The Nanny: An absolutely unputdownable, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller by Ruth Heald

Author:Ruth Heald [Heald, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781803145082
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2022-09-07T16:00:00+00:00

THIRTY-SIX

NOW

Hayley read the message on the flowers again. Ryan was going to tell Lars everything. But what did he actually know? She thought of Lars upstairs, how she’d thanked him for the flowers and he hadn’t said anything. He’d just suggested she put them in water. He’d seen the card. He knew they were from Ryan.

‘Lovely flowers,’ Johanna said, coming into the kitchen.

‘Thanks.’ Hayley shoved the card into her pocket. ‘Excuse me a minute.’

‘Do you want me to put them in a vase?’

‘No, no, I’ll do it later,’ Hayley said. She left the room and hurried back up the stairs to see Lars.

‘Lars?’ she called out, knocking on the door of his study.

He grunted, and she pushed the door open.

‘I’ve seen the flowers,’ she said. ‘And the note.’

He swung round in his chair. ‘Who’s Ryan?’

‘He’s no one… he—’

‘You’ve been having an affair, haven’t you?’ He spat out the words. ‘Are you unhappy with me? Because we don’t have the money we used to, is that what it is?’

‘No,’ she said. ‘This isn’t about you. It’s—’

‘So it’s about you, is it? You just fancied a bit of fun? Didn’t care about me at all.’

‘I’m not having an affair, Lars. Ryan is, well, he’s a writer. A crime writer.’

‘What’s that got to do with anything? Or are you trying to say he’s more exciting than me?’

‘No.’ Hayley sighed. ‘He’s someone who… well, he’s been watching me. He’s investigating something that happened a long time ago. I was planning to tell you what was going on, but…’

Lars got up from his seat and started pacing up and down his office. ‘What were you planning to tell me? What does he mean when he says he’s going to tell me everything? And why would he send you flowers? Your favourites, too. He must know you well enough to know that.’ He stopped and looked at Hayley, narrowing his eyes.

‘He asked my work colleagues what flowers I like. He volunteers in student support with me.’

‘So you got to know him at work? Does he have a crush on you? Is that what this is? Did you do something to lead him on?’

‘No, nothing like that. He… he’s interested in me for other reasons.’

‘What other reasons?’

Hayley swallowed, unable to form the words. ‘You might have seen him around here. He’s been hanging around outside the house, watching me. He’s spoken to Michelle and Mum. He’s digging for information.’

Lars shook his head, his anger shifting to concern. ‘I haven’t noticed anyone hanging around. But that behaviour sounds threatening. Why didn’t you tell me? Something about this whole thing doesn’t add up.’

At least Ryan hadn’t spoken to Lars already. But that meant Lars was completely in the dark. He had no idea what was going on.

‘Look,’ Hayley said. ‘Ryan has become obsessed with something that happened a long time ago. Over twenty years ago. When I was in Thailand.’

‘When you were on your gap year?’

Hayley nodded. ‘Yeah.’

‘But what happened? I thought you had a great time.’ She’d never told Lars about working as a nanny on her gap year.

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