A Family Divided (Dividing Line #3)

by Heather Atkinson

  “Yeah,” she said, her eyes flicking to the floor.

  Instantly he picked up on the fact that she was hiding something. “It’s driving Rachel crazy that she can’t remember what happened that day. She knows something big happened, apart from the accident, and I think it would really help her recovery if she knew what that was. She knows she’s forgotten something important, something that upset her deeply and she has to know what.”

  “I don’t know what that could be,” she mumbled, keeping her gaze fixed on the immaculate cream carpet.

  “I think you do Beth. Please tell me, for Rachel. She’s suffered enough.”

  “Alright,” she sighed, shame filling her eyes. “For Rachel.”

  Ryan leaned forwards in his seat, holding his breath.

  “The truth is that when she came to see me, I was in the middle of a breakdown.”

  This wasn’t what he’d expected. “Excuse me?”

  “I didn’t say anything because I was so embarrassed. Alex hasn’t been very supportive lately and Holly sleeps so badly, she’s teething. I was exhausted and she wouldn’t stop crying. I lost it and Rachel walked in to find me on the floor crying, unable to go to my daughter. I was a mess. She was the one who brought Henrieta in to help me…”

  “Because Alex wouldn’t?”

  “Yes. This is going to sound really bad but I was glad she couldn’t remember the state I was in because I didn’t want anyone to know what a failure I am as a wife and mother.”

  Everything was laid out before Ryan. Rachel would have been furious at the state her friend was in and would have driven straight to the Wherry Tavern to have it out with Alex and they argued.

  “You’re not the failure Beth, Alex is. Take my advice and leave him while you still can because he’s only going to get worse.”

  With that he got to his feet and strode out of the house, jaw set determinedly. As he drove he thought about what he’d learnt. He still couldn’t be sure Rachel’s dream was real. Alex wouldn’t have liked it if Rachel had a go at him about how he treated Beth, he would have shouted back, told her that he knew she and Ryan had been intimate while she was still married to Danny. He would think that was why she wanted Danny to keep him alive instead of having him topped in prison, that the pair of them had been shagging behind Danny’s back all that time, that the Maguires would own the heroin and prostitution - just like Alex wanted - if it wasn’t for her. Alex Maguire blamed Rachel and himself for cuckolding his brother and losing his family a very lucrative business, even though they were innocent. That explained everything, his whole attitude towards them, his relationship with Strang and the reason they’d had planning permission for the hotel denied. Alex rowed with Rachel when she denied it, tried to attack her even though she was pregnant and she pointed her taser at him in self defence.

  “Bastard,” he snarled, punching the steering wheel.

  The question was, had Alex been angry enough to ram a van into the side of her?

  He drove to the Wherry Tavern but Alex wasn’t there, so he questioned the barman instead.

  “Were you on duty on the thirteenth of last month?”

  The man stared back at him blankly.

  “Hello, did you hear me?”

  “Sorry, I’m just trying to think,” frowned the man. “What day was it?”

  “A Thursday.”

  “I must have been, I always work Thursdays and I haven’t had a day off in ages,” he said self-pityingly.

  “Can you remember if Alex was here?”

  “I can’t even remember if I was,” he said, throwing his hands in the air. “Let me look at the calendar, it might jog my memory.”

  Ryan tapped his foot impatiently while he studied the calendar pinned to the door leading into the cellar.

  “Yeah, I remember that day.”

  “You do?”

  He nodded, tapping the appropriate square on the calendar. “I was changing some of the optics and I accidentally dropped a bottle of gin. Alex came out of his office and went ballistic at me, threatened to rip my head off. It was really embarrassing because we had a couple of customers in at the time. He went well over the top, he’s been really bad tempered lately.”

  “You’re certain it was that day?”

  “Oh yeah, I remember thinking it was a bad day because it was the thirteenth.”

  “Did he have any visitors?”

  He thought hard. “Err, I think Mikey popped in earlier in the day, oh and your wife. I saw her go in but I never saw her come out. I was busy sorting out the bar, giving it a good clean.”

  Ryan’s hands curled into fists as he desperately tried to appear nonchalant. He didn’t want the barman spreading it about that Alex was having an affair with his wife, because that’s what he’d think if Ryan betrayed any reaction. “Anyone after Rachel?”

  “No, I don’t think so. When I dropped the bottle he came out to give me a bollocking, told me the money was coming out of my wages then left.”

  Ryan tried to look disappointed, as though he hadn’t heard what he wanted. “Oh well, never mind.” He slid a wad of notes across the bar. “Thanks. You’ll keep this to yourself?”

  The barman knew it wasn’t a question. “I’ve already forgotten, my memory’s really bad,” he replied, slipping the money into his pocket.

  “It had better be,” he added before leaving.

  Ryan drove around for a bit, trying to get his chaotic thoughts into order, which were full of fantasies about inflicting horrific violence on Alex Maguire. Worst of all he and Rachel were going to Martina’s for a big family dinner that afternoon, one of her famous roasts in honour of Frank’s birthday. He didn’t know how he would sit across from Alex and eat with him, make light-hearted banter when it was possible he’d killed his son and put his wife in a coma. Even if he was innocent of that he had still threatened Rachel when she was pregnant and that alone was enough to make Ryan want to kill him.

  He wanted to talk over what he’d found out with Rachel but he couldn’t, she was meeting him at Martina’s and he had to pick the kids up from school. This was the last thing he needed, he wasn’t sure he could be around Alex and control himself and he considered cancelling, but that might alert him to the fact that something was wrong. Right now Alex thought he had the advantage because Rachel couldn’t remember and Ryan didn’t want to give away his hand. Like any good poker player, he’d have to bluff his way through it.

  After collecting the boys from nursery, Ryan drove to the school to pick up Leah. As usual she was full of news and he tried to concentrate on what she was saying and smile when required but it was difficult.

  “Are you okay Daddy?”

  “Just fine Cupcake,” he smiled as he drove. “Let’s go to Grandma’s for tea shall we?”

  Leah cheered, encouraging Aaron and Ethan to do the same.

  “Is Mummy going to be there?” said Leah.

  “Yes, she’s at work at the moment. She’s going to meet us there.”

  Ryan’s apprehension grew the closer he got to Martina’s. Alex would already be there and he prayed he managed to face him without attacking him. It was important he kept what he thought he knew to himself until he could confirm it, which he would, one way or the other.

  He pulled up outside Martina’s house, switched off the engine then stared at the steering wheel, ensuring he had himself under control before getting out.

  “Daddy, are we going in?” said a puzzled Leah when he continued to sit there.

  “Yep. Come on Cupcake.”

  She helped him get the boys out of their seats and the three children ran up to the front door, which was opened by Martina.

  “Hello kids,” she grinned, enveloping all three in a big hug. “Hello Ryan.”

  “Hello,” he replied politely, reluctantly walking up the garden path. “Is Rachel here?”

  “Not yet.”

  He sighed inwardly and hoped she hurried up. Ryan stepped inside to the sound of Alex’s voice. Every m
uscle in his body went rigid, rage gripping him.

  “Are you alright Ryan? You’ve gone very pale,” said Martina.

  He smoothed his face out into an affable smile. “Fine, just a little tired.”

  “Get yourself inside and sit down, I’ll fetch you a drink.”

  Ryan closed the door and entered the sitting room to find Alex, Declan, Jez and Mikey talking while Cathy and Beth sat together chatting, Beth rocking Holly in her arms. She looked up when he entered and he saw she was embarrassed about their earlier conversation, but that was the least of his worries.

  “Alright Ryan?” said a chirpy Mikey.

  “Hello, how’s Amber?”

  His face lit up. “She’s great.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” He nodded to the others. “Jez, Declan.” Finally he allowed his gaze to settle on Alex and he nodded.

  Alex gave him a hard look and returned the nod, a smile playing on his lips, as though he knew something. Ryan wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or not but he looked like a man who thought he’d got one over him. Ryan’s jaw set. No one got one over Ryan Law.

  He pulled out his phone and called Rachel.

  “Hi Babe,” she said when she answered.

  “Hello. The children and I are at Martina’s. How long will you be?”

  “Not long, I’m just finishing up some paperwork.”

  “Hurry won’t you?”

  “Is something wrong?”

  He moved into a quiet corner. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “Not now, later.”

  “Intriguing. I’ll be done here in ten minutes then I’ll set off. Missing me are you?”

  He heard the smile in her voice and despite everything, smiled himself. “I always do when we’re apart.”

  “So romantic. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Good.”

  There was a hesitation on the other end. “Are you okay?”

  “I will be when I see you.”

  “I’ll be as quick as I can.”

  He hung up and cast a glance around the room, noting Alex staring at him. An orange juice was thrust before him. “Get that down your neck Love.”

  “Thank you Martina. Rachel will be here soon.”

  “Good because dinner’s nearly ready.”

  He wandered across the room to join the men.

  “Alright Bruv?” said Jez.

  “Not so bad thank you,” he said, taking a seat beside him.

  “Is Rachel on her way?” said Alex.

  Ryan took a deep breath before replying, hoping his voice didn’t betray his anger. “Yes. She’s just finishing up some paperwork.”

  “How’s she been lately?”

  The concern in his tone enraged Ryan because he knew it was fake. “Much better.”

  “She’s so strong, she can get over anything,” replied Alex.

  Ryan was grateful for his poker playing skills because it took everything he had to keep his rage inside. “She’ll never get over losing Thomas, neither of us will. It would help if we could find the coward who hurt a pregnant woman. She told me she remembered sitting at those traffic lights feeling really angry about something, but she just can’t recall what that was. I’m sure she will soon, things are starting to come back to her.”

  Alex blinked twice rapidly. It was a small tell but Ryan was quick to spot it, confirming his theory. Rachel and Alex had quarrelled the day of the accident and Alex had threatened her. What would he have done if she hadn’t had her taser? Would he have hit her, beaten her? Despite how tough Rachel was, Alex would have won. In a strange way Ryan was glad of The Slasher - or should he say his brother - because he’d scared her into carrying the weapon again. Alex held Ryan’s gaze, the others detecting the frosty atmosphere between the two men.

  “We’re booked on your zombie apocalypse next week,” said Declan in an attempt to break the awkward moment, for which everyone was grateful.

  “Oh yes?” replied Ryan, reclining back in his seat and taking a sip of orange juice.

  “Yeah, me and Mikey. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”

  “Zombie Apocalypse,” snorted Alex. “What a load of sh…”

  “Language Alex,” chided Martina, “Remember the children?”

  “You don’t approve?” Ryan asked him, voice dripping ice.

  “It’s a bit bloody daft, isn’t it? Grown men running around with plastic guns pretending to shoot a bunch of idiots in Halloween costumes?”

  Ryan arched a disdainful eyebrow. “Better that than real guns.”

  Alex’s smile fell and he glared at him.

  It was Beth’s turn to break the next awkward silence. “Alex, could you pass me Holly’s bottle out of the changing bag? It’s time for her feed.”

  The room felt to breathe another collective sigh of relief as he got up and walked over to the bag sitting in the corner of the room.

  “So, you think you can beat my zombies?” Ryan playfully asked Declan and Mikey, keeping one eye on Alex.

  “Yep, we’ll make great zombie crashers,” said an enthusiastic Declan.

  “It’s zombie bashers, numb nuts,” grinned Mikey.

  “Crashers would work too, wouldn’t it Ryan?” said Declan.

  “No.”

  “Oh.”

  Alex walked directly in front of Ryan to hand Beth the bottle and once again the two men’s eyes locked, the loathing reflected in each other’s gazes. Jez looked at his brother and frowned, appearing very concerned by this turn of events but Ryan shook his head.

  “Later,” he said quietly before taking another sip of orange juice.

  Rachel hung up after her phone call with Ryan praying what he had to tell her was good news. She’d had her fill of bad. Although she hadn’t got through everything she wanted to, she decided to leave the rest of the paperwork and head over to Martina’s. She was tired and just wanted to have fun with her family.

  “Go on, get yourself off. I’ll lock up,” she told her general manager.

  Amanda tried not to look too delighted. “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying.”

  “I know you’ve got a hot date. Go and enjoy yourself.”

  “Thanks. Sure you’ll be alright on your own?”

  “Fine, I’m almost done.”

  After Amanda had gone, Rachel locked up her office then walked through the spa, turning off the lights and ensuring everything was locked up tight.

  As she stepped outside into the car park the hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she got the feeling someone was watching her. Glancing around she could see nothing and no one, her car sitting alone, the vacant lot suddenly menacing.

  She picked up the pace, pulling the keys from her pocket, the only sound her high heels clicking off the tarmac. Just as she reached her car two large shapes leapt out from behind it. With a startled scream she lashed out, jabbing the car key into the face of one of the attackers and punching the other in the stomach. The keys slipped from her hand and disappeared from sight under the car. Rachel ran, pulling her mobile phone out of her jacket pocket.

  “Where’s Rachel? She should have been here by now. The food’s almost ready,” said Martina, emerging from the kitchen, her hands encased in oven gloves.

  “She’ll be here any minute,” replied Ryan, bouncing Aaron on his knee. “You know Rachel, she never misses one of your roasts.”

  “Shall I dish up then?”

  “I’ll give her a call, just to check she’s left.”

  As he pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket it rang in his hand. “That’s her.” He pressed answer. “Hello Sweetheart, are you on your way? Martina’s…”

  They all stopped to listen as he abruptly went silent. “Just hang on, we’re on our way.”

  He hung up and passed Aaron to Cathy. “Take him, we’ve got to go.”

  “What’s happening?” said Martina.

  “Someone’s trying to kidnap Rachel, she’s hiding in the bushes
outside the spa,” he said, snatching up his car keys, grateful that Leah was playing upstairs with Alfie.

  “Jesus, we’ll come too,” said Alex.

  Ryan experienced a moment of indecision. For all he knew this could be Alex’s doing, but if it wasn’t then it meant he could be innocent of the car accident. He hated accepting help from him but he had no choice.

  “Alright, let’s go,” said Ryan.

  Leaving the children with the women, the men rushed out of the house and into Ryan’s car.

  Rachel slid her phone back into her jacket pocket and watched from behind one of the bushes in the spa grounds, taser in hand, as the two figures scanned the surrounding area. She saw one talking into his mobile phone but couldn’t catch what he was saying, she was too far away. She didn’t dare move or breathe and prayed Ryan hurried up.

  A minute later the two figures were joined by two more, pulling up in a large black van. Who the hell were they and what did they want with her? She hadn’t pissed anyone off in ages, except for Stephen Strang but he didn’t have the balls to abduct her. What would it achieve anyway? Was he going to hold her hostage until she signed over their businesses? No, she couldn’t see it.

  A rustling behind her drew her attention and she just managed to roll out of the way as a fist came hurtling towards her. She jammed the end of the taser into her assailants leg. There was a loud crackle and the figure jumped and jerked before dropping to the ground with a loud groan. Shouts filled the air as the others spotted her and she scrambled to her feet and ran, disorientated in the gathering darkness, not sure where she was going. A terrific crashing behind her told her she was being chased and she tried to keep cool and not give way to the panic threatening to engulf her. She heard a car approaching and prayed it was Ryan. Abruptly she veered off towards the sound, crashing out of the undergrowth to find herself at the far end of the car park. Looking up the road she could see Ryan’s car with its doors hanging open abandoned at the barrier. He probably didn’t have his pass key on him. Ryan himself was charging towards her, followed by Alex, Mikey, Declan and Jez.

  “Ryan,” she screamed.