He nods, but it’s me he’s looking at, examining my face, checking if I seem okay.
‘How’ve you been, Liv? It’s months since I’ve seen you. Come here.’ He opens his arms, and I don’t need asking twice. My throat is tight, and I can barely speak.
‘Thanks for coming, Samir.’ My voice breaks on the name. I so nearly called him Dan. But I owe this man so much – almost as much as I owe Sophie.
‘I don’t know what to say to you both, how to thank you for everything you’ve done.’
‘He was my brother, Liv. What else did you expect?’ Samir says. The pain is still raw for him, of course, even after all these years.
‘And you’re my best friend,’ Sophie chips in. ‘We couldn’t have let you do it on your own. I nearly blew it when I let that stupid woman take my photograph, though.’
‘But you didn’t. And in a way, Robert’s reaction to that photo made it all so much more plausible. It was very dangerous for both of you,’ I say, knowing this to be true. ‘What if…’
‘Shh,’ Samir says, raising his finger to my lips. ‘It’s been five months since Robert was arrested. He’s been convicted of murder, and nobody’s come chasing me for a DNA sample. They’re not going to now, so stop worrying.’
I pull slightly away from Samir and nod. I don’t know if it will ever be safe, but my children have to be protected for life.
‘Shall we go?’ I say. ‘I don’t think it’s much further.’
We start to walk, eager to get there, but at the same time this final acknowledgement of death is hard to bear.
‘Why do you think this is where he buried him?’ Samir asks.
That’s hard for me to explain, but I try my best.
‘Robert didn’t have much of an imagination, and he was always fascinated by the Moors Murders, particularly the fact that the body of the last victim – Keith Bennett – has never been found. He brought me here about seven years ago when I was pregnant with Billy. He said a walk would do us good. We stopped just a bit further on from here – and I sat on a stone because I was tired. Robert started to talk about the Moors murders.’
I don’t know if I can go on with this story, knowing what I know now. But Samir needs to understand what happened to his brother, and I can’t shy away from the truth.
‘I can remember one sentence, word for word: “I wonder how many other bodies are buried up here – you could be standing on top of one right this minute.” It seemed a gruesome thing to say, but he was smiling.’
I look from Samir to Sophie, knowing that they have begun to understand Robert’s warped mind.
Without a word, I hold out both my hands. Samir takes one, Sophie the other. Each in turn gives my hand a small squeeze of encouragement.
‘When did you realise that he’d killed Dan and your parents?’ Samir asks. ‘When did you figure it out?’
I look at Sophie and give her a hint of a smile. It had all started to come together when I met her again – nearly two years ago now. As soon as she told me that Robert was Creepy Guy, everything had fallen into place.
‘When Sophie said she’d met you, and you had never heard one word from Dan after he left me, I knew he had to be dead. He loved you so much, Samir. He would never have cut you out of his life, or the rest of your family. And never for a moment did I believe my parents’ death was an accident.’
For a moment, I can’t speak so Sophie continues the story for me.
‘I made Liv go through everything – from the day she met Robert. When she told me that he had been knocking on her door within hours of the flat going on the market, and bought it without a single quibble, I knew there was no way this was a coincidence. Then he rode in on his sodding chariot when Liv’s parents died, but at no time could she remember telling him where they lived. So we started to question everything from the moment he so charmingly introduced himself, until the night he threatened to kill the children.’
‘And Dan?’ Samir asked again, looking at me with his gentle brown eyes, so like his brother’s.
‘The first real evidence I had that Robert knew more about Dan’s death than he should have was when I heard him telling Jaz that her father had run away to Australia. I never told Robert that. I never told anybody, because I was so ashamed that he had left me with our baby. The police knew, but until this started and I told you two, I hadn’t told anybody else. Robert must have killed Dan and then taken the train himself, with Dan’s phone and credit card. Poor Jaz. He had no right to tell her that.’
‘And how is my daughter?’ Samir asks with a straight face. I close my eyes for a second. I am ashamed of this lie, but I’d had no choice. I say a silent prayer of apology to Danush before turning to his brother.
‘Oh God, I’m so sorry, Samir. I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that.’
Samir laughs. ‘I’m joking, Liv. I’d be proud if she was really my daughter. I’ve told my wife everything. She did a great job with the police and she’s fully behind us.’
I glance at him with a worried frown. I had always trusted Samir to know what was safe, but he had run the biggest risk of all. He had slowly but surely extracted his own blood, pint by careful pint over a period of days, ready to set the scene of the murder. We had hoped that Samir’s old gloves pushed into a box of Dan’s stuff would be enough DNA evidence for the police, but there was always the chance that they would check Jasmine’s DNA too. They would know the blood came from a paternal uncle, so the lie was a necessity. And I know Dan would forgive me for that.
Every step we had taken had been dangerous with so many potential pitfalls. What if Mrs Preston had recognised that the person getting out of the car in the middle of the night was too tall to be Robert? We had hoped that the security light would blind her as Samir made his way up the path, but there had been too many factors that relied on the skill of the police and the nosiness of neighbours.
I breathe out a long, slow breath. It seems it’s all over, and finally we can sleep safely in our beds at night.
I let go of Samir’s hand and grab his arm, pulling him closer to my side so I can rest my head against his shoulder. If I close my eyes I can imagine, just for a second, that he is Dan.
‘I think we’re here – or as near as I can possibly guess. This is more or less where Robert made me stand and think about what might lie beneath my feet, so knowing his warped mind, we can’t be far away.’
I look at each of them in turn. Sophie gives me a sad smile, and Samir nods his head just once.
I open my bag and pull out a single white rose. I bring it to my lips and give it the briefest kiss before dropping to my knees. I lay the rose gently on the sodden earth, and feel the warmth of Samir’s hand on my shoulder.
‘For you, my darling Dan. For everything you were, everything you meant to me, and for our beautiful daughter. I’m sorry I ever doubted you.’
###
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Other Tom Douglas Thrillers
Stranger Child
One Dark Secret. One act of revenge.
When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident.
Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie.
Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis.
Emma's life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?
When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.
They say you should never trust a stranger. Maybe they're right.
REVIEWS
"Just when you think you've got it sussed, you'll find yourself screeching in frustration at your foolishness." - Crime Fiction Lover
"Rachel Abbott will keep you guessing long into the night and just as soon as you've figured it out...think again!" - Suspense Magazine
"It is one of those books that holds you hostage and is hard to put down until the end." - Confessions of a Reader
"Abbott creates a tangled web of deception, secrets, and red herrings." - Booklist
"Pure Genius: A Masterclass in the Perfect Thriller!!" - Love Books
Available here
Nowhere Child
A stand-alone novella featuring the same characters as Rachel Abbott's bestselling novel Stranger Child
Someone is looking for Tasha. But does she want to be found?
Eight months ago Tasha Joseph ran away, and her stepmother, Emma, has been searching for her ever since. She is desperate to give Tasha the home and security she deserves.
The problem is, Emma isn't the only one looking for Tasha. The police are keen to find her too. She could be a vital witness in a criminal trial, and DCI Tom Douglas has a team constantly on the lookout for her. But Tasha remains hidden, and nobody appears to have seen her.
Suddenly, the stakes are raised. Somebody is offering money - a lot of money - for information about Tasha's whereabouts.
Tom and Emma know they have never been closer to finding the young girl. But they also recognise that she has never been closer to danger. Can they find her first?
She can run - but for how long can she hide?
REVIEWS
"Ms. Abbott writes complex and yet very believable thrillers and this book was no exception. You will be on the edge of your seat constantly. 5 stars. A very strong thriller." Books, Reviews, Etc.
"Prose is taut, wholly believable locations and a full cast bursting with engaging characters." Crime Fiction Lover
Available here
Kill Me Again
When your life is a lie, who can you trust?
When Maggie Taylor accepts a new job in Manchester, she is sure it is the right move for her family. The children have settled well although her husband, Duncan, doesn't appear to be so convinced.
But nothing prepares her for the shock of coming home from work one night to find that Duncan has disappeared, leaving their young children alone. His phone is dead, and she has no idea where he has gone, or why. And then she discovers she's not the only one looking for him.
When a woman who looks just like Maggie is brutally murdered and DCI Tom Douglas is brought in to investigate, Maggie realises how little she knows about Duncan's past. Is he the man she loves? Who is he running from?
She doesn't have long to decide whether to trust him or betray him. Because one thing has been made clear to Maggie - another woman will die soon, and it might be her.
Praise for Kill Me Again:
'A properly addictive, leave-the-light-on thriller.' Red Magazine
'This fast paced thriller will have you racing right through to its shocking conclusion.' Closer Magazine
'Kill Me Again by Rachel Abbott is almost unbearably tense, with a killer twist.' Good Housekeeping
Available here
The Sixth Window
The perfect man... or a perfect stranger?
After eighteen months of grieving for her husband Bernie, killed in a horrific hit and run accident, Natalie Grey has found love with her husband's best friend - Ed Cooper - and has moved herself and fifteen year old daughter, Scarlett, into his home. But Natalie begins to suspect Ed has a dark side - and even darker intentions.
Desperate to get her daughter to a place of safety, she and Scarlett move to a new home that holds secrets of its own. But has removing Scarlett from one potential threat placed her in far greater danger?
DCI Tom Douglas is also chasing the truth, as his investigation into the suicide of a teenage girl draws him ever closer to Natalie and Scarlett. But will he be too late to protect them from the peril they face, or from the truths that will tear their lives apart?
Praise for The Sixth Window :
'I am in awe of Rachel Abbott's plotting! The Sixth Window is Abbott at her best.' Elizabeth Haynes, author of Into the Darkest Corner
'The tension that built throughout this book simply blew me away.' Angela Marsons, author of Silent Scream
'Masterly and compelling. I couldn't put it down until its heart-stopping conclusion.' Robert Bryndza author of The Girl in the Ice
Available here
About the author
Rachel Abbott is the UK's no.1 bestselling author on Amazon's Kindle with over 2.8 million copies sold in under six years. In figures released by Amazon in August 2015, she was announced as the 14th bestselling author overall - published and self-published.
Her books have been reviewed in Good Housekeeping, Closer, and in 2016, Red magazine picked Kill Me Again as their best thriller of the summer, calling it 'a properly addictive, leave-the-light-on thriller.'
Born and raised in Manchester, Rachel Abbott founded her own interactive media company in the 1980s, before selling it and retiring in 2005. She then moved to Italy where she worked on the renovation of a 15th century Italian monastery, and it was here that one day she found herself snowed in and decided to begin writing for pleasure. This novel became her debut novel Only The Innocent, which she went on to publish via Kindle Direct Publishing, topping their chart for 4 weeks.
She has since written The Back Road, Sleep Tight, Stranger Child , Kill Me Again, The Sixth Window and a novella, Nowhere Child. She splits her time between Alderney in the Channel Islands and Italy.
Acknowledgements
Many people have helped in so many ways with these three novels, and I thank you all.
In particular I would like to mention John Wrintmore for his guidance on the workings of the British police. I may not have always listened to his excellent advice, but only in the interests of the story. Other advisors, covering everything from the workings of a hospital ICU to the laws of Alderney include Colin Solway, Brenda Duncan, Becky Scrivener and Mike Silverman. It would have been impossible to make many scenes realistic without your input.
No book is complete without a cover, and Alan Carpenter has produced the most eye-catching designs for every one of my books. His patience throughout has been remarkable, and I can't thank him enough.
From the very first of my novels, Only the Innocent, I have been helped by many early readers who have picked up the smallest - but perhaps the most vital - points. In particular I should mention Judith, who has read all of my novels at least twice and is an amazing spotter of detail, and editors Clare Bowron and Lizzie Dipple for doing what they do so well.
My particular thanks go to my brilliant agent, Lizzy Kremer, for her support and guidance, and to the team at David Higham Associates for all they do for me, including selling my books into so many overseas territories.
And finally, to John, who has made sure that I have the freedom to write when I need to by taking care of just about everything else in our lives, and for listening as every plot is rehashed over and over again.
Without a doubt I couldn't have done any of it without every one of you, and I will be forever grateful.
Only the Innocent
Copyright: © Rachel Abbott 2011
The Back Road
Copyright: © Rachel Abbott 2013
Sleep Tight
Copyright: © Rachel Abbott 2014
Rachel Abbott has asserted her right to be identified as the author of th
ese works in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All characters and events in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.
Published by Black Dot Publishing Limited
Find out more about the author and any future books on
http://www.rachel-abbott/
Tom Douglas Box Set Page 111