‘They’re not here. I thought they were with you.’
Ben was peeved that they hadn’t returned. ‘Is Milly okay?’ Ben glanced at his daughter.
‘Yes. She’s scared though. What would you expect.’ Laura made a statement rather than a question.
‘We need to go now. He’s on his way. He has a gun, and he’ll use it.’
‘Oh Christ, Ben. Go where exactly?’
He hesitated, then said firmly, ‘I say we walk along the road, keep concealed. We can’t go to the barn. He’s holed up at one of the cottages across the fields further back. There’s no one else there. I think they’re holiday homes.’
‘Wow. Can you imagine living next to him for the summer?’
Ben smiled. ‘Not an ideal break, to be fair.’
Ben moved along the coach, checking one last time to make sure everyone was alive. Milly was talking to people, reassuring them. Ben was so proud of her.
‘How are you holding up, baby?’ he called.
She smiled, then broke down. Ben went to her and rested his hands on her shoulders. He pulled her close and let his daughter cry into his chest. After a minute, she lifted her head. Her brown eyes were filled with tears and she wiped a finger under them. She laughed to relieve the stress of the night’s events. ‘I knew I should have stayed at home with Zac.’
‘What? And miss out on all this pre-holiday fun?’ Ben said sarcastically.
He returned to the front of the coach. He took a deep breath, needing to deliver the sense of urgency. ‘Okay, listen. Can I have everyone’s attention?’
The place instantly fell silent.
‘We need to leave the coach now,’ Ben announced. He imagined everyone clapping like when a plane lands safely at a holiday destination somewhere hot, and a voice coming over the public address system: We’d like to thank you for travelling with us today. I understand you may have been a little unsettled with the situation earlier, but hey, it was an adventure, wasn’t it? Please take all your luggage with you and have a safe, onward journey. The weather looks great, but he may still be out there. I’m calling from the back of a limo. You’re on your own now.
Edward was the first to speak. ‘Not before time. We’ll make our own way. Mary and me. Oh, and Abigail.’
Mary quietly questioned her husband. Her expression was one of embarrassment. Ben would never have put them together if he met them at a party. The difference in personalities was inconceivable. ‘What about Nigel? I need to see my son,’ Mary called out.
The doors of the coach opened and everyone looked towards the front. Someone was climbing the steps. Ben was searching for a weapon to use in defence.
‘Are we ready or what?’ Lydia’s voice was weak.
Ben felt the tension release. ‘Yes. How’s Jack doing?’
‘He can’t walk. His leg is bleeding and he needs medical attention.’
‘I need everyone off the coach. Now,’ Ben shouted. People started to leave their seats. Milly and Laura stood helping everyone off the coach. Milly held Mary’s arm and guided her down the steps, then reached for Edward.
‘I’m quite capable of walking myself thank you, missy,’ Edward snarled.
Milly looked towards her father with a cynical eye-roll. Edward was a problem.
Once everyone was off the coach and on the path, Ben did a quick headcount of the startled faces as he walked quickly down the line.
He passed Edward, Mary, Abigail, Lydia, Jack and Stephen. Then he glanced towards his wife and daughter.
‘Okay, that’s all of us – nine in total. Let’s keep it that way. As you know, there’s a guy with an array of guns and ammunition. He’s out to kill us. I’m not going to deny the situation is serious, or make light of what could happen. If we stay on the coach, we’ll be dead within minutes. That’s the immensity of what we are all dealing with here. As you know, he’s still holding Gareth, possibly in the basement of the cottage.’
‘What about my son?’ Mary asked. ‘I’m not leaving without him.’
Ben hesitated. He couldn’t tell her what had happened. Not here. ‘I’m sorry, Mary. We need to hide. That’s the only way we’re going to survive. Please understand. He’s going to kill us.’
Mary broke down, she turned towards Edward and sobbed into his jacket. ‘What’s happened to my boy?’
Edward placed his hands around the back of his wife’s neck, then looked at Ben. He wanted to tell her what had happened to their son. He didn’t have the heart to do it at the moment.
After a minute, Mary pulled her head away from Edward’s jacket. Her eyes were red, mascara had smudged onto her cheeks, and she sniffed hard. ‘He won’t be able to cope. I know my boy. He’s such a delicate person. He’s gone through so much. Please, let me go to him. I don’t care what happens to me. He’s still so young. He has his life to live. I don’t care what happens to me.’
Ben swung his head to the left. He was the first to see it. ‘I don’t want to alarm you all, but we need to get out of here.’
‘Let’s just get our bearings. We need to work out where we’re going,’ Edward insisted. He turned to Mary. ‘Take deep breaths, love. In and out. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.’
‘Er, we need to go now,’ Ben said again, putting his point with significant authority. He pointed across the fields. Everyone turned in the direction Ben was pointing.
A light was moving quickly towards them, swaying left and right.
‘Does anyone have a phone on them?’ Ben asked. He already knew the answer, but needed to ask.
‘No. He took everyone’s phone when he put us on the coach. Placed them in a bag. That was one of his first moves when he left us overnight. He tied us and blindfolded everyone,’ Jack said.
Ben turned to his family. ‘Milly. Laura?’
They shook their heads.
‘I left my phone in the car. So did Mum.’
‘Shit. The phone he called me on is in the barn.’ Ben was silent for a second. ‘I can make it.’
‘No, Dad. He’s coming for us. You said we need to stay together. You’re not risking your life by going back.’
‘She’s right, Ben. We’ll move along the path, out to the road. Surely we’ll find someone to help us,’ Laura said.
‘Fine. That sounds like the best thing to do. Okay, everyone, it won’t be long until he gets here. Let’s go.’ Ben led the way, shining the torch along the path and keeping his arm as low as possible so’s not to be seen. The others followed in a train; everyone keeping close to one another.
As they left the coach and headed along the road, Ben glanced back, seeing the light.
It was getting closer.
29
The Caller
Henry had grabbed Abigail at the front door of her house. He’d had so much planned for her. He’d wanted to tie her in the basement and let her rot. Starve her to death and watch as the insects fed on her.
He was enraged by the story of her adultery. He despised people who couldn’t commit to one person. Even in death, he couldn’t let go of his wife, Evelyn.