Page 77 of Sisters

‘Abby?’ said Ellie in alarm. The car was veering uncontrollably. ‘Pull over.’

To Ellie’s relief, Abby steered the car back to the right side of the road and slowed until they’d stopped. Tears were still pouring down her face and she was trying to wipe them away but it was as if a dam had broken.

At a loss, Ellie picked up her handbag, rummaged inside. ‘Here,’ she said, pulling out a tissue and handing it to her sister. ‘It’s scented. Rose and sandalwood,’ Ellie said apologetically, expecting another reprimand about frivolous spending, but Abby just blew her nose.

‘Are you OK?’ asked Ellie, once Abby had quietened.

‘Last year,’ said Abby, ‘when I was mugged, in Florence...it was the most terrifying thing that had ever happened to me. Not because he stole my bag or my phone, or even because I got stabbed. The worst thing was that they stole who I was. Brave, independent Abby.’ She turned to look at Ellie, her voice breaking. ‘I did nothing when they attacked me. Just lay there. I was too pathetic to even shout out.’

‘I’m sure you didn’t—’

‘It has stayed with me ever since. I knew that if anyone decided they wanted something from me, I wouldn’t be able to defend myself. I was a free target.Come and get it. She won’t fight back. Take what you want.’ Abby wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘Until tonight.’

Ellie was quiet. Then she squeezed her sister’s arm. They sat there for a while in a pensive silence, looking out at the dark road while the moths flitted in the car headlights.

‘Is that why you brought the gun?’ asked Ellie. ‘Because of what happened to you in Florence?’

‘Yeah...I think so. It was instinct, you know? I just picked it up out of the safe.’

Ellie nodded. ‘And there was me thinking you’d brought it to do away with me,’ she said lightly. She looked across at her sister. ‘I wish you’d told me before. About the mugging. How it affected you.’

Abby shrugged.

‘Did you tell Mum?’

‘Course not,’ said Abby. ‘I just told her the bare minimum. Played it down.’

‘But why? She’s your mother.’

Abby turned patiently to Ellie. ‘She and I didn’t have that kind of relationship. Not like you.’

‘But...something big like that...’

‘No, Ellie. We didn’t talk.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Ellie. ‘It must have been lonely.’ She thought of all the times she’d called up her mother to whinge, offload or just have a friendly ear. ‘She was a good listener.’

‘I could see that. You two were always close.’

‘I’d tell her everything. I’d call just to moan about the fact someone had queue-jumped me in the supermarket.’

‘Seriously? God, I feel sorry for her now. Was there anything you didn’t share with her?’

There was one thing, thought Ellie. Something she hadn’t told anyone. Something she guarded with every fibre of her being.

She looked over at her sister, saw her sniff. ‘Want another tissue?’ she asked. ‘I’ve got lavender and chamomile as well.’

Abby let out a small laugh. ‘Sure. Why not?’ She blew her nose again, loudly. ‘Right. Are you ready?’

Ellie nodded. As Abby continued along the road, Ellie had a sudden realization. That was probably the first time Abby had confided in her. Ever.

Then a second thunderbolt hit her. If her sister was supposed to want to harm her, why had she just saved her life?

FIFTY-NINE

Matteo listened to his wife’s phone go straight to voicemail for the second time that night.

‘Call again,’ said Baroni.