me to do so.
I sit at the table as Sienna serves breakfast. My hands won’t stop their tremble. My eyes squint with the brightness of the room. I must look like a lunatic.
I drop my fork and it lands on the table with a clatter.
Jack rarely moves his eyes away from me. He doesn’t react to my body’s tremors.
‘Well, it’s a lovely day, ladies, and I have a few errands to run. Why don’t you girls relax?’
He’s going out? My insides jump in anticipation.
‘Now, Eden, just to say if you were fancying a walk outside the villa. You don’t appear to be in great shape for a long walk and it’s a very long walk to the next property. Better to stay here and enjoy the freedom of the sunshine, yes?’
I nod my head. He’s right that today won’t be the day I get out of here. However, I will make progress. He’s leaving me with Sienna.
Jack leaves and I glance around the villa. It’s sparsely furnished but there are enough weapons here. I could easily hit Sienna around the head with something and escape. Except like he says, I wouldn’t get anywhere. So, it's operation Befriend Sienna. I need to work out what the fuck is going on here.
‘What do you fancy doing today, Sienna?’
She smiles, like the one I first saw on her, icy and not meeting her eyes. ‘I don’t know. I’m open to suggestions.’
‘Could we sit with magazines for a while?’
‘Sure. I’ll fix us an iced drink. You go sit on the patio. It’s still in the shade right now, so you’ll not need lotion yet.’
The next hour or so is awkward. Sienna is obviously waiting for me to pull some kind of stunt.
‘Sienna, I won’t do anything. I’m so pleased to be out of that room.’
She clutches her magazine to her chest. ‘You would say that though, wouldn’t you?’
‘I guess so. Really, I’m not though.’ I sit back on my chair.
‘Okay.’
I look at the rays of sunshine on my skin. ‘I’m feeling the sun burning a little now, Sienna. Do you have any lotion?’
‘Of course. I’ll just get it.’
Her gaze trails over me as I apply the lotion. I consider asking her to do it, but then my game might be too obvious. Instead, I massage it in slowly and ask if I can move to a lounger. She agrees and we move further along the poolside, under a parasol.
‘See how nice it could be?’ she asks.
We eat lunch outside, having chatted about nonsense. Mainly about the celebrities in the magazines. Sienna goes to get more drinks. My cat friend wanders in and I hand him a piece of leftover salmon.
‘Shoo.’ Sienna comes running out and scares it away. ‘Filthy animals. Don’t encourage them. They have all sorts of diseases.’
‘Sorry. I never thought.’
‘It’s okay. Just don’t feed it again, all right?’
My shaking has stopped and I’m hot. Sienna agrees that I can have a swim so I get in and let the water cool down my body. I only do a few widths before my body tells me it's had enough, aches and pains travelling through my limbs. At least it’s progress.
Later, we hear the car rumble up the road. Sure enough, Jack has returned.
‘Jack will be pleased with your progress today, Eden. He might let you prepare this evening’s meal with me.’
I school my face so I look excite
d. ‘Do you think so?’
She clasps my hand. ‘Soon, if you’re good, we’ll be able to move on. Back to normality. I love it here for a holiday, but I don’t want to stay much longer. Please, be good.’
I nod my head, ‘I will be. I promise. Let’s go see if we can help Jack with anything.’
She grabs my arm and holds me back. ‘Don’t go near the door. He’ll go mad.’
‘Oh.’
‘Why don’t you go back to your room and we’ll come and get you if he agrees to you eating with us.’
I want to knock her the fuck out. I imagine her unconscious, drowning in the pool. Instead, I follow her back to my room where I allow her to lock me back into my prison. The room is cool from the shade of the windows so I lie back on my mattress, thinking.
‘Don’t go near the door.’
‘Don’t feed the cat.’
If they don’t feed the cat, then who does? If there’s no-one around here, how does the cat survive? Things aren’t adding up.
I take out the two tablets of washing powder I stole from the kitchen earlier and wash my bedsheet. I know he’ll probably search my room later, to see if I stole anything. He may find the sheet and the magazine. I hope he does. I smile as a plan forms in my mind. A plan that takes the attention off me and moves it onto Sienna.
It’s almost too easy.
‘What the fuck is this? Where did you get these?’
I wasn’t expecting the punch to my cheek. My body ricochets off the bedroom wall and I curl up on the ground, holding my face. Blood drips from my top lip.
‘Y-you sent them,’ I lie.
He explodes, stomping around the room. ‘I did not send you these, and what’s this? A fucking hairdryer. An extra towel.’
‘B-but the-they were posted through the hatch. I thought you’d sent them because I’d been good.’ I crawl over to him, drop to my knees at his feet and cast my eyes down at the floor as if I’m sorry to have been a disappointment. It works.
Saviour Page 10