Page 126 of The Girl in the Woods

Ray had been acting oddly again all day. He’d been like it since their barbecue. When she’d asked what was wrong, he’d blamed work. Now, suddenly, just as Sandy was preparing dinner, he said he had to go out. She had heard his phone ping seconds before, and her heart had sunk. So it was another woman. After all they’d sacrificed to get where they were, he was going to throw it away? For what? A young nurse at the clinic or an intern at the psychiatric ward? Christ, she’d put her dreams on hold so he could study. They finally had it all, and he was just going to throw it away.

‘Where do you have to go to this time of night?’ she’d asked.

He’d looked irritated. ‘It’s work. A difficult patient.’

‘Surely someone else there can handle it?’ she’d said.

‘They can’t,’ he’d snapped.

Sandy couldn’t ever remember him snapping at her like that before. She had been tearful ever since Miriam Bradshaw had mentioned the other woman. The thought of Ray leaving her and Zoe was unbearable. That afternoon, not even knowing why, she’d taken the shotgun after feeding the chickens. She had no intention of using it. She was just feeling depressed and hurt. Tomorrow, I’ll put it back, she’d told herself.

She phoned their babysitter, Bridget, and said they had an emergency. Could she come and sit with Zoe? She’d pay her double. If Ray was having an affair, she wanted to know who it was with. Bridget said yes immediately, but she was at a friend’s house and would have to get a taxi.

Not wanting to sound desperate, Sandy had told her that was fine. She could trace Ray’s movements on her phone. He’s forgotten that, she thought.

Then, a horrible thought went through her mind. What if he’d turned the tracking off? She checked. He hadn’t.

Bridget arrived thirty minutes later, and after checking her phone, Sandy left. She was surprised to see that Ray had gone to the playing fields. She noticed two other cars were parked there. So he was meeting someone.

She parked her car down a side road. He’d lied to her. How long had it been going on for? Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed. He’d broken her heart and ruined their happy family.

There was no sign of anyone at the playing fields, so she began the walk through the woods and then suddenly slid to the ground, clutching the shotgun, the dry leaves beneath her still warm from the day’s hot sun.

Did she really want to know who it was? Hiccupping between sobs, she finally pulled herself up. Why was he meeting her in the woods? It didn’t make sense. He can afford the best hotels, she thought cynically.

As she neared the cabin, she heard voices and recognised Ana Rawlins. From their conversation, she knew it wasn’t a love tryst. She heard Laine Lees’s name mentioned and froze. The more she listened, the more the adrenalin charged through her.

A rush of emotions smothered Sandy until she could barely breathe. Her hands wouldn’t stop fidgeting, and her jaw hurt where she’d been clenching it. Why would Ray do this to her?

Jonny crept towards the hut. Cautiously, he inched his way around the other side of the building and peered in through one of the dusty windows. He had to fight back his gasp at seeing Ray tied to a chair like a hostage. What the fuck? Was that a knife Ana was holding at his throat? Before he had time to react, Sandy bolted into the room and aimed the shotgun at Ana’s head.

‘Stop,’ she yelled.

Without hesitation, Jonny dived in after her. Hearing the door creak, Sandy swung around, and Jonny quickly raised his hands.

‘Drop that,’ said Sandy, nodding at the car jack.

Jonny let it slip to the floor. His eyes met Ana’s, and she nodded at the ground. He partly followed her gaze, one eye still on the shotgun. He then saw the taser sticking out of Ana’s jacket.

‘You won’t get away with this, Sandy,’ said Ana, trying to get her attention away from Jonny. ‘Think of Zoe. If you’re caught, she’ll lose both of you. I understand what you’re going through, Sandy.’

‘No, you don’t,’ said Sandy, turning back to Ana, whom she now had difficulty focusing on through her tears. Poor Zoe, what had they done to her?

‘Show me the videos.’

‘No,’ yelled Ray. ‘Put the gun down, Sandy, please. Let me explain,’ he pleaded.

A sudden surge of adrenalin rushed through Ana as Jonny moved closer to get at the taser.

‘Don’t look at them,’ said Ana.

‘You should have left us alone,’ said Sandy. Her hand shook as she lifted the shotgun. Shaking hands cause accidents, and there was a good chance Sandy would pull the trigger in error. Ana didn’t have much time. She nodded at Jonny, realising it was simply a matter of seconds before her life would be over.

‘We had a good life. Why couldn’t you have left us alone?’ Sandy snarled. ‘You’ve ruined our life,’ she screamed at Ray. ‘How could you?’

‘She’s lying, Sandy,’ he said, his voice hoarse.

Sandy kept the shotgun aimed at Ana. ‘Show me the videos,’ she demanded.

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