Page 23 of She Saw What He Did

She looked out to sea. She had hoped they would spot the Miller’s boat heading back but there was nothing. Why would they stay so late at the island? You couldn’t see much once it started to get dark.

‘No boats,’ she said despondently.

‘Not this weather,’ remarked Roy.

Ellen saw the lighthouse in the distance.

‘That’s it,’ she yelled, above the wind.

Roy nodded.

It can’t be kids, thought Ellen. How would kids get here? She started to regret coming alone. She should have called Ryan.

‘No sign of a boat though,’ observed Roy, steering towards the island. Ellen wasn’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing. Perhaps they were back at the quay. Surely, they would have passed them. Ellen tried not to think of anything bad. Bad things didn’t happen on the islands.

Chapter Sixteen

Abby

I don’t know how long I’ve sat by the window. It was all a waste of time. I don’t know how many times I flashed the camera, but the battery is now completely flat. No one is going to come and help us. The man has gone, I feel sure of that. I’d heard the boat start up. But gone where? There’s a sour taste in my mouth and hot tears behind my eyelids. He’s bound to come back and maybe with someone else. Fear knots my stomach. Jared moans again and the tears fall like gentle raindrops down my cheeks. We’re going to die here, at the top of an old lighthouse, and I can’t even tell Sam how much I love her.

‘Abby,’ mumbles Jared.

I drop the camera and limp to him. I look into his vacant eyes.

‘Forgive me,’ he whispers.

‘Oh Jared, please … there’s nothing to forgive.’

‘I was stupid, bloody stupid. It’s you I love. It’s always only ever been you.’

‘I know,’ I say tearfully. ‘Jared …’

I stop at the sound of a distant engine. My heart sinks. What if he’s come back? I look around for a weapon but there’s nothing. I pull my sweaty hand from Jared’s and hobble to the window.

There’s a boat and two people are climbing from it. One of them is a woman. The man is shorter than the murderer.

‘Oh God, Jared, I think someone’s coming to help us,’ I sob.

*

Ellen looked around before climbing from the boat. She’d expected to see a boat moored at the jetty. There were no flashing lights from the lighthouse now. Roy followed her gaze.

‘I’d better take a look inside,’ said Ellen.

‘I’ll show you the way,’ said Roy, leading her to a path.

‘You don’t want to be climbing up that wet slope,’ he said. ‘It’s a bit further along but an easier route to the old lighthouse.’

Ellen faithfully followed. Roy was quite slow, and it was all Ellen could do not to hurry ahead of him. The rain was hammering down now and by the time they reached the entrance, they were both drenched.

‘Flipping Nora,’ grumbled Roy, panting. ‘That sure is pissing it down.’

Ellen pushed at the door. It was stuck. She pushed again but it wouldn’t budge.

‘It can’t be locked,’ she said frowning.

‘Nah, it’s not locked,’ he agreed. ‘Let me try.’

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