In Too Deep

by Bradd Chambers

  “Damien Friel?”

  All three of their heads shoot up from the kitchen table. But he’s looking at a picture on the wooden unit. One taken a few years back of Damien and Robyn at a friend’s wedding.

  “Aye, do you know him?” Ava stands and skirts around the table to beside where he’s stopped.

  “I do surely. Used to work jobs for and with him all the time,” he turns to Robyn. “You his wife?”

  Robyn bites her lip.

  “Erm… Aye, I suppose.”

  “You suppose?”

  The four fall silent.

  “Anyway,” he doesn’t dillydally or pry any further. “Let him know I was asking about him. Haven’t heard or saw head nor tail of him in months. Must be a busy man. Right you are.”

  And with that, he bows down and leaves through the back door. Robyn sits stirring her untouched cup of tea whilst Dermott and Ava share another glance.

  “I best be off too,” Dermott slaps his knees as he stands, making Robyn flinch. “Hope you’re feeling better, Robyn. Make sure and get plenty of rest. Will do you good.”

  She nods and thanks him. Still not taking her eyes off the tea. He raises his eyebrows at Ava, who leads him out to the front door.

  “Thanks so much for all of this, you really are a lifesaver,” Ava smiles up at him, even as he turns at the bottom step down to the drive.

  “Don’t mention it, darlin’. And…” He looks around him before leaning in close. “Don’t worry about all that carry on. Bratton’s the best in the business for getting stuff done. I’ll have money on it that he’s fast-tracking everything through as we speak.”

  Ava looks at her feet before nodding, feeling as useless as Robyn. He taps her shoulder reassuringly, before crunching down the drive. She waves him off, closing the door and going back in to check on her aunt. She’s still in the same position as they left her.

  “You alright, Robyn?”

  She nods again.

  “Maybe you should get to your bed?”

  Still she nods whilst standing, letting Ava lead her up the stairs. Forgetting the bed sheets are still covered in sick, she puts her down in Ava’s old bedroom. Pulling the blankets right up to her chin, she’s halfway out the door when she hears Robyn mumbling.

  “You say something?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what, Robyn?”

  Seconds pass by, Ava staring at the back of her head as she faces the wall.

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “When the nurse called you my daughter. You didn’t object. And neither did I. I never would. You always were the closest thing to a daughter to me, Ava.”

  Ava smiles away her embarrassment.

  “Sure, what’s that to apologise about?”

  Robyn begins snoring lightly. Ava closes the door tight and goes to make a start on stripping the bed.

  Chapter Fifty-Four:

  When there are fresh sheets on the bed and the dirty ones in the washing machine, Ava looks in on Robyn again. She still hasn’t moved. She’ll leave her there a while. No point in moving her. Picking up all the pills and chucking them in the bin, she thinks it’s best if she stays here tonight. Just to keep an eye on her. And what Bratton said spooked her a little.

  Glancing at the clock, she sees it’s coming up to 3pm. She’ll show her face for two hours in work, before the weekend where she can finally get her head straight. She’s not been back since she told them she was going to the shop. She needs to show them she’s in control of some part of her life, even though right now it seems like all the plates are no longer spinning, but smashed on the ground.

  Sneaking down the stairs, Ava goes to bend down to retrieve her bag from under the chair in the entryway, but it’s not there. Instead, it’s sitting on top of the chair, plumped against the flowery cushion. Ava stops and stares at it confused. She’s nearly sure she threw it under the chair. Didn’t she give it a kick for good measure? Did she move it when she came back in earlier, when she thought she had to pay the locksmith? Maybe he moved it? Or Dermott moved it? Or even Robyn? She shakes her head as she pulls the straps up onto her shoulder. She’s losing her mind. Must be something in the air, she thinks, as she soundlessly closes the front door behind her.

  ****

  Ava asked about him shortly after her eighth birthday. I was surprised that it took her so long. When she was very young and confused, she called Damien ‘Da-Da,’ despite us correcting her countless amount of times. But that was the only times the subject was broached until then. Obviously, I saw her looking at other girls with their dads on the street or in the park, and always managed to cast a glimpse her way if something relatable came up on TV. But she never mentioned it. Not until that night.

  I put it down to me being enough for her. Everything for her. Like I tried to be. I was the breadwinner and both parents. The best friend. The nurse. Santa. I had no time for socialising or dating or drinking. The odd dinner with Robyn and Damien was all I could muster, and even then, Ava came too. But I should’ve known that the questions would eventually come.

  It was a lazy Sunday night in front of Friends when the moment arose. I tried to be sympathetic but blunt with her. I never lied, and I didn’t relay information that she didn’t intentionally ask for.

  Over the next few years, she would understand the greater picture through moments similar to that one. She respected that I was hurt and never probed further than she knew she could. She was patient and sweet, just like she was with everything else in life. Something she didn’t get from him, I was happy to recognise. She had inherited most of my good traits. It was just the odd infuriatingly bad one that descended from him, like a shadow crossing over her face.

  Chapter Fifty-Five:

  Pulling up the handbrake as she parks in her drive after work, Ava takes a moment just for herself. She had gone such an arse about face way of getting home. Firstly, she went over the Craigavon Bridge on the upper deck, before swinging around the roundabout and travelling back over the bottom. When she reached the Limavady Road, she turned left and went over the Foyle Bridge, then went right over the border to get petrol. Swung in to Culmore on the way home and drove around Mark’s estate, before pulling out on a country road and driving straight until she got to Ballyarnett. She took a detour around Galliagh, before finally arriving home.

  And for what? To go inside and collect a few things before doing the whole roundabout drive back to Robyn’s? She kept one eye on her rear-view mirror the whole time. Luckily, she didn’t feel like anyone was following her, although she was overly suspicious of everyone. Slowing down to see if they’d attempt to overtake her or indicating to see if they’d copy her.

  Stepping out of the car and pulling open the back door, Mr Ted safely disguised within her jacket once more, she starts up her drive. When safely inside, she gazes around at the home she’s made for herself. The cheap IKEA furniture. The fake plants protruding out of their vases. Everything pristine and polished, like a show house. Unlived in.

  It certainly feels unlived in, she thinks, as she trots up the stairs. It’s only been about 36 hours since she was last here, but so much has changed and happened since then that it feels like it’s been a lifetime. And she can’t help but compare the feel of it to Cathal’s house. In contrast to his, hers feels cold. Unloved.

  She pledges that once she has things sorted out with Mark, they’ll properly move forward. They’ve been together three years and they’re not getting any younger. He certainly isn’t, she thinks jokingly. He’d hinted on moving in together in the past, and she’d panicked. Afraid to let herself get close to someone again. Now, with his absence, she feels like it’s the right time. Maybe it’s what she needed to make her realise how much she misses him and what he means to her?

  She puts Mr Ted down delicately on her bed, propped against a pillow. As she throws bundles of clothes and toiletries into a suitcase, she stops suddenly when she sees an unfamiliar car outside. Parked right opposite he
r house. A shiny black BMW. She whistles as she admires it, until, seconds later, it revs its engine and speeds out of sight. Confused, Ava hopes that it wasn’t watching her house. Or didn’t have someone getting out of it. Slowly making their way up her drive to her front door…

  Her phone ringing makes her jolt out of her daydream. Is it a daydream if it’s scary? Or would you call it a daymare? She’s unsure. A withheld number, she observes as she glances at her screen. Now she really does feel herself start to panic. Clearing her throat, she lifts it to her ear.

  “Hello?”

  “Ava, Ethan Bratton here.”

  She lets out a sigh of relief.

  “Phew, I’m glad it’s you. You had me worried there.”

  “You won’t be glad for very much longer, I’m afraid.”

  She tenses.

  “Okay…”

  “We had a look at that e-mail address. It was created and accessed today shortly after 9am. Just long enough to send you that e-mail, then they went offline. Been deactivated. They haven’t been on since, but we have people monitoring it. However, it’s the place that’s the problem.”

  Ava’s interruption on IP addresses and the likes is quickly dismissed, without even presenting it.

  “It was created, and the actual e-mail was sent, from inside Lisnagelvin Shopping Centre.”

  Ava nods, finding herself deflating. Lisnagelvin Shopping Centre is very popular in the Waterside of the city due to its amenities, including a 24-hour Tesco, butchers, several health and beauty shops and cafés. Absolutely anybody could’ve sent that e-mail.

  “We’re currently looking into CCTV from the centre, but I’m sure you know where I’m going with this.”

  Ava tells Bratton that she understands as she pulls the suitcase down the stairs, several garments of clothing still protruding out of the hastily zipped corners. Remembering the shepherd’s pie in the fridge, Ava leaves the case in the hallway before crossing into the kitchen to retrieve it.

  “Sure, you tried your best and that’s all that matters. Thanks, I’m just about to leave and stay at my aunt’s for the evening anyway.”

  “Good. Stay safe and we’ll keep you updated if there’s any progress.”

  Thanking him again, Ava hangs up. Reaching into the fridge, she retrieves her dinner before turning back towards the door. That’s when something catches her eye on the kitchen table. Shifting over, she sees it’s the photograph Robyn gave her the other day. Only she didn’t leave it on the kitchen table. She didn’t even take it out of her bag. And, if that wasn’t enough, it’s been altered. Now, instead of Robyn smiling up at her, there’s a massive ‘x’ etched over her face in thick red marker.

  Chapter Fifty-Six:

  Crashing through the front door and thundering up the stairs, Ava gasps when she sees the crumpled sheets in her old bedroom. Robyn nowhere to be seen.

  “Robyn!” She screams, running into the master bedroom, but it’s exactly how she left it.

  She shouts her name a few more times, looking in the bathroom and even chancing her arm with the hot press, before taking the stairs two at a time, only to come face to face with her aunt as she hits the bottom.

  “What’s wrong, love?” Robyn’s voice is muffled as Ava pulls her in for a hug.

  Feelings of relief over, Ava pulls away and holds her by the shoulders.

  “Listen. Are you 100% sure that there was a key in the garden?”

  “Aye, why would I-“

  “No, Rob. I’m serious, you have to be honest with me. Does anyone know about that spare key? Friends? Neighbours? Damien?”

  Robyn bursts into laughter when Ava mentions the latter.

  “Damien? He’d have me strung up if he knew that I had a spare key outside. Always thought we were going to be broken into, didn’t he?”

  Ava battles with herself to not indulge the irony of Robyn’s statement as she stares into her eyes. A little sleepy, but you can tell she hasn’t had a drink, and doesn’t look as badly affected by the medication as she sometimes does. She thinks she can trust her.

  “When did you put it out there?”

  “Like I said, years and years ago,” Robyn pulls away and reverts back into the kitchen. “After Damien got that new door put in, I kept forgetting my key. Had to wait until he’d come home from work to get back in. It happened three times in one week before I decided, to Hell with it. I’d get a spare done behind his back. Only used it a handful of times ‘cause by the time I’d went into town to get the key cut, I’d got used to the door,” she giggles, plopping tea bags in a mug. “I don’t know how I’m ever gonna sleep tonight now after that nap.”

  “Look, Robyn. We have to go.”

  “But, why?”

  Ava looks around the room. Trying to think of a way out of this mess without telling Robyn the truth. It’d imbalance her mood and God knows what could happen. She might be uncooperative.

  “We’ve just had such a stressful few days. I thought we should go out to eat.”

  “No thanks, love. I’d rather get a Chinese and catch up with my programmes.”

  Cursing to herself, Ava turns her back on her aunt. Desperately thinking of something to get her out of the house. That’s when she sees the gift vouchers for the Shandon Hotel and Spa in Donegal that she’d gotten Robyn last Christmas.

  “Look, Rob. I didn’t want to tell you this,” she skirts over and pockets the vouchers discreetly. “But I’ve booked for us to go away for the night. I wanted it to be a surprise, but you’re making it much harder than I’d thought.”

  Robyn exclaims dramatically, pressing her hands to her cheeks.

  “Oh, Ave. Really? Why ever for?”

  “Like I said… It’s been a hard few days,” she looks away like she’s getting emotional, knowing it’ll hook her aunt right in.

  “Oh, pet. Thank you so much. Right, I’ll go start to pack. What should I be bringing?”

  “Just throw in anything. It’s a bit of a drive so be quick.”

  Robyn rushes over and smacks a sloppy kiss on Ava’s head.

  “And a swimsuit,” Ava shouts after her as Robyn climbs the stairs excitedly.

  When she’s safely out of ear shot, Ava brings out her phone.

  “Jesus, Ava. I’ve heard from you more the past week than I’ve done in months,” belly laughs Dermott as he answers on the third ring.

  “I know, I know. I’m so sorry. But here, I need another massive favour.”

  “Anything, love.”

  “I swung by my house to collect my things after work, before coming back to sleep at Robyn’s. There’s a picture that was in my handbag, which was obviously locked in Robyn’s, which I think was definitely moved because I left it under the chair, but it wasn’t under the chair. But anyway, the picture has a huge red ‘x’ over Robyn’s face. It’s a threat. And he stole it from my handbag, and he must’ve got hold of my keys to let himself into my house, although I don’t understand why he put my keys back and not Robyn’s. But now I know he has Robyn’s spare key and he’ll come back. So, I nee-“

  “Wow, wow, wow, girl. Take a breath. Calm down, one step at a time.”

  Ava inhales, realising she wasn’t talking sense.

  “What is it you need from me?”

  “I’m taking Robyn away now overnight. I need you to call your locksmith mate and get brand new locks put into both of Robyn’s doors. And my own as well, actually. In case he’s made spares. Whoever is harassing us has that missing spare key of Robyn’s. I just know it. I don’t know how he knew it was there, but he’s got it. And I’m really afraid for her safety.”

  “Okay. I’m not really sure what’s going on, but okay. I can be there in twenty minutes?”

  “Maybe make it a half hour so we’re definitely gone. Thanks, Dermott. I’ll leave the keys out for you to get in with your man.”

  “But where are you going to leave them?”

  Despite the horrific situation that they’re in, Ava still manages to laugh.

>   Chapter Fifty-Seven:

  “Awk, Ava. It’s lovely.”

  It buckin’ better be, she thinks, as she hauls the cases into the room. Even with the voucher, it had still cost her an arm and a leg for the room. The receptionist reassuring her that this was the only one of three left, so they were lucky. She didn’t feel lucky as she punched her pin into the machine.

  After a quick stop at hers, to pick up her swimming costume, they had hit the country roads through Donegal to the Shandon, situated just outside Portnablagh and overlooking the beach at the bottom of Marble Hill. She stares down at it now from the hotel window as dusk settles. They’re too late for any spa treatments, so until tomorrow they’d have to make do with dinner and drinks at the bar.

  Turning and admiring the room, she’s unsurprised to see Robyn pouring out a glass of wine from the bottle she’d brought with her.

  “Want one?” she offers her the glass she’d just filled.

  “Aye, why not?” Ava thanks her, before downing half the glass in one.

  “Wait ‘til I catch up, God’s sakes,” her aunt tuts, rushing to fill her glass.

  Lounging on the bed, Ava remembers coming here with Mark. Their antics in the hot tub and underneath the sheets. It was their first anniversary, but was close to coming up to a year since her mother’s death. She cried herself to sleep in his arms when she’d had a few too many cocktails and had started to reminisce. They’d survived all of that, she thinks, they’re bound to survive this tiny hiccup.

  “Right, I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. Barely ate anything in that hospital. Why don’t we go and see what the food’s like?” Robyn says, sliding off her slippers and into a sparkly pair of flip-flops.

  Ava beams up at her, deciding to forget about the troubles of the past few days and enjoy her night with Rob, who seems in great spirits.