Dark Spaces (39 page)

She ploughed on, reading and searching.

When she reached the end, she froze. The last document hit her in the solar plexus. She looked up into the night, snowflakes landing on her face. When she looked back down, nothing had changed. What she thought she’d read was true. In 2010, Phoebe Talbot changed her name to Chloe Church. The magistrate who consented confirmed his ‘sincere hope that this will allow Miss Talbot to put away her past and concentrate on her future’.

The documents weren’t Lydia’s, they were Chloe’s. Her friend had probably agreed to keep them safe for her.

Harry must have known all this. If he’d been involved in Gigi’s application for contact, was it possible that he didn’t know Phoebe had later changed her name? Was it possible he didn’t know who Chloe was? And if he did know, why had he denied any knowledge of how she came to be in the Grove? Why had he said no one had ever tried to get in touch with Chloe?

Lilly shook her head. She needed to sort out Gem then she would find Harry and ask him. No doubt he’d be able to explain everything. She stumbled inside to find the nurse alone.

‘Where’s Gem?’ Lilly asked.

‘I took her to her room,’ said the nurse. ‘It’s a few doors down from Chloe. Can you find it? We’re short-staffed tonight what with the weather.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Lilly mumbled.

After a couple of false turns, Lilly saw the picture of the dandelion clocks and knew she was on track. She peeped through the glass of the nearest door and saw Gem asleep on her bed. Smiling, she pushed it open as quietly as she could, intending to tuck her client in. A good night’s rest would hopefully stave off some of Gem’s fears.

She neared the bed and reached for a blanket, but didn’t put it over Gem. Something didn’t seem right. The girl’s skin seemed deathly pale and her breathing too shallow.

‘Gem,’ she whispered, but the girl didn’t stir. ‘Gem.’ She rubbed her client’s cheek. It felt slack.

She wasn’t asleep. She was unconscious.

Lilly turned in panic. She had to get help. How long would it take her to run to reception? Too long.

When she saw a figure outside, Lilly’s heart leapt in relief and she flew to the door, throwing it open. The figure was Harry. Thank God.

‘Harry,’ she called.

He was outside Chloe’s room now and turned to Lilly’s voice.

‘Come quickly.’ Lilly ran towards him. ‘There’s something wrong with this patient. I think she’s unconscious.’

‘Oh my God,’ he said. ‘What’s happened?’

‘I don’t know, she …’ Lilly didn’t finish her sentence. ‘What’s that?’ She pointed at the syringe in Harry’s hand.

‘This?’ He held it needle up, a drop of liquid swelling from the sharp point. ‘Anti-anxiety meds.’

Lilly couldn’t swallow. Couldn’t breathe.

‘I’m having to do the rounds,’ said Harry. ‘With John gone.’

That made sense. Didn’t it?

‘Did you give some to Gem?’ Lilly asked.

Harry smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Lilly, it’s completely harmless.’

‘How do you know that’s what she needs?’ Lilly asked. ‘You can’t have assessed her yet.’

‘The doctor from the police station called me,’ said Harry. ‘He gave me his diagnosis.’

Lilly exhaled. It was true the FME had said Gem was suffering with exhaustion and stress. Lilly was overreacting, being paranoid.

‘God, Harry, I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘Everything’s getting out of control what with Jack calling about the DNA testing.’

‘Oh yes?’

‘Turns out there’s no match for Foley or Staines.’

‘I see.’

‘Someone else must have got the code,’ said Lilly. ‘Someone not on your list. I’m going to suggest to Jack that he tests everyone who works here.’

‘Will he agree to that?’

Lilly see-sawed her hand. ‘He’s not going to be over the moon about it but I think I can persuade him, though you’ll have to go first just to exclude yourself.’

Harry’s smile didn’t slip and that’s when Lilly knew. This man she’d embraced. This man she’d kissed. This man she’d wanted to have passionate sex with … was Chloe’s rapist.

The thought ran through her like a tidal wave and she bent from the waist and retched onto the carpet.

Her next thought was that she was in terrible danger.

Gem can hear screams from outside her room.

She tries to get up but it’s proper hard. Like she ain’t got no control over her arms and legs.

She bets that doctor is up to no good. The minute she set eyes on him, Gem knew he was a wrong ’un. She’s met too many men like that over the years. Men what like young girls.

There’s no way she’s going to let him in here. She’ll barricade herself in if she has to.

She puts all her energy into getting out of bed. She ain’t letting that bastard beat her. Wobbling all over the shop, she makes her way to the door, but when she gets there she sees it ain’t the doctor shouting, it’s her solicitor, Lilly.

She’s been proper nice to Gem. Not like solicitors she’s had before, who write down every word you say but never look you in the eye. Lilly’s different. She makes you feel like you matter. She told Gem not to worry about Tyler, that she’ll try and get a placement for him and Gem together.

Gem opens the door to call to Lilly and sees the doctor dragging her down the corridor by her hair.

Lilly kicked out, her shoes flying through the air.

‘Harry,’ she yelled. ‘Harry, stop this.’

He was tearing her hair from its root, the scalp on fire. She clawed at his hands, but his grip just tightened.

Jesus Christ, he was insane.

Pain seared through Lilly’s skull and she cried out. ‘Harry, please stop,’ she begged. ‘Let me go.’

Tears poured down her face. She knew he wouldn’t let her go.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lilly caught sight of someone. It was Gem. ‘Help me,’ she screamed.

Gem was leaning heavily against the door frame to her room, her eyes heavy, her jaw slack.

‘Gem, please help me.’

The girl gave a slow blink. A gesture Lilly had seen Chloe make a thousand times. Chloe who shut down her systems when Harry was around. Chloe who only came to life when she was away from the Grove. Why hadn’t Lilly seen all this?

Gem swayed into the corridor, saliva trickling down her chin. What could she possibly do in that state?

‘Please,’ Lilly screamed.

Gem looked around her, then up and down the corridor.

‘There’s no one here,’ Lilly shouted.

Gem took a step towards Lilly and stumbled. Then another step, as if in painful slow motion.

‘Do something, Gem.’

Gem swayed from side to side then bent down and picked up one of Lilly’s discarded shoes. She held it up to her face, turning it over as if she’d never seen anything like it before.

‘Gem.’

The girl looked at the shoe, then at Lilly, then back at the shoe. At last she threw it at Harry. Her aim was so weak it barely glanced off him, but it was enough to distract him momentarily, giving Lilly a chance. She seized it, ripping his hands from her hair.

He lunged for her, but she was too quick, throwing herself out of his reach. He lunged again and this time she surprised him by throwing herself backwards, smacking the back of her head into his face. The sound of his lips bursting rang in her eyes.

She crawled a few feet away and jumped up.

‘Run.’ She grabbed Gem by the hand and half pulled, half dragged her down the corridor. But Gem couldn’t run and fell off balance. Lilly hauled her back upright, but it was too late. Harry had bridged the gap. He grabbed Gem by the shoulders, spun her round and punched her in the stomach. The girl deflated like a day-old balloon.

‘Harry, don’t do this,’ Lilly said to him.

He moved towards her, his face unrecognizable. Mouth and chin dripping with blood, eyes haunted. Harry Piper had gone. If he had ever existed at all.

Lilly backed away, until she hit the wall behind her. She put out her hands to stop him. He batted them away and pressed his body against hers, crushing her. She began to sob.

‘You need help,’ she told him. ‘You’re not well.’

His hands came up and he clasped her throat. Lilly’s eyes popped open.

‘You can explain to the police.’ Lilly choked on her words. ‘You won’t go to prison.’

His hands tightened, the thumbs digging into Lilly’s windpipe. She fought for breath, her mouth wide. Her airway was closed.

She pushed her arms out to the side, palms slapping the wall in terror. The end could be only seconds away. Her vision began to blur. Her arms went rigid, the left hand scratching against brick. The right against something smoother. What was it? She strained to look. The picture of the dandelion clocks. No breath left to blow them.

Harry bared his teeth at her as if he might bite. This evil man was going to rob her children. She refused to let his face be the last thing she saw and closed her eyes. Instead, she pictured those dandelion clocks in their glass frame.

Glass. The thought rocketed through her. Glass.

She balled her fist, drew her arm forward and punched backwards. The frame cracked but didn’t break. She punched again. This time the glass shattered and she closed her hand around the nearest shard. It cut deep into her skin but she didn’t care. She grabbed it and pulled it away from the rest. Her hand dripped blood as she brought her arm down to her side. It shook with anticipation.

Harry, she thought, what happened to you?

Then she plunged the shard of glass deep and low into Harry’s gut.

He gasped, eyes open wide, but he didn’t release his grip.

Lilly’s hand was slick with both their blood. She almost dropped her weapon.

One last effort, Lilly, she told herself.

She pushed the shard deeper and drew it upwards, feeling skin and muscle tear.

For a second, Harry looked surprised. Then he smiled. ‘Lilly?’ he said. He coughed, a red smattering rattle. ‘Lilly? Is that you?’

He released her throat and toppled back onto the carpet.

Lilly sat on the back steps of the ambulance, having her newly sutured hand bandaged.

‘This needs proper stitches at the hospital,’ said the paramedic.

Lilly nodded but her mobile rang.

‘Ignore it,’ the paramedic advised her.

‘It’s my son,’ said Lilly.

The paramedic sighed, but waved at her to take it.

‘Sam?’

‘Mum, you have to come home now.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s Alice.’ Sam’s voice was frantic. ‘She’s gone.’

Lilly stood, pushing away the paramedic. ‘What are you talking about, Sam?’

‘This woman came to the cottage, saying she was something to do with neighbourhood watch.’ He was crying now. ‘She said she’d just look at the windows upstairs to make sure they were secure.’

‘You let a strange woman into the house?’

‘She was a policewoman, Mum. Dad checked her card and everything, but she left without telling us and when we checked on Alice she wasn’t in her cot.’

Lilly’s heart thumped in her chest. ‘What was this policewoman called?’

‘Kate something,’ said Sam. ‘I’m sorry, Mum, I’m so sorry.’

I don’t know why the baby keeps howling.

I thought all children were supposed to like sitting in the front seat. The trouble is she keeps rolling about and hitting her head against the door. Presumably that’s what those contraptions with the straps are for.

‘Oh shush,’ I tell her. ‘You’re giving me a headache.’

It’s dark out now, and snowing hard, so visibility is poor. I need to concentrate on the road and can do without Alice breaking my brain in two.

My phone vibrates for the hundredth time. It’s Jack again. I should call him back and put him out of his misery, tell him that I forgive him, that our little tiff is over.

When I get home, I think we’re going to have some fun, making up.

Jack was waiting for Lilly outside the cottage.

‘Where is she?’ Lilly shouted.

‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘I’ve called and called Kate but no answer.’

‘Where’s Sam?’ Lilly asked.

‘Out with David, checking the streets.’

Right on cue, they rounded the drive and Sam ran to his mother, throwing himself into her arms.

‘We’ll find her.’ Lilly kissed the top of his head. ‘Don’t you worry, we’ll find her.’

‘She can’t have got far in these conditions,’ said David. ‘The end of the road to the left is impassable.’

‘Then she’s gone right,’ said Lilly.

They all turned in the same direction. How far had Kate gone? Where was she headed?

‘I’ll see if I can catch up with her,’ said Jack, heading to his car.

‘Take mine.’ David tossed his keys. ‘It’s much better suited to the snow.’