Page 81 of Final Betrayal

‘What the …?’ he yelled. ‘What do you think you’re playing?—’

The words drowned in his throat as a fist smashed into his face. He felt one of his teeth crack, and blood poured from his mouth. As he attempted to stand, the second thump caught him on the side of the head, and he fell back into the hedge once again. He tried to see his assailant, but the car lights were blinding him. A kick to his stomach and a jab to his balls and he curled up with a scream. The black sky appeared to be full of twinkling stars where only a moment ago it had been boot-polish black. Then they began to disappear one by one. His eyelids drooped. He tried to focus, to see who had attacked him.

The last stars blinked out and the blackness melded into one long sheet of coal.

His eyes closed and his pain disappeared into unconsciousness.

THIRTY-NINE

Lottie could sense that something was wrong with the first step inside her front door.

‘Katie? Chloe? Sean? Where are you all?’

She burst into the kitchen. Her mother stood with her back to the counter, arms folded like a sergeant major. But the spark of mutiny that so often glinted in Rose’s eyes was missing.

‘What’s wrong? Where are the kids?’ Lottie threw her bag and jacket over the back of a chair and noticed the stack of clothes all ironed and neatly folded.

‘They’re upstairs.’

‘Why? What’s going on?’

‘They’ve eaten. There’s a plate of dinner in the microwave for you. Chloe and Sean are doing their homework, under protest, I may add, and Katie is putting Louis to bed.’

Lottie sighed with relief. ‘Oh. Thank God.’

She heard Rose move towards her. She eased past her and switched on the microwave, suddenly overcome with the need to eat.

‘We have to talk,’ Rose said, sitting down.

‘I have to eat.’

‘Don’t be so belligerent.’

‘I’m not. I’m hungry.’

She waited impatiently while the plate twirled around inside her sparkling new microwave. Hearing the ping, she took out the plate, got a knife and fork and sat down at the table opposite Rose. The steak looked appetising, and she knew the mashed potato would be full of butter and milk.

‘This is lovely. Thanks. I really appreciate it.’

‘Tell me about the coin you found in Louis’ clothes.’

‘Katie told you?’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s nothing.’

‘It’s a sign.’

‘Don’t go all superstitious.’ At least Rose didn’t know about the seeds, Lottie thought.

‘I have something to tell you,’ Rose said.

Lottie was starving and wanted nothing more than to dig into the food, but she laid down her fork. ‘Go on. Tell me.’ She looked at her mother, really looked, and saw that the lines were more deeply ingrained into her forehead and the crow’s feet seemed to have multiplied in the last year. So much had happened. So much had eaten its way into both of their hearts, and most of it had not been good. The only shining light in their lives was the birth of baby Louis just over a year ago. Her heart contracted tightly with a love tinged with fear.

Rose took a deep breath and exhaled. ‘Bernie Kelly called to my home last night.’

‘What?’ Lottie stared at her, her mouth hanging open. ‘Are you okay? Did she harm you?’ She could feel her blood beginning to bubble towards a hysterical boiling point.

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