BACKWOODS RIPPER: a gripping action suspense thriller (21 page)

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Part of her felt ugly and exposed, but also relieved. He
knew
. He wasn’t turning away from her in disgust. Why had she ever thought he would?

“You didn’t want to talk about what happened at Mable House. And I … I’m not as strong as you.” He paused and deep creases gathered on his forehead. “You did what I couldn’t. You saved me. You saved
us
. You did nothing wrong.”

“I wish I could believe that, Hal. But I could have driven around her. She couldn’t have stopped me. I killed her because I wanted to.” The words were out and with them came a rush of relief. She felt as though she’d been underwater holding her breath, and after months of struggling to find the surface, she broke free. “I wanted her dead for what she did to you. I knew … knew the baby was dead. I tried to pretend I didn’t, but … I could feel it.” A gasp that came from deep in her chest burst out.

She pulled her hand free from Hal’s grip and wrapped her arms around herself. “I knew. She killed our baby. She butchered you.” Tears ran down her cheeks and her voice trembled and cracked with each word. “Oh God, Hal, I enjoyed killing her.” She swiped her arm across her face, smearing tears on the sleeve of her cardigan.

Hal stood awkwardly, leaning on the table. He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her up into his arms. “Paige, you need to listen to me and really hear what I’m saying.” His voice was steady and unwavering. He pushed her back and held her away from him. “Please?”

The gravity in his tone broke through the tidal wave of guilt. She managed to gather herself enough to nod.

“Okay. Now sit. I’m going to get us something stronger to drink.”

Paige did as he instructed and watched her husband clomp around the kitchen. He took two glasses out of the cupboard above the sink, then a bottle of whisky from the top shelf of the pantry. He poured a couple of fingers of the amber liquid into each glass, before bringing the drinks to the table one at a time. Paige didn’t get up or offer any help. It had become their unspoken agreement, she only helped him when he asked.

She took a sip of the whiskey and grimaced. “Urgh. This stuff’s awful.”

A smile drifted across his face and then disappeared. “That place, Mable House. There was something very wrong about it.” He took a swig of his drink. “I could feel it working on me. I wanted to kill her, and not just to make her stop, but because I knew I’d enjoy it.”

Paige took another sip of her drink, this time the burning sensation in her throat felt good. It made it easier to listen to the words coming from Hal’s mouth.

“I don’t know if whatever it was came from her.” He paused and took another sip. “Maybe it was already there before she was born. Maybe it came from all the suffering of those soldiers and the young women that had their babies taken away.” He shrugged. “I don’t know, but there
was
something. It kept working on me. I could feel it.” His eyes were burning into her. “Am I crazy?”

Paige shook her head. She’d felt it too. That day in Lizzy’s bedroom, when she was searching for the keys and found the gun. She’d felt it. Something black and vicious lurking in those rooms. A force that fed off the misery and fear in that building. Urging her on.

“You’re not crazy. I felt it too, I don’t know how to explain it.” Her eyes widened. “I gave in to it.” She tipped her glass and drained the last few drops. “What does that make me?”

“It makes you a good person pushed to the limit. You did what you had to, to protect your family. Because we were touched by evil, doesn’t make us evil.”

“I want to believe that, Hal. I really do, but …”

“Let me show you something.” He put his glass down and picked up the stack of mail he’d brought in that day.
Or was it yesterday?
Paige noticed the weak streak of light behind him, just outside the window, and realised it was nearly morning.

“I think you should look at this,” he said, holding up an envelope. “I was going to show it to you last night, but you seemed so far away at dinner.” His voice trailed off and he held the letter out.

It was addressed to both of them, hand written.
Hand written envelopes are so rare nowadays
, Paige thought absently and took it from him. She ran her finger along the top edge, torn where Hal had opened it. Curious, she slid out a hand written letter and a drawing. The drawing took her by surprise. She drew in a quick breath and looked up at Hal. He nodded for her to read the letter.

Dear Mr and Mrs. Loche,

My name is Susanne, I’m a care assistant at Grange Gardens. I hope you don’t mind me contacting you, but Soona wanted me to send you this drawing.

When she first came to us, she was almost non-verbal but now she’s a bit of a chatter-box. As you can see by the drawing, she’s learning to write and is coming on in leaps and bounds.

Yours were the only contact details in her file and she often talks about Paige. She calls you “my Paige.” Anyway, enjoy the drawing and if you would like to write to Soona, I know she’d be delighted to receive a letter.

Thanks

Susanne Vernette

Paige wiped a tear from under her eye and put the letter on the table. She picked up the drawing. A stick figure in blue overalls holding hands with another stick figure in a grey dress. They both held flowers in their free hands. The figure in the grey dress had yellow hair jutting straight up and big blue circles for eyes. Above them sat an orange sun and what looked like a flying chicken. At the bottom of the page in large childish writing sat three words:
Soona and Paige
. The S was back to front and the e on the end of Paige drooped down at a drunken angle.

She touched her finger to the waxy figures in the drawing and couldn’t help smiling.

“You got her out of there. You didn’t give in to evil, you protected innocence against it. I heard you. You told Soona to
close
her eyes. You were still trying to keep her from seeing the ugly stuff.” He leaned forward. “And you did. You have to hang on to that.”

“I will.” She put the drawing on the table and took his face in her hands. “I’ll hang on.” She kissed him and then they went outside and watched the weak streaks of light turn into a glorious sunrise. There were still dark days ahead, but maybe there was light too. All she had to do was find it.

THE END

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