The Couple on the Train: An absolutely compelling psychological thriller packed with suspense by Claire Cooper

Author:Claire Cooper [Cooper, Claire]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Amy, I already knew, was a conscientious student. So perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised that, having accepted my offer of diving lessons, she made sure they happened.

That first day, I’d been filled with enthusiasm, revelling in my unusual role as teacher. We started well away from the water’s edge, Amy watching attentively as I demonstrated how to bend at the knees, position her arms at shoulder level. ‘Point your fingers,’ I instructed, as if I were an Olympic medallist instead of the graduate of a Spanish swimming club where I’d been despatched by my parents to give them more time to argue. ‘You’ll make less of a splash.’

She nodded gravely, copying my stance. When I suggested it was time to try it for real, she followed me to the lake with an expression that wouldn’t have been out of place on a death row prisoner making the lonely walk to the executioner’s chair.

‘You’ll be fine, Aims,’ I told her. ‘The first time is always the scariest.’

She ducked her head in what I took to be agreement, and positioned herself on the rock I’d selected for the occasion. Will was sitting across from us on the ledge, apparently reading; but I could feel his eyes on us as I directed her final preparations.

‘That’s it. Bend a little more at the knees. Look at where you’re going to enter the water. Got it?’ She bobbed her head again. ‘Good. When you’re ready, take a deep breath and go.’

She didn’t move. I saw that her jaw was clenched, and her arms trembled gently. It occurred to me that she was genuinely scared.

‘It’s okay if you don’t want to do it,’ I said softly. I saw her eyes dart in Will’s direction, ‘And you don’t need to worry about what he thinks⁠—’

But I found myself talking to thin air as Amy launched herself forward.

She listed slightly to the left as she flew through the air, but avoided the belly flop I’d secretly suspected was coming. As soon as she regained the surface she struck out for the side, reaching for the nearest overhanging rock and clinging to it, blinking and opening and closing her mouth like a fish.

‘Go, Amy!’ I shouted. But it was Will she turned towards.

‘Not half bad, Linton,’ he said, and she broke into a smile of pure delight. It was like sunshine after a storm, and I saw something change in his expression. I couldn’t put a name to it, but it left me with a sick, queasy feeling in my stomach.

As soon as she was out of the water, she wanted to try again.

Her enthusiasm seemed only to grow, and the next day she was back on the rock, pressing me for my view on her performance.

‘I want to get better,’ she told me. ‘I want to be able to do that thing you did.’ She gestured with her hands, miming a forward roll.

‘Sure,’ I replied, ‘only don’t push yourself too hard.’

I, of course, had no wish for her to improve too far or too fast.

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