The Cove_a shocking thriller you won't be able to put down by Malcolm Richards

Author:Malcolm Richards [Richards, Malcolm]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Storm House
Published: 2017-11-14T00:00:00+00:00

26

ROSE TREWARTHA WAS a stout woman in her mid-fifties with a round, ruddy face and a smile that could light up the darkest void. She sat at Carrie’s kitchen table, soft hands clasped around a mug of tea, as Carrie glossed over the events of the past two weeks.

When she’d finished talking, Carrie felt drained and empty. She glanced through the doorway, out into the hall. The sounds of early morning cartoons drifted out from the living room. Cal had barely touched his breakfast. He seemed exhausted, as if he’d been awake all night. Sleeping under the bed couldn’t be good for his health. She had to find a way to get him onto the mattress.

Carrie returned her attention to her friend.

“Thanks for taking Melissa to school,” she said with a smile. “I should have taken her myself but I didn’t want to leave Cal alone, not yet. And I’m not sure he’s ready for all those staring faces. It’s been bad enough with the press. Thank God they’ve finally gone.”

“Don’t you worry your head about it,” Rose said, in her thick country accent. “That little bird can talk the hind legs off a donkey! Didn’t pause for breath the whole way there. Seemed glad to be back with her friends, too.”

Carrie reached a hand across the table and Rose squeezed it. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve hardly seen a soul since Cal came back. And now Dylan’s gone to sea. . .”

Tears formed at the corners of her eyes. She willed them away.

Dylan had left in the early hours while it was still dark. He’d showered and dressed, then wrapped himself around her until it was time to leave. She had pretended to be asleep, even when he’d kissed her cheek and whispered goodbye.

“You’re looking tired, bird,” Rose said, her smile fading. “You’ve got a lot on your plate right now. Are you managing?”

“I’m fine,” Carrie said. “It’s a lot, but we’re working through it.”

Rose squeezed her hand again. “I know when something is wrong, Carrie Killigrew. Ever since you were a little girl, those hardened eyes could fool everyone else but me.”

Carrie felt the fight leave her body. Her shoulders sagged. She couldn’t say it. She couldn’t admit that she was failing her family.

“I forgot the sugar,” she whispered and tried to stand.

Rose held fast. She raised an eyebrow.

They were quiet for a moment longer.

Carrie let it out. “It’s Dylan. He thinks Cal could be dangerous.”

“Why would he think something like that?”

She told Rose about the incident at Dylan’s parents. About Cal’s strange habit of sleeping under the bed and his animalistic behaviour at the dinner table. As Carrie talked, Rose’s eyebrows knitted together in a concerned frown.

“Dylan didn’t want to leave today,” Carrie said. “He’s worried Cal will hurt Melissa again. Clearly, he doesn’t think I can cope on my own.”

The two women sat in quiet contemplation.

“Here’s the problem.” Rose said at last, staring at Carrie with an expression falling somewhere between concerned parent and Victorian headmistress.

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