Page 61 of She Saw What He Did

‘Oh God, Jared. What if he hurts Sam?’ I sob, collapsing into his arms.

‘We have to call the police,’ he says.

I shake my head.

‘We have to,’ he repeats.

‘No,’ I scream, pulling myself out of his arms. ‘You didn’t hear him, Jared. He was very clear. He said he wouldn’t hurt them if we do exactly what he said.’

I see Joe standing in the living room and hurry to him. I reach out, but he steps back.

‘What exactly did he say?’ he asks, not touching me.

He blames me. He’s right to. I should never have gone to the meeting.

‘It’s the box,’ I say, wiping tears from my sore eyes. ‘I said it was the box, didn’t I?’

Jared is sweating profusely. His grey shirt is drenched. It’s the stress. My heart is banging fiercely in my chest. I fiddle nervously with my wedding ring.

‘He said he’d be in touch and that Daphne and Sam wouldn’t come to any harm as long as we don’t call the police. He wants the box. We have to give him the box, Jared. He’ll let them go once he’s got it. I’m sure he will.’

‘When does he want it?’ asks Joe calmly.

‘I don’t know.’

Joe looks at Jared who is pacing the living room.

‘Shouldn’t you tell her?’ he asks.

‘Tell me what?’ I ask, breaking into a cold sweat.

‘I can’t find the box. That’s the thing. As soon as you mentioned it on the phone, I went to get it. It’s nowhere. Joe and I have turned the house upside down.’

‘It’s in Sam’s room. It’s on her dresser.’

‘It’s not,’ says Jared, his voice now calm. ‘I was hoping you’d tell us where you had put it.’

‘It has to be in her room,’ I say, alarmed.

My legs buckle beneath me and I have to wait a second before I can get them to move. I then rush upstairs. As soon as I see Sam’s room I know there is nowhere left to search. There isn’t a drawer that hasn’t been turned out. My stomach cramps at the sight of her room. I turn to strip the bed but see that Jared has already done it.

‘It isn’t here,’ he says.

‘I don’t understand,’ I whimper.

‘Think Abby. Did Sam take it with her today?’ asks Joe, grabbing me roughly by the arm.

‘No, I wouldn’t let her. It was here this morning. I saw it. This is your fault,’ I scream at Jared. ‘If you hadn’t have fucked that stupid bitch, we would never have gone to that island and Sam would be here now.’

‘Abby please,’ he begs.

I fall onto the bed and hug Sam’s toys.

‘I don’t understand. Someone must have stolen it,’ I sniff.

‘The house was locked. No one has been here, Abby.’

My befuddled brain tries to make sense of everything.

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