by R. J. Parker
‘I won’t. But we mustn’t make them angry.’
‘I was just trying to help.’
‘I know you were. But only bring me here if you’ve got something really important to tell me.’
‘I thought that was important.’
Lily leaned in closer to her. ‘It was good that you wanted to ask first. Always do that. But only I’ll decide what we’re going to do and, for now, we behave and do as we’re told.’
‘How long though?’
‘I don’t know. But you have to believe that I’m going to do everything I can to get us out of here.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be. But you are going to have to pretend to be ill now. Otherwise they’ll think it’s suspicious if you suddenly don’t have tummy ache anymore. I’ll put you to bed for an hour or two and then get up and say you’re feeling better.’
Maisie flinched. ‘I don’t want to be sent to bed.’
‘That’s what you’ll have to do now.’
Maisie glowered at her, affronted.
Lily could see why Maisie thought it might be a punishment. But now she’d got her back she doubted she could ever punish her for anything again. ‘I don’t think you’re going to be sick,’ she said louder.
Maisie nodded. Play-acting again. ‘No. I feel much better now.’
Lily cringed. It was perfectly obvious that they’d been having a confab.
Maisie switched off the tap. ‘I’m still feeling funny though.’
‘Oh dear.’ She felt Maisie’s head. ‘You don’t have a temperature.’ Lily considered it would seem more plausible if she didn’t.
‘I think I’ll go to bed for a while.’ Maisie pulled an afflicted face.
‘Go and hop into bed. I’ll be in now.’
She turned about and headed for her room.
Lily rose slowly and watched her go. If they were going to fool the people watching them, they were going to have to get much better at it than this.
Chapter 41
While Maisie pretended to sleep Lily tried to busy herself tidying up the kitchen table. Cat brushed by her legs and nosed at the empty bowl. He’d been keeping a low profile and she’d almost forgotten about him. She refilled the bowl and watched him noisily eat. She knew her daughter would probably get bored in ten minutes and that it would be difficult to persuade her to stay in bed. What would they do then? With no TV or laptop it was going to be a challenge to keep her occupied.
Her phone buzzed in her robe pocket and she quickly answered.
‘You can lift the blind when it’s light,’ the male voice said.
They had been discussing drawing a window in the kitchen or had he overheard their conversation in the bathroom? ‘We’re terrified of doing what we’re not supposed to.’
‘Is Maisie OK?’
Did Lily detect a note of concern in his voice or was he aping it? ‘She’s still traumatised from being taken from me.’
‘She’s resilient,’ he dismissed offhandedly.
‘How could you let her soil herself?’
‘I’m sorry but, as you’ll appreciate, the working facilities here are limited. You have the best ones. The only ones, in fact. Perhaps, in future, you should do all you can to ensure that Maisie isn’t deprived of them.’
‘I will.’ Lily restrained the aggression in her reply. ‘Please don’t take her away from me like that again.’
‘I doubt it’ll be necessary but that’ll be up to you.’
‘I still don’t know how deeply what you did affected her. She’s just a child.’
‘That’s not something I need to be reminded of.’
She changed tack. Still wondered if he’d eavesdropped on their sink conversation. ‘I’ll do my best, but I can’t always control her.’
‘Are you happy with what’s in the storeroom?’
She didn’t respond.
‘Lily?’
‘How long do you intend to keep us here?’
‘Three hundred and fourteen days.’
His immediate answer was like a blow to her stomach.
‘Are you OK?’
She sucked in a breath and shook her head. Until then he’d given away nothing about his plans for them.
‘But having seen the storeroom I’m sure you’ve already guessed that you’re in for the long haul.’
‘You can’t keep us here that long.’
He was silent.
She had to prevent him from hanging up. ‘Why … why that specific amount of days?’ Her voice cracked.
‘I’ve answered your question. Be grateful I have. That’s something that wasn’t done in the past.’
‘What happened in the past?’
‘Is there anything else you need?’
‘No. Please, tell me why you’re doing this to us.’
‘Have you checked all the supplies?’
‘No.’
‘Then how do you know that you don’t need anything else?’
‘What happens after three hundred and fourteen days?’
‘It’s over,’ he answered eventually.
‘You mean, you’ll let us go?’ But there had been nothing in his tone that indicated that.
‘You’ll be released.’ He didn’t elaborate further.
‘Both of us walk free?’
‘Is there any specific medication you need?’
Lily tried to absorb the question.
‘I know Maisie needed antihistamine last year. Anything else I might have missed? Lily?’ He prompted.
How did he know about the antihistamines? ‘Maisie said you have a lady friend.’
The line was silent.
‘Please, may I speak with her?’
‘No. That’s the very last thing you want to do. Now, this might be your last opportunity. Is there anything else you need?’
‘I don’t know. I haven’t checked what’s in the storeroom.’
‘Make it priority then. The medical supplies are on the shelf above the freezer.’
‘I haven’t had chance.’
‘While Maisie is … convalescing … you should have plenty of time.’
She registered his sceptical tone. ‘And what if there are things I need?’
‘Make a list on your phone. I’ll call once you’ve done it. Be thorough.’
‘How do I know you’re not tampering with these supplies?’
‘You don’t. But they’re all you’ve got. Use them sparingly and they should last you.’
‘What about fresh fruit, fresh vegetables?’
‘What about them?’
‘You can’t expect us to live without those.’
‘It’s amazing what you can adapt to.’ He hung up.
Chapter 42
After Lily had been in the storeroom for just under an hour, Maisie wandered in, still wearing her pyjamas over her clothes.
‘What are you doing?’
‘You feeling better now?’ Lily asked, for the benefit of the camera over the door.
Maisie frowned but quickly cottoned on. ‘Yes. Much better.’
‘So, you actually slept?’
‘Just woken up.’ She rubbed her eyes.
Lily knew it was for real. That was good. And the fact she’d managed to do so alone in her own bed was even better.
‘Is that food?’ Maisie indicated the three large cardboard boxes that were lined up on top of the freezer lid.
‘No. First aid.’
‘Oh.’ Maisie’s gaze shifted back to the stack of Choca-Pops to her left.
Lily’s mind had been blank as she’d sorted through the contents – bandages, tampons, pads, plasters, cotton wool, antiseptic, cough and cold medicines and tablets, the antihistamines as well as pills for indigestion and headaches. Every eventuality covered? There was bound to be something that had been missed. How often would she be able to ask for specific medication or was this her only chance of boosting the supplies? Again, she considered what would happen if they had a real emergency an
d Maisie needed urgent medical care she couldn’t give her.
‘You look worried.’ So did Maisie.
‘Just thinking.’ She put her hands on her hips. What potential conditions could she foresee? Maisie still hadn’t had chicken pox. She sorted through the box in front of her and found a bottle of calamine lotion.
‘Were you talking to the scary man earlier?’
Lily turned to her and gave her a warning look. ‘Yes.’
‘What did he say?’ Maisie asked with apprehension.
She wasn’t going to tell her about the number of days he’d mentioned. ‘That I have to make sure we’ve got everything we need.’
Maisie looked about her. ‘Doesn’t he think we have?’
‘He wants to know if there’s anything specific we want.’
‘We can ask for anything?’ Maisie’s eyes widened.
‘This isn’t about what we wish for. It’s about what we need,’ Lily said sternly. ‘We have to think carefully about what might happen while we’re here.’
‘Happen?’
‘Yes.’ Lily didn’t want to alarm her though. She held up the plasters. ‘Like do we have enough of these if you cut your finger?’
‘How many are there?’
Lily counted. ‘Twelve boxes.’
‘That must be enough. If I’m careful, we shouldn’t need any.’
Lily couldn’t help but smile. ‘He says we’re allowed to lift the blind when it’s daylight.’
‘Can I open it now? The sun will be coming out soon.’
‘We’ll do it together. Let me finish in here first.’
‘Can I explore in here?’
Lily preferred her to be where she could see her. ‘Yes, but you can’t open anything, understand?’
Maisie looked dejected.
‘Even if there are free toys inside.’
‘OK,’ she agreed and walked by Lily towards the back of the room.
Lily returned her attention to the interior of the box in front of her but, as much as she tried to concentrate, the phone conversation she’d had about the length of their incarceration and their fate beyond it was all she could focus on. Was that really the truth or just another way of torturing her?
A few minutes seemed to pass as she distractedly rummaged but then a noise interrupted her thoughts. It was the low metallic tapping sound that had drawn them to the kitchen window before. When she looked at her phone, she realised another half an hour had gone by. ‘Maisie?’ She turned to the stacked boxes behind her.
No reply.
Tap, tap.
That was definitely the same sound. ‘Maisie?’ She called louder and walked to the back of the room. Lily peered down the tight passage between the wall and the boxes. No sign of her there. She moved quickly down it and emerged the other side. No Maisie.
Tap, tap, tap.
Panic ballooned and she rushed to the door and pushed her way through it. ‘Maisie!’ She yelled.
‘I’m out here!’ Maisie’s voice came from the kitchen. That was exactly where she didn’t want her to be. As Lily approached she could see that the room was lighter and knew why. She entered and saw Maisie sitting at the kitchen window. She’d pulled up the blind.
‘Look, he’s out there again.’ Maisie turned back to the window and waved.
‘No!’ Lily darted to where she was sitting and looked out.
‘He’s seen me!’ Maisie said excitedly.
Lily could see the man from before. He was standing by the freezer again, sledgehammer in hand. And he was looking up at the window.
Maisie waved harder. ‘Help us! Please help us!’
He saw them both and Lily froze.
Chapter 43
Lily’s first instinct was to consider the camera behind them. ‘Get away from the window!’ She kept her focus on the man below.
He put his hand to his brow so he could block the sun from his eyes.
‘He’s definitely seen us!’ Maisie exclaimed. ‘We’re saved!’
‘No. Down, now!’ Lily gesticulated but didn’t move from her position at the pane.
‘Help us!’ Maisie mouthed at him.
Lily took hold of her daughter’s arm.
But she resisted. ‘Ow, you’re hurting.’
Lily guided her down but didn’t shift her attention from the trespasser.
He was still gazing up.
Lily reached for the string of the blind and started unwinding it from the prongs to drop it. She took as much time to do it as she dared.
‘No!’ Maisie stood on tiptoes and grabbed her hand with both of hers. ‘We have to signal him!’
But he’d obviously seen them, and Lily knew that if she closed the blind on a distressed child that would look even more suspicious. Would he come to investigate?
But Maisie had hold of the string and was holding it tight in place.
‘Maisie, we’ve spoken about this, let go!’
‘Don’t close it!’
Struggling with Maisie looked good for the camera. It sold the idea that Lily was doing everything to obey instructions and control her daughter. Maisie didn’t realise that. And Lily couldn’t explain that to her if their captors were listening. ‘Maisie, this is my last warning.’ She glanced briefly at the string, and when she looked up again the figure had stepped down from his position on the rubble.
‘I’m not letting go.’ Maisie’s knuckles were white as she held onto the string so Lily couldn’t loosen it.
‘Let it go!’ Lily bellowed.
Maisie just gritted her teeth and held on.
Lily straightened each of Maisie’s fingers, pulled her hand away and secured it in hers. ‘Don’t.’ She swiftly undid the string securing the blind with her other then let it go so it dropped down hard.
Maisie screamed in exasperation.
Just before the view from the window was obscured Lily saw that the bearded man was walking towards their building, his head still angled up at them and a frown on his face.
‘He was going to help us.’
‘I had to. We have to do as we’re told.’
Maisie’s attention returned to the blind.
‘Maisie …’
Lily beat her to the edge as she tried to lift it. This was good. If the trespasser saw a further struggle, he might want to find out exactly what a small child was doing inside a derelict building. Particularly if someone was trying to conceal her. But she also had to make it look like she was desperately trying to restrain Maisie as well. She had much stronger arms than her daughter, but as she held the edge, she made sure it was lifted and yanked a few times so the man below would be in no doubt. ‘That’s enough!’ she shouted, when she was sure it had been.
Maisie folded her arms petulantly.
‘You know what we were told.’
‘You said we were allowed to open the blind.’ Tears glistened in Maisie’s eyes.
Lily felt sickened by the struggle she’d just had with her daughter, but kept up the façade for their watchers. ‘Yes. We were allowed. But if you see anyone out of the window you must call me.’
‘I did.’ Maisie sniffed and her bottom lip trembled.
‘We have to keep quiet.’
‘But we might not ever see anyone else.’
‘It doesn’t matter. What does is us doing all we can to keep ourselves safe in here.’
‘He could’ve let us out,’ she protested and wiped away a tear.
‘No. Nobody is getting through the front door.’ But she prayed that wasn’t the case. That whoever had been outside would find the steel plate over it and realise they were prisoners.
‘You don’t even want us to leave!’ Maisie bawled and tightened her arms to her chest.
‘That’s enough of that,’ Lily cautioned her, until they had chance to talk in private.
‘If Daddy was here, he wouldn’t want us to stay.’
That took her by surprise. ‘But Daddy isn’t here.’ Was he? Did she still believe he could be part of th
is or was that just a slender hope she couldn’t let go?
Maisie rubbed her eye. ‘He’d know what to do.’ She lowered her voice, like she knew how much it would hurt Lily.
‘You’re right. He wouldn’t want to stay. Like he didn’t want to stay with us.’ She immediately regretted saying it.
Maisie turned her head away from Lily and stared at the blind.
‘But that was because he didn’t want to stay with me,’ she mitigated. It was too late though.
Another tear ran down Maisie’s face but she let it fall from her chin.
Lily put her hand to her cheek, but she jerked away. ‘That was all our fault, Maisie. Nothing to do with you. But I know that if Daddy were here, he would want to do everything to protect you. Like I’m doing.’
‘If Daddy had been home nobody could have taken us away.’
Lily had momentarily forgotten the camera. But now she wondered how significant this conversation was for whomever was watching them. ‘We’ll talk about this when you’ve calmed down.’ She tried to suppress her own reaction to what Maisie had said. Was she right? ‘We’ll leave the blind closed and you’re not to touch it, OK?’
Maisie eventually nodded but then froze.
Somewhere nearby, a door had slammed.
Chapter 44
They both remained stock-still. It was the first time Lily had heard any indication of other people moving about the building.
Maisie gulped. ‘That was right by us.’
‘Ssshhh.’ Lily held up her palm.
They both listened.
Slow, tentative footsteps echoing.
‘Is it the man from outside?’ Maisie whispered.
Lily held her finger to her lips.
The footfalls slowed and halted.
‘Or is it the scary man?’
Lily shook her head and crept across the tiles to the wall over the sink. From what Maisie had said, their captors were at least one floor above them.
Maisie started to follow.
Lily gestured for her to stay where she was, but her daughter crossed the kitchen to join her.
A few more footsteps.
They sounded to Lily like they were just the other side of the wall. Should she cry out for help? She felt the presence of the camera tingle on her back. Perhaps this was a test.