Page 100 of The Lucky Winners

She stiffens. ‘What truth?’

‘Don’t play stupid. You know exactly what I mean.David.’ He watches, fascinated, as her throat visibly pulses.

She says, ‘When you fostered us, you were knowingly throwing us to the lion. You both stood and watched while he groomed me.’

For the first time, he feels his confidence wobble. ‘No! It wasn’t like that. We didn’t know they were going to let him out early … he only served half his sentence. We tried to protect you and Beth when we heard he was coming home, but it was very … It was difficult.’

Her eyes flash. ‘You lied to the police on so many occasions. Let him continue his abuse of young girls.’

He doesn’t want to hear this. It isn’t supposed to be happening. Time to take back control of his plan.

‘I want to hear you say it. The truth about what happened to David, how he died.’

‘I told you. He just slipped and –’

‘Liar!’ His voice cracks through the air like a whip, his body suddenly rigid, trembling with the force of his fury.

She flinches and staggers back, her hand gripping the edge of the table behind her.

He shakes his head, his jaw locked tight. ‘He wouldn’t havejust slipped. That’s not who he was. He was strong, steady. He wouldn’t have fallen unless someone pushed him. I need to know, Janey. I promised Maureen on her deathbed I would make you say the words. The truth. And now, after I’ve enlightened you, you owe me that.’

Her voice is hoarse when she speaks. ‘I told you what happened. He pushed Beth. He – he wasn’t thinking, he –’

‘No.’ He steps forward so quickly that she gasps, pressing herself back against the table. His breath is ragged now, his fingers twitching at his sides. ‘I don’t believe you,’ he says, voice lower now, a dangerous tremor beneath the words. ‘Youtookhim from his mother. You let him drown and, in doing so, you killed my Maureen, too.’

Her lips part, but whatever she’s about to say is swallowed by a sudden, violent crash from the hallway.

Their heads whip around towards the door.

Heavy, staggering footsteps thunder down the hall, and then Dev bursts into the room.

‘Dev!’ she shouts, joyous at seeing he’s alive. But not for long. His face is swollen, one eye barely open, blood trickling from his temple. He stumbles, but his gaze locks on to Webb with unwavering fury.

‘Get away from her.’

Webb exhales sharply, his fury curling into something colder, sharper.

‘Dev,’ Janey gasps, starting towards him, but Webb moves first.

His hand tightens around the hammer. Then he charges.

‘Dev, RUN!’ she screams.

Dev barely dodges the first swing, the claw of the hammer slicing through the air with a sharpwhooshwhere his head had been a second before. He stumbles back, panting, fists raised, but Webb is relentless.

The second swing catches Dev across the ribs. There’s a sickeningcrackand Dev cries out. He crumples, gasping. One hand clutching his side.

Webb stands over him, his breath heaving, the hammer still raised.

Janey cries, ‘Please, don’t hurt him!’

Webb exhales, rolling his shoulders. He tilts his head towards her, smiling almost lazily. ‘This isn’t what I planned, but …’ he steps towards her, lifting the hammer ‘… I suppose it will have to do.’

She scrambles back, eyes darting towards the door, but Webb moves too quickly. ‘Don’t!’ she gasps, raising her hands as if she can stop him.

His grip tightens and he lifts the hammer higher –

And then he sees it, a tall, broad shape looming at the door.