Page 100 of The House Guest

‘No. I hated him. I was using him.’

But she stared at the counter as she said this and I wasn’t sure if I believed her.

‘What about Gabriel?’ I asked. ‘Are you happy he’s dead?’

‘Oh yes. That gave me great pleasure.’

‘Even though he never faced justice?’

She scoffed. ‘There isn’t enough justice in the world. I told you ... the way he treated women. The things he made us do. All of us.’ She stared out at the ocean. ‘I hope he felt those bullets. I hope it hurt.’

My phone, which was lying on the counter, lit up. A message from Ruth. She was a little earlier than expected.

I’m home. Can you open Fort Knox?

I went to the door and let her in, and said, ‘We’ve got a visitor.’

Eden had followed me out to the hallway. The two women stood facing each other for a moment, and then Ruth said, ‘Is it time?’

‘It is,’ Eden replied.

Ruth nodded. She was acting like someone who had just been delivered news she’d been expecting for a long time. News that required action.

I looked from one of them to the other. ‘What are you talking about?’

Ruth walked into the kitchen. She reached into a top cupboard and took down a bottle of gin. She poured some into a glass and knocked it back, then refilled the glass. She poured a glass for Eden too.

‘Want some?’ she said to me.

I stared at her.

‘Suit yourself.’

‘Ruth, what’s going on?’ I said.

She sat down at the counter, where Eden had been sitting. Eden stood close by, waiting expectantly. Ruth downed another mouthful of gin.

‘I made her a promise,’ she said to me. ‘When I was tied to Gabriel’s bed.’

I remembered what she’d said about promising to help Eden.

She swivelled on the stool towards Eden. ‘And anyway, I want to do it.’ Her eyes shone. ‘I really want to do it.’

‘Do what?’ I asked.

‘You tell him,’ Ruth said to Eden.

Eden smiled. She was jiggling from foot to foot with barely suppressed excitement. ‘We’re starting our own network,’ she said.

I waited for them to laugh.

I kept waiting.

‘Very funny.’

‘It’s not a joke, Adam. I’m serious.’

‘She’s deadly serious,’ said Ruth.

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