To Die For: A London murder mystery that will keep you hooked till the end (Detective Arla Baker Series Book 11) by M.L Rose

Author:M.L Rose [Rose, M.L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Arla Baker Series
Published: 2022-05-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter twenty-eight

Twenty years ago

Barry knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He knocked again and listened with his ear to the door, where he could hear footsteps. He spoke softly, so others couldn’t hear.

“Finn. I know you’re there. Open the door.”

It was evening time, and the cold was biting. The golden days of summer had rusted to fall and finally blackened to the dead cold skies of winter. A wind whistled through the windowpanes in the hallway, rattling the glass panels. The heating was hardly ever on in Kendrick House. Barry could feel his toes freezing.

“Come on, Finn. It’s cold out here. Let me in.”

Still no answer. The footsteps stopped. “At least tell me what’s up. Why are you avoiding me?”

Barry straightened as the steps approached the door, then the bolt slid back. Barry pushed the door and entered. He locked it quickly. A table lamp was on, casting a tepid yellow glow on the rough wooden table, spilling on the floor. The solitary window had its curtain drawn. Most of the room was in darkness.

Finn sat on the bed with his back to the wall, knees tucked in under his chin. Barry stood in front of him.

“What’s going on?”

Finn didn’t answer for a while, then glared at Barry and looked away again. Barry spread his hands.

“What?”

Finn still wouldn’t talk. Barry said, “Okay. If you don’t want to talk, I guess there’s no point. But I’m just trying to be your friend.”

He stood up to leave, his heart heavy. Finn was the only person here he could trust and talk to. He waited to see if the boy would speak, but Finn lowered his face.

“He hurt me.”

Barry went still. Things had happened at the castle, things Barry was ashamed of. And that shame left him confused. Andrew had told him not to tell anyone, and when Barry went to the castle, Andrew gave him money and books. He didn’t get those from anyone else.

Finn had become more withdrawn, but he didn’t know the full extent. He could guess, however.

“Who?” Barry asked without turning around.

“Eddie.”

Barry sat down on the bed. “What did he do?”

Finn told him. Barry gripped his forehead. “Andrew did the same thing to me. It hurt me as well.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Barry didn’t say anything. Finn also remained silent. They had fallen prey to fear and shame – the twin weapons in the hands of their abusers. In turn, that awful shame led to silence, due to the fear of reprisals. It’s the silence that weighed heaviest on them. They were just boys, and their innocence, and sense of trust, had been shattered for life.

Besides, if they did talk, who would listen to them? No one. Barry knew if he went to a police station, he would get laughed out. No one would take him seriously. Boys like him ended up in prison for shoplifting and selling drugs on the street. Even if a policeman did listen to him, how could he provide any proof?

Finn said, “Eddie came here last night as well.

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