The Other Child by Charlotte Link

Author:Charlotte Link [Link, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense
ISBN: 9781605985589
Publisher: Pegasus
Published: 2013-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

4

‘My landlady gave me notice for the 1st November,’ said Dave.

They were the only customers in King Richard III, a little coffee shop on the front which offered breakfast. A young man was lounging around bored behind the counter. He had brought them coffee and scones with a scowl.

‘It’s not particularly cosy here,’ Dave had said when they entered. ‘But they have scones with jam, and they’re not bad at all.’ From its windows they could see the deserted promenade and the masts of the yachts looming out of the mist.

The coffee was surprisingly good too, thought Leslie. Strong and hot. Just right after the cold, damp air outside.

‘Is she allowed to?’ asked Leslie. ‘Just throw you out so quickly?’

‘I think so,’ said Dave. ‘We never signed a contract or anything like that. I’m living at hers illegally and don’t have anything in writing. How would I complain? Anyway, it’s not as if I’m inordinately fond of my prestigious domicile, as you can imagine.’

‘What reason did she give?’

‘She claimed that the daughter of one of her friends is going to study in Scarborough and wanted to live with her. I bet there is no such friend. The truth is, of course, that she’s scared of me. She’s scared I’ve murdered Amy Mills and Fiona Barnes and that she could be the next victim. She no longer sleeps in her own bed, but goes to some neighbour’s house. And it seems she spreads terrible stories about me while she’s there. Whenever I’m out on the street, I can feel a hundred eyes drilling into me from behind the windows. But I don’t care. Let them think what they want.’

‘As you and Gwen are planning on marrying in December anyway, it shouldn’t be a problem. Just move to her farm at the beginning of November.’

‘Yes,’ he said. He did not sigh, but his Yes sounded like a sigh.

Leslie cupped both her hands around her mug. Her fingers tingled as the warmth spread up them. Then it seemed to flow up her arms too. It was a pleasant feeling which not only drove the clammy cold from her bones but also soothed her overwrought state. She knew that she was probably going too far, but something about the way Dave Tanner was looking at her gave the impression that he wanted to talk, and that he did not feel cornered with her.

‘You’re not exactly head over heels in love with Gwen, are you?’ she asked quietly.

‘It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

He leant forward. ‘I don’t love her at all, Leslie. That’s the problem. And that’s not because of her drab appearance. A woman could be as ugly as hell and still fascinate me – and Gwen isn’t ugly. But the fascination – that’s the nub of it. Nothing, just absolutely nothing about her fascinates me.’

‘In most relationships fascination goes after a while.’

‘But it’s the spark at the beginning. There has to be something there, something which captivates you in the other person, something which provokes curiosity and won’t let you go.

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