Silent Victim(83)

Luke nodded and left to place the note in my bedroom. On his return he sneered in my direction, his enjoyment at my predicament plain to see.

‘C’mon, we’re running out of time,’ Theresa said, disappearing briefly to the kitchen before returning with the extinguisher. Luke watched her warily, his expression revealing pleasurable surprise that my sister would betray me in this way.

‘Please,’ I cried, my throat raw from screaming. ‘I’m sorry. Please let me go. I won’t say a word . . .’ I coughed, the smell of petrol cutting my words short.

Luke gave me one last ghoulish smile before standing at the door, still holding the lighter. He flicked the wheel and it burst into life, the small flame signalling what was to come. Throwing the lighter to the floor, he turned his back on me as flames sprung to life in the room. I could not believe they had both left me here alone. Within seconds, the room was alight. My home was like a matchbox, providing kindling for the fire. I prayed for Alex to reach me in time. Wouldn’t someone see the flames? But by that time, it would surely be too late for me. My consciousness fought two battles, trying to understand my sister’s betrayal while coming to terms with the fact that I was going to die. Tears streaked down my cheeks as flames licked the walls of the living room, spreading towards the furnishings until the circle was complete. I felt like an object up for sacrifice and lowered my head into my shoulder as I tried not to breathe in the acrid smoke. If I could just get away. My heart beat double time, the bindings tearing the skin on my wrists and ankles as I fought. But the fumes made my vision blur, and within seconds the room began to spin. I closed my eyes as searing heat engulfed me, only to be tugged awake as something pulled at my wrists. My eyes snapped open, the sudden movement making me cough. It was Theresa. After releasing the contents of the fire extinguisher, she was undoing my ropes. Was she trying to make it look as if I had taken my own life? Surely, anyone finding me would know my hands had been tied? I should have pretended I was unconscious, got away when her back was turned, but my lungs burned in my chest, forcing me to splutter as I heaved for air.

‘He’s gone,’ she said, frantically undoing the knots that bound me. ‘Sorry. It was the only way I could think to get rid of him. The police wouldn’t have got here on time. Stay with me, please. I can’t lose you too.’

Overwhelming relief washed over me as I realised she had been pretending to play along. If she had screamed at Alex to call the police then Luke would have killed her too. With the tide in, they would never have reached us in time. Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes as I struggled to speak. ‘Come on,’ she growled, tugging at the bindings.

‘Just get me out,’ I croaked, the crackle and hiss of the wooden floors almost deafening. The contents of our tiny fire extinguisher had only served to dampen the flames, not put them out. We’d have to move fast if we were to get out alive.

‘Go!’ she said, picking up the fire extinguisher and turning it back on. But the tiny expulsion of foam was not enough to fight the fiery war from within. I watched horrified as pictures peeled and curled from the walls, as everything I knew became blackened and disintegrated. My legs like jelly, I pulled the neck of my sweatshirt over my mouth, masking the fumes as the furniture took hold. A slice of fear rose up as I saw Luke, his features contorted with anger, stumbling into the living room in front of us.

‘Fucking bitches!’ he roared, shielding his head with his forearms as he ran through the flames to get to us.

Disbelief scored my brain. He was unstoppable. Just when I thought I was safe, he was back. Drawing back his fist, he punched me hard in the stomach, making me drop to my knees in pain. The circle of flames was growing stronger now, burning my flesh, the fumes invading my lungs. I was wasting precious seconds. I needed to get outside, to claw back some air. Black circles spotted my vision. I was too weak to fight any more.





CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

ALEX





2017


After waiting what felt like a lifetime, I put my car into gear. Water still flooded the road, but as long as I drove steadily, I was confident I could get through. I held my breath as the sea splashed against my windows, the reflection of the moon appearing in hazy zig-zags before me. Having found purchase on the road and come out the other side, I put my foot down on the accelerator, aware that my drenched brakes could fail, but all I could think about was Emma and the need to get to her as quickly as I could. My heart sank in my chest. There was no sign of Theresa anywhere on the road. I raced through the traffic, aware of a blue flashing light in my rear-view mirror. I didn’t care if they came up behind me, I was not stopping until I got to my wife. Thoughts spread through my mind like wildfire, my brain trying to work things out.

I pulled on the steering wheel as I negotiated a bend, sending stones flying from the ditch and rattling against the paintwork of my car. In the distance, the flashing lights were advancing as I sped down the twisty lane. That was good, wasn’t it? But what if it were not me they were after? What if something had happened to Emma?

As I turned the corner, my worst nightmare became reality. The sky was flamed with red, and the sight stole the breath from my lungs. It was only then that I realised it was not the police gaining in the distance, but a fire engine – on its way to our home. But where was Emma? ‘Please God, don’t be inside,’ I whispered, my words laced with dread. Pulling up my handbrake, I skidded on to our drive. Flames leaped from the top of the building, the heat beating me back. I focused my gaze on a man running in through the open front door. Was that Luke? What was he doing here? Stumbling over my own feet, I ran to the house, but the whole of the entrance was engulfed in flames. ‘Emma!’ I called, praying for a sight of her, but whoever had run inside was making no sign of coming back out. I scrambled around to the side of the house, trying to find a way in, but the searing heat beat me back every time. My heart hammered against my ribcage. I could not lose her, not now. I was getting her out – even if it killed me.