Chosen Child (27 page)

And now what? All he knew was he couldn’t go home. He needed
to have a good think first, about Ella and Amanda and Steve and Gareth and the
shed… He needed things clear in his head before he confronted Ella. She would
go all teacher-ish with him; the very thought was making him see red. Maybe he
should check his phone, see what she was thinking… and like he’d thought, there
were messages galore here. She was obsessed and so was Amanda. He deleted them
without reading any – a little more time to worry about her daughter would make
it all the more likely that Ella would agree with whatever he suggested. He
twisted round to talk to Soraya.

‘Okay. Mummy texted and there’s a new plan. Remember the
place we went to in Newquay and Mummy came to get you?’ That was clever, he
thought. Of course she’d remember and it was a very positive image to give her,
wasn’t it? Soraya nodded. ‘We’re going back there now, and Mummy’ll be along
later. Okay?’

Soraya blinked at him, her lips pressed together. Ignoring
the tension in his head, Rick started the car.

The B&B had a room for them, but it was much smaller than
the one they’d had last time and again there was no en suite. Misery welled up
inside Rick but he booked them in and led Soraya upstairs. She had slept in the
car but was wide awake again and all he could think of to keep her occupied was
to go to the beach. He sat on a towel while she splashed about in shallow
water. A dark cloud of dreariness settled over him as he watched her, but it
wasn’t long before another little girl appeared and made friends with Soraya.
Rick lay back and closed his eyes – the other child’s mother was there with the
girls.

What was he going to do about Ella and the house and Gareth?
The three went together. He would call Ella later and tell her he’d give Soraya
back if she left the house. She could maybe even stay here in the B&B until
they found a flat. That way, he could plan how to remove Gareth, because that
had turned into an absolute necessity. With Gareth gone he could get someone in
to fix the shed floor and everything would be back to normal. And
of course
–

Joy and relief broke over Rick as the solution to the entire
problem flashed into his head. What had he been thinking of? No one needed to
find flats and move out. With Gareth gone, Ella and Soraya could go back into
the house and it would all be sorted. He wouldn’t need more than a week. Could
he persuade Ella to take a little holiday?

Whatever happened with the house, though, his future would
still be with Amanda. And the baby. But that would sort itself automatically
once he had the Gareth situation under control. He would call when they were
back in the B&B, tell Ella to come and collect Soraya. Yes.

It was going to be all right… Rick rubbed his head. He was
so tired it was hard to keep his eyes in focus, and disjointed thoughts of Ella
and her parents were filling his head. Steve… what was it with Steve? Oh yes,
he hadn’t helped Steve and the poor sod had died. So it didn’t matter if Steve
had seen Gareth or not, did it? All he had to do was get Ella out of the house
for a bit and everything would be all right.

The idea gave him new hope, and he forced himself to his
feet and joined Soraya at the water’s edge. Her new friend had gone, and Rick
realised guiltily he should have been watching the child.

‘How about an ice cream? Then we’ll go back to our room and
phone Mummy.’

‘Ooh yes!’ Soraya was distracted now and happy.

He followed her across the beach to the ice cream van, a
lump rising in his throat. If things had been different he and Ella could have
been a family with this kiddie, she was a sweetie even if she wasn’t a boy.
What had changed that? Oh yes, Gareth and the baby. His real baby. So leaving
Ella was the best thing to do… If only his head would stop buzzing.

The bathroom at the B&B was free, and Rick ran a bath
for Soraya, adding a generous slosh of rose petal bath foam from the basket on
the window ledge. He needed a few minutes peace to phone Ella, and a bath had
worked well the last time. He left her to play.

‘No splashing, now, and I’ll leave the doors open. Shout if
you need anything.’

She was busy piling foam on her head, and he hurried back to
the bedroom. Now for the phone call. He had to sound calm, firm, and positive.
Ella was to come here for a week with her darling daughter, that was the new
plan, but… Oh no. How could he have forgotten? June was staying with them and
Steve was dead – under these circumstances Ella might not want a holiday. He
would have to insist, that was all. A holiday or lose Soraya.

Phone in hand, Rick lay back on his bed, then dropped the
mobile to massage his forehead. He was so tense. This headache he’d had since
leaving home was getting worse; he should take another pill… What had he wanted
to do? Ah yes, call Ella. Where was his phone?

He felt around the top of the bed, but the phone… no, here
it was. He squinted at the screen. But he was much too tired to speak to Ella.
He would have a little sleep first, then everything would be better. His eyes
closed.

Friday 1st August

Amanda stood outside the flats, twisting the strap of her
handbag and staring back up the hill. She was home, but she didn’t have the
peace of mind to go inside and do some of her freelance secretarial work, the
original plan for this child-free day. The thought that Ella’s neighbour was a
policeman who was all set to help if Rick didn’t reappear… that was spooking
her well and truly. And there was nothing she could do, apart from text Rick.
Which was futile. If Rick didn’t get in touch, Ella would call Owen and then –
what?

A nauseating sensation that had nothing to do with her
pregnancy gripped Amanda’s gut, and she sat down on the wall by the entrance to
the flats. Rick had been very odd on the phone… Gareth must be somewhere close
to home. The shed. Something was shouting out to her that it was the shed. At
some point, Rick had hidden Gareth there, he must have. Maybe there were
bloodstains he couldn’t get rid of? But Gareth hadn’t bled – or had he?

And… Ella was gobsmacked when Owen told her about Rick
banging his head coming out of the shed. According to Owen, Ella’s father was
in there when he collapsed… Amanda’s breath caught painfully. Was Gareth
still
in Ella’s shed? Waiting to be buried? That would
explain everything. Amanda began to shake. Had Rick stuffed Gareth into a box
or a barrel and left him there? But – bodies smelled, didn’t they? Or maybe the
smell didn’t last long? Amanda raised unsteady fingers to cold cheeks. She was
getting into a state here; she would have to go inside.

A cup of tea calmed her, and she sat in the kitchen, trying
to plan. If Rick didn’t come back… and if Gareth was in that shed… and if Ella
involved Owen… it would all come out that afternoon. Rick should know about
that. Amanda made the connection and sat willing him to pick up but of course,
he didn’t. It was quarter to three, so in little more than fifteen minutes Ella
would go to Owen, and sooner or later they’d investigate the shed. Amanda
clasped her hands beneath her chin, feeling her knuckles tremble against her
jaw bone. What would she do if Gareth was there?

Sudden adrenalin shooting through her – this couldn’t be
good for the baby – Amanda grabbed her bag and ran from the flat. It was no
use, she couldn’t think straight so the best thing to do was go and see what
was happening. The July heat made it impossible to run up the hill, but Amanda
hurried as well as she could, thankful she had a good two hours before she
needed to pick Jaden up. Turning the corner into Cedar Road, she slowed down.
It wouldn’t do to arrive looking as if she was fleeing the devil himself.

She was lingering at the fence getting her breath back when
Ella appeared out of the shed, dusting her hands on her jeans. Amanda’s heart
leapt into her throat and she felt the baby stir. It’s okay, baby, keep calm.
And it was okay – still. Ella was no more het up than she was earlier on, so
whatever she’d been doing in the shed, she hadn’t found Gareth. At that moment
Ella saw her and for a second they stood in silence, then Amanda managed to
speak.

‘I couldn’t stop thinking about you and Soraya – is there
any word from Rick?’

‘No. Come and help me decide what to do.’

Bingo, thought Amanda, following on into the kitchen and
sitting awkwardly on what had become her chair. The baby kicked again.

Ella poured two glasses of fresh orange and sat down
opposite. ‘I can’t get away from the thought that Rick had a bang on the head
and now he’s acting oddly,’ she said, rubbing her eyes. ‘I yelled at him for
being slow to help with Dad – he was so slow and dazed – suppose he’s
concussed? Amanda, suppose he has an accident while he’s driving around with
Soraya?’

The thought was sobering and Amanda could hear the doubt in
her own voice. ‘I’m sure you’d have noticed if he had concussion. He’s
probably, um… ’

To Amanda’s dismay Ella pounced on her hesitation.

‘You see? I can’t imagine what reason he could have for not
getting in touch. Heaven knows how many times I’ve tried to call him, and I’ve
left so many texts I’ve lost count. He could be unconscious for all I know, and
Soraya…’

Amanda reached across the table and patted the other woman’s
hand. Ella was worried about her child. She wasn’t thinking about the shed or
about Rick; Soraya was the important issue here, and because of Soraya, they
would need to find Rick even if it did mean involving the police, that was
clear.

‘Have you been in contact with the adoption people?’

Tears were shining in Ella’s eyes. ‘I’ll need to do that.
We’re supposed to tell them about important stuff. What’ll I do if they take
Soraya away?’

‘No reason they would, if Rick’s – ill, is there?’ Amanda
spoke briskly. An idea was forming in her head. ‘Why don’t you ask your
neighbour to help trace the car – the police can do that, can’t they? Then
you’d have Soraya back home and you’ll see how Rick is and you can take it from
there.’

Amanda relaxed as she spoke. That was it. Perfect. Keep the
focus on Rick’s condition and Soraya’s vulnerability, and no one would go near
the shed. That would give her time to talk to Rick – she would
make
him tell her what he’d done with Gareth. And when she
knew…

Amanda closed her eyes. When she knew she would know, that
was all. Would they be able to keep the deception a secret? But they had to.
But another thought was – did she really want to spend her life with the man
who had done heaven knows what with Gareth and was now causing all this grief?
She massaged her middle, feeling the hardness of the growing bump. The baby.
Hers and – whose? Oh, it was Rick’s, it must be, but a baby was no reason to
stay with a man. She would never be able to trust him after this.

Ella picked up her mobile. ‘You’re right. I’ll phone Owen.’

Amanda sipped her juice as Ella made her call. It was a
brief conversation. Ella said, ‘I’m worried about Rick, Owen,’ and listened for
a few seconds before breaking the connection and sagging in her chair. ‘He’s
coming over.’

Amanda swithered. Should she offer to leave, or stay on and
hear what Owen had to say? She had no time to consider; Owen was at the door
already. She would wait. It didn’t seem to have entered Ella’s head that the
conversation with Owen should be private, and Amanda sat waiting to steer them
away from the shed if they started talking about it. Hopefully Owen would get
straight onto putting a search out for Rick’s car, and nothing more. They
needed to find Soraya; poor Ella’s voice was growing unsteadier by the minute.

‘Owen, I’m more and more worried that Rick might be
concussed after Monday. He’s supposed to be back here now with Soraya, and he’s
not answering his phone. Could the police find the car?’

Owen’s eyes were searching and Amanda was suddenly glad she
hadn’t had him to deal with when Gareth ‘disappeared’. The way he was looking
at Ella was direct to say the least.

‘Yes, that would be possible. Have I got this right – you
didn’t know about the head bang, and you didn’t notice anything in particular
about his behaviour afterwards?’

Two tears trickled down Ella’s cheeks, and Amanda reached
out and touched a shaking shoulder. Be a friend, Amanda, that’s why you’re
here, remember?

‘My dad had collapsed – none of us were behaving normally.
Thinking back, Rick was very hesitant, very shocked about Dad, and he said
nothing about bringing him from the shed.’

Owen was frowning. ‘What did he say?’

‘He said he’d seen Dad collapse on the grass and told me to
call an ambulance. But I noticed Dad wasn’t breathing and started CPR, so Rick
called 999.’

Amanda thought back to the call she’d had from Rick. He’d
told her Ella’s dad had collapsed in the garden too. It was the shed, it must
be…

‘Okay. How late is he?’

‘He said he’d be here this morning, and when he didn’t turn
up I texted him to be back by three or I’d get the adoption people involved.’

‘So he’s only a few minutes late, if we go by three o’clock.
Let’s give him another ten minutes. Why are you so uneasy?’

‘Oh, I don’t know. We’re in a rough patch and I feel he’s
gone off with Soraya to get back at me and now I’m worried he’s not well. Why
else would he lie about where he found Dad?’

‘That is odd, yes…’

‘I even checked the shed after you said about him banging
his head but apart from a wobbly floor it’s fine, and – I want Soraya back
here.’

Tears were running down Ella’s cheeks, and Amanda passed her
a tissue, her own gut cramping at the sight of Owen’s set face. This was
getting dangerous, this was about the shed as well as Rick and Soraya now, and
there was nothing she could do about it. Resignation filled her. She knew what
Owen was going to say, and she was right.