The Silent Ones: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller(57)

‘Just say it, Beth.’ Despite the panic I feel inside, my voice comes out totally flat. I’ve nothing left to give.

‘I spoke to the insurance company. I had to pretend to be you otherwise they won’t talk due to data protection. I had to give them all the business details and they were non-committal, said they’d look into it and get back to me.’ She’s babbling, playing for time. ‘I woke up to a voicemail from them. Juliet, I’m so sorry, I can’t—’

‘Just tell me,’ I whisper. ‘Please, Beth. Just say it.’

‘They’re saying the policy has lapsed. It expired two weeks ago and it hasn’t been renewed.’ Beth’s voice catches. ‘You can’t claim a penny for the contents destroyed by the fire and you’ve automatically breached your lock-up rental lease too by letting it lapse.’

‘What? But Chloe said…’ My voice tails off. Chloe gave me her word everything was up to date with the admin. Why did she lie? What is so complicated in her life that she couldn’t make one phone call to renew the insurance?

‘I’m sorry, Jules. I don’t know what to say and… there’s something else.’

I can’t speak. I slide down the wall and clamp the phone to my ear, hugging my bent knees close to me.

‘Jules? Are you there?’

‘Yes,’ I croak.

‘The lifesaver in a situation like this is the regular back-up program you need to run each evening so all your information is on a zip file.’

‘Chloe does that.’ My heart blips with hope. ‘That’s one of her jobs.’

Hesitation on the end of the phone. ‘I’ve checked your back-up files and nothing has been updated in the last five weeks, Juliet.’

I let out a little cry. My hand is shaking so hard I think I might drop the phone.

Beth’s voice is back. ‘Listen to me, Jules. You have to focus on Maddy right now. Josh is fine, so don’t worry about him, and let me know the second you hear anything, OK?’

I hear myself croak again, and then I end the call. I close my eyes and breathe.

It’s not exactly fresh in here. The window is open, and I can smell exhaust fumes from the busy road that runs along the boundary of the property.

The conversation I had with Chloe only yesterday about the admin replays in my mind.

I’m on top of my responsibilities, thanks for asking.

That same stock reply. She’s been distracted, sort of distant for the last couple of months. I’ve sensed something isn’t right, but she has fended off every attempt to get her to open up to me.

I’ve never been able to reach her, not really. There’s always been something invisible there, standing in the way of us enjoying a closer relationship. I’ve always known it, always just accepted that’s the way things are between us.

I guess I’ve always assumed, deep down, that she can’t quite forgive me for Corey.

I hear voices outside in the corridor as the centre begins to crank into life.

I’ve had it with pussy-footing around Chloe. She needs to face up to what she’s done and as my sky has already fallen in, what have I got to lose?



* * *



I take a quick shower and get dressed. I don’t bother washing my hair, just opt for clipping it up into a rough and ready twist and use a face wipe to get rid of yesterday’s mascara.

The thought of applying make-up to my puffy, sleep-deprived face is just ridiculous, and so I don’t.

I text Tom and ask him to come to the centre right away. His reply pings back in seconds.

Already on my way x

I pack my few meagre belongings in my overnight bag and set it down by the bed so I can be ready to go at a moment’s notice if necessary. Then I lie back, close my eyes and try to breathe deeply to settle the churning sensation in my stomach.

Ten minutes later, I open the door and nod to two members of staff who are walking past wearing ID lanyards and serious expressions. I head to the family room, push open the door and step inside. Mum, Dad, Tom and Chloe are sitting in there together, talking.

Why do I feel I’m on the outside looking in… and why didn’t Tom come to my room first?

He looks up.

‘Juliet! I was just about to come and find you.’

I frown. He doesn’t look like he was on his way anywhere.

‘I need to speak to Chloe,’ I say. I’m trying to keep my voice clear and level, but I sound groggy and disorientated.

Chloe touches her chest with her fingertips. ‘Just me?’

I nod, noticing that she’s styled her hair and applied a pale pink lipstick. ‘There’s an empty office next door.’

For a second or two, she actually looks nervous.

‘Do you need me to come too?’ Tom stands up and brushes the creases from his shirt. ‘We’ve just been discussing the implications of the fire.’

I bite down on my back teeth. Why would he talk to Chloe about that instead of me? Who does the business belong to?

I want to stay calm and reasoned, but my head feels heavy and weighed down. It’s a strange feeling, like a slow-build anger is stoking inside me.

‘I’ll have a quick word with you first, Tom,’ I say gruffly, and shuffle out without speaking to my parents, who are sitting there like waxworks.