by Beevis, Keri
Richard Gruger appeared in the doorway, a frown on his face as he glanced at Jack and Lila standing on his back lawn. ‘I know you.’
‘I ran into Lila and Jack in the woods while walking Toby,’ Aaron announced to his father, stepping forward. ‘You remember Lila Amberson don’t you, Dad? The girl you pulled out of the broad? I know she wanted to thank you for saving her life, so I invited them back to the house. I hope that’s okay.’
There was something challenging in his tone, mocking even, in the way he emphasised ‘Dad’.
Jack shot Lila a brief look. If she hadn’t had the crutches, he was pretty certain she would have bolted for the woods. He knew she wasn’t happy about being there, but she would have to be patient just a little while longer. The Gruger family dynamics were fascinating and Jack had only met them a minute earlier. He was curious to know what made them all tick.
Richard Gruger’s expression had gone from annoyed to uncertain, as he glanced between his son and Lila. Aaron had wrong footed him and he was deciding how best to play it. Jack took the opportunity to step forward, offering his hand. ‘Jack Foley. It’s good to meet you, Mr Gruger.’
‘Jack Foley, as in the author?’
‘The one and only,’ Jack confirmed with a wide smile. If Gruger knew who he was, he intended to use it to his advantage. He wondered whether the man knew that Stephanie had been his sister. There had been some press coverage, but Henry had mostly dominated the headlines meaning Jack had been left blessedly alone.
Gruger glanced hesitantly at Lila again, a smile creeping onto his face as if he decided to go for genial. He pumped Jack’s hand. ‘It’s good to meet you, Mr Foley. I’ve read a couple of your books. Very enjoyable.’
‘Thank you, and it’s Jack, please.’
‘And Miss Amberson, it’s nice to finally make your acquaintance. Please both of you, come in.’
Lila smiled politely, though didn’t speak, her eyes on Judith Gruger who stood rigidly by the door, watching the whole exchange. Jack couldn’t get a read on the woman. It was obvious she didn’t want them there, but there was something else. Was it a fear of her husband?
She disappeared into the house, followed by the dog then her husband.
Jack glanced at Lila again. ‘Just for a few minutes then I promise I’ll take you home.’
The smile he attempted to charm her with was met by a scowl.
‘You can hold on to my arm and I can take your crutches if you want,’ Aaron offered.
‘I’ve got it, thank you,’ she told him stiffly, tottering towards Jack and the house.
13
‘Tea, coffee, or something stronger perhaps?’ Richard Gruger offered, leading them through into a spacious lounge.
The place was traditionally yet tastefully furnished with wide beige sofas and lots of lacquered wood, the lighting from two chandeliers was soft and cosy, and the wall art very middle of the road, though expensively framed. In the corner of the room sat a grand piano. Everything was too neat though, too clean. Every surface gleamed, the scent of pine furniture polish clinging to the air. On the centre of the mantle of the wide fireplace sat a carriage clock, its tick loud and methodical. The cushions on the sofas were perfectly plumped. Nothing was out of place.
Did the family actually use this room? Did they ever put their feet up on the sofas, leave magazines on the floor, spend time together either watching TV or just hanging out? Lila didn’t think so. From what she could gather, their dog wasn’t even allowed in there; probably confined to a bed somewhere less plush, the kitchen most likely.
She glanced down at her crutches, suddenly fearful the bottoms of them were dirty. Richard Gruger had asked them to remove their shoes in the kitchen and Jack had helped her get her boot off her good foot, but of course she was reliant on the crutches. She edged one forward relieved it had left no more than a slight indent in the plush pale carpet.
‘Just coffee for me, thanks,’ Jack answered.
‘Miss Amberson?’
Lila looked up, met the man’s dark eyes. He was the man who had rescued her from drowning, the man who had saved her life. Why did she feel so uncomfortable around him? ‘Umm, coffee would be great. Thank you, Mr Gruger.’
He didn’t ask her to call him Richard, seemed quite happy that she had addressed him that way. Lila had read he was a headmaster, guessed he was used to being called Mr Gruger. She realised that she hadn’t actually thanked him properly yet for pulling her from the broad. The man might be a little intimidating, but she would never be able to fully repay him for what he had done. If he hadn’t been there that night, she would have died along with Mark and Stephanie.
‘I’m glad I finally got the chance to meet you,’ she told him, trying to pick the right words. What exactly was the correct etiquette for thanking someone for saving your life? ‘I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you for what you did the night of the accident.’
Gruger shrugged. It seemed more dismissive than modest. ‘Nonsense. I did what anyone else would have done. It’s really no big deal.’
‘It is to me, so thank you.’
He smiled briefly at her before throwing a look in his wife’s direction.
She was standing in the doorway again, wringing her hands together. ‘I’ll, um… I’ll go put the kettle on.’ She cast her eyes downward and disappeared.
‘Please sit,’ Gruger gestured to one of the perfectly plumped sofas.
Lila glanced at it reluctantly, not wanting to be the one to crease it.
She didn’t have to though as Jack was quick to take a seat, making himself at home. She guessed he had grown up with money, probably in a house similar to this, so it was all quite normal to him. It had to be the money and the lavishness of the house that was making her uncomfortable. Not wishing to appear rude, she took a seat beside Jack on the sofa, not too close because she was still pissed off with him, but close enough for reassurance.
Aaron loitered by the piano while Gruger took a seat on the sofa opposite. He had a commanding presence and it felt like this was an interview.
‘So what brought you back to Filby, Miss Amberson?’ Gruger addressed Lila directly, eyes on hers, as if deliberately trying to cut Jack out of the conversation.
Jack either didn’t notice or didn’t care, answering for her. ‘She came at my request. I wanted to see the place where my sister died.’
There was a moment of uncomfortable silence as Gruger looked at Jack, visibly taken aback by the words. Jack’s eyes never left his, as he waited for a reaction.
Lila was aware of Aaron pulling out the stool to the grand piano and dropping down on it, looking on with interest, as she chewed her bottom lip, heart thumping uncomfortably, and waited.
Eventually Gruger’s eyes narrowed. ‘The girl in the other car, the one who died, she was your sister?’
‘Stephanie Whitman, she was seventeen.’
Gruger recovered quickly. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Foley… Jack. I had no idea. Please accept my condolences. I can’t imagine what you must be going through. If I could have saved your sister too I would have.’
Jack knew that, but his grief was still raw and Lila saw a muscle in his cheek twitch.
Part of her wanted to reach out to him, but she wasn’t yet ready to forgive him for dragging her there, plus she didn’t want Gruger overanalysing her connection to Jack and trying to figure out if there was something between them. Of course there wasn’t, but it was still none of Gruger’s business.
‘Now, where’s that coffee. Judith?’ Gruger smiled apologetically at them, getting up from the sofa. ‘Let me go see where she is. Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be back in a moment.’
He left the room and Jack exchanged a glance with Lila. He caught her hand, gave it a discreet reassuring squeeze. ‘We’ll go after we’ve had coffee,’ he told her in a low voice.
‘We’d better.’
The clang of piano keys made Lila jump and she looked up, yanking her hand away from Jack’s
. Aaron had been sitting so quietly at the piano that she had forgotten they weren’t alone.
He was looking directly at her, smiled when he had her attention. ‘Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump.’ He ran his fingers down to the higher keys, played the first few notes of The Twilight Zone theme, then laughed.
‘You play much?’ Jack asked, getting up from the sofa and ambling over, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans.
‘Not as often or as well as my father would like, but I can play a bit. My mum is the real talent. She could have probably played professionally if he had let her pursue it.’
If he had let her, suggesting that Richard Gruger was in charge of his wife’s decisions.
Lila wished again she hadn’t come there, that Jack hadn’t made her.
Everything about the house and family made her feel uncomfortable and it annoyed her that she couldn’t figure out why.
‘Can I use your loo, please?’
Aaron looked at her, shrugged. ‘Sure. There’s a cloakroom next to the kitchen. Head back out the way you came in, last door on the left.’
Lila excused herself, making her way out into the wide hallway, her pace slow as she manoeuvred her crutches on the polished wooden floor.
As she neared the kitchen, she heard voices. Richard Gruger angrily berating his wife. His tone was hushed enough that she couldn’t hear what he was saying, but his posture suggested he was furious with her. Judith Gruger meanwhile stood and took his vehemence, her head bowed and shoulders drooped, as he continued to put her down.
The man was so quick to appear welcoming and friendly to Jack and Lila’s faces, but was this who he really was? Did he beat his wife or was it solely psychological abuse? Lila stood and watched a moment longer, knowing she should go into the cloakroom, but transfixed by the scene in front of her, as she re-evaluated what little she knew about these people, now realising that the woman she had found as rude and intimidating was probably just scared. When Richard Gruger turned, as though suddenly aware she was standing behind them, it made her jump.
‘Miss Amberson?’ His tone was surprised and for the briefest moment he appeared off guard. ‘Can we help you with something?’ There was an edge, a warning in the question.
‘I… I was looking for the cloakroom.’
‘The door immediately to your left.’ Gruger’s mouth was a thin line, his eyes never leaving hers as she opened the door and quickly shuffled inside.
Lila’s heart was thumping. She’d been caught snooping, witnessing a domestic scene she was never supposed to see. Would Richard Gruger call her on it when she returned to the lounge?
She took her time peeing and washing her hands, annoyed when she caught her reflection in the mirror above the sink and saw how tired she looked, the inky smudges dark beneath her eyes, the bruising on her forehead still not completely healed. She rearranged her fringe, tried her best to make herself look presentable, like she fit into this world. Her thoughts went to the girl she had seen in the photograph with Jack: all sunshine hair, bronzed skin and vibrancy. No, Lila Amberson was never going to fit into this world.
As she left the cloakroom, readying herself to rejoin the group, Aaron appeared from the shadows. ‘You found it okay?’
‘What? Yes, yes, thank you.’
She started to walk past him, flinching when he reached out, put a hand on her arm.
‘I messaged you… on Facebook. I wanted to explain.’
Lila played dumb. ‘Did you?’
Aaron gave her a look that warned he wasn’t stupid, though he didn’t call her on it. ‘My mum, the way she was that day you stopped by the house. It wasn’t her. It’s not who she is.’
‘It’s fine, honestly. I’m sure she was just busy, had a lot on her mind.’
‘No, it’s not that. I’m scared for her. I worry that one day he will go too far. He’s not the man he pretends to be.’ Aaron’s tone was urgent, his grip tightening on her arm.
Lila wrenched it free, gave him a shaky smile. She glanced over her shoulder to the kitchen, saw it was empty, and the light off. ‘I’m not sure I’m the person you should be telling this to.’
As she made her way back along the hallway to the lounge, Aaron fell in step beside her. ‘I know you saw them,’ he hissed.
Lila ignored him, stepped into the lounge to find Jack deep in conversation with Richard Gruger, while his wife sat meekly on the sofa not joining in. She looked downtrodden, beaten.
Gruger glanced up at Lila, all smiles: his mask firmly back in place. ‘Miss Amberson, come and join us. Jack was just telling us you’re getting some of your memories back from the night of the accident. That’s great news.’
Lila took her seat again next to Jack, picked up the cup Gruger pushed towards her, trying to stop it rattling against the saucer as her hand shook. In the corner of the room, Aaron had returned to the piano stool and he sat with his eyes on her, watching, waiting for her reaction.
‘I’ve remembered some of what happened. Not everything. The doctors said it will take time.’
‘These things often do,’ Gruger agreed. He was back to being friendly. No hint of the man she had seen in the kitchen.
Judith Gruger looked up, met Lila’s eyes for the briefest moment, the look in them unreadable. Judith no longer seemed angry that Lila was in her home. Was she embarrassed about what she had witnessed?
She had assumed the woman was in her mid to late fifties, but looking at her, Lila realised she was probably much younger. The way she wore her hair in a dated layered look did her no favours, neither did the loose ill-fitting clothes she wore.
Lila felt a pang of guilt for the woman. She looked like she was once pretty, probably vibrant. Had Gruger stamped all of that out of her, taken away her spark?
‘Lila remembers Mark going into the woods before the car crash. Something spooked him, but she’s not sure what.’ Jack threw that out there, fishing for reactions. When he didn’t get any, he jokingly added, ‘You haven’t got a resident ghost haunting them, have you?’
‘That’d liven things up around here,’ Aaron muttered sardonically, casting a scowl in his father’s direction.
‘Maybe he was spooked by a squirrel,’ Gruger suggested. ‘They can be noisy little buggers.’
‘Yours is the only house out this way, right?’
‘Correct.’
‘You get many people using these woods?’
‘I guess a fair few. Some dog walkers, others visiting the broad. It’s a popular area.’
‘Not too many visitors or dog walkers after dark though.’
The smile slipped from Gruger’s face as he set his cup down. ‘Where exactly are you going with this, Jack?’
‘Nowhere in particular; I’m just trying to figure out what happened with Mark that night.’
‘The crime writer turned true detective. I thought for a moment we were research for your next novel.’ Gruger gave a humourless laugh. ‘Perhaps Miss Amberson is confused with what she thinks she saw. The mind is a funny thing, especially if you have a head injury, and sometimes we think we remember things, but not quite how they really happened.’
He looked at Lila, eyes cool. ‘I would encourage you to focus on your recovery, my dear. We wouldn’t want you to have any setbacks now, would we?’
14
‘You haven’t said a word in nearly twenty minutes. Are you going to give me the silent treatment all the way home?’
Lila was aware of Jack glancing in her direction and she slipped down in the passenger seat, burrowing herself in his jacket. It smelt of him, that same comforting mix of fabric conditioner, aftershave, soap and light sweat that had filled her senses when he had given her a piggyback ride in the woods. She was tired, she was still a little shaken by what she had witnessed, and it was tempting to stay quiet, let him drop her off home and crawl into bed.
She knew she wouldn’t sleep though. Her head was too full of the evening’s events and she needed to share. Of course she co
uld tell Elliot. He would listen, but he hadn’t been there. Jack had.
‘You shouldn’t have made me go to the house. You knew I didn’t want to.’ She started on the defensive, figuring she would work her way down to reasonable.
‘I know. I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not. I’m sorry I made you do something you didn’t want to do, but I’m not sorry we went. Hold that against me if you want, but I’m being honest with you so I hope that you won’t.’ He gave her a persuasive smile, one she suspected he had used before when trying to wheedle his way out of trouble and damn him, but she thawed a little.
‘So are you going to tell me what happened? I know you were uncomfortable when we arrived, but you were downright skittish when you came back from the loo.’
She had been, and to his credit, Jack had picked up on her vibes, discreetly placing a comforting hand at the small of her back.
‘I saw them in the kitchen, Mr and Mrs Gruger. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he was giving her hell about something. He caught me watching them.’
‘And how did he react to that?’
‘He didn’t say anything, but he knew what I’d seen and wasn’t happy. Then when I came out of the loo, Aaron was there. He told me not to believe a word his father says and he suggested that things are pretty bad for his mum.’
Jack was silent and Lila waited for a reaction. She studied his profile; furrowed brow, straight nose, strong chin, determined mouth. Only a couple of weeks earlier they had been strangers, probably still should be, but the accident had somehow pulled them together and, despite the fact they came from different worlds, it was scary how easily he was slotting into her life and how right it felt having him there.
‘I wondered that,’ he said eventually. ‘When we first arrived, there was something off. I suspect Gruger runs the show and has his wife chasing around after him, probably the kid too at one point, but the dynamics are changing. Aaron is big enough to clout his father if things ever got physical. He doesn’t like how his mother is treated and he’s testing boundaries, seeing how far his father can be pushed.’
