The Mark

by Heather Burnside

  Maddy continued to stare, her mouth wide open with shock. ‘I – I…’ she began. Then she hesitated, paralyzed by fear.

  ‘Tell me, Maddy. Go on, fuckin’ tell me!’ he yelled.

  Maddy had never seen Aaron like this before. He was deranged and volatile, his mood switching rapidly from gleeful to upset to angry, like the shifting gears on a car. An indescribable terror took hold of her. Then a look of recognition flashed across his face, as though he had just realised something.

  ‘Where’s the kid?’ he growled.

  ‘Sh-she’s upstairs,’ said Maddy. She was tempted to lie to him but knew it would be too easy for him to go and check for himself.

  ‘Fetch her down!’ he ordered.

  Maddy stepped into the hall, tears in her eyes, feeling as though she was betraying her child. Then she shouted for Rebecca, wishing there was some way of warning her to call for help, some inflection she could add to her voice to tell her daughter of the danger. But there wasn’t. And how could she expect an eight-year-old to pick up on the hidden meaning?

  Maddy’s eyes flashed across to the front door. Would she have time to open it, take Rebecca by the hand and flee to safety? Then she felt Aaron’s hot breath on the back of her neck, and tensed as he whispered into her ear, ‘Don’t even fuckin’ think about it!’

  Maddy watched her daughter reach the bottom of the stairs, her air of incredulity matched by Maddy’s look of apology. Aaron grabbed hold of Maddy, his eyes taking in both her and her daughter as he nodded towards the living room and ordered, ‘Get in there!’

  54

  As Andy arrived to collect Rebecca he was thinking about how the last week had completely changed things between him and Maddy. He was secretly pleased that she’d turned to him when she needed support, but he also felt a twinge of guilt for thinking that way. The circumstances that had brought them closer were horrendous for Maddy.

  He parked a short way down the street, which was busy today with more parked cars than usual. He noticed, fleetingly, that there was a silver car outside Maddy’s house that he hadn’t seen before, but he didn’t pay it too much attention. One of the neighbours probably had visitors.

  Andy strode up the drive and rang the doorbell, his mood upbeat. He always looked forward to seeing his daughter, but now he had the added pleasure of having a few moments with the new, more receptive Maddy before he set off back home.

  There was no reply. Perhaps Maddy was in the bathroom or something, and he knew Rebecca was forbidden from answering the door, especially in light of what had happened. He rang the bell again, and knocked briskly on the door. Then he waited.

  *

  They had just sat down in the lounge, Aaron next to Maddy on the sofa and Rebecca on the armchair across from them, when they heard the knock at the door.

  ‘Who’s that?’ asked Aaron, his eyes wide and flitting about the room, like someone demented, before they settled on Maddy. ‘Have you rung the fuckin’ cops?’ he asked, pushing his face forward, his eyes now fixed on her in a reproachful glare.

  Maddy pulled back from him. She noticed Rebecca flinch, then she seemed to close in on herself, her knees pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped round them. Maddy wanted to go and comfort her, but she couldn’t. She was now pinned against the back of the sofa with Aaron’s angry body pressed up against her, his face only centimetres away.

  ‘It – it’ll be Andy,’ she said, ‘come to collect Becky.’

  ‘Tosser!’ Aaron grumbled, then his gaze shifted again. He looked over to the window where the curtains were still open, and grabbed hold of Maddy’s arm as he spoke. ‘Quick, get behind there!’ he ordered, indicating the narrow stretch of wall next to the window. ‘Both of you!’

  Rebecca jumped from the armchair and ran to her mother, and Maddy drew her close. She could feel her daughter’s trembling body, mirroring her own shaking limbs, as she guided Rebecca slowly across the room. Aaron joined them, taking the space nearest the window so he could peep out of a gap where the curtain almost met the wall.

  His head switched from the window to Maddy and Rebecca then back again. ‘Don’t either of you say a fuckin’ word!’ he ordered.

  Then he pulled something out from inside his hoody. Maddy saw the glint of steel and a rush of fear swept through her. Before she could do anything, he grabbed her, one arm pinning her to him, with his hand over her mouth, and the other hand holding the knife close to her throat.

  Rebecca let out a whimper and Aaron aimed the knife at her before swiftly directing it back to Maddy’s throat.

  ‘Keep your fuckin’ mouth shut, kid!’ he hissed. ‘Or your mum gets it.’

  *

  Andy was beginning to feel uneasy. He’d knocked loudly on the door several times as well as ringing the doorbell, but there was no reply. Maddy’s car was on the drive so he assumed she was in. And she wouldn’t have gone for a walk with Rebecca when she knew he was due to arrive.

  With the familiarity of someone who’d once been a large part of Maddy’s life, he walked across to the living-room window. There was no sign of Maddy or Rebecca. How strange! He thought he sensed movement behind the opened curtain but perhaps it was just his imagination.

  Andy was just about to go and try the door again when he spotted something. Two full glasses of wine and an opened bottle on the coffee table. He drew in a sharp breath, alarmed. Instinct told him Maddy wasn’t with Clare or any of her other friends. If so, they’d have been sitting in the lounge. Besides, Maddy normally waited until after he’d collected Rebecca before socialising.

  No, it was definitely Aaron. But why would Maddy be sharing a bottle of wine with him in light of what she now knew?

  Unless… Surely, she hadn’t let him back into her life? But the man was on the run from the police. No, Maddy wouldn’t do that. Which meant that she had probably been coerced. Shit!

  He had to get to her, to make sure that Maddy and his daughter were all right. What if that madman had done something to them? Andy quickly reached inside his jacket, grabbed his phone and dialled Maddy’s number. No reply. He dialled the landline and heard it from outside, its ominous ringtone piercing the still air of early evening.

  ‘Maddy!’ he shouted. ‘Are you there? Rebecca, sweetheart. Are you all right?’

  Then he heard Rebecca scream, ‘Daddy!’

  55

  Andy was incensed, his instinct to protect his child overriding any fear.

  ‘Becky! Maddy! Are you OK?’ he shouted as he punched 999 into his mobile phone.

  ‘Police, please!’ he hollered into his phone. ‘Can you come quickly, please? My eight-year-old daughter is in danger.’

  He quickly gave out Maddy’s address, not hearing the operator’s words, his mind a frantic maelstrom of panicked thoughts.

  ‘Aaron, I know you’re in there!’ he shouted. ‘Please don’t harm them. Come out!’

  But there was no reply from any of them, which only made Andy more agitated.

  He tried a new tack. ‘The police will be here soon, Aaron, so you might as well come out. You’re only making matters worse for yourself.’

  But there was still no reply. He dashed back to the window but he couldn’t see anything. He cast his eyes to the side. Yes, there it was, beyond the curtain. Just the merest hint of something. Or someone. Yes, a person. And as he watched there was movement enabling him to pick out an arm. Maddy’s perhaps? But it was swiftly pulled back.

  ‘Maddy!’ he shouted.

  Then he heard mumbling. It sounded like a man’s voice, but Maddy didn’t speak.

  Andy dashed back to the front door and glanced round the exterior of the house, trying to come up with a plan. He felt so impotent. ‘Shit!’ he cursed.

  But he couldn’t afford to feel impotent. He needed to do something. So he ran round to the back of the house and tried the door. It gave. He couldn’t believe it! Maddy had left the back door unlocked.

  Andy sneaked inside the house, his heart thundering. But, despite
his trepidation, he was prepared to do whatever it took. He had to protect Maddy and Rebecca.

  He crept across the kitchen and through the archway that led to the dining room. Trying to stay as quiet as possible, he crossed the dining room and reached the door that separated it from the lounge. Then he nudged it open a fraction and peered inside.

  They were next to the front window, as he had suspected; Rebecca, Maddy and that bloody madman with a knife to her throat. None of them could see Andy. They were all facing the window, Rebecca on the floor hugging herself.

  How the hell was he going to cross the room without being spotted? If Aaron saw him he could slit Maddy’s throat and Andy wouldn’t be able to stop him in time. There was too much ground to cover. For a moment he hovered, unsure. But then he saw his daughter’s tears and the way she was hugging herself, terrified and helpless, and his mind was made up.

  He dropped to the floor and slithered across the ground, like a snake about to attack its prey. It seemed to take forever to cover a couple of metres. He knew he’d have to take his time though. At the moment he was partially hidden by an armchair. But he couldn’t risk making any sound that would alert Aaron.

  Andy reached the armchair and crouched low behind it. He took a moment to compose himself before moving any further. As he stayed there he became aware of his frantic heartbeat and his sweating palms and face. He pushed a damp lock of hair out of his eyes, then peeped out from behind the armchair.

  ‘Where the fuck is he?’ Aaron asked when he could no longer see Andy outside.

  Andy could tell he was jittery. As Aaron spoke his arms became tense and he seemed to clench the knife tighter to Maddy’s throat. Even from here Andy could see her wince. The bastard must have cut her!

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Maddy, crying desperately.

  Rebecca looked up at her mother, her eyes pleading. On seeing Maddy so distressed, she began to whimper.

  ‘Shut the fuck up!’ Aaron ordered and Rebecca jumped in shock then stifled her sobs.

  Then she spotted Andy. He was just about to hold his fingers to his lips; a warning to stay quiet. But it was too late.

  ‘Daddy!’ shouted Rebecca, running towards him.

  Andy sprang out from behind the armchair and pushed Rebecca towards the hallway.

  ‘Run, Becky!’ he yelled.

  He saw Aaron turn Maddy round till she was facing him, the knife still at her throat, but Andy didn’t give him chance to react further. He charged at him, letting out a loud and menacing war cry. The impact of his aggressive charge worked. In the precious few moments while Aaron was in shock, Andy pounced.

  As he crashed into them, they all tumbled to the ground, with Andy on top and Maddy sandwiched between Andy and Aaron. The knife flew out of Aaron’s hand. He reached out, trying to grasp it, but Andy pulled his arms back and held on tight.

  ‘Quick, Maddy, get the knife!’ he yelled.

  Maddy struggled to break free of them while Andy was still holding onto Aaron. Then she pulled herself to a crouching position, her knees bent but her right leg still trapped under Andy’s body. She pulled her leg out from beneath him. But just as Maddy was about to stand, Aaron reached forward, locking his teeth around her ankle.

  The vicious bite felled Maddy to the ground and she let out an agonised shriek. Andy clasped his hand round Aaron’s jaw to stop him biting Maddy again. But his savage teeth found Andy’s fingers instead and he bit down hard. The pain shot through Andy’s hand, making him lose his hold on Aaron, who plunged forward and grasped the knife.

  In the midst of the fracas Maddy had managed to break free and she gasped in shock as she saw Aaron gripping the knife. But Andy was still on top of him, the weight of his body pinning Aaron’s legs to the ground. Aaron turned the knife round and thrust it backwards repeatedly, aiming blindly towards Andy.

  Andy could sense Maddy hovering over them. He tried to dodge the sharp blade and then forced himself to standing. But Aaron’s other hand shot out, striking Andy hard on his ankle and unbalancing him. Andy fell to the side of Aaron, who sprang up onto his feet. He swung the knife back, ready to plunge it into Andy while he lay on the ground, stunned.

  As Andy put his hands up, in a futile effort to defend himself, Maddy brought the wine bottle swiftly down on top of Aaron’s head. He heard Maddy’s determined yell then the sound of breaking glass. Aaron stumbled, shocked, and Andy grabbed the knife. The glass shattered around them. Maddy glanced in alarm at the remainder of the broken bottle, which she held between bloody fingers.

  Andy stood up, breathless and shaky, and Aaron stared at him, dazed. Shades of red streaked Aaron’s face. The molten maroon of the wine flowed freely downwards while the viscous vermillion of his blood oozed through his matted hair, on a slow descent.

  Suddenly Andy heard movement behind him. At the same time, Maddy’s face showed relief just as Aaron’s spelt a fragmented mix of disappointment, anger and resentment.

  The police had arrived.

  Andy spotted Rebecca hovering close behind. His impulse was to go to her but he left Maddy to comfort their daughter instead. Somebody had to explain to the police what had taken place.

  56

  A few weeks had passed since the incident with Aaron at Maddy’s house. Once Andy had explained to the police what had happened, Aaron had been put in handcuffs and taken down to the station. Maddy and Andy had also been interviewed by the police, which had been exhausting after what they had been through, but Maddy had been relieved when Aaron had finally been charged. Currently he was being held in custody awaiting trial.

  The past few weeks hadn’t been easy for Maddy as she tried to come to terms with the aftermath of recent events. She was distraught and anxious at times and felt foolish and ashamed of her involvement with Aaron. She also felt guilty because of the emotional trauma that Rebecca and Andy had been through as a result.

  Although she’d obtained some tablets from her doctor to help her through, unfortunately there wasn’t a prescription that could fix her heartache. But she’d received a lot of emotional support from Andy, Clare and her parents and, if she was honest with herself, she didn’t know what she would have done without them. Andy had even lent her some money until she got things sorted out.

  Andy’s support had helped her, Andy and Rebecca to grow closer as a family again and it felt good to be on friendly terms with him once more. In fact, Andy had hinted at being more than just friends. Up to now, he’d given her space to deal with the fallout of her doomed relationship with Aaron, but she felt it was only a matter of time before they had ‘the talk’.

  When she heard the doorbell ring, she knew it was him returning with Rebecca after having her for the weekend. She asked him inside for coffee, a habit they’d got into recently. Rebecca, surprisingly perceptive at times for an eight-year-old, left them alone, and when Andy set his coffee cup down and took hold of her hands, she guessed what was coming.

  ‘Maddy, I’ve been thinking about us,’ he began. ‘We work well together; you, me and Becky.’ She could tell by his face that he was becoming emotional and his voice cracked as he said, ‘I was a bloody fool to let you go and I was wondering… well… well, if we could…’

  Maddy pulled her hands away from his. ‘Andy, stop!’ she said.

  A puzzled frown clouded his face and his hands dropped to his lap. Maddy felt a sense of inexplicable guilt as she continued. ‘I’m sorry, Andy. I can’t. I’m really grateful to you for being there for me when I needed you, and for all the support you’ve given me over the past few weeks. It feels good to be friends again and I’d like to think we’ll always support each other in the future, but we just wouldn’t work as a couple.’

  His jaw dropped; he looked flabbergasted. ‘Wh-wh-why? I don’t understand. We’ve been getting on so well. Do you need more time after what’s happened, is that it?’

  ‘No, Andy. I’m sorry but I can’t do it. What you did would always come between us. I wish I could get past it, but I know I
wouldn’t be able to.’

  ‘Maddy, I know I hurt you and I’m so sorry for what I did. When we split up I lost one of the two most precious people in my life. You and Becky, you’re all that matters to me. You’re what makes my life worthwhile. And I swear I would never do anything like that to hurt you again.’

  But Maddy had heard the same phrases over and over in the weeks after they’d split, and she didn’t view things any differently now than she had then. ‘I’m sorry, Andy, but it just wouldn’t work. I’d never be able to trust you again. So the answer’s no. And I really don’t want to have this conversation any more so can we please just stick to being the best parents we can for Becky’s sake?’

  Andy stood up, his head slumped and his manner despondent as he said, ‘OK, if that’s how you feel then I won’t take up any more of your time.’

  Then he bade her a quick goodbye, called Rebecca downstairs for a hug, and went.

  Maddy was relieved to have got it over with and she hated herself for feeling guilty. Andy didn’t deserve her guilt after what he’d done. It might have been four years ago but it wouldn’t just disappear with the passage of time.

  Maddy knew that, as bad as the experience with Aaron had been, she would learn from it. But, to do so, she needed to take some time for herself rather than rushing into another disastrous relationship or going back to one that had already failed.

  If anything, her troubles with Aaron had given her a new-found determination. In time she would grow stronger and wouldn’t need to rely on a man for a confidence boost. She would learn to depend on herself. And Maddy was determined that, if she ever met someone in the future, she would take her time and make sure he was the right one.

  Epilogue

  2006

  Maddy glanced at Rebecca and smiled, pleased that her daughter seemed to be having as good a time as she was.