Page 52

BEFORE

July 1981

Sally

Hereford Gardens, Harrow, London

Two large suitcases and Zach’s pram and crib sat by the front door. Sally had booked a taxi, and it was due in thirty minutes shortly after Ian was due home.

Every noise outside made her jump, the sounds amplified, along with Sally’s nerves. Zach slept silently on the couch beside her, propped up by several cushions. Finally, she heard the roar of the car pull into their driveway, then the bang of a door and the turn of the key.

‘What the . . .’ Ian called out as he entered the hall and spotted the luggage.

Sally stood up, clenching her fists tightly by her side until her nails pierced the soft round of her palm. Her husband appeared at the door of the sitting room, his face masked and unreadable.

‘Going somewhere?’ he asked, almost pleasantly.

‘Yes,’ Sally replied in a voice stronger than she felt. ‘I’m leaving you, Ian.’

She lifted her chin and forced herself to look him square in his eyes. Sally would not cower, not today.

He nodded his head as he mulled over these words, then once again, in that agreeable tone, replied, ‘Okay.’

Sally’s knees almost buckled. She’d not expected him to capitulate so quickly. ‘I’m going to Nicola’s and will stay there until I find somewhere more suitable.’

‘Fine,’ Ian said, then he walked over to the couch and picked up Zach, holding the baby close to his chest. ‘But he stays.’

Sally’s eyes widened, and she felt a trickle of sweat move down the small part of her back. ‘No, Ian. Zach comes with me. You said yourself earlier that a baby needs his mother.’

Ian tenderly kissed his son’s head as he replied, ‘A decent mother, yes. But not the daughter of a prostitute.’ He tutted several times, all the while smiling at Sally.

‘Give me, Zach,’ Sally said, moving closer to her son. ‘If you think I’d ever leave him in your care. You could have killed him last night . . .’

Ian sat down, still cradling Zach, and then the smile disappeared. ‘It was a shocking night. When I found you shaking our baby so cruelly, throwing him forcibly into his crib, I was horrified. So much so, that I confided in my colleague today. And Dan was so shocked he insisted I call my solicitor. Which I did. She, like me, is worried about Zach’s safety.’

Sally was speechless, and fresh terror began to surge through her. ‘You can’t . . . you . . . you . . . you can’t do this.’

‘Oh, I can, and I will. You leave today, but you will never see your son again. I will get full custody. I have the weight of the law behind me. And what do you have? Let’s see. Your mother was a prostitute, your father is unknown – let’s face it: he could be anyone – you were brought up in an orphanage, where you befriended known criminals.’

‘You won’t get away with this,’ Sally spluttered. ‘It’s you who is the criminal.’ She took a deep breath then threw her own grenade. ‘I know you’re on the take.’

Ian smiled coldly again. ‘So Elsie did tell you that. I wondered if she had. Lies of course.’ Then he winked. ‘Oh, and I will get away with this. I have already. And you know it. So, unless you want to walk away from your son, I suggest you unpack those cases, then pretty yourself up and be ready for our dinner dance. I expect a happy wife on my arm, so no tears or tantrums.’

Sally felt rage rise, and she stepped closer to Ian. ‘If you think I’m going to go anywhere with you and pretend we’re a happy couple, then you have another thing coming.’

Ian’s smile dropped. ‘That’s your problem right there. You can’t pretend. I’ve seen how you look at me. I knew it was only a matter of time before you tried to run, so I’ve always been two steps ahead of you. Never underestimate me, Sally. That will be at your peril, I promise you.’

The doorbell rang, shrill, cutting the air between them.

Ian raised an eyebrow. ‘Expecting someone?’

Sally looked out of the front window and saw a black cab parked behind Ian’s car. Her mind raced as she tried to work out what to do.

Wrestle her baby from Ian’s arms? No, that might hurt Zach. Ask the taxi driver to help her. But to what end? Ian had blackened her name. He was ready for her.

Ian walked to the front door, still holding Zach, then opened it with a big smile, saying to the driver, ‘Hello, mate. I’ll let the missus know you’re here.’ He turned to Sally. ‘Darling, it’s for you.’

Sally walked to her husband’s side, pulled a one-pound note from her jeans pocket, and handed it to the driver. ‘I’m sorry to have bothered you, but I don’t need a taxi after all,’ she said.

‘That’s a good girl,’ Ian said smugly when she closed the front door.

‘I need to call Nicola,’ Sally said.

‘Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it,’ Ian said, finally handing Zach over to Sally.

Then he opened the small black address and phone book on the hall table, looking for Nicola’s number. He dialled the salon. Nicola answered within two rings as if she had been waiting by the phone for it to call.

‘Hello, Nicola, it’s Ian here. Sally won’t be joining you. We had a silly row, but it’s all okay again now. And she feels embarrassed to have worried you.’ Silence as Nicola responded. ‘No. She can’t talk right now. She’s with the baby.’ Silence again. ‘I’ll let her know. Goodbye.’

He hung up and then reached over to gently cup Sally’s chin in a way that used to make her shiver with pleasure, but now filled her with dread. ‘Let that be the end of that nonsense.’

As he walked away, whistling like he had no care in the world, Sally felt anger replace her fear. Ian might have won this battle, but he wouldn’t win the war.

Sally leaned in close and whispered into Zach’s ear, ‘Don’t worry, baby boy. I’ll find a way to get us out of here. I promise.’