Cold as Ice (Willis/Carter #2)(105)

‘Someone’s been fully living here.’

Carter shone his torch down towards the far end and it was there he saw eyes glinting back at him. A stuffed fox looked poised to strike. The place was a jumble of belongings.

‘We need to search the place thoroughly. We’ll split up. You start on the left of the door. I’ll start on the right.’





Chapter 47


Tracy thought it would be Jeanie at the door when someone rang the bell. Jeanie had promised to come back and check on her and Jackson before she went home to her own house for the night. Tracy had put Jackson to bed early – he was so tired. She was just about to settle down for the evening. She called at the door to ask who was there before she opened it.

‘Steve.’

‘Steve?’

‘Yes – your husband. It’s my house, remember? I’ve already been quizzed by the police outside; now let me in.’

She opened the door straightaway.

‘Sorry. Just a bit jumpy. I didn’t think you wanted to come home?’

She looked at him and looked back towards the inside of the house and Jackson’s room. Something was making her nervous. She didn’t know if it was the amount of booze she smelt on his breath.

‘You all right, love?’

‘Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?’ He strode into the lounge and sat in his favourite chair. He turned to glare at her, his eyes red-rimmed. ‘I’m starving. Have you got anything here to eat?’

‘Of course. I’ll make you something.’

Steve picked up the remote control and turned the television on loud. Tracy looked towards Jackson’s room. She wanted to tell Steve to turn the volume down. But she didn’t.

Tracy walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on. She looked at Steve. There had been times when she’d learnt about what he’d done that made her wonder if she’d ever really known him. Now was one of those times.

Tracy made him a sandwich and a cup of tea and stood in the lounge doorway with the tray in her hands. She looked to the chair; he was gone. She looked to Jackson’s room and saw the door was open.

She quickly put the tray down, opened the bedroom door and saw Steve sitting on Jackson’s bed. Jackson was sleeping soundly.

‘What are you doing, Steve?’ Tracy’s heart started racing.

Steve turned to look at her. His eyes were shining in the dark.

‘Poor little fella. He’s had a tough time of it, hasn’t he?’ He looked from Jackson to her.

‘Yes.’ Tracy stepped forward. ‘Leave him alone now, Steve. Don’t touch him. He needs his sleep. He’s just a baby.’ Her voice was beginning to rise in pitch.

Steve didn’t move. He reached out and stroked Jackson’s head. Jackson’s face twitched in his sleep and he turned over.

‘I want you to leave him alone.’ Tracy was surprised at the tone of her own voice. It was deep now – steady, calm. ‘Get out now, Steve.’

Steve turned and looked at her as if he didn’t recognize who was speaking.

‘Tracy? What do you think? Do you honestly believe I would harm him?’

‘I don’t know you any more. You’ve been lying to me for months, maybe years. You could be capable of anything because I don’t know who you are. I went in to your work and talked to Betty.’ Tracy felt her anger rise even though she was trying very hard to keep control of it. ‘I got the whole story how they would have liked to sack you but they couldn’t, even though you were screwing the boss’s wife, letching after college students.’

He shook his head. He was still sitting on the bed. Jackson was beginning to wake up. ‘I wasn’t, Tracy . . . I admit I kept things from you but we’d been through such a lot and you’ve been so strong through it all but I know there’s only so much you can take. It’s all lies, especially about the boss’s wife. I’ve been waiting to see what they’d do about reinstating me. I will take them to a tribunal otherwise. I swear to you, Tracy, that I would not be unfaithful to you.’

Tracy started to back out of the room. ‘Leave Jackson alone then. He doesn’t know you; he’ll be frightened if he wakes up and finds you sitting on his bed.’

‘Why would he be? I’ve met him before.’ Tracy stared at him as she shook her head.

‘Danielle came around here looking for you when you were at work. I saw him then.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘We had enough things on our plate.’ She shook her head. Tracy wasn’t ready to believe what Steve was saying. ‘I admit it, Tracy; I’ve been depressed. Every day for six months I’ve been sitting in the warehouse, waiting for you to leave for work so that I could come home. I’ve been hoping that things would work out on their own. The last thing I thought we needed was this.’ He looked at Jackson. ‘But maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.’ Jackson opened his sleepy eyes and looked at Steve and then at Tracy, who smiled and nodded her reassurance. Jackson looked back at Steve and gave him a big smile.

Jeanie and Carter walked back in to see Robbo behind his desk.

‘It was just bits of furniture and a collection of all kinds of junk,’ said Jeanie, taking off her coat. ‘Memories – it looks like his whole life is in there. He must have been living there in fear of really telling Tracy what the matter was.’