Page 101 of The Last One to See Him

FORTY-SIX

TUESDAY 4 FEBRUARY

There’s terror on Rowan’s face as Kate pushes the knife against his skin. ‘Tell me about Jamie Archer,’ she says. She unfolds the receipt she found in the box of Jamie’s things. ‘This is a receipt from your practice – I know he was a patient of yours.’

Rowan says nothing and closes his eyes.

‘Was it you who killed him?’ Kate says. ‘Talk!’ She presses harder on the knife, feels his body tense underneath it. ‘Why did you do it?’

‘You should never have blackmailed me, Kate. Don’t you get it? Everything that happened to Jamie is because of you. If you’d just left me alone and gone to another therapist, he’d still be alive now. I kept telling you I couldn’t be your therapist any more. You’re the reason we’re all in this…this mess.’

Kate stares at him, open-mouthed. She’d wanted Rowan to tell her that she’s wrong, that he had nothing to do with Jamie’s murder and it’s just a coincidence that he was one of Rowan’s patients, just like she was. Wasn’t it Rowan who’d insisted that coincidences happen? But looking at him now, Kate knows that’s not the truth.

‘Is this about Graham White?’ she demands. ‘Did you know him? Are you something to do with him? All those times you tried to convince me that he could have nothing to do with Jamie ending up dead! That was all to protect yourself!’

‘Please lower that knife so I can talk?’

Kate ignores him. ‘It was you who set fire to my house, wasn’t it? All of it…you did all those things. You’re the one who took my house keys from Jamie’s flat. And you attacked me this evening.’

‘Accusations without proof are meaningless, aren’t they? You should know that.’ Rowan glares at her.

‘My son was in the house. He could have died. And his friend too.’

‘But he wasn’t supposed to be in the house, was he? Whose fault is it that you changed your plans? Just lower that knife, Kate, if you want me to talk.’

‘How… how did you know the plan changed?’

‘Because I’ve made it my business to know every single thing you do.’

For a moment Kate doesn’t move. Every move Rowan makes is cold and calculated – how could he have been the one person she trusted above anyone else? But if she wants him to talk, she needs to play along. She lowers her hand, but keeps a tight grip on the knife.

‘You’re so deeply traumatised by that man,’ Rowan says, ‘that it clouds your judgement. Jamie had nothing to do with Graham White, and neither do I.’

They’d still be alive now.

They?

Faye Held.

Before Kate can question him, Rowan thrusts his chair back, knocking her off balance. The knife crashes to the floor, landing by his feet. Kate lunges towards it, but Rowan is too fast, swiping it up and rushing towards her, plunging the knife into her stomach. Kate doubles over. Ignoring the searing pain, she picks up a vase of flowers from the table and hurls it at Rowan’s face. It thuds against his head then smashes to the floor. Anger flashes across his face and Kate knows she has to run.

Making for the door, she reaches for the handle just as Rowan grabs her legs and drags her down, her bones crashing against the tiled floor. And for a fleeting moment it’s not Rowan’s face she sees but Graham White’s. But unlike Graham, Rowan is guilty, and she will kill him if that’s what she has to do to get out of here alive.

Rowan sits on her stomach, pressing down on her with all his weight, slamming his fist into her face, over and over until the edges of her consciousness begin to darken. And the pain in her abdomen in excruciating. She tries to kick out but he’s overpowering her. Why isn’t he using the knife? That would be quicker. And then she feels it against her neck. Kate closes her eyes and stays still. Her only hope now is to try and reason with him – maybe some minuscule part of him might care about her after what they had.

Someone is screaming. It must be Kate, but her mouth is closed. Rowan stops, the pressure of his body on hers easing.

More screams. Rowan shouting. A woman’s voice, urgent, frantic. Then footsteps running.

Someone kneels beside her. ‘Kate? Can you hear me? It’s Daniella. Please, let me know if you can hear me.’

Kate opens her eyes to find Rowan’s wife peering at her. It takes a huge effort, but she attempts to nod.

‘Good.’ Daniella stands up and grabs a kitchen towel from the worktop, pressing it down over Kate’s stomach. ‘You’re safe now. I’m calling the ambulance. They’ll be here any?—’

The doorbell rings, and Daniella jolts up. ‘That was too quick.’

‘Don’t let him in,’ Kate says.

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