The Marriage Betrayal

by Shalini Boland

‘It wasn’t locked.’ A feeling of foreboding washes over me as I step over the threshold. Cloaked in darkness, the hall swallows us up. I press the light switch, but nothing happens. I press it a few more times. Still nothing.

  ‘Lights not working?’ Lainy asks.

  ‘No.’ I open the door to the front room and try the light in there, but that’s not working either.

  ‘Tom!’ Lainy walks hesitantly through the hall. ‘Tom!’

  ‘Maybe he’s upstairs with the girls?’ I spend a moment or two finding the torch on my phone and then we make our way through the gloom into the kitchen. It’s equally dark in here and equally empty.

  ‘Tom!’ Lainy yells. I detect panic in her voice. ‘I’m going upstairs to look for him. See if the girls are okay.’

  ‘I’ll try his mobile,’ I reply. ‘We can’t have had another break-in, surely.’

  Lainy leaves the room and I’m alone, the light from my phone casting strange shadows. I hear Lainy calling out to her husband. I hold my breath, expecting the worst. After everything that’s happened, I can’t help my imagination running wild. I find Tom’s number and am about to press call when I notice something shift ahead of me.

  A black shadow on the far wall of the kitchen begins to move and I take a step backwards, crashing into a kitchen cupboard and dropping my phone. What the hell? I realise it’s a door in the wall. It’s opening. I scream.

  A man’s voice grunts. ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘LAINY!’ I somehow manage to yell as the man walks towards me. He’s between me and the door to the hall, but maybe I can make it out of the back door – if I can unlock it in time. But I’m paralysed by fear. Is this another burglary? Or something more sinister? What about Poppy and Annabel? Please, God, let them be okay.

  ‘Faye! Faye is that you?’ Lainy’s voice calls from upstairs.

  But now the man is saying something and then he seems to disappear again.

  Suddenly, bright light floods the room. I put a hand up to my eyes and squint. The door in the wall opens again and I squeal as a man walks out. And then I realise who it is.

  ‘Oh my goodness. Tom! I thought you were another burglar! Or worse!’

  ‘Same here,’ Tom says, his breaths uneven. ‘You scared the shit out of me.’

  ‘What were you doing? I didn’t even notice that door before.’

  ‘All the lights went out on the ground floor. I found the electric box in this walk-in larder. I went in there, but I couldn’t see a thing. The door kept closing on me. Eventually, I managed to flip the switch and the lights came back on. I’m so sorry I scared you.’

  ‘Didn’t you hear me and Lainy calling out to you? And did you know the front door was on the latch?’

  ‘Was it? The owner’s brother must have left it like that. I stupidly didn’t check.’

  ‘The owner’s brother?’ I’m not sure what Tom’s talking about, but I don’t have the opportunity to quiz him further.

  ‘Faye, are you okay?’ Lainy calls. ‘Was that you screaming?’ She bursts into the kitchen, her face drained of blood. ‘Tom!’

  I explain what just happened with Tom seeming to appear out of the wall and we all hug one another in relief. Then we sit at the kitchen table, a little breathless and shaken, but grateful it wasn’t anything more frightening than a tripped switch.

  ‘How were the girls?’ Lainy asks, her face drawn and tired.

  ‘They’re fine. Absolutely knackered and full of questions about the police cars that were here earlier, but I managed to fob them off. Told them the police came to check if we were having a nice holiday!’

  ‘And they believed you?’ Lainy raises an eyebrow.

  ‘Not sure. But I didn’t want them having nightmares about burglars.’

  ‘Good thinking. I looked in on them when I was upstairs, but they’re fast asleep.’

  ‘They zonked out as soon as their heads hit the pillows.’

  ‘All that fresh air. I see you did some more tidying up.’ Lainy glances around the room.

  ‘As much as I could.’ Tom shakes his head. ‘It was ridiculous. I can’t believe that one burglar was able to create so much mess. There was smashed crockery and glass everywhere. I swept it up and threw it away. I also contacted the owner and let her know we were broken into. Luckily, she was fine about it – shocked but very sympathetic. She sent her brother round to fix the door earlier. What about the police? How did you get on at the station? Have they got any news?’

  Lainy and I look at one another.

  ‘What?’ Tom says. ‘What happened?’

  My mind starts to close down at the thought of relaying the whole story. Thankfully, Lainy launches into a detailed description of everything we discovered. About Jake taking Dylan. And about the footage of him meeting up with an unknown woman.

  ‘You’re joking! I don’t believe it.’ Tom’s eyes narrow and then fill with concern. ‘Are you okay, Faye?’ He reaches out across the table to me and squeezes my arm. ‘Stupid question.’ He shakes his head. ‘Jake with another woman? He must be mad. And he’s taken Dylan? How could he? Was it planned? Are the police sure that’s what happened? I mean, maybe there’s another explanation…’

  ‘It was pretty conclusive,’ Lainy says.

  ‘But what about the blood on the rocks?’

  ‘The police think he planted it there to throw us off the scent. Make it look like he and Dylan had an accident.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I know he’s your brother, Lainy, but that’s despicable. Putting you guys through all this heartache so he could go off with another woman.’ Tom shakes his head again, in disbelief this time. Keeps looking from me to Lainy and back again. ‘Shit, Faye. What are you going to do?’

  ‘The UK police are working with the French authorities and Interpol,’ Lainy says, answering for me. ‘They’re going to try to find them.’

  ‘I should think so! It’s outrageous. What the hell does Jake think he’s playing at? Have you tried his mobile?’

  ‘Constantly,’ I say, looking at the screen again. ‘But he probably hasn’t even taken it with him. I mean, if you’re doing a runner, you’re not going to take your phone with you, unless you’re really stupid. I bet he’s ditched it somewhere.’

  ‘What about those phone-locater apps?’ Tom suggests.

  ‘He doesn’t have one,’ I reply.

  ‘I’m sure the police could locate his phone without an app, but I guess they’ve already tried that? He’s probably lobbed it into the sea anyway.’

  I shake my head. ‘You’re probably right.’

  Lainy’s body goes suddenly taut, her eyes widen. ‘What was that?’

  ‘What was what?’ Tom replies.

  ‘Shh, listen…’

  We cock our heads and do as she asks. It sounds like a key in the front door.

  I grip the table.

  ‘Is that…’ Tom gets to his feet and Lainy and I follow suit.

  All kinds of possibilities race through my mind. Jake? Dylan?

  ‘Hello?’ It’s a woman’s voice.

  ‘Who’s there?’ Tom barks, his voice gruffer than usual. He marches into the hall.

  ‘Hello, it’s me. Yasmin!’

  Beyond Tom, I make out the perfectly coiffed figure of Yasmin Belmont, the holiday-home owner. I’m irritated that she’s let herself into the house without knocking. But then I guess she was probably worried after the break-in.

  Tom greets her, but Lainy and I throw one another a pointed look. I can tell Lainy is as irritated as I am by her casual entrance.

  Yasmin doesn’t seem to pick up on our annoyance and follows us through to the kitchen. ‘Well, it doesn’t look too bad in here.’ She casts a critical eye over the room.

  ‘That’s because my husband spent all evening cleaning up.’

  ‘You did?’ Yasmin places a hand on Tom’s arm. ‘What a hero. And you said you trapped the burglar in the bathroom? Such quick thinking.’

  I can almost hear Lainy’s eyes rolling at this
blatant flirtation.

  ‘Most of the plates and glasses were smashed.’ Tom takes a small step away, so her hand slides off his arm. ‘But I bagged them up and put them outside. The police made a report if you need to claim on insurance.’

  ‘Hmm, I’ll take a look around the house, if it’s okay with you.’

  ‘That’s fine,’ Tom says, ‘but do you mind not going into the room with the bunk beds? The girls are sleeping.’

  ‘Oh.’ Yasmin’s face falls. ‘I was hoping to check over all the rooms.’

  ‘Uh…’ Tom looks at Lainy to help him out.

  ‘You can look at the other rooms. But, like my husband said, the girls are asleep, and I really would rather they weren’t disturbed. You can come back tomorrow and check that room if you like.’

  Yasmin raises her beautifully manicured hands. ‘Of course, of course. Not a problem.’ She turns to me. ‘And what about your delightful little boy? Is he also asleep? Or is he somewhere with your husband?’

  My throat tightens and I can’t seem to make my mouth work.

  ‘They’re not here at the moment,’ Tom replies.

  ‘Fine. I’ll go and check the other rooms then. Is there any obvious damage? Or was it just broken crockery?’

  ‘The bathroom door.’ Tom gives an apologetic shrug. ‘I’m afraid he kicked the whole thing in. It’s come off its hinges.’

  Yasmin tuts. ‘That’s all I need. And what a terrible thing for you to go through on your holiday.’ She leaves us in the hall and goes up to inspect the damage. Once she’s upstairs, the three of us return to the kitchen.

  ‘Don’t you think it’s a bit off that she let herself into the house without ringing the doorbell?’ Lainy asks. ‘I mean, I know it’s her house, but we’ve paid for it this week.’

  I nod. ‘I was thinking the same thing, but I suppose it is unusual circumstances.’

  ‘She’s probably not thinking straight,’ Tom says. ‘I mean, it must be a shock to find out your house has just been broken into.’

  ‘I suppose,’ Lainy replies. ‘And you’d have thought she’d know about Jake and Dylan going missing. The news seems to be all over town.’

  ‘Not necessarily.’ Tom sits down at the table and leans back in his chair. ‘She doesn’t look like the gossipy type.’

  Lainy raises an eyebrow. ‘How do you know what a gossipy type is?’

  ‘Maybe one of us should go up there with her.’ I take a step towards the hall. ‘In case she wakes the girls.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Lainy sidles past me. ‘I’ll go.’

  I sit opposite Tom and steeple my fingers, resting my chin on them, trying to make sense of everything that’s happened this evening. But I can’t seem to get things straight in my head. I can’t work out if any of it is connected, or whether it’s just bad luck and coincidence that we were broken into.

  ‘You okay?’ Tom asks.

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘Is there anything I can do? Can I at least make you some food? A sandwich or something?’

  My stomach growls despite my lack of appetite, and I know I’m going to have to keep my strength up over the next few days. ‘That would be great… if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Good.’ Tom stands. ‘I’ll make us all one. Lainy’s probably hungry too.’

  ‘Okay,’ I say with purpose, getting to my feet. ‘I’ll be back downstairs in a bit.’

  ‘Going for a rest?’

  ‘No, not yet. I’m actually going to pack.’

  ‘Really?’ Tom stands and walks over to the fridge, making a start on our supper. ‘Don’t you want to stay on for a few more days, see what the detective and her team discover? Although, I can understand that you’d probably rather be home than here – especially after the burglary. Talking of which, I haven’t got around to cleaning up the mess in our bedrooms yet, so—’

  ‘I’m not packing to go home, Tom.’

  ‘Sorry, not quite with you.’

  ‘I’m going over to France,’ I say. ‘To find Dylan.’

  There’s silence. Tom gives me a look like I’ve lost the plot. ‘Uh, Faye, I don’t think that’s such a—’

  ‘I know what you’re going to say, but it’s not up for debate.’ I square my shoulders. ‘I’m booking the first ferry out of Poole and then I’m gone.’

  Thirty-Five

  Then

  Lainy’s whole body is shaking and her head has gone swimmy, as though she might faint. It all happened so quickly. One minute, Owen and Jake were grappling one another, neither one having the advantage. But now… now Owen has gone over the edge of the cliff.

  Lainy sinks heavily onto the ground and watches as Owen’s dark shape bounces down the cliffside with a series of sickening thumps and cries, until he lands on a rocky outcrop at an unnatural angle and is silent. She gives a shocked moan.

  ‘What the hell?’ Someone else’s voice startles her further. Lainy jerks her head around to see Kayla standing at the top of the path. ‘Was that…? Did you just…?

  ‘Kayla,’ Lainy sobs. ‘I think he’s dead!’

  ‘What happened?’ Kayla cries. ‘Was that Owen I saw at the edge of the cliff? Lainy! Why did you push him?’

  ‘Me?’ Lainy looks at Kayla with mounting fear. ‘You think I pushed him? No, you’ve got it wrong, Kayla. It was my—’

  ‘But I saw you!’ Kayla cries. ‘He was at the edge of the cliff and you pushed him. Don’t deny it, Lainy. I saw you!’

  ‘What?!’ Lainy looks from Kayla to Jake, waiting for her brother to speak. But he remains silent. ‘No.’ She grows cold. ‘No!’

  ‘Lainy, what’s going on?’ Kayla cries. ‘Why the hell did you push Owen? Is he okay?’ She strides towards the edge, but Jake blocks her path. ‘Owen!’ she yells. ‘Owen!’

  ‘Hang on a minute.’ Jake shoots Lainy a warning look before turning back to Kayla, his face suddenly a mask of distress. ‘It was awful, Kayla. Owen… he attacked my sister. I had to pull him off her and then she… and then she…’ Jake breaks down and covers his face.

  Lainy listens to her brother’s lie without contradicting him. Jake is saying that Owen attacked her. Why is he saying that?

  While Jake is feigning grief, Kayla slips around him to reach the cliff edge. She sinks to her knees next to Lainy and peers down. Lainy stares again in horror at Owen’s broken body below, bathed in moonlight, his stare glassy and unseeing. She realises she’s panting. The night air suddenly too thick to breathe.

  ‘We need to call an ambulance!’ Kayla cries, looking around wildly.

  ‘Kayla,’ Jake says, crouching by her side, and putting a hand on her shoulder. ‘I don’t think an ambulance will do any good.’

  ‘You mean…’

  ‘He’s dead,’ Lainy whispers. ‘He means Owen’s dead!’ Her voice rises to a wail. ‘You killed him, Jake!’

  Jake jumps to his feet and takes his sister’s arm, pulling her upright. ‘Shout a little louder, why don’t you? I don’t think they quite heard you in France.’

  ‘Sorry! I’m sorry, but it’s true. You did kill him. It’s your fault. If you hadn’t come along… If you hadn’t charged at him like that…’ Lainy can’t believe that only moments ago Owen was here. Alive. She was holding his warm hand in hers. She was so unbelievably happy. Happier than she’s ever been in her life. And now… now… ‘It’s true!’ she repeats. ‘You pushed him, just because Rose doesn’t like you—’

  ‘That’s not true, Lainy,’ Jake interrupts with a grimace. ‘You’re in shock. Kayla and I both know it was you who pushed him. We saw you. Not that we can blame you after what he tried to do.’

  Lainy can’t seem to get her breathing under control. ‘Jake, why are you saying these things? Why are you lying?’

  ‘Lainy…’ Kayla looks at Lainy warily. ‘I saw you.’

  ‘But you didn’t, not really. What you actually saw was me trying to save him—’

  ‘Both of you, listen to me,’ Jake interrupts.

  Kayla turns to J
ake, her face pale. Lainy looks up at him too. He still has hold of her arm. He’s gripping her too tightly. But she only feels the pain on a superficial level, like her arm isn’t even connected to her body.

  ‘It was a terrible, terrible accident,’ Jake says sadly, finally releasing his grip now that he has her attention. ‘But just think… it could have been so much worse.’

  Kayla shakes her head. ‘How on earth could it have been worse? He’s dead. Owen’s dead.’

  ‘Because he was assaulting my little sister. Trying to rape her. And if I hadn’t come along and pulled him off her…’

  Lainy cringes at the lie – the very thought that Owen would ever do anything like that is ludicrous – but her brother doesn’t seem to care. He’s still talking. Still embellishing.

  ‘If I hadn’t come along and pulled the bastard off her, I don’t know what would have happened. I mean…’ He gazes at Lainy, his eyes filling with tears. ‘He could have killed you, Laines, and then… I don’t know what I would have done.’ He turns back to Kayla. ‘I don’t blame my sister for pushing him. What else could she have done to protect herself?’

  ‘That’s awful!’ Kayla says, turning to Lainy, her eyes wide as the moon. ‘So, he actually attacked you? Are you okay? You must have been terrified. I can’t believe he—’

  ‘I didn’t push him! I was trying to save him!’ How can she get Kayla to believe her?

  ‘It’s okay, Lainy,’ Kayla says, coming closer, putting her arms around Lainy, who stands unyielding, stiff as a board, her mind in turmoil. Kayla brings her arms back by her side, then hugs herself, her eyes filling with concern. ‘Look, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. It was an awful accident. No one could blame you for pushing him away.’

  ‘Exactly!’ Jake says with a nod. ‘And, Kayla, it could just as easily have been you he attacked. I mean, you came up only moments after Lainy.’

  Kayla’s eyes widen and she pauses to let his words sink in. ‘You’re right, Jake.’ She turns back to Lainy. ‘Don’t worry. You were only trying to protect yourself, you didn’t mean for him to go over the cliff. If he hadn’t attacked you in the first place, then none of this would have happened.’ Kayla exhales loudly. ‘I’m not saying he deserved to die, but if he was assaulting you…’