The Book of Revenge by Linda Dunscombe Page A

couples paired off they somehow became an item, it was almost by default rather than choice. They got on OK; they had a laugh and seemed to be on a similar wavelength. They did what all their friends were doing, they got engaged, twelve months later they were married, they bought a house and then they were supposed to have kids. That’s when it all started to really go wrong. Until then they had both been on the relationship treadmill, jogging along fulfilling everyone else’s expectations. It was when the required baby failed to materialise that they both began to question why they were together.
    Matt climbed onto the exercise bike and started at a slow warm up pace. He gradually built up some speed and increased the gradient, he was soon sweating and struggling, and making his usual mental promise to quit smoking and get fitter. In the mirror he saw Liz’s daughter Sam, enter the gym. Her eyes rested on him and she weaved her way through the machines towards him.
    ‘I’m looking for mum,’ she said, with a big smile. She was tall and slim like her mum but the similarity ended there. While Liz had dark hair and blue eyes, her daughter's was what he thought would be described as dark blonde with hazel eyes.
    He started to slow down, ‘I haven’t seen her this evening.’
    ‘I was hoping she’d grab a bite with me. She’s not at home, or answering her phone.’
    Matt wiped his brow and climbed off the bike. ‘Everything alright?’ he asked, looking closely at her. She’d gone a bit pale and her hands were trembling slightly.
    ‘I skipped lunch, I’m starving.’ She did a small smile, but it wasn’t very convincing, ‘I need to eat…’ she grabbed hold of the bike saddle and with the other hand she pulled her handbag towards her, but before she could open the zip she keeled over and dropped to the floor.
    Matt went down on his knees beside her. He checked her pulse, and placed her into the recovery position, a small crowd was gathering.
    ‘She’s out cold,’ he said to the young staff member who had rushed to his side. ‘Call an ambulance.’
    ‘What happened?’ Someone behind him asked.
    He looked down at her and ran through the few seconds before she collapsed. He remembered her going for her handbag. He reached across and picked it up from beside her. He opened it up and tipped it upside down, the contents spilled across the floor. He riffled through the usual selection, tissues, make up bag, tampax, small hair brush, purse, a couple of packets of mints, a small can of full sugar coke a cola and a small honey pot.
    ‘Should you be doing that?’ a young woman said, ‘that’s private stuff.’
    He ignored her and picked up the mints and can of coke. He turned to the woman; she was young, slim and attractive. ‘Do you or any of your friends have these in your handbag?’
    She shook her head. ‘Are you kidding? Those things are full of sugar.’
    ‘Exactly.’ He said more to himself. He grabbed the honey pot and opened it, it was small, the type you get in a hotel. He scooped a large blob onto his finger and stuck it into Sam’s mouth. He rubbed the honey around her gums and then repeated the process.
    He could hear the sound of a distant siren. He tried the honey for a third time, but she was still out cold. He picked up the coke and opened it, he touched her gently, ‘Sam?’ he called, but she was unresponsive.
    The paramedics hurried towards them and Matt stepped aside to let them take over.

    Liz was sitting on a hard chair in an empty corridor. Matt walked across towards her carrying two take out cups. She glanced up at him as he approached, he sat beside her and handed her one of the cups. ‘White with sugar.’
    She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut in before she could.
    ‘I know, I don’t either. But you’ve had a shock so you need sugar, plus vending machine coffee tastes like shit, so it needs all the help it can get.’
    Liz sipped the coffee and pulled a face that