Page 106 of Sisters

The farmer hadn’t spotted them. He continued to push the gate until it was wide open. Then the first of the cows walked towards the road.

Abby checked her mirror. The police car was even closer.She couldn’t stop.She hit the heel of her hand on the horn, one long, continuous blast. The farmer looked up, saw them hurtling towards him and his herd. He put his arms out, tried to halt the cows but now they were moving as one, a mass of blood and bone heading for the road.

Abby drove as fast as she could, Ellie squeezed her body into itself and they raced past the herd, inches from hitting them.

Without speaking, both girls looked in their mirrors. Behind them, the police car had come screeching to a stop, his path blocked by two dozen cattle.

Abby whooped ecstatically.

Ellie knew it would be several minutes before the police officer could resume the chase. He’d never catch up with them. There was no sign of the other car. They’d got away.

‘I love cows!’ yelled Abby.

Ellie looked across at her sister. She’d never seen her so high. She’d never seen her soalive.

EIGHTY-ONE

Ellie held the payphone receiver to her ear, her hand damp with sweat. They had stopped at a roadside cafe; Abby was stretching her legs and Ellie could see her walking up along the edge of a nearby field, a small figure in the heat haze. Ellie had claimed she was tired – which was true – and instead had plucked up the courage to do what had been burning away at her since her time with Fredrik.

His words echoed in her ears as she listened to her mother’s phone ringing.You’re a survivor. Then Ellie heard her mother pick up and the operator asked Susanna if she would accept a call from Ellie Spencer. She heard her mother’s gasp of acceptance and then the operator connected them.

‘Ellie!’

‘Hi, Mum.’

‘Tell me what’s happening. Are you OK?’

Ellie took a breath. Composed herself. ‘I’m fine, Mum.’

‘Where are you?’

‘Spain.’

‘Spain?Whereabouts?’

‘Mum, I need to ask yo—’

‘Is Abby still with you? Did you find the gun?’

‘Mum! Please. Stop interrupting. Yes, I found the gun. You were right.’

‘Thank God!’ said Susanna, deep relief in her voice.

‘At least, you were right about Abby having taken it,’ said Ellie.

Susanna paused. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Last night, Abby and I were held at knifepoint—’

‘Oh my God!’

‘Mum. Please let me speak. A man climbed into the back of our car when we were at a petrol station. He made us drive up into a forest. He forced us out of the car, was about to take us into the trees. He had a knife to my throat the whole time.’ Ellie found she was shaking with the memory. ‘He was probably going to kill us. Which is why Abby shot him.’

Ellie waited for a reaction but her mother was silent.

‘Mum?’

‘Yes. I’m here,’ said Susanna quickly, her voice steeped in shock. ‘Shot him? You mean...he’s dead?’