The Serial Killer's Wife by Alice Hunter (best romantic novels to read .txt) 📗

not convinced I should be doing this. I need to tell someone. I can’t keep this inside any longer.

‘It’s fine, Beth. This is obviously a big deal, and you telling me means a lot.’ He slides off the chair opposite and kneels in front of me, taking my clenched hands in his. I relax them, comforted by Adam’s expression of support.

‘Please, don’t think badly of me. It’s not straightforward.’

‘I understand. Go on,’ he says.

‘I know more than I’ve let on to the police.’ The words hang between us for a moment before I add the bombshell. ‘About Tom. About Katie. About her death.’

I can tell he wants to retreat. Withdraw his hands from mine. I feel a slight tug, but he doesn’t let go. Instead, he releases a long shaky breath.

‘Okay. That’s a big shock, I give you that.’ He presses his lips together into a tight line, and I’m biting my own – hoping, praying he doesn’t throw me and Poppy out. ‘When you say you know more … I mean … like, as in you know now, because of something the police have said … or you’ve always known?’

Here it is. The make or break. I could say I’ve only just found out, and maybe I’ll salvage our friendship, and my reputation. But it matters to me what he thinks. I need him on my side – so I should be truthful. Do my best to explain.

‘I found out last year,’ I say. Tears have begun dripping down my face and now land on the front of my top. Tiny, dark circles appear in the pale blue material. I watch as they blot, grow larger. ‘I didn’t believe it at first; then shock gave way to devastation. It felt like our life was one big lie. He’d literally lied to me from day one.’

‘Have you told the police now?’

I look up sharply. ‘No! How can I? I’m the only one who knows, so he’ll immediately realise it’s his own wife who’s gone against him. And if I tell them everything, Tom will definitely spend his life in prison. It’ll ruin Poppy’s life. And I’m scared if I tell them, I’ll go to prison too!’

‘What did he expect you to do?’

‘It was a terrible accident, Adam. He was broken. And if I didn’t go along with keeping it quiet, there’s no telling what he’d have done.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘He’d have been so angry, taken it out on me …’

‘As in … hurt you?’ His eyes are wide, his expression filled with shock.

‘Yes, and I couldn’t take that chance. The thought of what he might be capable of terrified me.’

‘Beth, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.’

‘No one did,’ I say, my eyes lowered. ‘It’s surprising what you can hide behind the image of a perfect life. I guess I learned how to be happy despite his behaviour. Tom has always been pretty controlling, but at the beginning it was more subtle.’

‘It sounds as though you’ve been manipulated by Tom for your entire marriage then. You’re the innocent party in all of this. The police will understand why you didn’t come forward sooner.’

I let my emotions flow; I’m sobbing now. It’s the first real release I’ve experienced for the past year. Holding onto secrets, whatever your intentions, is damaging – slowly but surely they flow through the blood in your veins, spreading their poison until they take over. If I don’t let this out, I’ll be consumed by guilt forever.

Adam stands, leans forward and pulls me to my feet, his arms wrapping around me in a tight, comforting embrace – the heat from his body radiating through mine. My body sinks into his. This feels the most natural thing in the world, but I know it’s not right. I should pull away. Adam is being friendly and supportive – that’s all.

Without speaking, he places his fingertips under my chin and gently lifts it so my face is upturned towards his. He wipes the tears from my cheeks. It is such an intimate gesture, my heart’s in my throat; for a moment I think he’s going to kiss me. I search his eyes, looking for a clue as to what he’s thinking. Then, just as his lips lower, the spell we’re under breaks. He hastily backs away, leaving me breathless. Breathless and, if I’m being honest, disappointed.

Chapter 64

BETH

Now

When I got home from Adam’s yesterday, I realised I’d had a voicemail from Maxwell saying he needed to speak with me. By the time I’d got Poppy some tea and settled her in bed, it was too late to call back. This morning, I know I can’t put it off.

‘Tom mentioned you’d visited,’ he opens. From his tone, I infer I’m being told off.

‘Yes, it wasn’t easy, but I went. For his sake.’

‘I thought that would’ve given him a boost, but it appears to have had the opposite effect. He was very quiet when I spoke to him. Dejected. Didn’t it go well?’

‘It went okay, considering,’ I say. ‘But I’m at a loss as to what he expected if I’m honest. Hard to be cheerful and chatty as usual when your husband is facing a life sentence, wouldn’t you say?’

‘Of course, of course. Challenging times for sure. But please try and be positive around Tom. It isn’t good for him to go back to his cell from a visit – especially as you’ve been his only visitor bar me – in such a negative place. Mentally, I mean.’

‘Funnily enough it’s not great for me, either, Maxwell.’ My heart rate increases and blood rushes to my face. I shouldn’t lose my temper – not now – it would look very selfish. But in reality, I’m pissed off that I’ve been put in this situation by something Tom has done, and with all the sympathy going to him, it’s becoming increasingly hard to hold it in. It’s enough to make anyone angry. ‘I know Tom is suffering at the moment,’ I say,