Safe Word by Charlotte Barnes

Author:Charlotte Barnes [Barnes, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Gathered around Jessa and Umi’s firepit, I felt more like a recently initiated member of a coven than I ever had before – and that included the mock-up animal sacrifice I’d made of a Barbie in Mum’s back garden, aged eight.

It was the evening after Fin and I had talked through the details of Eliah; although it had felt less like a talk and more like a thorough interview that put Fendley’s skills to shame. Had the circumstances been different, I might have suggested Fin consider a career change, but it didn’t seem like a comment he’d take with the intended whimsy.

When Xara had called that night, she told me Nicole had been pulled in for questioning ‘under shady circumstances’. She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t know whether it was tension building or whether she just hadn’t had the time to magpie at the evidence. But she’d text soon after to suggest wine and whines at Jessa and Umi’s so I thought there was gossip afoot, if not actual information to be shared.

‘Why are you suddenly so close to them?’ Fin had asked when I mentioned going.

Because it pays to be. ‘Because I’m lonely.’

There’d been a long silence before he’d answered. ‘Fine, go.’

Nothing more was said about my being out. Although he soon decided that he may as well be out himself if I weren’t around. I murmured my agreement and swallowed the salt-bitter urge to ask him if he wouldn’t mind giving my best to Irene.

I’d expected to see him before I left for drinks, but Fin didn’t come home from work that evening. While I got ready for my night across the road, I imagined him and Irene leaving work together. Did everyone know? I wondered. Did they leave, hand in hand, without a care for who might see them? The thought had caused such a turn in me that I had to put a pause on applying my eyeliner for fear that I’d blind myself. My grandmother might have said that would be an eye for an eye. When my hand was steady again, I restarted in drawing my face on but I still couldn’t shake the wonder – not of what they were doing, only who knew they were doing it. Was that the type of housewife I was? The one spoken of in hushed tones, pity-laden, with former colleagues questioning how I could possibly not know what my husband was–

‘Agnes, are you okay?’

The thoughts had followed me from front door to front door, and I’d missed much of the conversation about holidays, diets and what everyone thought of the quiche.

‘I’m sorry, I’ve been away with the fairies all day. Has anyone heard from Nicole?’ I leaned across to take another triangle from the plate of prepared food that sat between me and Jessa. Umi had made quiche from Nicole’s recipe; a homage to the fallen woman. It was tasteless but at least it kept my mouth busy.

‘I wondered when we’d get on to that.’ Jessa sat forward and spread her palms in front of the open flames.

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.