Page 66 of Sisters

‘This is silly...’ Abby had begun to walk towards her again.

‘I mean it,’ said Ellie, realizing too late the fear had now transferred from Abby and settled within herself. Is that what guns did?

‘Put it down.’

‘Tell me,’ said Ellie, raising her voice. ‘What are you doing with this? What’s the big secret you’re keeping from me?’ She aimed this time, properly. Closed one eye and felt the trigger under her finger.

FORTY-NINE

‘Ellie, don’t do this,’ pleaded Abby.

‘For once, Abby, not everything is going your way. I am sick and tired of being treated like a lesser individual, the one who can’t compete with her oh-so-brilliant sister. You are going to tell me what’s going on here.’

‘Youknow,’ said Abby.

‘Was it you?’

Her sister was confused. ‘Was what me?’

Ellie made sure she kept the gun raised. ‘Was it you who poisoned me when we were children?’

The look on Abby’s face seemed genuine enough. It was one of total and utter shock.

‘What?’ Abby said, her jaw dropping.

‘You were jealous of me, Abby, foryears. I was always the one who got Mum’s attention. Maybe some of that stuff still hangs over you. Don’t try and deny it,’ snapped Ellie, seeing Abby about to open her mouth.

‘I wasn’t,’ said Abby quickly. ‘I...it’s true. Yes, there. You know this. I didn’t like you much when we were younger. But as for now...what are you suggesting?’

‘It’s all gone? All that resentment?’

Abby looked awkward. ‘We have our moments. But I’ve never disliked you enough to want tokillyou, for God’s sake. How on earth did you get that idea anyway?’

Ellie watched her. Said nothing.

‘Please, will you just put the gun down,’ said Abby. ‘It’s making me nervous. Frightening me out of my wits, actually.’

‘Why did you bring it?’

‘Um...I don’t know. Spur of the moment thing. I just saw it there, when I was throwing our stuff together. I was scared. Mum was dead and...I don’t know, I just felt as if I had to be prepared. For anything. Look, if it makes you anxious, me having it in my bag, then you carry it.’

Don’t be fooled, thought Ellie.

Abby kept her expression blank. ‘If you kill me, you don’t get the money.’

Thrown, Ellie’s arms dropped slightly. ‘What money?’

‘In my will. It’s split between you and Matteo.’

‘You what?’

‘But I should imagine that if you murder me, OK, I’ll be dead, but I don’t think the law lets you inherit.’

Jesus!Abby had left half of her two-million-pound fortune to her?Oh my God.On paper, she was potentially a millionaire. This act of generosity floored her. The idea that her sister had thought of her in such a way was mind-boggling. It left her with a warm glow and Ellie unexpectedly felt her eyes fill with tears.

‘If I come towards you, you won’t lift that thing again, will you?’ asked Abby gently.

Ellie looked down to see her arms had fallen to her sides. She shook her head. She couldn’t have used it, even if she wanted to. Suddenly exhausted, the tears started to fall. Abby came over and tentatively embraced her.