‘Hello?’ He realised the stupidity of his action after he said the word. If someone was waiting, they most certainly knew he was here.
As Oliver reached the barn, he opened the door and went in. He swung his torch left and right, trying to scan the area. The place was empty.
He stepped backwards. His heart was racing and he was struggling to stem the coldness penetrating his body, fighting thick cobwebs which had clung to his head.
Back outside, Oliver crept along the edge of the barn, finding steps leading down to a basement. He went slowly, trying his best to keep calm: deep breaths, in and out.
The door was solid with a metal bar across the outside. The area was wet under his feet, damp and contaminated with faeces.
Oliver listened, placing his ear to the cold wood, trying to gauge the situation. He needed to open the door, face what he had to face, and get to Claire and Meagan.
He lifted the heavy bolt, pulling it backwards, the squealing noise penetrating, grinding like an old machine.
As he opened the door, he lifted the torch, guiding the light towards the back of the room. He saw a single figure sat alone strapped to a chair, a hood placed tightly over their head.
He walked forward, moving slowly towards the figure, conscious of the urgency. The empty chair troubled him. Oliver scanned the room, looking for the other woman, knowing the abductor could be lying in wait, ready to pounce at any second.
He thought, Could this really be it? Will it end here? It sounded too easy. Surely the abductor wouldn’t just let them leave. Oliver had to take the chance. This guy had a picture of what he and Meagan had done. But he still hoped this was the end.
Suddenly, the figure in front of him looked up, their head turning sideways, listening, hearing someone in the room. ‘Hello. Who’s there? Help me, please.’
Oliver reached forward, undoing the rope, pulling off the hood.
Claire was sitting alone, pitiful, fighting her tears. She looked up, gasping for breath, her face completely flushed. Oliver listened to her break down in uncontrollable sobs.
He quickly released her from the chair, then searched for Meagan, thinking maybe she’d been moved to another room. He contemplated whether to leave her here or not. He knew he couldn’t; she’d acted stupidly, made mistakes, but Meagan didn’t deserve to be left behind.
Oliver crouched beside Claire. ‘Where’s Meagan?’
She held him, falling forward, holding onto him. ‘I think he’s killed her. He came back a short while ago, saying I could stay as I’d done nothing wrong. He said I was caught up in the wrong place, all that shit. He said that you’d paid the ransom and were coming for me. I felt him in front of us, crouched down. I heard the excitement in his voice. He picked her up. I heard her kicking, the chair fell, she pleaded for her life, begging him to forgive the two of you. She kept screaming that it was supposed to be her husband. I heard the door open; he was struggling to drag her body out. Then I heard crashing noises, like a pole or some other heavy object. He hit her, Oliver, over and over. He dragged her body out of the basement, and I heard the metal bar being placed across the door. That’s the last sound I heard. I think he’s killed her.’
Oliver placed his arms around Claire, helping her stand. He was numb, utterly sick in his stomach. He knew this wasn’t over. He knew he’d be next. ‘I have to help. I have to find Meagan.’
33
Present day
Oliver drove with Claire in the passenger seat. Her cold aching body was wrapped in a blanket and the heat was turned up full.
Oliver’s mind went to Meagan. He wondered if he’d see her again. The guy had the money but what would stop him coming for Oliver, demanding more? What would stop him breaking into his apartment in the middle of the night, torturing him, murdering him and placing his body in a trunk?
Oliver drove along the M25, pleased it was quiet. He looked across at Claire, placing his hand in hers. ‘I’m so fucking sorry. I didn’t mean for you to get caught up in this shit.’
He watched her as she turned towards the window and closed her eyes. She didn’t have the energy.
Forty minutes later, Oliver pulled up outside Albuquerque House. Claire was asleep. He needed to see if Meagan had got home. Somehow, he knew she hadn’t.
As he stood outside on the street, he dialled her number, but it went straight to voicemail. Oliver didn’t want to leave a message.
He had to see her and try and help, but where would he start? He contemplated going to the reservoir. Images flashed in his mind of her body in a trunk, lying at the bottom of the water.
He slowly walked towards the main door, cupping his hands against the glass, looking at the buzzer for apartment six and picturing Rob, alone, frantic, a baseball bat in hand, enraged and smashing everything in sight.
Maybe he was out looking for her. Oliver didn’t care; he hoped he was suffering.
He stepped back from the doors, thinking this was a ridiculous idea. It was too late, there was nothing he could do tonight.
As he stood by the front door, a voice startled him. ‘Hello, Rob.’
Oliver spun round, looking at the person in front of him; the small, frail figure, the headscarf wrapped tightly around her head, a trolley beside her.
He smiled at Mrs Sheehan, the elderly lady from the fourth floor, wondering if she ever slept.
‘Hi, how are you?’ Oliver asked politely.
‘Oh Rob, how are you, more like it?’
Oliver played along. ‘I’m good thanks. Is everything all right?’
She squinted at him. ‘Out already? You must have a good lawyer.’ She placed her hand on his arm, smiling. ‘It’s a lot of nonsense, I know. I’m a good judge of character, always have been, dear. I said it, I told that officer, while he held you on the ground earlier, “He’s a good man, a gentleman, so let him loose!” He was quite rude, you know, the officer I mean, him telling me to mind my own business. I’ve lived here longer than his father’s been alive more than likely. These youths, think they own the world. I told him while he leaned on you, you’d never mess around with that stuff, you know, drugs. He was shouting all manner of profanities at you, saying they’d found things at your club. Illegal substances, but it’s just not true, you’re not like that. Anyway, I’m glad you’re out. And how’s the lovely lady?’
Oliver stood, his mouth open, trying to grasp what she had told him. Rob had been arrested. Well, good riddance, he thought. ‘Yeah, she’s fine. Thanks for asking.’
‘Take care, dear, I’ll see you soon no doubt, if I haven’t croaked it walking up them bloody stairs. I shall speak with the service company, those lifts have been out for so long now, I’m sick of it. They don’t care, that’s the trouble with the world nowadays. People don’t look after one another.’
She climbed the steps, fishing a key from her handbag and placing it into the lock. He held the door open, watching her walk towards the communal hall.
‘Thank you dear, you are a gentleman, I must say. Oh, before I forget.’ She turned round, facing Oliver as he stood at the front door. ‘Did you get your parcel?’
‘Parcel? Which parcel was that?’
She placed her hand on her forehead, her mouth open, deep in thought. ‘Let me see now. It was last week, I think. A charming young man he was, dressed in uniform, smart looking. I passed him on the stairs, the second floor, it was early morning, he was standing outside your apartment. I told him I’d take it, well, you never know do you? When they’ll come back, I mean, and it’s a bloody nuisance going to pick it up, so I took it from him. I came down early afternoon, maybe one or two I think it was. I can’t remember to be honest. I was confused though; I remember that much. Your door, the top of the stairs on the left, had a number seven on it. Well, I know you live at number six as I’ve passed your place hundreds of times over the years, and I know everyone here. I went along and lo and behold: number six was on the other door further down the hall. Anyway, I left it outside your door. The numbers were back to normal when I passed by the next morning. I know I’m not crazy, well, not yet anyway. Probably kids, you know how they like to play tricks. Anyway, take care Rob, I’ll see you soon, young man.’