The Forgotten Cottage (21 page)

Henry nodded his approval. He directed her to take the second exit off the roundabout, which led onto Jubilee Bridge and Walney Island. Then she turned left and followed the road until he told her to turn off onto the road that would literally lead them to the very pinnacle of the Island and the caravan site. They passed fields full of horses, a pub and then a field that had almost every animal known to man in it: there were alpacas, birds of every description, goats and rabbits. Megan slowed down to stare at them all. There was a woman in the field with a goose tucked under one arm, and she waved at them. Megan grinned and waved back then carried on driving.

‘Did you see all those animals? I love animals, especially birds; there’s something so beautiful about them.’

Henry nodded; he couldn’t miss them. He just wanted to get inside the caravan, stretch his legs and have a glass of whisky. Finally, she reached the entrance to the site and looked at him.

‘Now where? This place is huge.’

If his memory served him right, it was one of the newer caravans at the back of the site. He’d brought his mother over here a couple of times to visit. He pointed at the one and she parked the car, both of them relieved to be able to get out and stretch their legs. They walked towards it and Henry was thankful there was no one around to see them and think it was funny that the man with the cap and the hood up, even though it was particularly warm, was feeling under the caravan steps for a key. His fingers brushed the tape which was holding it to the metal step and he peeled it away and waved it at Megan, who was busy getting the bags from the car. He opened the door and was hit by a blast of warm air. It was stuffy inside but it would soon air out if they left the door and windows open for a bit. The static caravan was a good size and had two bedrooms, which was fine.

Megan began to giggle like a kid. ‘I love caravans; they remind me of when I was younger and we used to go on holiday to Blackpool or Scarborough with the whole family. It was cramped and we did nothing but argue and fight but I loved it.’

He stood at the door and took the bags from her as she passed them to him.

‘We have enough supplies for a few days; we can lie low and see how much news coverage there is about us both before deciding what we’re going to do.’

She came inside and he pushed the door to, not wanting to shut it completely until it wasn’t as stuffy. He opened a cupboard and took two glasses out of it, rinsing them under the tap. Megan passed him the bottle of whisky and he poured it into them.

‘Congratulations, Megan, and thank you. Here’s to us, the killer and his brilliant nurse out on the run.’

He clinked his glass against hers and then tipped his head back and downed it in one. The fire rolled down his throat, making him cough and splutter. Then he opened his eyes and smiled. ‘Here’s to freedom.’

Megan sipped slowly at hers. ‘Yes, here’s to a whole new chapter in both of our lives. Henry and Megan, what a team.’

She turned around and began putting the food away that she had brought. Henry felt bad; he hadn’t contributed money towards any of this. He couldn’t access his money; he had a hefty chunk in the local building society but the minute he touched it they would know. He would wait until he had done what he had to do and then go in and withdraw it before leaving this town for good.

He opened one of the curtains just enough that he could sit and watch the sea as the tide came in. He had missed the simple things in life the most and it had taught him that you only had to live simply to enjoy your life. Megan went into the small bathroom with a bag of toiletries and he put his feet up and watched the view. This was what it felt like to be free; he owed it all to her so he wouldn’t be killing her after all, unless she began to drive him mad and then he might have to out of necessity, but until then it would be nice to have her company.

He had no idea how long he had been watching the tide but when Megan came out of the small shower room her blonde and fuchsia hair had been replaced with dark brown and he did a double-take. She looked totally different, with only a towel wrapped around her naked body, and he had to look away as his cheeks began to burn.

‘Before you say anything, I hate it as well but my blonde and pink hair was too distinctive. What a bloody nightmare, trying to dye your hair in a bathroom where your elbows hit the walls every time you move; it made your bathroom look like one at a luxury hotel. Still, it’s an adventure and I love it, even if I do get claustrophobia every time I need a pee.’

‘I think you suit it; makes you look older.’

Megan laughed. ‘Henry, would you like me to get dressed? I’m sorry, I forgot you haven’t – you know – for a long time.’

He was still staring out of the window and not looking at her. ‘I’m okay, thank you; it’s just a bit of a shock. I’m not that used to living with women…well, not anyone as young as you. I know it’s a whole different culture these days, but I would appreciate it if you could keep some clothes on when we’re together.’

‘No problem.’

She disappeared into one of the bedrooms and came back out wearing a pair of pyjamas that were covered in pink rabbits. Henry nodded his approval and had to stop himself from wondering if she was naked underneath; it was totally inappropriate. He wanted them to be on an even keel; it would get messy if they started anything other than being friends. If they fell out he knew there was nothing like a scorned woman for getting revenge but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t enjoy the view. She was pretty in an unconventional way so for now he would be quite happy to enjoy her company and the occasional glimpses of her forbidden flesh.

Chapter Sixteen

Kav finished his coffee and put the delicate mug down on the kitchen table. ‘I think that we should get back to the station now, if that’s okay with you, Annie. There’s a lot of stuff we can be helping with but I don’t want to be stuck in Windermere doing it; I’d rather utilise my own staff.’

‘Thank you, for everything. Yes, of course you need to get back; sorry, I’m not thinking straight. I’ll stay here and you know where I am if you want me. I don’t think Amelia can be that far away from here; she wouldn’t drive miles to work every day if she didn’t have to. So I’m nearer to Will here than I would be in Barrow.’

Kav nodded, relieved she was going to be stopping with Will’s parents, who could keep an eye on her, because she looked dreadful and he was worried about her.

Jake stood up and hugged Annie, squeezing her tight. ‘If we hear anything I’ll let you know, I promise. Do you think you should have a lie-down, Annie, because you look worn out and you don’t want to end up back in hospital?’

‘I will, thanks, Jake.’

She walked them to the door, too exhausted to go down the steps and walk them to the police car. She waited until they both got in and then waved them goodbye. Tears began to fall down her cheeks and she let out a sob which racked her whole body. What a mess this was. She sat down on the top step and buried her head in her arms. A warm hand touched her shoulder and she turned to see Tom.

‘I’m sorry, Annie, I really am.’

Wiping her tears with her sleeve, she smiled. ‘It’s not your fault, it really isn’t.’

He sat down next to her so that he could hold her hand. ‘You’re too kind, but if I hadn’t had an affair all those years ago this would never have happened. I used to watch Will go from one relationship to another and it broke my heart. I wanted to tell him that he would never be happy living like that, but how could I? He’d want to know how come I was the expert all of a sudden.’

‘You can’t blame yourself; how were you to know that there was a daughter out there who knew about you? If it’s anyone’s fault it’s her mother’s for not telling you all those years ago. I’m pretty sure you would have been in the doghouse but not for long. What if Amelia – if that’s even her name – isn’t your daughter and it’s just a lie that she was told from an early age? Would her mother really not contact you and tell you? Surely she’d have wanted money from you?’

‘Back then I didn’t have much money; the business was only just beginning to take off. I worked day and night to turn it into the success it was before I sold it. So I had a little bit of money but not a lot because I kept investing most of it back into the business. It was years later that I was finally able to sit back and reap the rewards and by that time Sarah had died and it was just me and Will. I was so lucky when Lily came along; she didn’t give a damn about money. In fact she thought I was the gardener here and was more than happy enough to go out with me so I knew that she was the one. I meant what I said to those detectives; I would give this all up in an instant to know that Will was safe and back in your arms.’

His arm went around her shoulder and he pulled her close to him. Annie leant her head against him, trying her best not to cry onto his checked shirt. They stayed like that until Lily came looking for them. She nodded at Tom and smiled then went back inside.

Annie was the one to pull away first. ‘Sorry, I never cry but since I met Will I’ve turned into a right softie. In fact I never used to get upset about much; I’d bottle it all up and keep it inside. Now I’m a gibbering wreck. I’m also really tired. Would you mind if I went for a lie-down?’

‘I should think so; after everything you’ve been through, no wonder you’re an emotional wreck. Yes, I was going to suggest you have a rest; even if you can’t sleep, it might make you feel a bit better. How are you feeling physically? Lily phoned my doctor to come and give me a once-over; I’d like him to give you a check-up because I know that you didn’t get discharged from the hospital this morning. The staff nurse I spoke to when I phoned told me that you practically ripped the drip out of your arm and left in a hospital gown and bare feet.’

Tom arched one eyebrow at her but he grinned at the same time.

‘Ah, you heard about that. Do you know the security guard thought I’d escaped from the Mental Health unit and was going to take me back? I did look a state but I think I’m okay.’

‘My son is incredibly lucky to have found you, Annie; you are both made of the same tough stuff. Please put an old man’s mind at rest and let the doctor take a look. Then I won’t mind so much when you go rushing off to rescue Will.’

She laughed and stood up, holding out a hand to pull Tom up. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I will.’

‘Good, now go and have a rest or a bath or whatever it is you need. Lily has plenty of clothes that would keep a women’s refuge going for a year.’

‘I’m good, thanks; I left some stuff here the last time we stayed.’

She waited for Tom to go back inside and then she followed and shut the door behind her. She went upstairs to the guest room that was Will’s old bedroom and he went off to find Lily.

Inside the bedroom that Annie and Will used whenever they stayed over, Annie slipped off her shoes and threw herself onto the bed, sinking down into the mattress. She couldn’t possibly sleep but she was so tired and her chest ached, but she didn’t know if that was because of the operation to repair her punctured lung or whether it was aching for Will. Her head was hurting and her eyes wanted to shut tight and block out the nightmare.

Rolling over onto Will’s side of the bed, she curled up into a ball and began to concentrate really hard to see if there were any of her spirit friends around that could maybe help and give her a clue to where he was being held. She emptied her mind and tried to think of nothing, which was hard because an image of Will was always there, hovering in the corner of her mind. She began to breathe deeply, concentrating on asking for help. Occasionally, Sophie, the nine-year-old girl she’d helped escape from the Shadow Man last year, would come and say hello but not very often; now she was with her mum she wasn’t earthbound like before. Annie tried to summon her; for a nine-year-old girl she was very wise and knew a lot about everything, but she couldn’t quite reach her, it was if something was blocking Annie from connecting with anyone. She felt herself drifting off, unable to stop herself, and she let her whole body relax.

The sound of fingernails being scraped along a glass windowpane made Annie open her eyes. She was unsure where she was but it was dark and very cold. The room was pitch-black and the noise made her shudder. The bed felt hard; there was no way this was the same mattress that she had first lain down on. There was a blanket wrapped around her but it was rough and not the goosedown duvet she had pulled over her not that long ago.

Annie’s heart began to race. She knew it was a dream but all the same she was scared. Sitting up, she waited whilst her eyes adjusted to the gloom. Movement in one corner made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. There was someone in the room with her and she had no idea who it was or where they were. Annie squinted, focusing on the corner, and watched, terrified, as her eyes fixed on the outline of the woman she’d seen standing in the middle of the road before her accident. Her head was bent forward so her long dark hair hung over her face. The woman in the corner was dressed in a long white cotton gown and had bare feet. The gown was tattered and torn as if she’d been running through brambles and when Annie looked at her feet she could see the scratches and bruises that covered them.

‘Who are you?’

The woman didn’t answer but lifted her head up until the hair fell away and Annie could see the white face and crystal-blue eyes. She stared straight at Annie, not breaking her gaze, and Annie, for the first time in months, felt threatened, that her life might be in danger. Whoever she was, didn’t want to pass a message on to her family because, judging by what she was wearing, her family had probably all died at least two hundred years ago. Annie didn’t break her gaze, too afraid to be the one to look away first. She had to let her know that she wasn’t going to be intimidated by her, even if her insides had all turned to slush.

‘I asked you who you are and what do you want.’

The woman grinned at her. Her skin, stretching over her teeth, looked as if it was about to crack open and fester.

‘Who am I? I should be asking you the same question. What right have you to come in and wreck my house? It doesn’t belong to you; it belongs to me, just like it always has.’