The Visitors(47)

‘We are friends. I have myself to think of, too,’ he tried to reason. ‘I need to prove to Brendan that he can trust me to carry out his instructions. He told me you would be safe; that was the main thing.’

‘But it didn’t feel safe.’ Holly scowled. ‘You were scared too.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Markus said again. ‘Still friends?’

‘Suppose so.’ She’d looked around the apartment then, and despite her best efforts to stay annoyed with him, her smile had returned.

She’d slipped off her shoes and danced around the room.

‘Manchester is simply the best!’ she’d sung to the Tina Turner tune. ‘I never in a million years thought I’d live somewhere like this.’

‘Well, like he said, it’s just for a couple of nights,’ Markus had said.

‘Don’t spoil it!’ She’d sighed and sat down on one of the comfy sofas. ‘I’m going to imagine this is home now. I’m not worrying about what happens in a couple of days’ time. Let’s enjoy it!’

‘I’m just saying… let’s not get our hopes up too much that this is how it’ll continue.’

Holly had wafted her hand dismissively at his boring caution. More than anything, she wanted to immerse herself in this dream start to their new life in a big city.

She’d sprung up again and darted into the kitchenette.

‘Small but perfect,’ she’d announced. ‘Just like the rest of it.’

She’d gasped in amazement when she opened the outsize refrigerator and found it was stocked with provisions.

A bottle of white wine, beer and orange juice sat alongside eggs, butter, yoghurts and milk. Likewise, the cupboards held pasta, bread and tinned produce, while further inspection revealed every piece of crockery or kitchen tool you could wish for, squirrelled away behind the immaculate glossy doors and drawer fronts.

Markus had headed across the room, and together they stepped into a narrow hallway with four doors leading off. There were two reasonably sized bedrooms, one with a river view, and a sparkling white fully tiled bathroom with a big glass shower, while the fourth door revealed a storage cupboard containing an ironing board, hoover and other cleaning tools.

‘Neat.’ Markus had grinned, finally seeming to relax a little. ‘I suppose we might keep it, yes? Better than going back to last night’s accommodation, I think.’

Holly had laughed without humour. ‘I’d rather sleep on the street than go back there.’

‘You can have the room with the view,’ Markus had told her.

‘Really? I would love to sleep in there. We can swap after tonight if you like.’

‘It’s fine,’ he’d said. ‘Knock yourself out, Holls.’

Holly had sensed he seemed a little withdrawn.

‘Are you feeling OK? You’re… I don’t know… a little bit quieter than usual.’

‘I’m fine.’ He’d yawned widely. ‘Sorry, I’m just so tired. In fact, I think I’m gonna crash right now and sleep through until morning.’

Holly had stared at him in horror. ‘It’s only six o’clock! I was going to cook us something. I—’

‘I’m really sorry.’ He’d shrugged, suddenly looking exhausted. ‘I just need to sleep.’

When Markus had gone to bed, Holly sat alone in the living room. Even though it was cool outside, she cracked open the French doors slightly and stared mesmerised at the view.

The silence and thinking time allowed her to analyse the unfamiliar feeling in the middle of her chest. She’d had it for the last couple of hours: a sort of lightness, a feeling that everything was going to be fine. It made a change from the usual way she felt: that there was something in the air to fear or dread.





Chapter Thirty-Seven





Holly





The bus journey to work had gone quickly. Holly looked up as the bus pulled into the Victoria Centre bus station.

Sucking in a deep breath, she cleared her mind of swarming thoughts from the past and crossed the busy main road to walk down Huntingdon Street to Kellington’s.

Feeling better for the fresh air, she quickened her step and focused her mind on the day ahead.

She couldn’t stop old memories from surfacing, but neither could she afford to dwell on them all day. Although she couldn’t completely ignore what had happened, the past was the past and she needed to focus all her energy on a better future.

So long as she kept reminding herself of that, she remained confident that she’d move forward in her life.

She turned up the narrow side street that led to the back entrance and the store’s car park. For the first time since she’d worked there, she walked closer to the building and, as she passed, peered directly into the glass kiosk that presided over the car park.

David sat in there chewing the end of a ballpoint pen. His head bowed, he seemed thoroughly absorbed in studying the handwritten list on a clipboard in front of him. On his desk was a very neat row of coloured pens, a stapler and a telephone. Apart from the clipboard and a book, that was all.

She tapped on the glass and called out brightly, ‘Morning, David.’

He jumped up, almost falling over his chair in the process.