The Night Away: An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller

by Jess Ryder

  ‘She is lovely,’ I admit, ‘but she’s also a tyrant.’

  He chuckles. ‘She knows her own mind, that’s for sure. But she’ll settle down. It’s early days yet. She’ll be fine – we’ll all be fine. I know it.’

  We sit in easy silence for a few moments, absorbing the atmosphere. He finishes his glass of champagne and pours another. I feel my limbs tingle and loosen.

  I get up and cross the room to the window, drawing a large heart in the condensation on the glass, an arrow through the middle and our initials on either side.

  ‘What are you, a teenager?’ he teases.

  ‘That’s how it feels,’ I reply. ‘Like falling in love all over again.’ I rub a clear patch with the edge of my sleeve and look into the garden. The skies are leaden and there’s a strong wind blowing across the lawn, bending the trees and making the long grass shiver with rain. I could stay here indefinitely in our romantic bubble, but I know it can’t last.

  ‘What are we going to do, Seth?’ I say eventually. ‘We can’t hide forever.’

  He frowns at me, surprised by my sudden pessimism. ‘I don’t see why not. Nobody knows we’re here; we’ve both covered our tracks really well. The police think Mabel’s dead, and the sister and her boyfriend are very strong suspects.’

  ‘But what about as she grows? We can’t keep her locked up. What if she gets ill and needs a doctor? What about school?’

  ‘You can buy fake ID,’ he replies. ‘It’s expensive, but perfectly possible – if you know the right people to ask.’

  I turn to him. ‘And do you know the right people?’

  He looks abashed. ‘Well, um, no, but I could find out. I’ve got savings, Terri. I can afford new ID for all of us, if necessary. I’ll move out of my flat, come down, find a new job. We can make it work.’

  ‘Yeah, but not here, unfortunately. The bloody neighbours are already poking their noses in. I told them Mabel was a little boy. I’ve managed to keep them away from her so far, but as soon as they see her face, they’ll know. Her photo is all over the media.’

  ‘We’ll sort it out, I promise,’ he says, beckoning me to come back to the sofa. I pad over and sit down again, curling my legs under my bottom. ‘Let’s just enjoy ourselves this evening, eh? Make the most of it.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right.’ I inhale and take a deep breath of him. ‘It’s so good to see you.’

  Mabel gurgles happily in agreement.

  Later, I cook pasta and we eat with the bowls on our laps, passing the parmesan and grater back and forth, drinking the second bottle of champagne Seth brought to celebrate our reunion. Mabel has gone down – if not for the night, at least for several hours. She was worn out after all the attention Seth gave her this afternoon. I can already tell he’s going to make a wonderful dad.

  ‘I hope I’m not bringing up a sensitive subject,’ I venture, chasing a piece of fusilli around my plate. ‘But what made you decide you weren’t gay after all?’

  He chews thoughtfully, then puts down his fork. ‘I just didn’t enjoy the scene. I thought I’d feel that I belonged somewhere at last, but I just felt lonely and isolated. I looked at everything I’d given up – you, my relationship with my family – and I realised I’d made a terrible mistake.’

  I grip his hand and squeeze it tightly. ‘My poor love. It was Amber who pushed you into it.’ I remember him nervously delivering a speech about needing to discover who he really was and putting himself first. The words were Amber’s, not his – she was the ventriloquist and he her dummy.

  ‘Yes,’ he admits. ‘It suited her for me to be gay because she could keep me as her plaything. But when I came out, she wasn’t there for me.’

  ‘That’s disgusting.’

  ‘She’d got what she wanted by then.’ He cocks his head in the direction of Mabel’s bedroom. ‘I’ll never forget the look in your eyes when I told you Amber was pregnant,’ he says. ‘It was like I’d sucked all the life out of you. I knew you didn’t like her, but until that moment, I had no idea how deep your hatred was.’

  ‘I loathed her,’ I reply. ‘She treated you like a pet, a little lapdog she could carry around in her handbag and show off to people, throwing you a few titbits from time to time to keep you keen. It was sickening to witness.’

  ‘Was it that obvious?’

  ‘Yes! I’d never met anyone who was more entitled. She was jealous of our relationship so she destroyed it.’

  ‘You’re right.’ He nods slowly. ‘But I allowed her to do it.’

  ‘You should have told George you were Mabel’s father,’ I say, wiping up sauce with a hunk of bread. ‘That would have served her right.’

  He sighs. ‘I know, I should have done, but I’ve always been so weak when it comes to Amber. She has this hold over me – I can’t explain it. It’s a love–hate thing.’

  ‘No, sweetie, it’s fear, pure and simple,’ I say. ‘But she has no hold over us now. It’s the other way around. Mabel belongs to us and Amber’s life is in ruins.’ I sit back, observing his beautiful features in the candlelight. ‘Did you hear about George being charged with attempted murder? His sister-in-law’s boyfriend. I mean, what the hell is that about?’

  ‘I’ve no idea,’ he replies, gathering up the plates. ‘They’re all falling apart.’

  He goes into the kitchen and I listen to him clattering around. It’s so nice to have somebody else in the house, breathing the same air, moving around the space, making their own noises. Although I was trying not to admit it, I was feeling lonely before he came, even wondering whether I could carry on. I was frightened of the neighbours calling the police and had all sorts of unsettling thoughts about how I’d escape and what I might have to do with Mabel. Thankfully, all that has been swept aside now. From the moment Seth knocked at the door, my world changed dramatically. He’s come back to me. I’ve finally won him round.

  There’s no doubt that we’ll make love tonight. It’ll be a healing. My insides skip as I imagine him undressing me and carrying me to bed. It’s been so long since I had sex, months and months. I’ve almost forgotten how to do it.

  He comes back into the room carrying two plates of tiramisu. He sets them down on the table. ‘Your favourite,’ he says. ‘See? I remembered.’

  ‘You’ll make me fat.’

  ‘Nonsense.’

  ‘Mm, kiss me.’ I lift my face, and he bends down, brushing my lips softly with his. A shiver runs through me.

  ‘You’re such a clever girl,’ he murmurs. ‘I knew you’d manage to take her somehow.’

  ‘The stupid sister made it easy for me,’ I say. ‘She left the key in the door. All I had to do was steal it and make a copy.’ I point in the direction of the fireplace. There it is, hanging on its string necklace, glinting in the candlelight among Dolly’s horse brasses.

  Seth nods approvingly. ‘It must have taken some guts to let yourself in.’

  ‘Yes,’ I admit. ‘And it was touch and go getting her out without waking her. I like having the key hanging up. It’s my trophy.’

  ‘Surely Mabel’s your trophy,’ he grins. ‘God, you look sexy tonight, Terri.’

  I put down my spoon. ‘Sod the tiramisu. Let’s go to bed.’

  Chapter Forty

  Day Nine without Mabel

  Ruby emerges from the lift and follows the red line on the floor leading to the hospital exit. Her eyes prickle with fatigue and the harsh overhead lighting. Her mouth is dry. She needs fresh air – at least as fresh as one can ever find in this crowded, polluted city. Pushing her way through the revolving door, she steps onto the pavement, and is greeted by a whoosh of cold air.

  She arrived in the ambulance with Lewis yesterday afternoon – or was it the day before? It’s dark now, evening. She didn’t notice the sun rising or setting. Time has been passing without her knowledge or permission, and she feels cheated.

  ‘Get some rest,’ the nurse said. ‘There’s nothing you can do. We’re looking after him. If anything changes, we’ll cal
l you immediately.’

  Ruby gazes about her as ambulance sirens fade in and out of the soundscape. She only vaguely knows her location and has no idea where the nearest Tube station or bus stop is. She walks a few paces in one direction, then stops and changes her mind. Her phone is running out of juice and there’s nobody to ask for help. The entrance door is constantly turning, even at this late hour, gobbling people up and spewing others out. Everyone is caught up in their own story; they don’t even notice her.

  Where to now? Home is the obvious choice. The police have finished their forensic examinations and the place is hers again, if she wants it. A few journalists may be hanging around outside the block, but with a bit of luck they’ll have given up by now. There’s no fresh news as far as Lewis is concerned; he is still alive but it could go either way. She couldn’t stay there any longer listening to those bloody machines bleeping incessantly, sitting at the bedside staring at him unconscious, full of tubes, covered in wires, looking like a robot or an alien, not the man she used to love. Or still loves, perhaps. Does being at death’s door trump everything else, automatically entitling you to forgiveness? Ruby hasn’t worked that one out yet.

  She needs to do something, go somewhere. Get some rest before another gruelling bedside ritual. Her brain isn’t functioning properly. She hasn’t eaten for many hours and the hospital coffee was disgusting. All she really wants to do is sleep, but the thought of going home to bloodstains on the carpet makes her feel nauseous. But where else can she go? Not to some hotel – it’s too late, and anyway, she couldn’t afford it. Not to her mother’s either. There’s only one other place she can think of, and although most people would consider it an odd choice, she knows it’s where she wants to spend the night.

  She takes out her phone – just one bar of battery left. It should be enough. Opening up the taxi app, she punches in Amber’s postcode. There are several cabs lurking in the vicinity, the nearest only a minute away. She walks down the ramp and stands at the drop-off point by the entrance to A&E.

  Checking the licence plate against what’s on her screen, she waves at the car coming towards her. The driver draws up, winds the window down and leans over. ‘Ruby?’ he says. She nods and gets into the back seat. The cab sets off and she leans back against the leather upholstery. Should she phone ahead to ask if she can stay? Probably. She clicks on Amber’s name, but before it has a chance to connect, the phone dies. Oh well, she thinks, I’ll just have to chance it.

  ‘Ruby!’ cries Amber, opening the door. Her face looks deathly pale, her vibrant hair tousled around her face. ‘What is it? Has something happened? How’s Lewis?’

  ‘No change,’ Ruby replies. ‘Um … is it okay if I come in?’

  ‘Of course. Please.’ Amber looks grateful. She steps back to allow Ruby inside, and they hug. ‘Thank God the reporters didn’t see us,’ she says, glancing out at the empty street before closing the door. ‘Or that photo would have been all over the tabloids tomorrow.’

  ‘Sisters Back Together,’ says Ruby grimly.

  ‘Hmm … probably not as kind. Come up.’

  Ruby follows Amber upstairs. ‘Sorry I didn’t call ahead,’ she says. ‘My phone died.’

  ‘I’m really glad to see you. I was going out of my mind here.’ They go into the sitting room and Amber gestures at her to take the sofa.

  She takes off her coat and sits down. ‘Any news about Mabel?’

  ‘Yes and no.’ Amber sits in the armchair. ‘The police contacted Seth’s family and they knew Terri, rather liked her apparently. His mum remembered her full name and where she worked. To cut a long story short, she went on sick leave with stress months ago and never came back. Luckily, the company still had an address for her – only a mile or so from here.’

  ‘And? Did they go round? Any sign of Mabel?’

  ‘No. The flat was deserted. However, the police accessed her financial records, and in the week before Mabel was taken, she bought loads of baby equipment.’

  Ruby gasps. ‘Oh my God. Then it’s true, she has got her.’

  ‘So it would seem …’

  She digests the news for a few seconds. ‘But that’s amazing, it’s a really good sign. If she bought baby equipment, it means she’s taking care of her – that she’s still alive.’

  ‘That’s what DI Benedict said, but I’m still so worried. What if something goes wrong? If she finds out the police are looking for her, she might—’

  ‘No, they’ll be careful. They won’t just barge in all guns blazing.’

  ‘I guess … They’ve got to find her first. They’re searching hotels, holiday lets, caravan sites, Airbnbs and stuff, but so far, nothing.’

  ‘And what about Seth?’

  Amber shakes her head. ‘He’s completely disappeared.’ She chokes back a tear. ‘I’m still hoping it’s a coincidence that he’s gone AWOL without telling anyone. But the police are convinced he and Terri are a couple again and planned it together.’

  ‘Yeah, well, it’s looking like it at the moment,’ admits Ruby. ‘Sorry. I don’t mean to make it worse, but you have to face up to it, Amber. It doesn’t look good.’

  ‘No, I know it doesn’t. But he was my best friend. I completely trusted him; we used to say we’d walk through fire for each other. I can’t understand … I mean, why? Am I the bitch from hell? Did I deserve this?’

  ‘Of course not,’ Ruby says. ‘I don’t know Seth very well, but I do know how much you mean to each other. You once told me that if you hadn’t been with George and Seth hadn’t been gay, you’d have married him like a shot.’

  ‘Yes, that’s true, I would have.’ Amber puts her head in her hands, speaking through her fingers. ‘I just have to hold onto the fact that he really loves Mabel. He’s so good with her. He might hate me, but I don’t think he would harm her or let Terri do anything bad.’ The tears start to flood out of her. ‘But I’m so scared! It’s almost worse knowing they’ve got her but not where they are. We’re so near and yet so far.’

  Ruby gets up and crouches down in front of her sister. ‘Hey, come here, it’s okay.’ She holds her firmly but gently, like she’s trying to save a cracked egg from breaking. ‘Just let it out … feel it …’

  ‘I hope Lewis is going to be all right,’ Amber sobs. ‘I don’t want him to die. I know George attacked him, but I feel like it was my fault.’

  ‘Lewis is in good hands,’ Ruby soothes. ‘The doctor thinks there’s been a very slight improvement, though it’s too early to know if that means anything.’ She strokes Amber’s back. ‘There’s nothing we can do now apart from wait. As for Seth and Terri, the police will track them down. It’s good news, hon, really it is. Mabel’s alive and well; she’s going to be back with us very soon. You’ve got to hold onto that.’

  Ruby raids the drinks cupboard in the kitchen and finds a bottle of Armagnac. She pours two glasses and takes them to the sitting room. Amber drinks hers, spluttering through her tears, and then downs another one.

  ‘Will you stay tonight, Rubes?’ she asks. ‘Please? We can share my bed, like we used to when we were kids. I don’t want to be on my own.’

  ‘Of course I’ll stay,’ Ruby replies, although she can’t remember a time when she and Amber ever shared a bed. On holiday perhaps, when there was only a double available, or when staying with relatives? But no, not even then. They always had separate bedrooms at home, and Ruby wasn’t allowed to enter Amber’s room without knocking first. She was never invited to cosy up in bed, giggling and whispering secrets, or eating popcorn while watching videos of Friends. That was what other big sisters did with their younger siblings, but never Amber. She didn’t teach Ruby how to put make-up on, or help her with homework, or give her advice about boyfriends. But it doesn’t matter. Let her rewrite history if that’s what she needs.

  It’s gone midnight and both of them are shattered. They go upstairs to the loft room, taking it in turns to use the bathroom. Ruby undresses and puts on a pair of borrowed silky pyjamas. />
  ‘We probably won’t sleep,’ says Amber, getting into her side of the bed. ‘I’ve almost given up trying.’

  ‘No, I think we will.’ Ruby pulls the duvet over them and lies down. Amber turns out the light. The sheets are cold and the bed is so large that she has to shuffle across to reach Amber, who is lying on her side, facing away from her. Ruby snuggles in, curled against her sister’s back. If only they had been as close as this when they were children. It shouldn’t have taken this tragedy to bring them together.

  Amber, for all her doubts, is already drifting off, her breathing gradually slowing. Ruby closes her eyes and fills the darkness of her mind with a vision of Mabel, smiling and laughing as they play peekaboo. She feels herself sinking, sinking. The sisters are utterly exhausted, more tired than they have ever been in their lives, but a long night of deep slumber beckons for them at last.

  Ruby’s head is thick with muddled dreams. At first she is back at the hospital, sitting at Lewis’s side, then suddenly she’s running through the park, searching for Mabel. Her heart is beating loudly in her chest and her legs are aching. She tries to shout Mabel’s name, but her throat cracks and only a strangulated squeak comes out. The action cuts to somewhere else, a street she doesn’t recognise – maybe it’s near the hospital, she can’t remember. She’s on her bike, racing down a hill, trying to escape or chasing after something, she doesn’t know, can’t work it out. Now she can hear a baby crying in the distance, a high-pitched whine. Or maybe it’s an ambulance siren, or the machines in the hospital, bleeping to a crescendo.

  ‘Ruby? Ruby, wake up!’ Amber shakes her. ‘Wake up!’

  ‘Whaaa?’ She unsticks one eye.

  ‘Can you hear that noise?’ Amber flings off the duvet. ‘That noise! Coming from downstairs. It sounds like … like …’ She turns to Ruby. ‘Can you hear it? Or am I going mad?’