Chapter 56
FIFTY-SIX
NATALIA
I’m growing impatient as I wait for Jemma to call back. Checking the phone when it finally rings, I hurry across to where Kara sits on the sofa, watching my every move. ‘It’s her,’ I say. ‘You need to speak to her.’
‘And say what?’ She looks dubiously from the phone to me. ‘She won’t be able to talk now. Andrew will be home.’
‘Just tell her you know what she’s been up to. That you intend to speak to Andrew. That should have her around here like a shot.’ Giving her a warning glance, I accept the call, make sure it’s on speaker and press the phone to her ear.
‘Kara?’ Jemma’s uncertain tones emerge from it. ‘Is something wrong? Jack’s called me and I noticed some missed calls from you. I would have rung you back sooner but we were eating dinner. Is everything all right, sweetheart? I’m a bit concerned.’
‘Tell her,’ I mouth. I can almost see the wheels going round as Kara stares up at me. She’s wondering whether she should try to alert Jemma to what’s happening. Shit. Panic surges inside me. ‘Evie,’ I whisper, my eyes drilling meaningfully into hers.
‘Kara, are you there?’ Jemma’s tone grows wary. ‘Is everything—’
‘I know about Jack,’ Kara blurts. ‘I know everything,’ she adds, tears escaping her eyes to roll wetly down her cheeks.
There’s nothing but stunned silence from Jemma. Then, ‘Don’t judge me, Kara,’ she says shakily. ‘Please, don’t say anything to Andrew,’ she begs. ‘I’m not proud of—’
‘Jemma?’ I hear Andrew’s voice in the background. ‘Are you all right in there?’
‘Yes. Won’t be long,’ Jemma trills back. She’s in the bathroom, I gather, as I hear the loo flush. ‘I’m coming to see you,’ she says, speaking more quietly to Kara. ‘I’ll be there as soon as the children are in bed. We need to talk.’
Kara nods, relief flooding her features. I pull the phone away and end the call. The wheels will be spinning now. No doubt she’s thinking that Jemma will be able to assist her in some way. I’m going to have to play this very carefully.
‘Where’s Evie?’ she asks again as I pocket her phone. ‘What have you done to her?’
I note the fearful edge to her voice, and as much as I would rather she wasn’t, I realise that Evie is my collateral. ‘I’ve told you, she’s safe… for the moment. She’s sleeping,’ I add, sure that will focus her attention. ‘Worn out with all the stress, I imagine.’
‘You haven’t drugged her, have you?’ Kara’s face is ashen as she tries to raise herself from the sofa.
Riled by her immediate assumption that I would actually harm my own daughter, I step towards her and shove her back down. ‘I’m her mother, not you!’ I hiss. ‘I’ve only ever done what’s best for her. It’s you who’s damaged her, you and the man who claims to care for her.’
She says nothing, but simply stares at me, her expression growing mutinous, and I realise I’m going to have to up the threat.
Clearly she thinks she can outsmart me – someone who’s survived on wit alone since her husband’s attempt to murder her.
I don’t think so. Does she not appreciate all I went through to achieve what I knew I had to?
At first, I’d hoped they would charge him with killing me, even without a body as evidence.
Then I’d agonised whether to come forward and tell the police what the bastard had done.
I soon dissuaded myself, knowing they would never believe me.
Jack would have convinced them otherwise.
He’s far too clever with his sob stories and his lies.
He would have convinced them I had tried to commit suicide, that I was unhinged, and where would that have got me? Alienated from my own daughter.
It wasn’t going to happen again. This time, I would win. I would outsmart this ridiculously na?ve woman. I would outsmart him.
‘Stay there,’ I instruct, spinning around to head for the kitchen. ‘It was me, by the way, who left the locket for you to find,’ I call back as I select the largest carving knife from the rack. ‘It was a nice little memento of me, don’t you think?’
She doesn’t answer.
‘I wanted to shake things up a bit. Give you cause to wonder whether you might have been a little bit hasty getting involved with him. I wanted Jack shaken up too, obviously. It worked, I think. I also left the video of your son playing – such a beautiful little boy,’ I add with a sorrowful sigh as I walk back.
‘I thought that would be enough to remind you what a complete failure you are as a mother. Because that’s what you are, aren’t you? ’
Her pretty green eyes are frozen wide with terror as I press the tip of the knife to her throat. ‘Aren’t you?’
She nods. Not the best idea. I wince as the sharp point pierces her delicate skin. I draw it away. ‘Turn around,’ I tell her.
Petrified, clearly, she doesn’t budge. ‘I need to untie you,’ I explain, giving her a short smile. ‘And then when your two-faced slutty friend, who claimed to be my friend, arrives, you do everything I tell you, no more, no less. Understand?’
She nods more vigorously as I take a tissue from my pocket and press it to her neck.