Page 57

CHAPTER 57

OLIVIA – D AY F OUR

‘Is Amelie all right, Mummy?’ Chloe’s voice is faint and she’s looking really pale. I’ve given her the final drops of juice but can tell from the croakiness that she’s parched too. And I know she’s hungry, her hand pressed against her tummy.

‘She ran away, darling,’ I whisper. I don’t believe this for one second, but what else to say? Chloe so little and so scared. ‘Which means she’ll be able to get help for herself and for us. We just have to rest now and wait.’

‘Does Grandad still have his gun?’ Her eyes are tired and swollen. We’re back in the little bedroom together. I was terrified he might get physical with me again. Try to knock me out like he did in the cellar. His ear’s still bloody from the fork injury but he’s been strangely quiet. Ominously quiet.

He keeps washing his hands and he told me he’s going to pray to find out what to do next. He let Chloe use the toilet again but she hardly passed anything. The dehydration. And the flush has stopped working which means the whole place smells even worse.

He has the gun close by him now, leaning right against the banquette seating. He’s keeping the bedroom door open now to watch me.

‘Best not to think about that, sweet pea. Like I told you, Grandad is unwell,’ I whisper. ‘We just have to stay calm. Do as he says. And wait for help.’

‘I’m really hungry. Don’t you have any more biscuits?’

‘I’m so sorry, darling. Everything’s gone. But we’ll be OK.’ I pull her closer against my body on the bed and stroke her hair. ‘When help comes, we’ll have a lovely big meal. What will you choose?’

‘Lasagne with chips and Coke. And ice cream with chocolate sauce.’

‘Good choice.’ I stroke her hair again and she closes her eyes.

‘Quiet in there. I’m trying to listen!’ My father’s voice.

‘Sssh, honey. It’s OK,’ I whisper to Chloe. And then louder to my father, ‘Sorry. We’ll be quiet.’

I keep up the smoothing of Chloe’s hair, enjoying the rhythm, and she finally stills. Not asleep but resigned to waiting. I keep my hand on her head and I think again of Amelie. What happened out there in the wood?

Why, oh why, didn’t I do something sooner ? Stop him forcing Amelie outside. I think of the second fork and the frying pan under the bed. I imagine hitting his head really hard with the metal pan. Or trying again with the other fork. But I can’t risk reaching for them with him watching me so closely. He could so easily grab the gun faster than I could try to attack him.

I decide that I’ll have to wait until he needs the toilet. He’s not drinking either so it could be a while. But he’ll pull the toilet door to for modesty and that will be my chance to move quietly. Try to catch him unawares. Strike him from behind.

I just need to be sure to hit much harder and more accurately next time.