Page 80

Please—

But he had of course. She heard the footsteps on the landing again, faster this time, and with more purpose than before. The bedroom door opened quickly, angrily. The old man’s shadow fell across the bare floorboards for a second, and then he flicked the light on.

“Who’s there?”

There was no point hiding anymore. She moved out from behind the door into the center of the room, turning to face him. Hyde’s father was wrapped in a tattered dressing gown and looked even older than he’d sounded, his thin hair hanging limply around a small, mean face. He had planted himself just over the threshold, one wrinkled hand clutching the end of a stick he was leaning on. He peered at her, saying nothing. He seemed no more surprised to find a stranger in his son’s room than he had to see the display on the wall behind her. It was as though a part of himhad expected this to happen at some point, and he was simply trying to work out who it was that had finally arrived.

Then his eyes narrowed slightly.

“You,” he said.

For a second, she didn’t understand how he could have recognized her. She’d never seen him before in her life. But then she remembered the photographs.

He would have seen her in those, of course.

Me and my family.

Katie took a step toward him. She was much younger than he was, and probably stronger, but he showed no sign of backing away.

She gestured behind her.

“You knew about all of this, didn’t you?”

“You,” he repeated.

Either he hadn’t registered what she’d said, or it meant nothing to him. He took an awkward step toward her, his eyes blazing, and this time it was she who fought the urge to back off.

The old man raised his cane slightly, gesturing at her.

“It’s all your fault,” he said. “Everything.”

“Myfault?”

“Everything that happened to Michael. He was a good boy. He’s always been a good boy. Until he crossed paths withyour fucking family.”

Hyde’s father almost spat the words at her. She didn’t know how to reply. It was like when she’d first seen the display. On one level, she understood what he was saying to her, but she also couldn’t make sense of it.

“Do you know what they did to him in prison? How badly they beat him?”

He took another step toward her. This time she took one back herself.

“I—”

“Don’t lie to me, you bitch.” He raised the cane again. “He never stood a chance, my boy. Mygoodboy. All because of your bastard brother. All because ofyou.”

She shook her head. Whatever logic the old man was working from was so far beyond her that she couldn’t even begin to respond. Was he really blaming Chris for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Was he actually suggesting the attack had somehow beenher brother’sfault?

“It’s all your fault,” he said. “You deserve everything that’s coming to you.”

And again, she started to reply. But even though what he was saying was absurd, a part of her felt the force of his words anyway.

It’s all your fault.

All because ofyou.

“I—”

But whatever she was about to say was interrupted by a sound from downstairs. The front door opening. Hyde’s father heard it too, and an expression of triumph flashed across his face.