The Other People: A Novel(60)

She walked into the hall. Through the glass at the top of the door she could see what looked like the fluorescent jacket of a police officer.

Fran. Had they found her?

She pulled the door open.

“All right, Katie?”

It took her a moment. She had only met her sister’s boyfriend a handful of times and, while she was aware of his job, she had never seen him in uniform.

“Steve? What are you doing here?”

“Didn’t get you out of bed, did I?”

He smiled. Katie had the urge to pull her dressing gown a little bit tighter around her body.

“Actually, I was just getting breakfast.”

“Right. Can I come in?”

She hesitated. Gracie and Sam were still ensconced in front of the TV. Alice was upstairs asleep. But if she came down…

“It’s important.”

Reluctantly, she nodded. “Okay.”

She led him into the kitchen, even as something worried at the back of her mind. How did he know her address? She supposed he was a police officer. But there was something else, something niggling.

She closed the kitchen door and turned to face him, forcing a smile. “So, can you tell me what this is about?”

He looked around. “Aren’t you going to offer me a cuppa?”

She fought down her natural instinct to be polite. “I have to get the kids to school. You said it was important.”

His face immediately darkened. She thought about Lou. Her poor choices. How a uniform was no indicator of character.

“It’s about your sister Fran.”

She stiffened. “What do you know about my sister?”

“I know she’s got herself into trouble and she’s going to get you into trouble, too.”

“I haven’t seen my sister in nine years.”

“Where’s the girl, Katie?”

A jolt of fear shot through her. How the hell did he know about Alice? What was this?

“Sorry?”

“If you’re hiding her, you’re obstructing justice.”

She tried to keep her voice steady. “I thought you worked in Traffic, not Missing Persons?”

“I know she’s here. Just fetch the girl and we’ll all be sweet.”

And suddenly she remembered what else was bothering her. Yesterday, Steve had said he had two days off. But here he was, in uniform.

Iceberg. Iceberg.

“Are you even on duty?”

He sighed, held out his hands. “You’re right. This isn’t police business. Call it debt collection. Your sister owes and it’s time to pay.”

“I’d like you to leave, please.”

“Fine.” He smiled. And punched her in the face.

Her nose exploded with an agonizing crack. She tried to scream, but her throat was full of blood. She gurgled and staggered backward. He caught her before she could hit the floor, pushing her against the sink.

“Nothing personal. Just earning a little overtime.”

She forced out the words: “Furr…who?”

“Oh, I think you know.” He whispered the name in her ear, his lips brushing her skin. Terror squeezed her insides.

“Whut…’bout…Lou?”

A sneer. “That fat-slag sister of yours? She was business, not pleasure. Keeping tabs.”

He wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed. She tried to scream, to draw in breath, but her nose was a mushy mess and her throat was half choked. Faintly, from the living room, she could hear the Scooby Doo theme. Oh God, what if the children came in here? What if he hurt them?

She grabbed for his face, scratching at his skin with her nails. He squeezed her throat harder. She kicked and writhed, trying to throw him off, but he was too strong.

He pressed his face into hers. “I’d rather it had been you. If I had more time, we could make this a lot of fun.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a flicker of movement. The door opened. Alice stepped into the kitchen. No, Katie thought. No. Don’t come in here. Get away. Run. Get Sam and Gracie and run.

But Alice didn’t run. She moved forward and swung something over her head. There was a rattling sound, a heavy thud, and the pressure on Katie’s throat was released. She gasped for air. Steve staggered to one side, toppling into the table and chairs.

Before he could recover, Alice raised the rucksack and swung it again. It connected with his skull with a satisfying crunch. This time, he slumped heavily to the floor, out cold.

Christ. Alice had just assaulted a police officer.

A police officer who was trying to kill you.

If she hadn’t have been scared, and in so much pain, Katie would have laughed at the sheer insanity of it. She dragged in a couple more rasping breaths. Alice stood, still clutching the rucksack, as though debating whether to use it again. Katie forced her trembling legs to walk over to her and wrapped an arm around her thin shoulders.

“What have you got in there?” she croaked. “Rocks?”

Alice shook her head. “Pebbles.”

Of course.

“Mum? What’s happened?”

She turned. Sam stood in the kitchen doorway with Gracie. They stared at her in horror. Gracie started to sob.

“Mummy! Your face.”

Katie hurried over and hugged them. “It’s okay, it’s okay.”