Deep Water by Mark Ayre (best free ebook reader txt) 📗

Now, memories of Bobby fought their way to the top. That smile, the easy flow of their conversations, the lightness in her heart when they spoke.

He made her happy.

That was the problem, wasn't it? Abbie wasn't supposed to be happy. She was supposed to save lives.

And that was precisely what she was going to do.

Twelve

Shivering and starving, Abbie woke a little over four hours later, at a few minutes past one in the afternoon.

The moment she woke, still groggy from sleep, the memories swamped her, covered her, tried to drag her down. Most people would have submitted to the past's deadly power and would have remained in bed, wallowing for hours if not days. Experienced in the art of defeating black thoughts, Abbie dragged herself from bed and forced herself to take her second shower in five hours.

Once the hot water had overpowered both the lingering effects of sleep and the dark thoughts that gathered like black clouds across her mind, Abbie got out, dried, and grabbed something to eat. Since falling asleep, Bobby had text twice. Without reading the messages, Abbie deleted the notifications and left the hotel.

No one else had texted. Abbie had hoped Alice would get in touch while she slept. That she hadn't meant Abbie had to tackle the problem from a different angle. For the time being, she would try not to worry about whether Alice was closer to giving up or fighting. That could come later.

For now, plan B.

On the hotel's doorstep, Abbie shielded her eyes from the watery sun and surveyed her surroundings. Someone was watching her. When she saw who it was, she smiled and shook her head. When she set off, they followed, but that was okay. She would deal with them later.

After returning to the beachfront, Abbie took the same route she had when following Jacob a few hours ago. Upon arriving at Louis' house, she reconnoitred the place. No gardeners or window cleaners outside. Only one car in the drive; too expensive, too new, to belong to a maid or cleaner. Sneaking into the garden, Abbie circled the property. Louis' downstairs seemed deserted. The man himself might have gone for a walk. Someone might have picked him up, or he could have a second car. Abbie hoped he was upstairs, preferably in bed, sleeping off a hangover. People were easier to deal with the morning after a night of heavy drinking.

There was no sign of the children, but that was as expected. If the teenagers were in, they would probably be in their rooms. Abbie hoped they were at school. Kyle almost certainly was. Jacob had returned so late he might have bunked. Hopefully, Louis wasn't the sort to let that happen.

Completing a final loop of the house, Abbie stopped by the side door through which Jacob had earlier entered. There was no time to waste. Even now, Angel could be planning her revenge against Louis; Ana might be readying another strike against Jacob. Depressed following her confrontations with two of her daughters, Alice would be growing ever more agitated. By the time it came to the meeting with Louis, she might be ready to kill him the second she saw him, rather than wait to hear if he was guilty.

Abbie couldn't let that happen. Not if she wanted to keep Alice alive.

As Abbie crouched in front of the door Tony had attempted to lockpick, she heard the creak of iron as her tail stepped into the garden. Rolling her eyes, she set to work. Fifteen seconds later, the door was open.

"—and that," she said, standing but not looking over her shoulder. "Is how you pick a lock." She paused. "This kind of lock anyway. There are plenty of doors on which that would not work. Also padlocks and safes. Obviously. Were you filming?"

There was stunned silence, then a meek voice, like a child caught shaking his Christmas presents, trying to guess what lay inside.

"When did you spot me?"

"On the hotel's doorstep," said Abbie. She turned to see Tony's shocked expression. "Oh, come on, you're a rubbish tail. If I didn't love to show off, I'd have taken you by the ear when I first saw you and dragged you home to mummy. I still might. It's a half-hour trek. Imagine how much that would hurt."

Tony bowed his head, which did not hide the flush of his cheeks.

"Don't do that," Abbie said. "I'm teasing."

Tony forced his head up. Still, he was not ready to speak.

As always, Abbie was.

"Why are you here?"

"I want to help."

A shot of frustration flashed through Abbie.

"And you could have, by doing what I asked. By staying with your mum. Where is she now?"

"At the house. No one will attack her there. She's safe."

"She's not safe; she's depressed, and for the depressed, loneliness is often the greatest enemy. Earlier today, Ana lied to Alice, then Angel told her she had been an awful mother to Aurora."

"That's rubbish," said Tony.

"It is, but that's not the point. Your mum's in a dark place. I wanted you to remind her she still has children who love her, children who need her. I wanted you to remind her she has reasons to live. That's how you could have helped. That was your part, not following me and getting in my way. Did you at least ask her to send someone to look out for Jacob and Kyle, like I asked?"

Tony's head bowed again. His silence spoke volumes. When Abbie didn't speak, he moved the conversation on.

"What do you mean she needs a reason to live?" he asked. "What did she say?"

Abbie sighed. Glanced at the high hedges around the garden. She and Tony were close to the building. It was unlikely any neighbours would spot them, nor anyone in the house. Not impossible. Nor was it inconceivable that someone from inside might hear them.

"This is my fault," Abbie said. "I shouldn't have let you follow me. I got too wrapped up in my