The Stranger in Our Bed: An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will keep you hooked

by Samantha Lee Howe

  ‘I can’t go on the way things are.’

  Colin gave me all of the facts based on the information. I wasn’t really interested in Tom’s money, but he pointed out that it was important for me to get everything I could straight, because even if I agreed to settle for less than I was entitled to all divorces had to be made in ‘full and final settlement’, which meant I couldn’t ask for more from Tom afterwards. My head was reeling by the time he left.

  The truth was, faced with the idea of going down this route, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I needed to think and process everything. The lawyer was right that we had to try to be amicable at first. If that didn’t work then I’d cut all communication with him and just go down the legal route and let the lawyers deal with it.

  ‘I’m so confused,’ I said to Becki when Colin left. ‘I’m torn between being horrified and feeling sorry for Tom. His mother was behind all this.’

  ‘So he says,’ Becki said. ‘This situation is weird. What kind of man keeps pictures of his wife having sex with another man? That’s fucked up.’

  I knew she was right. Her words helped strengthen my resolve again.

  ‘And my brother is still missing, and we don’t know why,’ she said.

  In my heart I believed that Daniel was dead. Perhaps it was the only thing I could accept, since he hadn’t come back for me. But I didn’t say this to her as she placed a cup of tea in front of me.

  ‘You look fragile,’ she said. ‘And you’ve lost weight.’

  I couldn’t remember when I’d last eaten.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I wanted evidence against Tom; I found it and now I’m wavering. This is a huge decision. I’m scared.’

  ‘This man has made you like this, Charlotte, don’t you see? How many decisions in your life has he allowed you to make? It may be that he’s not that violent, but he is abusive. Spying on you! Introducing you to a guy and having pictures taken of you having sex with the guy. There’s a word for that.’

  ‘He says Isadora did all that, and what if she did? Then he’s a victim in this too.’

  ‘I don’t believe him,’ Becki said. ‘But then, I don’t know him. I know my brother, and if he was involved, it wasn’t because he was getting paid. There’s just something else we don’t know. Another piece of this puzzle.’

  ‘I don’t know how we are going to find it without Daniel,’ I said.

  ‘Do you really want to?’

  I didn’t answer and Becki went into the kitchen to make me a sandwich. I slumped back into the sofa, feeling drained and more than a little broken. Becki was right. I could see it was all true: Tom was domineering. He always controlled what we did, and I hadn’t known how to stand up for myself. On those rare occasions when I did, he mentally wore me down with his reasoning – it was always manipulative – and I found it hard to argue back. Recently it had been with stories of how awful Isadora was. There was nothing in my life they hadn’t both somehow had a hand in.

  ‘I must frustrate you,’ I said to Becki when she placed the plate down on the coffee table. ‘I’m frustrating myself. I was never this weak.’

  ‘It’s easy for someone to make judgements. I may be wrong about Tom. You obviously saw something in him or you wouldn’t have lasted this long. But things don’t add up. You know it or you wouldn’t be running scared. What will it take to tip you over that edge?’ she said.

  ‘The whole truth. I need real evidence that Tom is the bad guy. I need to prove it to myself without any doubt so that I have the strength to get the hell away from him for good.’

  ‘You’ve had legal training, so I get that. You need facts. But Charlotte, what are your instincts telling you?’

  I took a bite out of the sandwich to avoid having to answer. If I listened to my instincts they were telling me to run and get as far away from Tom and Carlisle Corp as I could. But Becki was right, my logical brain couldn’t let my instincts rule everything. Not without evidence.

  ‘I’ve got an idea. It’s risky, but it might work.’

  ‘I’m listening,’ I said.

  ‘Eat up. You’re going to need your strength.’

  Chapter Forty-Five

  We reached the exterior of the familiar Hammersmith apartment block and watched the entrance from the bus stop across the road. Becki had given me a hoodie top to wear so that if the woman’s PI boyfriend saw us, he wouldn’t recognize me. I wasn’t convinced, but I put the top on and hid my hair.

  We sat on the bus shelter bench and watched the entrance. After an hour we saw no movement. The boyfriend didn’t appear and neither did the girl.

  ‘I would bet he’s already left for work,’ Becki said.

  A bus pulled in at the stop obscuring our view, and a woman got off laden with shopping. As the bus moved away, we saw the back of a man as he walked from the apartment.

  ‘That’s him! Good,’ said Becki. ‘The last thing you want is him to see us. Because he’s obviously seen a lot of you in the past.’

  The colour drained from my face. It was such a horrible thought that someone else had been watching the private moments I had with Daniel. I gave Becki a sideways glance: she didn’t notice how uncomfortable I was; she never took her eyes from the entrance of the apartment block. I brought my mind back to the moment.

  ‘What now?’ I said.

  ‘We tackle her head on. Faced with the two of us, she might crack and tell us the truth.’

  ‘And then?’

  ‘The thing is you need more than what we have. And I need something to take to the police to encourage them to investigate Daniel’s disappearance again,’ she said. ‘They won’t do anything without more information, so the case has just gone cold. We know it’s all connected though, don’t we?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ I said even though I knew what she meant.

  ‘Daniel’s dead. Someone killed him. He wouldn’t have disappeared like this. He wouldn’t have let me worry. We need evidence that will make the police look into it again. No matter where it leads.’

  I squeezed my eyes shut. Becki’s words were a blow to my heart. Daniel’s death was the only thing that could have stopped him from contacting her. Now that it was spoken between us, I could no longer speculate that it ‘might’ be the case. Daniel was dead. He had to be. I tried not to think about who his death might lead back to.

  We had to try to get the girl in the Hammersmith flat to talk. If we found out Tom was lying about Isadora, then he might well be guilty of worse. If that evidence was there, then I’d take Melody away from him for good. I didn’t know how, but I’d disappear as surely as Daniel had. But not before I helped put that evidence in the hands of the police.

  ‘Let’s go,’ said Becki.

  I followed her, my heart racing. I couldn’t believe the thoughts that had slipped so easily into my conscious mind. Was Tom behind Daniel’s disappearance? Did I really believe my husband was capable of ‘making someone disappear’, whatever that might mean?

  I followed Becki into the lift and tried not to think about it too hard.

  On the third floor both of us took a breath before we approached the door. I felt nauseous as Becki knocked.

  ‘Just a minute!’ called the woman behind the door.

  I stepped aside from the spy hole in case she remembered me, but Becki stood there looking benign.

  The door opened.

  ‘Can I help you?’ she said.

  She looked at us both but gave a jolt when she saw me.

  ‘What d’you want?’

  ‘We have evidence that my brother spent time in this apartment, with my friend here. You said you didn’t know him. We aren’t leaving until you tell us what you know, and if you refuse, I’m going to call the police and show them the pictures taken in your bedroom.’

  The woman flushed. ‘I don’t know what—’

  ‘Don’t lie to us, Paula’ I said.

  ‘How do you know my name?’

  ‘We know a lot about you. Particularly you
r trip to Africa. And, the fact that you sublet this place to my brother while you were gone,’ said Becki.

  Paula looked down the hallway as though she feared someone had heard. She stepped back from the door then. ‘You’d better come in.’

  She closed the door and we stood in the hallway of the apartment. It hadn’t changed much, though it was newly painted.

  ‘Look I didn’t know,’ she said. ‘That creep sublet it while I was away.’

  ‘You need to tell us what you do know,’ said Becki.

  ‘He works at an agency. They don’t do anything illegal. They just follow people to prove when they are unfaithful. That kind of thing.’

  ‘Entrapment is illegal,’ I said, even though I knew that my use of the word wasn’t strictly accurate. I wanted to scare Paula into talking.

  Paula swallowed. ‘I only saw the pictures a few days ago. I had a major row with him but he says he’s keeping them for insurance.’

  I glanced at Becki.

  ‘Let us see them,’ she said.

  ‘I can’t. Troy took them away.’

  ‘Where were they?’

  ‘Hidden under one of the floorboards in the bedroom. I was cleaning and found it loose. When I looked inside there was an envelope. There were loads of pictures.’ Paula glanced at me. ‘Of you … and a man.’

  ‘Who was the agency working for? Who hired him to take the photos?’

  ‘He didn’t say.’

  ‘I want to see this hidey hole,’ I said.

  ‘All right, but I told you, he took everything!’

  We went into the bedroom and it was the same except for the bedding: there were no purple satin sheets. Even so, I was overwhelmed by memories of my time there, and it took a huge effort for me to cross the threshold and pass into the room behind Becki and Paula.

  Becki was determined though and she ripped up the floorboard and looked down into the hole.

  ‘I need a torch,’ she said.

  I pulled my phone out of my handbag and turned on the light, then I moved into the room. I held the light over the hole and Becki reached in.

  ‘There’s something there.’

  Becki pulled up a partially torn photo. It was of me and Daniel sitting on the bed. She looked at the picture and around the room then back at Paula.

  I turned off the light and stuffed my phone into my pocket. My heart began to regulate. I had proof!

  ‘Listen, you’re going to help us. I want you to ask him who paid for his services. And if you don’t, I’m coming back here with the police.’

  ‘The police won’t be interested,’ Paula said. ‘You got what you wanted, now leave.’

  ‘My brother is missing,’ Becki said. ‘And your boyfriend is somehow connected. That’s enough for them to investigate.’

  ‘Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’m just about to go away again—’

  ‘Do you own this flat?’ I asked as a legal element came into my head.

  ‘Rented.’

  ‘And subletting is against your rental contract I’m sure,’ I said.

  Paula crumpled. ‘All right. I’ll ask. But he won’t tell me.’

  ‘Ring him. Let’s find out,’ I said.

  Troy didn’t pick up but he did text Paula back.

  Working. What is it?

  Who is the woman in the pictures? I think you’re lying to me.

  I haven’t got time for this. It was a work thing. I told you.

  Who for?

  You know I can’t tell you that.

  ‘Tell him that the police came by looking for the man because he’s missing,’ Becki said.

  ‘Isn’t that playing our hand?’ I said.

  ‘How about I say I’m locking him out unless he tells me? He needs me and my flat. He can’t get his own place – he’s got a terrible credit history, and no one will lease to him,’ Paula said surprising us both.

  ‘Try,’ I said. She sent the text and we all waited. After a moment, his response arrived.

  I don’t know the name but it was a woman. The girl’s mother-in-law I think. She was probably trying to break them up.

  We all looked at the text then Troy sent another.

  Baby, are we good? I promise it’s all I know. I kept the photos, cos, you never know in the future …

  ‘Tell him you’re good,’ I said.

  I felt the colour drain from me once more. It was the answer I hadn’t expected. It meant that Tom was telling the truth about Isadora.

  ‘None of this explains where Daniel went,’ Becki said as we left Paula with the promise to keep her out of it in future if she kept our visit a secret to her boyfriend.

  I had one picture though. Evidence of a sort. It was Daniel looking at me lovingly following a kiss. I put it in my pocket. I remembered the moment as clearly as if it had just happened. My heart was sore.

  ‘Tom told me she paid him to disappear. Maybe he rented the flat and involved you just to make that disappearance more believable,’ I said.

  ‘My brother wouldn’t—’

  ‘I’m exhausted,’ I said. ‘I have to get Melody.’

  ‘Charlotte. Don’t go back to Tom. We still don’t know everything …’

  ‘Thanks for helping Becki,’ I said. ‘I’ll stay in touch. I want to get to the bottom of this just as much as you do. And I have no intention of going home right now.’

  I made my way to Isadora’s flat in a taxi. All the way there I looked through hotel booking sites on my phone in order to find one for the next few days.

  The taxi pulled in front of the apartment building right behind a black limo.

  My heart leapt in my chest as I realized Stefan was standing beside it. I paid the taxi driver and got out.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I said to Stefan.

  ‘Mr C said he had to collect something,’ Stefan told me.

  I hurried into the building and pressed the lift call. It was on the top floor, Isadora’s flat was only on the second, so I took the stairs two at a time and reached the landing just in time to see Tom entering the apartment.

  I raced down the corridor after him.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I yelled. ‘You have no right!’

  Tom turned around and looked at me. ‘Charlotte. I’ve been trying to call you.’

  ‘I don’t want to speak to you right now—’

  ‘Will you stop shouting and listen … Melody’s ill. Tina took her to hospital but she couldn’t reach you. She had to call me to give permission for the tests to be done.’

  I took my phone out of my pocket and looked at it. There were several missed calls from Tina and many from Tom.

  I pressed the voicemail and heard Tina’s panic as she described Melody’s symptoms.

  ‘Where’ve you been?’ he asked.

  I stared at him. ‘I have to get to the hospital.’

  ‘I’m just getting Melody’s things and then I’m heading there,’ he said. ‘Come on.’

  Stefan broke a few laws getting us to Great Ormond Street in record time. I leapt out of the limo and ran inside, searching frantically for the ward. My heart hurt so much. I was trembling with shock and fear. My only wish to see my baby. I’d been so concerned that Tom wouldn’t reach me it hadn’t occurred to me that Tina might need to.

  After several discussions with reception staff, and a helpful intern taking me to the right place, I eventually arrived at the ICU. There I found Tina talking to a doctor as he examined Melody who was lying in a hospital cot.

  ‘Here’s Mrs Carlisle now!’ said Tina. ‘Thank God. I had to phone Tom …’

  She was pale with worry. Then she saw Tom behind me.

  ‘What’s happened?’ I asked.

  ‘They suspect that Melody has viral meningitis.’

  ‘Oh my god!’

  Tina put her arm around me; I think she knew I was about to collapse. My little girl was hooked up to a heart monitor and had an intravenous drip in her tiny arm. She was unconscious and the doctor said she would ne
ed a ‘percutaneous indwelling catheter’ if she didn’t improve quickly.

  Tina helped me to a chair beside Melody’s cot. I was shaking. I felt the colour drain from my face.

  ‘She’s unconscious but we are doing everything we can,’ the doctor said.

  ‘How?’ I said. ‘How did this happen?’

  ‘Melody was premature, not fully developed when she was born. There are so many things that a prem baby can be susceptible to. You’re lucky that your nanny acted so quickly. She’s now in the best place.’

  Tom stood back, looking helpless while a nurse went to fetch me a glass of water.

  ‘You can go,’ I snapped. ‘I’m here now.’

  ‘I’m not going anywhere. You need me as much as Melody does.’

  ‘I don’t,’ I said.

  ‘Let me help,’ he said. Then he stroked my hair and kissed my forehead. ‘Melody is my child and you’re my wife. I’m not leaving.’

  I knocked his hand away. ‘Don’t touch me!’

  Tom’s hand dropped to his side. I turned away so that I couldn’t see his hurt expression.

  ***

  Tina went home but Tom wouldn’t leave. We kept vigil all night. Finally, after a few hours, our poor little girl began to come around. It was a massive relief. When I knew she was out of immediate danger I let the exhaustion take me and I slept in the chair beside her cot.

  I woke as the nurses clanged around tending to the children in the ICU ward.

  I looked at my baby still sleeping soundly and wondered how I would have forgiven myself if anything had happened to her.

  Tina returned to the hospital a short time later.

  ‘Tom asked me to come and take over for you both. He’s talking to the doctor now. Go home and rest. She won’t know you’re not here, and I promise I won’t leave until you get back.’

  ‘My phone will be on. Tina, I’m sorry. He kept ringing and I …’

  ‘Look. He’s very worried about you both. Maybe you guys could … sort things out.’

  I thanked her again. I didn’t want to think about my marital troubles with Melody sick. I was too tired to make any decisions about anything, let alone assimilate the information I’d gleaned the day before.

  Tom met me at the ward door.