Assassin's Web by Richard T. Burke

Author:Richard T. Burke [Burke, Richard T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RJNE Books
Published: 2019-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 30

I slouched with my feet on one of the sofas. Nick had left five minutes earlier to buy food. I had also asked him to purchase replacement underwear and a toothbrush. After a moment’s hesitation, he had grudgingly agreed.

While I waited, I flicked through a file labelled Useful Things to Know, which I had picked up from the wooden desk. The first few pages dealt with the operation of various appliances including the heating system, the fridge and the cooker. Following that came a page about using the television. The last and biggest section contained details of nearby attractions and local restaurants.

I grabbed the television remote control and followed the instructions to turn on the screen. Daytime shows had never held much interest for me. As I flicked through the channels, I remembered why. All the programmes seemed to fall into one of three categories: property, cooking or quizzes. In frustration, I pressed the off button.

I missed having the ability to browse the Internet. With no access to either my laptop or mobile phone, I felt cut off from the world. I supposed people would be talking about me, the alleged paedophile schoolteacher. In some ways, I was glad I wouldn’t be able to read what they were writing. That didn’t stop me from wanting to keep up to speed with the investigation.

My thoughts turned to my family. What would they be going through? I was convinced my mother and sister would have no doubts about my innocence. Despite that, the news stories would make life hell for them. I knew from bitter experience the press would give no respite. They would be camped outside my mother’s house like vultures around a corpse.

I had been only nine years old at the time of Elena’s abduction, but I still remembered the never-ending knocks at the door and the persistent ringing of the telephone. My father disconnected the cable after a while. Desperate for pictures of the grieving family, one heartless photographer crept through the garden and held his camera to the window before my mother closed the curtains.

Our parents kept Cathy and me off school for a fortnight afterwards. When we eventually returned, we became the centre of attention. Much of it was well-intentioned, but everybody was curious to learn what had really happened. One classmate, who had taken an instant dislike to me, suggested my parents had killed my little sister and faked her disappearance. That was the only time in my life when I ended up in a fight.

I guessed my two nieces might experience a similar situation when they returned to school after the summer holidays. In their case, it would be worse. Cathy and I had been victims, whereas Sophia and Zoe were relatives of the alleged perpetrator. I could only imagine what they would go through.

A rattling noise from the corridor outside the flat broke me out of my reminiscences. I glanced at my watch. It was too early for Nick to be back; less than fifteen minutes had passed since he left.

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