considered it logically, that seemed almost impossible. Feeling calmer, she splashed her face with cold water, picked up the cooler, and went out to join Lyssa. For the time being, at least, she could pretend that everything was normal.
*
Caleb drove in silence along a narrow strip of deserted road. His contact had shown him a barely used route that weaved between large tracts of forest, affording Leah glimpses of sunlight sparkling on a lake that stretched for miles. Unsure exactly what Caleb was planning, she had left nothing behind at the cottage. He had told her to wipe all of the surfaces, though that was something she would have done anyway. Other people would have arranged to rent the cottage—honeymooning couples or families with children—and she wanted no trace of Caleb or herself to taint their vacation.
The air conditioning was blasting out at full strength, but she could feel herself sweating. Her thin cotton shirt was damp at the back, the material so cold it was making her shiver. In contrast, her cheek was hot and swollen where a fresh bruise throbbed. She didn’t remember why he had punched her, only the crack of pain and the smirk on his face. He seemed long ago to have stopped needing a reason.
The turn was difficult to spot, but he obviously knew where he was going. He took a left onto a rough one-lane road, heading away from the sun, leaving the interior of the car dimly lit in hues of green. Huge trees lined the track, so close at times that branches scraped along the car’s windows and bodywork. The forest provided a security barrier of sorts, but after approximately a mile and a half, there was also a large metal gate on sturdy concrete posts. It took Caleb less than five minutes to pick its lock. When he set off again, he drove more slowly, his eyes continuously flicking to the right as he searched for something. Leah saw it at the same time he did: a natural gap in the trees that was large enough to pull into and would conceal the car from anyone driving past. Satisfied with his position, he put the car into park and lowered the windows. She could hear nothing but the creak of branches moving in the wind. Breathing in the scent of warm earth, she tried to ignore Caleb as he pulled out a handgun and strapped a Bowie knife onto his belt.
“He figured she’d be back in about four hours,” he said, and Leah nodded, her eyes seeking out the clock on the dash. “You’re gonna flag her down, say you had an accident.” His thumb stroked across the newly marred skin on her cheek. “Sure do look the part.”
“What do I do then?” she whispered.
He smiled, baring his teeth. “Then you leave the rest to me.”
*
Sarah put down her cell phone when she heard Lyssa coming out of the bathroom. Alex still hadn’t been in touch, but her course was due to finish within the hour, which would fit in conveniently with Lyssa’s departure for work.
“Okay, I am outta here,” Lyssa said, neatly catching the bag of leftover brownies that Sarah threw her. “I’m guessing these won’t see out the shift.”
“Well, hopefully they’ll help keep you awake.” Sarah gave her a hug. “Thanks for coming over.”
“Any time.” They walked out to Lyssa’s SUV. “Keep smilin’, sweetie. She’ll be home before you know it.”
Sarah nodded. “She will. Sorry if I’ve been a bit off today. I’m not used to her being away,” she said, keen to offer a reasonable excuse for her distractedness.
Lyssa smiled, accepting the explanation without question. “Right, I better motor or I’ll be late.” She turned the key in the ignition and blew Sarah an exaggerated kiss. “That’s for Alex.”
“I’ll be sure to pass it on,” Sarah yelled above the rattle of the engine, and Lyssa laughed, narrowly avoiding a hen as she drove away in a cloud of dust and diesel smoke.
Excited by the noise, Tilly chased after the SUV, ignoring Sarah’s attempts to call her back. Deciding to leave her to it,
*
Caleb drove in silence along a narrow strip of deserted road. His contact had shown him a barely used route that weaved between large tracts of forest, affording Leah glimpses of sunlight sparkling on a lake that stretched for miles. Unsure exactly what Caleb was planning, she had left nothing behind at the cottage. He had told her to wipe all of the surfaces, though that was something she would have done anyway. Other people would have arranged to rent the cottage—honeymooning couples or families with children—and she wanted no trace of Caleb or herself to taint their vacation.
The air conditioning was blasting out at full strength, but she could feel herself sweating. Her thin cotton shirt was damp at the back, the material so cold it was making her shiver. In contrast, her cheek was hot and swollen where a fresh bruise throbbed. She didn’t remember why he had punched her, only the crack of pain and the smirk on his face. He seemed long ago to have stopped needing a reason.
The turn was difficult to spot, but he obviously knew where he was going. He took a left onto a rough one-lane road, heading away from the sun, leaving the interior of the car dimly lit in hues of green. Huge trees lined the track, so close at times that branches scraped along the car’s windows and bodywork. The forest provided a security barrier of sorts, but after approximately a mile and a half, there was also a large metal gate on sturdy concrete posts. It took Caleb less than five minutes to pick its lock. When he set off again, he drove more slowly, his eyes continuously flicking to the right as he searched for something. Leah saw it at the same time he did: a natural gap in the trees that was large enough to pull into and would conceal the car from anyone driving past. Satisfied with his position, he put the car into park and lowered the windows. She could hear nothing but the creak of branches moving in the wind. Breathing in the scent of warm earth, she tried to ignore Caleb as he pulled out a handgun and strapped a Bowie knife onto his belt.
“He figured she’d be back in about four hours,” he said, and Leah nodded, her eyes seeking out the clock on the dash. “You’re gonna flag her down, say you had an accident.” His thumb stroked across the newly marred skin on her cheek. “Sure do look the part.”
“What do I do then?” she whispered.
He smiled, baring his teeth. “Then you leave the rest to me.”
*
Sarah put down her cell phone when she heard Lyssa coming out of the bathroom. Alex still hadn’t been in touch, but her course was due to finish within the hour, which would fit in conveniently with Lyssa’s departure for work.
“Okay, I am outta here,” Lyssa said, neatly catching the bag of leftover brownies that Sarah threw her. “I’m guessing these won’t see out the shift.”
“Well, hopefully they’ll help keep you awake.” Sarah gave her a hug. “Thanks for coming over.”
“Any time.” They walked out to Lyssa’s SUV. “Keep smilin’, sweetie. She’ll be home before you know it.”
Sarah nodded. “She will. Sorry if I’ve been a bit off today. I’m not used to her being away,” she said, keen to offer a reasonable excuse for her distractedness.
Lyssa smiled, accepting the explanation without question. “Right, I better motor or I’ll be late.” She turned the key in the ignition and blew Sarah an exaggerated kiss. “That’s for Alex.”
“I’ll be sure to pass it on,” Sarah yelled above the rattle of the engine, and Lyssa laughed, narrowly avoiding a hen as she drove away in a cloud of dust and diesel smoke.
Excited by the noise, Tilly chased after the SUV, ignoring Sarah’s attempts to call her back. Deciding to leave her to it,
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