A Sense of Discovery(a Gripping Psychological Suspense Novel)

by Peter Martin

  The shouting and banging carried on for some time, but to no avail. In the end, Garry knew it was pointless to keep this up and going over to the window to get his son and daughter’s attention, yelled, ‘Did you hear what she said?’

  ‘Yes,’ Tom replied poking his head through the window. ‘She’s got a nerve. It’s just an act she’s put on, saying how much she wants to be part of our family. I wouldn’t trust her an inch.’

  ‘Me neither, son. But we’re stuck here until she chooses to let us out.’

  ‘Dad, I’m frightened.’ Cassie spoke from the other window.

  ‘I’m so sorry, love, I never dreamed this would happen. I keep telling myself she’s my mother, she wouldn’t hurt us. It’ll be all right in the end, but to be honest I don’t know what to believe anymore. What I will say is that she’s upset over what’s happened to her and from her irrational behaviour she’s taking it out on us. I’m sure once she realises this is all wrong, she’ll open the doors. And thank God you have Chris with you, at least that’s a comfort to me.’

  ‘But what if she doesn’t let us out? Where will that leave us?’ Tom enquired, having heard what his father had said to Cassie.

  ‘I don’t know, son, let’s not think that far ahead. For now, we have to hope she comes to her senses, so let’s sit tight and keep calm. Now listen, if any of you want to speak to me, I’ll keep the windows open so just shout out – it doesn’t matter what time of night or day it is – although it’s not as if I can go anywhere.’

  With the full weight of the situation on his shoulders, Garry sat in the armchair to the side of the window. He felt guilty and knew if anything happened to any one of his family it would be his fault – how he’d live with that he didn’t know. If Lena should hurt a hair on anyone’s head, she’d pay for it.

  He felt constantly on edge, passing the time with no idea what would happen next. And the longer it went on, the more worried he got. He dismissed the thought of watching television and for the rest of the evening sat waiting, intermittently pacing the floor over and over again. He spoke to his family, and tried the door handle several times to see if the door would open, but it still appeared Lena had no intention of freeing them yet.

  <><><>

  How long they’d have to go without food Garry had no idea. It had been some time since their last meal and not only that he was now tired. One consolation, however, being as all the bedrooms had an en-suite, water was readily available. It crossed Garry’s mind that perhaps Lena was intentionally starving them to death but he soon dismissed it. Even so to imprison someone, as he saw it, meant there had to be something seriously wrong with her.

  Having endured hours in his room with nothing to do except think of how hungry he was, he became agitated and felt mentally drained. He lay back on his bed having turned the lights off and slept for a while. When he woke it was still dark, and slowly his eyes adapted to the dim light. And turning on the bedside lamp, he saw from his watch it was two o’clock in the morning.

  He sat up and was about to get out of bed to go to the bathroom when he noticed a tray had been placed just inside the door. How on earth had someone managed to open the door without waking him? The tray contained a can of drink, a packet of biscuits and a plate of sandwiches. Oh well, that’s one worry less, he thought, she intends feeding us. And on the off chance whoever had been in the room had forgotten to lock the door, he rushed over and tried it - still locked. Shit.

  What the hell has she got planned for us? He knew things hadn’t gone the way Lena had intended and thought maybe she’d imprisoned them to contemplate her next step. But why so melodramatic? Although she’d probably lived the biggest part of her life that way.

  For now, however, he was glad of the refreshments, at least she wasn’t about to starve them to death. Any thoughts of Lena were put on the back-burner while all his thoughts concentrated on survival. But before eating anything he had to check on the rest of his family, to see if they’d been given any food too. First, he shouted Tom and then Cassie and they both confirmed trays of foodstuffs had indeed been left in their rooms. This brought a modicum of relief to Garry and although he’d planned to keep some of the food until later, in the end, he’d only got two or three biscuits left.

  When Garry heard Tom shout, ‘Dad.’ He rushed over to the window.

  ‘How are we ever going to get out of here?’

  ‘For the moment, son, all we can do is sit tight.’ Then forcing a smile said, ‘And maybe even a prayer wouldn’t come amiss. Let’s all have a look around, see if there’s any other way out.’ All that came to mind was out through the window. And as he’d considered this before he knew the only option would be to tie sheets together and slide down, but he didn’t suggest that. Instead, he said, ‘Come on - we must never give up hope, or we’re finished.’

  When Cassie had joined them at the window, Garry heard her sobbing and turned to look in her direction.

  ‘Either we’ll be imprisoned here for the rest of our lives – or she intends killing us,’ she said.

  ‘Stop that Cassie - she doesn’t want to kill us - that’s ridiculous. She’s just throwing a paddy because she’s lonely and wants us to stay. And besides too many people know us at home – lots of questions would be asked if we didn’t go back unharmed.’ Although it had crossed Garry’s mind there might be some other reason for Lena’s behaviour, he couldn’t figure out what that reason might be.

  ‘Yes, but that won’t stop her. Who’ll find us out here?’ Cassie said. ‘She can do anything she wants, and no one here will be any the wiser.’

  ‘Cassie, you’re letting your imagination run wild. We have to be positive about this or we’re done for. At least she’s feeding us, and we’re living in relative comfort, even if we are confined to our rooms,’ Garry told them.

  ‘Yes, but what’s she’s planning to do?’ Cassie asked, small tremors of fear evident in the tone of her voice.

  ‘Nothing; she’ll release us eventually, you’ll see. We have to be patient - do you remember your old nan’s saying? ‘All things come to an end, good and bad.’ - well believe me we will come through this,’ Garry reassured her - secretly wishing he knew how.

  Tom and Cassie finally moved away, neither of them seeming happy. Garry went back to his bed to eat the biscuits he’d left. Later he closed his eyes. He’d put on a brave face in front of his children, but now the bravado had gone he began to worry. Being imprisoned like this had brought a feeling of claustrophobia, which previously he’d never experienced. And although he might not admit it to anyone, he too feared they’d never get off the island alive. Then, of course, there was the small matter of his wife and what had happened to her. After the day’s events he doubted she’d ever left the island, and although this brought on a sense of panic, there was nothing he could do about it as yet. His first priority being to get out of this room, then look for Delia.

  <><><>

  While he didn’t relish the task, there seemed only one option left to him; he needed to speak to Lena again, try to reason with her, get her to see sense. After all the outbursts that had taken place, it wouldn’t be easy, especially if she was still in that spiteful frame of mind. At present, no one took any notice of him, no matter what he did.

  By mid-afternoon, no more food had been provided. Guessing more may appear in the early hours of the morning when they were all asleep Garry thought perhaps that would be his only chance of escape. And when the door to his room opened, at that hour he’d have the element of surprise and try to make good his getaway.

  He needed to keep himself awake, so he could lie in wait, and then pounce on them. It could work, if he was lucky and resourceful. He’d start by taking a few naps during the day, then maybe it wouldn’t be too difficult to stay awake.

  After padding out the bed with a lookalike body, he took one of the large cushions from the armchair and placed it to the side of the door. He’d need to be ready and quick or lose the chance altogether. Now, sittin
g beside the door it seemed to Garry the worst part, as the endless minutes ticked by.

  But when the food did arrive, he was dozing, and almost caught out. A slight noise of a key turning in the lock brought him to his senses. As the door opened Garry was totally hidden from view. He sat stock-still behind the door and watched as the expected tray was gently pushed across the carpet. On looking up, however, he saw in the reflection of his window, two hefty men standing just behind the person with the tray, and at this point realised he had no chance of escape.

  Without saying a word, the three men stepped back onto the landing and shut the door behind them.

  Garry ran to the door and banged his fists on it. ‘Hey, you! I want to speak to Lena. Hurry up and get her or else I’ll do something she won’t like.’

  But his words made no impression on his elusive visitors.

  Over and over he shouted in his frustration, but it was no use. His message wouldn’t be passed on of that he was quite sure. He cursed his insane mother, and once again gave the door a kick.

  He took his tray from the floor and placed it on the bedside table. His hunger had all but gone after that episode, so he took a drink from the carton of orange juice, not bothering to use a glass. Later in the day, he knew he’d probably be famished, but for now, he sat back on a chair beside the bedside table. But instead of dropping off to sleep he became agitated, constantly mulling over in his mind the need to get out of the room.

  What it this did prove was that he’d been wrong about moving to the island. And at this moment, he looked forward to being as far away from the place as possible. He wanted an end to this standoff, it drove him crazy being cooped up in this room with nothing to do. His worst dread, was a fear of what this woman intended to do next? Sooner or later he would find out.

  <><><>

  Their enforced imprisonment continued for days; Garry couldn’t understand how Lena’s mind worked. But with nothing to do except look at the four walls he had trouble diverting his attention to anything else. There were times when Cassie became upset if not hysterical about what she thought might happen. For now, whatever conclusion any of them reached would be pure speculation. Garry had failed miserably in his attempts to catch the person leaving the food; it appeared at various times of the night, and there were always three sturdy men carrying out the task. His constant demands to speak to Lena went unheeded, and he felt at a loss to know what to do to bring her to him. None of them could carry on like this for much longer and he wondered how it would end.

  The answer came when he was woken by a loud noise. He rubbed his eyes to see the door open, and in the relative darkness, a light on the landing allowed him to see an outline of who’d entered. There as bold as brass stood Lena, but lurking behind her was an incredibly tall man, who from the lack of hair and stance, looked to be rather old. In the shadowy light, Garry could just about make out that a group of about three people stood half on the landing and half in the entrance to the room, but it was impossible to identify them.

  He sat up, cold sweat trickling down his back, and glared at his visitors. He shivered inwardly, concerned over what would happen next. Putting on a brave front he spoke to Lena, ‘At last, you’ve shown your face. I thought being your only family we were dear to you. So why have you kept us locked in our rooms? What did we do to you?’

  ‘Nothing Garry, absolutely nothing at all – but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t, given half a chance,’ she said with squinted eyes.

  ‘We wouldn’t, but answer this, how, or what, could we possibly do to harm, or hurt you? All we want is to go home. Is that so much to ask?’

  ‘It’s very easy to make promises, but how can I be sure you’ll keep them?’

  Garry didn’t answer her question instead said, ‘Well, you know, I’ve lain here for days with nothing to do, I’ve racked my brains trying to think of something either me or my family have done… or for that matter, might do… and I can’t for the life of me come up with anything which could be a threat or of harm to you. It’s a total mystery to me.’

  He shook his head, but his attention fell on the tall man moving towards him. Never in his life had he seen anyone with such a sinister smile, so much so he shuddered.

  ‘It’s going to be even more difficult for your family to leave here now Garry.’ Lena threatened.

  ‘You can’t keep us here by force, you’ve no right. It’s immoral plus it’s also against the law and you’d be imprisoned for it. We’re the only family you have, and yet this is how we’re treated.’ Garry paused here before saying sarcastically, ‘But I would like to congratulate you on the role you’ve played thus far, it must surely be worthy of an Oscar. And to think you had us fooled for a while, well almost, you see Chris has seen through you from the start. So perhaps it wasn’t such a good performance after all.’ Garry moved up his bed so that he sat with his back against the wall.

  His comments had provoked anger in Lena and she glowered, ‘You think so.’

  ‘I do. All told you’re a washout, and you won’t get away with this.’

  ‘Won’t I? Just you wait and see.’

  Then he heard a cackling sound and knew straight away it emanated from the old man. Inducing Garry to say ‘Who’s that with you?’

  For a few seconds, the atmosphere in the room was suffocating. And for once Lena was all but lost for words but then regaining her composure said, ‘Well I suppose now is as good a time as any. Dad, why don’t you show yourself to Garry?’

  When the old man moved forward, immediately Garry recognised him as the man in quite a number of the pictures in the Awards Room – Sir Edward Matthews - and who Garry thought had died years ago. Prompting him to say, ‘My God! I can’t believe this. I thought you were dead, killed in a plane crash.’

  And there again the eerie cackle from this odd eccentric character.

  He stared at Garry, then enfolded Lena with his long arm, bringing his hand to rest indecently under her breast. Garry looked on in astonishment at this inappropriate behaviour as she returned his affection willingly.

  ‘That’s my girl,’ he grinned. ‘My lovely little girl.’

  ‘Dad, do you have any idea who this is?’ She pointed at her son.

  The old man’s eyes widened, and he smirked as he gazed at Garry.

  ‘This is your son, Dad,’ she said. Leaving Garry totally astounded. Then the implication hit him almost with the force of a bullet – hardly unable to speak or believe what he’d heard and witnessed. Breathing deeply in, to calm himself he frowned. No wonder they’d done all in their power to stop the truth coming out.

  Of all the things which had crossed his mind during the last few days while being cooped up in this room, none of them came remotely close to the truth. He felt totally sickened by their behaviour saying, ‘You disgust me, both of you. How could you? Why it’s inhuman.’ Leaving no doubt in anyone’s mind how repulsive he found their actions.

  Sir Edward tittered over this, then leered at his daughter. ‘When she was young, she was such a peach, everyone wanted her – no wonder I had to have her for myself. And she still is the best, aren’t you my little darling?’

  Lena smiled up at her father. ‘I was messed up at the time, but dad got me through the bad things. In return, I gave him the most beautiful son anyone could ever wish for. But being so young I couldn’t cope - along with everything else going on in my life. That’s when I realised I had to give you up.’

  Sir Edward laughed out aloud. ‘Chip off the old block, chip off the old block, son.’

  Garry sat there completely mortified at this turn of events. He didn’t know much about the technicalities of children born under such circumstances but feared sometime in the future he might have something genetically wrong with him. Or maybe his children would suffer because of it.

  But his attention was drawn to the old man who turned and took hold of one of the group just outside the doorway – as he flung her towards him, it looked to Garry to be a woman. Garry go
t to his feet just in time to stop the woman falling flat on the floor. Much to his amazement, he found he was looking into the face of his very distraught wife.

  ‘My God, … Delia… I... I believed her at first,’ He nodded towards Lena, ‘That you’d gone home. But after a while with everything that’s happened lately something seemed to tell me she was at the back of your disappearance.’ Then he whispered. ‘What have they done to you?’

  She whimpered, unable to look him in the eye. What had they put her through? She looked tired, there were bags under her bloodshot eyes, and her face was totally devoid of makeup. The clothes she wore looked as though they’d been slept in; straight away he felt responsible, finding it painful to look at her in this state.

  Instead in a soft tone of voice, he asked, ‘Delia, are you all right?’ And reached out to touch her, but she shied away from him. Tears filled her eyes.

  Lena howled with laughter while Sir Edward smirked like a naughty schoolboy as he held onto her tightly.

  ‘Oh my God Deel – if only I could turn back the clock.’

  ‘Don’t be so hard on yourself Garry,’ Lena said. ‘She didn’t really leave on account of you – actually, she never went away at all, did you, my dear? I caught her snooping around.’ Then turning to her father asked, ‘But she didn’t bank on bumping into you, did she Dad?’

  ‘No, no she didn’t… but I’m so very glad she did – what a pretty little thing she is.’ The old man gave her a lewd look, causing Delia to shiver outwardly.

  ‘You bastards, what have you done to her?’ Garry bunched his fists wanting to strike him down.

  ‘Let’s just say we taught her a lesson she’ll never forget,’ Lena told him.

  ‘You’re showing your true colours, right enough, you bitch.’

  ‘Don’t take that attitude with me Garry, and anyway, she was in good hands. Dad’s a real expert, aren’t you, Dad?’