The Girl Who Stole the Apple by Peter Tickler

Author:Peter Tickler [Tickler, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books Mystery, Crime Thriller, Psychological Suspense Fiction
Published: 2016-09-07T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

It was not yet five, but Maggie was wide awake. She stumbled to the loo, splashed some water over her face and returned to the bedroom. She turned on her sidelight and dressed quickly in the clothes she had taken off only four hours earlier.

‘Sam?’ She leaned over him and gently shook his shoulder, but all he did was twitch and give a slight snort.

She nodded, satisfied. Sam might think he was clever, with his cryptic codes and devious ruses, but when it came down to simple cunning, she was a match for him.

She had sat up waiting for him, watching some third-rate Liam Neeson film on TV, until he appeared at about half past eleven. She had left the wine bottle on the kitchen table and he had, predictably, downed a glass within a couple of minutes of collapsing next to her on the sofa. She had gone to the kitchen and brought the bottle through, filling his glass again and emptying the remainder into her own. Liam Neeson had just killed a couple of thugs when Sam put his glass — again empty — on the table and laid his hand on her thigh. Her leg jerked violently as if she had just spotted a tarantula on it. Her glass, still full, catapulted across the room and smashed against the stone surround where the wood burner sat.

‘What the hell are you playing at?’ she had snarled.

‘Hey!’ He held up his hands in a gesture of mock surrender. She had seen it before. Turning it into a joke. Making out it wasn’t an issue. As if wanting a quick grope was nothing. Just a bit of inebriated fun.

She got up and started to pick up the pieces of glass in silence.

‘Jesus, Maggs. You know how I feel about you. Just for old times’ sake, hey?’

‘Not even for old times’ sake!’ she snapped.

He swore and stood up. ‘Off to bed.’ And he stumped off up the stairs.

She remained on her knees, searching for shards until she heard his heavy tread along the corridor above her and into the double bedroom.

By the time she had got upstairs, he was lying on his back on the double bed, snoring softly. Which was pretty much what he was doing now, at just gone five in the morning. He looked as if he hadn’t shifted position all night. Not that Maggie was surprised. Two large glasses of wine was more than she had planned on him drinking when she had added the sleeping drugs to the bottle. Well, he should sleep for several hours yet, by which time she would be miles away.

And Beth would be miles away too, because there was no way she was going to leave the girl with him. Maggie didn’t trust him further than she could spit. He had lied about Ellie. Why, she didn’t know, but Beth was safer with her, and if she owed Ellie anything it was to keep her daughter safe. She would be a mother to her in whatever way she could.

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