Blink(38)

‘I’ll leave this house when they carry me out in a box and not a moment before,’ she liked to taunt Harriet.

Harriet sat up straighter and twisted the ornate brass handle in front of her, gently pulling the front flap of the desk down. A dozen tiny compartments and drawers faced out, intricate and pleasing to the eye. The desk reminded her of the human psyche. Deceptively simple on the outside but once you peeled the outer layer away, all manner of complexities were revealed inside.

Harriet remembered only too well how it felt to be a young child experiencing the rawness of tragedy whilst trying to cope with the tumultuous change that often followed it. The only way to get through it was to develop an invisible sheath of armour that would stop you hurting ever again. The trick was to develop it at a young enough age for it to be effective.

She slid open a long, narrow drawer and extracted a key. When her mother took her bath, Harriet would climb to the third floor of the creaking old house and continue her preparations on the room. She would make sure everything was just perfect for when their guest arrived. She’d come to realise it was the only way to placate her mother.

In the meantime, Harriet had an important telephone call to make.





33





Three Years Earlier





DIARY ENTRY

6th September



TIMELINE



Arrival at watch point: 14.30 p.m.



* * *



14.35 p.m.House observed for ten minutes. Zero movement.



* * *



14.45 p.m.Enter back yard.



* * *



14.48 p.m.Enter property.



* * *



14.52 a.m.Commence full sweep of property. Locate required items.



* * *



15.12 p.m.Exit property.



* * *



Departure from watch point: 15.16 p.m.





* * *



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS



Property is in disarray.

No landline/internet connection.

No security alarm or additional locks fitted. No window locks.

Awaiting further instruction.





34





Three Years Earlier





Toni





After Bryony stormed out of the office so dramatically, I had to try and steel myself, pushing the unsettling incident aside so I could get through the rest of the afternoon.

At three o’clock, Dale called me through to his office.

‘I’m sorry you’ve been put in an awkward position today, Toni,’ he said. ‘It won’t happen again.’

‘Has Bryony left? I mean, have you—’ I felt horrified that I might have caused someone to be fired.

‘No, no.’ He smiled. ‘Let’s just say I’ve had words with her and fully explained the ethics that must be adhered to by all staff who are employed by this agency. As you’ve probably noticed by now, Bryony doesn’t take well to being dictated to. She’s damn good at what she does but needs reining in now and then, I’m afraid.’

I nodded but kept quiet.

‘I’m impressed with how you’re throwing yourself into the job.’ Dale smiled. ‘Don’t let this put you off, I want to see you putting all that experience you have under your belt to good use here.’

I smiled my agreement but secretly wondered what Bryony would have to say about that.

‘In your interview, you alluded to the fact you’d had some sort of upheaval in your life. I think you said “circumstances beyond your control”.’ Dale raised his hand. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not fishing. But if ever you need to talk, I’m here. That’s what bosses are for, right?’

I shifted in my seat. ‘Thanks, I appreciate that.’

‘I know you’ve got a young daughter and you’ve just moved into the area, and now, a new job. Sometimes it takes time to settle in but I’m sure your family are supportive.’

It was kind of him to show an interest but I wished he’d just leave it there.

A couple of beats of silence gave me time to breathe.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘New starts can certainly be challenging.’

He looked at me.

I really didn’t want to have this conversation, but he was being so nice and supportive that I didn’t want him to think I was ungrateful. Perhaps it was time to get it over with.

‘My husband died two years ago,’ I said evenly. ‘So it’s just me and my daughter, Evie. And my mum, too, I’m close to her.’

‘God, I had no idea, Toni.’ His face crinkled with pity. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘What can you do but get on with it?’ I said lightly. ‘We’ll survive.’

Our eyes met for a second or two.

‘Well.’ Dale stood up quickly and walked around his desk, laying his hand on my shoulder. I felt the warmth of his fingers radiating through my flimsy blouse and reaching my skin. ‘Don’t forget my offer to talk. Any time.’

‘Thanks, Dale.’ I smiled, inhaling the subtle, musky scent of his aftershave. For a crazy second I had this mad urge to close my eyes and lay my head on his chest. I’d forgotten what it felt like to have someone to lean on, someone to make everything OK. I ached for it.