Chapter 13 #2
I want to yell at him to snap out of this, that it’s just a house and there are plenty of others, but the distraught look on his face stops me. ‘I’ll keep your secret,’ I say. ‘But you need to do something for me.’
He looks up and sighs. ‘Blackmail.’
‘No. I want the truth. Someone’s been getting into my house. They poisoned Willow and lit candles in my bedroom. The whole house could have gone up in flames. And . . . whoever’s doing this is trying to destroy my marriage, too.’
Rufus screws up his face. ‘And you think it’s Eleanor? Because I can tell you right now, my wife wouldn’t—’
‘I don’t know what to think. I just want the truth.’ Before something happens to me.
‘And what do you think I can do? I’m not going to accuse my wife of poisoning a dog.’
‘I want you to keep an eye on her. Go through her stuff. See if you can find anything that proves she’s doing this to me.’
He shakes his head. ‘No way. Never. I’m not betraying my wife.’
‘No, you’re just deceiving her about what you do every day. How is that better? What would she do if she found out? Five months is a long time to lie to someone. Eleanor doesn’t strike me as the type who’d take that kind of thing well. Especially when you’ve ended her dream to have a child.’
He closes his eyes for a moment. ‘It wasn’t like that,’ he insists. ‘All the IVF was taking a toll on her. I said no more to protect her. I was . . . hoping it would still happen naturally, but well . . .’
I read into his silence. ‘Doesn’t it bother you that she’s been sleeping with Giles?’
He sniffs and looks away. And I realise that he’s not just physically turning away.
‘You’re not going to say anything about it, are you? Because it’s Giles. What hold does he have over you all?’
There’s no response.
‘Do you know who the woman in my sketch is?’
‘No idea,’ Rufus says, too quickly. ‘And if you’ve said all you’ve got to say, then I’m leaving.’ He stands, leaving his coffee on the table.
‘I’ll be in touch,’ I say.
There is no reply, only the sound of the door swinging closed behind him.
It’s nearly three o’clock when I get back to Silverleaf Heights and, as I pull up to the gate, a creeping sense of foreboding sets in. I remind myself I’ve made some progress today; I’ve got through to Rufus. Or backed him into a corner.
I roll down the window and key in the security code, surprised when nothing happens. I know the code is 2 6 5 1. Rufus told me it the other morning when I couldn’t get out as I’d been trying an old code.
Nothing happens when I try again, and I slam my hand against the steering wheel. This isn’t a coincidence, and I haven’t forgotten the code. I wrote it in my notes on my phone, just in case I am having issues with my memory, but Johnny has my phone so I can’t check.
I send a message to the WhatsApp group, explaining I’m locked out and asking if anyone can let me in. I’ve already informed the group that I lost my phone and will be using this number for now, but other than Georgia’s smiley-face emoji, no one responded.
Praying that she’s home and checks her messages, I sit in the car and wait. Sooner or later, someone will come in or out.
When ten minutes pass, I check my phone to see if anyone’s read my message. Everyone except Leo and Georgia has. Yet no one has replied. I shouldn’t be surprised at this; although outwardly friendly, most of the neighbours have kept their distance from me.
In the rearview mirror, a man appears, walking towards the gate. As he gets closer, I realise it’s Declan. With relief surging through me, I jump out of the car. ‘Hi. I can’t get in. I think the code’s been changed.’
‘Yeah, it was. This morning. Didn’t you get the message? Mum told me it was sent in the WhatsApp group. She keeps trying to get me to join it, but there’s no way.’
I check my phone, but there’s nothing on there about the code being changed. ‘I must have missed it. Who decides when the code needs changing?’
‘Giles is in charge of all that.’ Declan offers a sympathetic smile.
‘Well, the new code is seven, two, four, six,’ he says, punching it into the keypad.
Instantly the gate springs to life, and I rush back to my car and drive through, while Declan follows on foot.
Inside, I stop to put the number in my phone, even though it’s pointless.
Giles can lock me out whenever he chooses.
Either this is a warning to keep quiet about Eleanor, or it’s revenge for Willow becoming ill at my house.
Georgia has been updating me on Willow’s progress and the dog seems to be doing well, but that doesn’t mean Giles will forget what happened.
‘Thanks,’ I say, when Declan catches up with me. ‘How often does Giles change it?’
‘Not often. Every few months, I guess. Kinda odd he’s changed it twice in the past few weeks.’
I thank him again and pull through to my drive. He makes his way over to me. ‘Do you want my number? In case this happens again and I’m not around.’
I nod gratefully and get out of the car.
‘I know you’re struggling with this place,’ Declan says after reciting his number.
‘I just want you to know that I get it. It’s like I said; people change when they move in here.
’ He grimaces. ‘I know that sounds bat-shit crazy, but I don’t know how else to say it.
It’s like they feel so privileged to have been accepted that they lose their heads.
That’s not me, though. We must be the only two people around here who are on the fringes—’
He stops short when Eleanor’s car pulls up to the gate. We watch as she drives in and parks up. She waves at Declan, ignoring me, and he gives a nod of his head.
‘What do you know about Eleanor?’ I ask, watching her scurry into her house.
He shrugs. ‘Not much. She’s Mum’s friend. Bit quiet. Comes across as aloof, as if she thinks she’s better than us.’ He studies me. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘I just get the feeling I’m not her favourite person.’
Before he can respond, Declan’s phone rings. ‘Sorry, need to get that. Take care, Ria.’
Declan walks off, clasping his phone to his ear, and I head towards my house, preparing to be suffocated by emptiness and isolation. And fear. Everyone will know I’m alone – and I’m sure there will be more threats.
Inside the house, I double-lock the door and make myself some toast. While I’m eating, I send Leo a message.
Hope you had a good flight. Good luck speaking tomorrow.
He’s due to land soon, and the first thing he’ll do when the plane touches down is check his emails in case there’s any news about his patients.
The doorbell rings when I’m clearing away, and I freeze. It takes a moment to compose myself: nobody wishing me harm would ring the doorbell. Still, I rush to the living-room window first, relieved to see Georgia standing there, studying her nails.
‘Hi,’ I say, opening the door. ‘Come in.’
She looks around. ‘Sorry, I can’t stay. I just wanted to . . . I heard what happened with Eleanor.’
‘She lied to Giles. Those candles are proof that she—’
‘Ria, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what’s going on – and Eleanor can be .
. . difficult to get on with, but . . . I have to stay out of this.
’ She gives an apologetic wince. ‘Patrick and I worked too hard to get this house. To make a life for ourselves in Silverleaf. And Giles . . . we like him. We like what he’s trying to achieve here.
I just can’t . . .’ Her unfinished sentence hovers between us, a blunt finale.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she says. And I can tell from the way she avoids eye contact that she means it. ‘I really like you, Ria. But I’ve got my family to think about.’
‘I’m telling the truth about everything, Georgia.’
She waits a beat before she answers. ‘It doesn’t matter what I believe. I can’t make things difficult around here. I hope you understand. Bye, Ria.’ She turns and hurries across the green, disappearing into her house without a glance back.
Georgia was an ally in this place, even if she did try to warn me to be careful what I said. There’s still Declan, I think. And Rufus won’t do anything to risk me exposing his secret.
Upstairs, I run a bath and climb inside, hoping the hot water will relax me.
By the time I get out, I’m fuelled with renewed hope: Johnny will hopefully trace where that fake video of me was sent from.
Then I’ll go straight to the police to make sure Eleanor, or whoever it is, is held accountable for this campaign she’s waging against me.
The only thing I can’t understand is why she’s doing it.
If it was Giles, I’d understand his motive: to protect the reputation of Silverleaf Heights at all costs.
What disturbs me is why Eleanor wants me to stay silent about the woman I saw on the green.
This is what I need to focus on while I wait for news from Johnny.
The doorbell rings again, and I jolt up, grabbing my towel and scrambling to pull on my dressing gown.
Assuming it’s Georgia again, I’m shocked to see Xander standing on my doorstep. Dread creeps over me when I realise that he might be here with news about Willow, sent by Giles because he can’t bear to come himself.
‘What’s happened?’ I ask, breathless.
He frowns. ‘Um, I was hoping to catch Leo.’ He glances past me. ‘He’s usually home by now, right?’
‘He’s got a conference in America. He left this morning.’
‘Oh, that’s right.’
‘Can I help with anything?’
Xander pauses. ‘Actually, can I come in for a minute? I’m a bit worried about Giles.’
‘Is Willow okay? Georgia said she’s doing well.’
‘She’s fine. I spoke to Giles this morning.’
Relief floods through me. ‘Come in, then.’
Before I’ve even closed the door, I feel the urge to defend myself. ‘I didn’t leave anything out that Willow could have swallowed.’
Xander holds up his hands. ‘Hey, I’m not here to make accusations. I’m worried about you, that’s all. People are getting ruffled. There’s a lot of tension around the place.’
I let out a deep sigh. ‘Would you like coffee? Or is it too late?’
‘That would be great – thanks.’
His phone rings and he pulls it out and frowns. ‘Sorry. Work. Need to take this.’
‘I’ll get that coffee,’ I say, leaving him to it.
When I come back, Xander is standing by the door. ‘I’m so sorry, Ria, I need to rush home to sort this issue out. And today was supposed to be a day off.’ He gestures to the mugs I’m holding. ‘Sorry about the coffee.’
Once he’s gone, I spend the next hour at my desk, losing myself in a sketch of Silverleaf Heights.
Something compels me to draw it, even though I’ve begun to loathe this place.
When it’s finished, I lean back and study it, making a note of the things I haven’t quite got right.
There’s more space between each house, and I haven’t captured the isolating feel of the road, but I put it aside.
Right now I’m exhausted, and I need to grab sleep while I can.
A text comes through from Leo, letting me know he landed safely and is at his hotel. He says he hopes I’m okay, but there’s no question mark inviting a response.
I stand and peer through the blinds, surprised when I see movement on the green.
All the neighbours have gathered out there, except for Declan, and I watch as they make their way to Giles’s.
Reaching for my phone, I check the WhatsApp group, but there’s been no mention of any meeting or social gathering.
And still no reply to my request for help with the security gate earlier.
They’ve deliberately excluded me, even though Leo added my new number to the group. Maybe they’ve set up a separate group without me and Leo.
Across the green, in Georgia’s house, there’s a light on in an upstairs window, which I assume must be Declan’s. I consider going over there to ask him if he knows anything, but I’m convinced I’d be seen, and I don’t want Declan getting into trouble.
I message Leo to tell him what’s happening and watch my phone to see when he reads it. But five minutes later, it’s still unread.
When it’s clear that no one is leaving Giles’s house any time soon, I brush my teeth, then check every window and door in the house before climbing into bed.
I’m wide awake and alert, staring wide-eyed at the ceiling, a sliver of fear running through me.
It haunts me to think of the lies Eleanor could be making them believe about me.
Just as I’m drifting to sleep, my phone buzzes. Snatching it from the bedside table, I scramble to key in my passcode, hoping it’s Leo.
But it’s not, it’s a message from Alicia, Xander’s ex, who didn’t turn up for coffee the other morning.
Ria, I sent you a WhatsApp but didn’t hear back so found you on Messenger. Sorry it’s late, but can we talk? I think there are some things you need to know.