20
Twenty years ago - Before the phone call
Tricia glanced at her watch. The train was twenty minutes from Exeter station. She knew there was a slim chance her husband would be waiting. Fortunately, the country roads were narrow and not built for speeding. The train they were on was direct, one-stop, one destination, but if her husband did make it before them, they’d have to hide. The train toilets were their best bet, either that, or run for it. Tricia had to get away; she had little choice. She would have to convince Meagan to keep going, ignore her father and find someone to help them.
She watched as her daughter sat in front of her, colouring a picture of Noddy with a crayon set that another girl sitting nearby had kindly shared.
The couple, who Tricia assumed were her parents, had tried to make conversation, but Tricia didn’t have the strength to talk. She’d never been so alone. She wondered how it all went wrong. ‘You okay, Meggy? We’ll be there soon. You can see Aunty Anne. You’re looking forward to that, aren’t you?’
Meagan continued colouring, scribbling outside the lines and trying to rub the marks out, making more smudges. ‘I’m scared Daddy won’t find us. What if he never does?’
‘Oh, Meagan. Maybe he will.’ Tricia quickly changed the subject. ‘Do you want Daddy to find us?’
Meagan paused, then looked up. ‘Only if he’s kinder to you, Mummy and stops making you cry.’
A voice came over the tannoy. ‘The next stop is Exeter. Please take your belongings with you. We will be arriving at Exeter station in approximately five minutes. We thank you for travelling with us today and wish you a safe onward journey.’
Tricia looked at the country lane on her left side, leading to the station, praying she wouldn’t see Sean’s car.
Sean had his right foot to the floor, pumping the accelerator. ‘Come on. I need to be there. Move, you piece of shit.’
He’d just passed a sign. Ten miles to Exeter. The roads were narrow, clear, with little obstruction. He knew Tricia had a sister and presumed that’s where she was going with Meagan. The only problem was he hadn’t a clue where she lived. They didn’t speak much; Sean couldn’t even recall what she looked like.
He slowed at a crossroad, making sure it was clear left and right, seeing more narrow country roads ahead. He couldn’t wait to surprise Tricia.
‘Come on, Meggy. This is us, let’s go.’
As they stepped off the train, Tricia searched for a bus timetable, aware they needed to move quickly. ‘Excuse me, where can I get a bus to Adlington?’ A member of staff was standing by the barrier, beckoning people to move forward. Tricia was losing patience. ‘Hello. We need to get to Adlington.’
As the uniformed woman turned to her, an arm reached out, grabbing Tricia from behind. Meagan looked on in horror. Tricia spun round.
‘I’m going there too. Follow my wife and me; it’s just outside. Sorry if I startled you.’
The guy was tall, middle-aged and dressed in a smart black suit. His wife was much smaller and was dressed in a dark red dress and a long brown jacket.
Tricia pushed out a deep breath, noticing how weak her legs felt. She was on edge, which was exacerbated by being in a confined space, and she was dizzy from the crowd of people who had spilt from the train.
The guy reached forward. ‘I’m Danny. This is my wife, Bev. So, who do you know in Adlington? I grew up there. We’ve come down for the weekend. It’s so quiet and peaceful this time of year. I can’t wait to just kick back and relax. We love it, don’t we, Bev? We live up north now, Birmingham, but how we miss this place, isn’t that right, Bev?’
Tricia watched as his wife kept nodding, wondering if she ever actually spoke.
He continued, ‘So, how long are you down for? Is it just a couple of days or longer?’ We’ve spent a bit of time in Devon, haven’t we Bev?’
Tricia went to speak but was cut off before the words could leave her mouth with another bombardment of questions.
As they stepped outside, Danny pointed over to the bus. ‘That’s us.’
The engine was running and the driver was stacking away paperwork. He opened the main doors.
Tricia scanned the car park looking for her husband’s car. Although Danny was annoying (she hadn’t had a chance to speak to Bev), she was pleased with their company and remembered how her mother had always said there was safety in numbers.
Tricia lifted Meagan up the steps. Her daughter was yawning and asking if she could sleep. ‘We’ll be there soon, Meggy. You can sleep all you want then. Sound good?’
Meagan looked at her mother as they sat towards the back of the bus. Her mother crouched, bringing her elbows up and shielding her face, keeping low and turning away from the window. ‘How do you know Danny, Mummy?’
Tricia laughed. ‘Oh, Meggy. I don’t know him, darling. He’s just being friendly. That’s what people do.’
‘Well, he’s awfully nosey. Why does he want to know so much about you?’
‘That’s just him making conversation.’
‘I thought we weren’t supposed to speak to strangers?’
Tricia gently pinched the end of her daughter’s nose. ‘It’s okay for adults. You’re asking too many questions now, young lady.’
They laughed together, watching Danny and Bev move towards them and sit down. Tricia struggled to drag her eyes from the car park as the bus pulled out, heading for Adlington.
Sean was a mile or so from Exeter station when a tractor pulled out in front of him from a nearby field. The road was tight, with just one lane.
He honked the horn, watching the young lad driving, sitting high on the seat, swerving left and right. He pulled the machine into a ditch to the left side of the road and Sean went to overtake, but saw a car coming the other way at the last second and pulled back behind the tractor.
Sean again steered to his right in the hope of overtaking, but the tractor driver looked over his shoulder and pulled the large machine back onto the road in front of him.
‘You’re not serious for Christ’s sake? Pull over, you arsehole. Can you believe this guy?’ Sean hammered the horn. But the tractor driver ignored him.
By the time he reached Exeter station, the bus had already pulled out and was halfway to Adlington.
21
Present day
Oliver stood in the kitchen, holding his mobile phone at arm’s length like it had suddenly become boiling hot, poisoned with radiation and could burn a hole through his head.
He was unable to believe the question Meagan had just asked. He ran it over and over in his head.
There is another way. Finish what you started.
How could she think I’d do it again? What the fuck is wrong with her?
He was panicking, realising he had to cut loose from this predicament. He’d have to tell her. He ran the conversation through his mind, rehearsing what he’d say. Meagan. I’ve fallen for you much harder than I could ever have imagined. What you see is what you get, but I’ve got to be honest, you’re the first partner I’ve had who asked me to kill their husband.
His phone rang again. No caller ID showed on the screen. Oliver flipped it, sending it to voicemail. He waited a few seconds to see if a message had been left. No alert. No beeping sound. He decided to switch the phone off and get some air.
Outside, the streets were crowded, people with their heads down, banging against him, standing in his way like skittles lined up on a bowling alley just waiting to be knocked over.