All Fall Down: A Gripping Psychological Thriller With A Twist That Will Take Your Breath Away by Tom Bale

Author:Tom Bale [Bale, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture

* * *

Rob couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt as nervous as this. On the way back from the pub they’d discussed the timing of the announcement, and Wendy had suggested leaving it a day or two. She’d been taken aback when Rob flatly rejected that idea.

‘The kids aren’t stupid – they’ll soon realise something’s up.’

Then she admitted that Evan had virtually said as much this morning, in the café. Wendy had avoided giving him a straight answer. ‘I didn’t think it was right to tell him without everyone being present.’

Rob wondered if there was a different reason – that Wendy wasn’t as committed to the decision as she made out. To her it must have seemed like a pretty cheap tactic on his part, to go from pleading for more time to urging her to get it over with. Perhaps there was some truth to that, but his main desire was to avoid prolonging the agony.

His insides were churning throughout the meal. He kept expecting Wendy to say something, but found he couldn’t find it in him to prompt her. Afterwards Georgia made her usual dash for freedom, and the twins agreed to wash up.

Taking refuge in the living room, Rob poured himself a brandy. Breaking out the hard stuff would be the usual joke here, but neither of them said it.

‘Pour me a small one, would you?’ Wendy said.

Rob nearly dropped the bottle when someone knocked on the door. They had no close friends up here, no neighbours to speak of. . .

‘Who’d be coming round at this time of night?’ Wendy asked, and they both looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. It was nine fifteen.

Rob kept hold of the bottle as he marched into the hall. The front door was solid timber but there was a pane of glass in the panel to the left, partially frosted, with just enough clarity to get an impression of the person standing on the front step.

It was a man, of medium height and build, and possibly quite old. He appeared to be alone.

‘Think it’s all right,’ Rob said. Probably someone whose car had broken down on the main road.

His hand was on the latch when the twins burst from the kitchen. Josh started to speak but the words didn’t form quickly enough, and Rob’s brain simply wasn’t capable of responding in time.

What he realised later – for all the good it did – was that Josh had been trying to shout: Don’t open the door.

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