The Widow's Retreat: A gripping psychological domestic thriller full of suspense and shocking twists (The Domestic Thriller Collection (Standalones)) by AJ Carter

Author:AJ Carter [Carter, AJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Papyrus Publishing LTD
Published: 2023-08-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Now

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting from Sean, but I definitely didn’t expect him to get off his stool and wrap his arms around me. Not only is he a policeman who was involved in the case, but he’s heard me say multiple times that I saw Ryan leaving the building.

His breath is warm, his embrace even warmer. I close my eyes and lean into him, letting the soft scent of his cologne make me feel right at home. The tears are starting to come, but for once, they’re not of self-pity.

This time, it’s self-hate.

‘Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?’ he asks.

‘I was worried it might get you in trouble.’

‘Why would it?’

‘Because you have to keep it a secret. That can’t be easy for a cop.’

He eases off me, and I use the opportunity to reach for my glass of water. It feels like I’m washing down a nail because of all the dryness in my throat. I didn’t realise I was this nervous about confessing the truth. I realise, of course, there’s still a very small chance Sean may have to report this. It proves I lied in my statement, after all.

Hayden pops his head through the bedroom door and looks around. When he sees me crying, he takes a couple of steps towards me, his thumb wedged into the book in his hand so he doesn’t lose his place. I see genuine concern as he furrows his brow.

‘Mum, are you all right?’

‘She’s fine, mate,’ Sean says. ‘Just give us a minute?’

Hayden nods and then backs away, stealing one final glance before he disappears and closes the door. We’re alone again, only now I’m a worse person than before. At least I must be in Sean’s eyes. He takes his seat back on the stool and looks across at me, holding my attention with eyes so green they remind me of a meadow.

‘Let me ask you something,’ he says. ‘Do you still think it’s Ryan who killed Nick?’

I pause because there’s a seriousness in his tone that makes me feel a little like I’m being interviewed. It encourages me to give my most honest answer. ‘I’m prepared to accept that it could’ve been someone else, but I strongly believe it was Ryan.’

‘May I ask why?’

I’ve been lying for so many years that I almost say it’s because I saw him. But as I just confessed, all I got a glimpse of was a dark hoodie with black jeans. It could have been anyone, so I choose my words carefully.

‘Doesn’t it just seem too coincidental?’ I ask. ‘He was planning on coming over when the killer arrived. I never heard from Ryan again, even though he’d been pressing me to sleep with him. Nobody has seen him since, and that means he hasn’t given an alibi for that day. Is there proof that it was him? Absolutely not. But you can’t deny it makes sense.’

‘Okay.’ Sean breathes deeply, then cups his mouth with stress. ‘So let’s say it’s the killer who left that note on our pillow.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.