While You Slept

by R. J. Parker

  The intruder standing in the garden had been a brazen demonstration that this was to come. It must have taken some organization to snatch them and bring them here, so they must have planned to take them that night. Had whoever done it watched Officer Michaels surveying the flat? How had they got in? And how could they have unlocked the doors within to get to them?

  To know so much about their home perhaps they’d been regularly coming into it when she’d been at work. Maybe Ewan wasn’t in Dundee. He’d given back his key, but he could so easily have made a copy. She imagined him wandering around the empty rooms of their old marital home while she and Maisie weren’t there. But her app would have alerted her. She’d only recently had it installed though. That definitely hadn’t been Ewan standing in the back garden, however. Was there more than one person involved in their kidnap? It was the first time she’d thought that word. But ‘kidnap’ was what this was.

  Before they’d locked themselves in Lily had swiftly checked the windowless bathroom was empty. Like Fallstaff Gardens it was the only room without a camera. She examined the seal of the window in the kitchen. It was their only view out of their reproduction home. There was no window in Maisie’s room anyway and the one in hers had bricks behind it. The bay windows in the locked lounge were inaccessible. The kitchen window was now their only source of natural light.

  The glass was set firmly in the wall and when she put her palm against it there was no give or rattle like her real one. It was rigid. She thumped it with her fist and it made a dull thud.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  It looked like it was unbreakable. She beat it again harder and her wrist smarted. Lily moved to the wooden back door. She pulled down on the handle but knew it wouldn’t open. The panel was simply a piece of set. There was no light around it. It was fixed to the wall.

  There was the cat flap at the bottom but when she prodded it with her bare toe it didn’t give. She bent to examine it. The flap wasn’t translucent yellowing plastic like hers, it looked like it was solid yellow resin.

  ‘How will the cat get out?’

  Lily acknowledged that Maisie hadn’t called the animal Mr Gingerbread.

  ‘If he tries to go through there he’ll fall.’

  ‘It’s OK, it won’t open. He can’t get out.’

  Maisie frowned.

  She knew that was going to be no comfort to Maisie.

  ‘Like us?’

  Lily didn’t respond. ‘Hello!’ She shouted up at the ceiling. Mr Sargeant wasn’t up there but perhaps there were other people in the building. She fought the impulse to shout ‘help’ again. She didn’t want to frighten Maisie any more than she was.

  Nothing.

  But by the state of the structure opposite and what she could see of the one she was in, reflected in its shattered windows, she thought it unlikely that there was anyone above or below them. Maybe whoever was holding them captive was the only one who could hear her. But surely the intruder was still in their real home. How far away from there were they now? ‘Hello!’ she screamed louder, desperation fraying the word.

  She gazed around the kitchen at all the familiar fixtures and contents. The shelves of pots stacked in the same way they were in her real kitchen, the slanted row of cookbooks on top of the cupboard. She opened it and it had all the same dried contents – packs of rice and pasta and noodles – as the one at home.

  How long had this place existed and been awaiting their occupation? Lily closed the cupboard door, walked to the fridge and took one of Maisie’s crayon drawings from under the familiar SpongeBob magnet. Had someone photographed the inside of her home then searched online for all the same contents? But how could they have Maisie’s picture?

  She put the magnet back and closely examined the crudely drawn orange car with the two of them sitting in it, Lily smiling in front and Maisie seated in the back. She ran her fingers over it but there was no texture, no waxy feel to the thicker strokes of crayon. It was a colour photocopy. The paper was shiny. It had been taken from their real home and duplicated. Cold bubbles fizzed up her spine.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Maisie had been watching her expression.

  Lily fixed the picture back to the door. ‘Just looking at how happy we are together.’

  Maisie got up off the chair and came over to where she was standing.

  Lily moved quickly to the window. ‘Come over here.’

  Maisie briefly regarded her drawing then followed her to the sink.

  Lily picked her up and sat her on the draining board.

  ‘I thought I wasn’t allowed to sit up here.’

  ‘Today you are.’ She directed her daughter’s attention through the pane. ‘I want you to keep watch out here.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘People.’ Lily scanned the deserted rubble. ‘If you see anyone out there, I want you to run and tell me straight away.’

  ‘Where are you going?’ There was sudden terror on her face.

  Lily figured the kitchen was the safest room for Maisie to be. ‘I’m going to search the other rooms. There must be another way out of here.’

  Chapter 14

  As she headed for the door Lily halted at the kitchen drawers. She slid the middle one open and was surprised to find the familiar contents inside. It was her tool drawer, and everything was present and correct, even if it looked slightly new.

  The hammer and chisel were distinctly less grubby than the ones Ewan had left behind but they were the same make. Who else could have got inside her home without her noticing? Paulette was the only one with a spare key. They’d had issues in the past, but she couldn’t countenance the idea that she had anything to do with this. Had Paulette misplaced her key at some point or had Lily? No, she always carried it around in her handbag and never had any others cut.

  What about Mr Sargeant upstairs? Had he pretended not to be home when Officer Michaels had been there? Even if he wanted to get in though, how had he bypassed the security?

  But she’d only recently had the cameras and alarm fitted. They’d lived there for four years without the system. Lily grabbed the hammer, chisel and her set of screwdrivers and turned back to Maisie. ‘Eyes out of the window. You’ve got an important job to do.’ She quietly closed the drawer.

  Maisie nodded and turned to the pane.

  Lily took a breath and unbolted the door. She opened it, tentatively made her way into the empty hallway and listened. No sounds of movement.

  ‘Are you OK?’

  ‘Fine. Just stay where you are.’ Why had the intruder left her with the tools she needed to escape? Was this a test? By Ewan?

  She took her phone out of her robe pocket with her free hand and checked it. The intruder hadn’t tried to contact her since he’d walked through the front door of her house in Fallstaff Gardens. It wasn’t even half six in the morning. Nobody would be missing either of them yet. And even when she did have a sick day the office very rarely rang her at home. What about Julie Medlocke? She had her back and would get in touch if she didn’t appear, but would she do anything more if she didn’t get a reply? She might try to call Lily’s mobile.

  A thought struck her, and Lily turned it over in her palm. Was it hers? She’d only just changed that wallpaper photo. It was of her and Maisie a few weeks ago after they’d had an outing to Brighton. It was an image of them together on the beach with the pier in the background. She examined the cheap black plastic case. It looked like hers. She went to contacts and hit ‘This Phone’. That was definitely her number. Looked like it was hers.

  Lily attempted calling the police again then Julie and Paulette. No dial tone. The last person she tried was Ewan. Why would she think his number would be any different to the others? Was it because of what Paulette had said about suspecting him? Was something jamming the signal? She went to her security app but now all the images of the rooms were black. Had he deliberately covered the cameras or was the connection severed? The app was working fine earlier.

  ‘There’
s nobody out there,’ Maisie reported despondently from the kitchen.

  ‘Keep looking.’ What about Maisie’s school? They would soon be in touch if she didn’t attend. But even when they were both missed, and the alarm was eventually raised, it didn’t matter if the police kicked down the front door. Where would they begin to start looking for them? They could be miles from Fallstaff Gardens.

  Pocketing the phone, she circled her red hair behind her ear and listened at the front lounge. The TV was in there. If it was even a room. She carefully pulled down the handle. Still locked. She tried the inner front door. Locked too. There was no noise coming from the other side, so she examined the hinges. Weren’t you supposed to be able to lift a door off from that side? She put the hammer and chisel on the floor and opened her screwdrivers.

  The phone rang and she jumped and swiftly pulled it out. Lily looked along the hallway to Maisie who immediately tried to slide back down the sink cupboard. ‘Stay there,’ she hissed.

  Maisie froze and then reluctantly pulled herself back up.

  ‘Window.’ Lily gestured at the glass and Maisie turned back to it.

  Lily looked up at the hallway camera over the kitchen door. Had he seen her with the tools? And did he have the same security app as her so he could watch her from anywhere? She answered and held the phone to her ear.

  ‘You’re wasting your time.’ It was the same male voice from before.

  ‘Why are you doing this?’

  ‘Isn’t it time you both had breakfast?’ he said flatly.

  Lily swallowed and turned to the front door so Maisie couldn’t hear. ‘Where is this place?’

  No response. Only light breathing.

  ‘Please …’ she whispered, ‘I’ll do whatever you want. Just let us out.’

  ‘There’s cereal, fresh milk and eggs too.’

  ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I told you. Eat. You both need to sustain yourselves.’

  Lily hesitated. Didn’t want to ask. ‘For what?’

  ‘For the day ahead. There’s cat food there too. Don’t let Mr Gingerbread starve.’

  ‘That’s not my cat.’ Aggression filled out her voice. ‘Why would you do this? If it’s a ransom you’re after—’

  ‘No. This isn’t that sort of scenario. You can use the tools you have. Try the window with the hammer and chisel; if you feel the need. It’s reinforced though, so you’ll barely scratch it.’

  ‘Just tell me what you want.’ Lily gripped the phone tighter.

  ‘You’ll probably have no problem removing the door to the porchway but beyond that there’s no way through. It’s plate steel. Be my guest but, take my word for it, you will be wasting your time.’

  ‘Please, stop this. Let us out now and I promise I won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.’

  ‘That will be the case … regardless of what you do.’

  Lily flinched and closed her eyes. ‘You can’t lock up a child.’

  ‘No?’ He paused. ‘Is that right?’

  ‘Tell me who you are. Tell me what you think I’ve done to deserve this. I promise, I’ll do whatever you ask.’

  ‘That’s a very rash promise.’

  ‘Just let Maisie go.’

  ‘Shall we just take this conversation as read? I think you already know the answer.’

  Lily opened her eyes, inhaled and swallowed her anger. ‘We’ll have breakfast.’

  ‘Good. I’ve already eaten. Top right cupboard. Cornflakes were running a bit low but you’ll find a full box in yours.’

  ‘You’re in my kitchen?’ she said incredulously and imagined him standing there. Would Mr Sargeant hear him moving around? But surely, if he hadn’t jetted off yet, he’d just assume it was her.

  ‘Don’t forget to keep your phone charged so I can contact you. Charger’s in the usual place. I have to go now.’

  ‘Wait!’

  ‘You’ve got everything you need.’

  ‘Tell us what we need to do.’

  ‘To curry favour you mean?’

  Lily gritted her teeth. ‘Yes.’

  ‘Eat, drink, sleep. Keep yourselves healthy. Keep yourselves sane.’

  ‘And when will you explain?’

  ‘The reason you’re there?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Maybe never.’

  Chapter 15

  She prayed he was toying with her. ‘And what if we refuse?’

  ‘Refuse to keep yourselves alive?’ he eventually replied.

  Lily thought he might have hung up. She didn’t know how to respond.

  ‘If you go on hunger strike, you die. If that’s your choice, so be it, but is that what you really want for Maisie?’

  She didn’t like him using her daughter’s name. ‘Please … give me something.’

  ‘I have. A full box of cornflakes.’ He cut the call.

  Lily took a deep breath before she walked slowly back to Maisie in the kitchen.

  ‘Was that the scary man?’

  Lily nodded. She found the number in her recent calls and hit redial. No dial tone. He’d clearly jammed the signal again. ‘Just keep looking out of the window.’ She made her way back to the inner front door.

  ‘Didn’t you tell him we’d have breakfast?’ Maisie called down to her.

  ‘Yes. I did.’ Was there any point in trying to remove the door? He’d be watching her through the hall camera. He hadn’t forbidden her though. ‘Are you hungry?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Keep watch then.’ Could he really be standing in her kitchen? If so, how far away was he from them? A few miles or were they in another part of the country? Was someone else standing behind the front door before her, listening to their conversation? She picked up the hammer from the floor, gripped it tight in her hand and barely restrained herself from swinging it at the door. She couldn’t lose control in front of Maisie again.

  ***

  Quarter of an hour later she’d managed to unscrew the hinges from the door and grunted as she attempted to lift it. It weighed a ton.

  ‘Can I help?’ Maisie was standing behind her.

  She couldn’t banish her to the window again. ‘Just stand back.’ Lily supported the weight by the handle, but it was too heavy and, as it came off, she staggered and then jumped back. It slammed onto the black and orange tiles of the hallway floor.

  ‘Are you OK?’

  Lily nodded. It had nearly landed on her bare foot. ‘I’m fine.’ But her attention was already on the front door beyond. There was no light around it. She bent to the letterbox halfway up it, lifted the aluminium flap and looked through.

  He was right. Through the slot she could see dull, silver steel. She pushed the head of the hammer inside and butted the head against it. The wall the other side emitted a heavy thud. Lily exhaled and her shoulders sagged. She clenched her teeth, closed her eyes.

  ‘We’re locked inside, aren’t we?’

  Lily turned to find Maisie standing in the porchway. ‘I told you to stand back!’ She couldn’t keep the anger from her voice.

  Maisie recoiled, as if she’d been struck.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Lily hugged her and put her nose against the side of her hot face. ‘I didn’t mean to shout.’

  Maisie put her arms around her neck. ‘It’s OK. We’ll be OK.’

  Lily felt the burn of tears but fought them back. ‘Of course we will be.’

  After a few moments, Maisie released her. ‘What about the lounge?’ There was still hope in her eyes.

  Lily nodded and quickly rose before any tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Let’s check it out, shall we?’ But she knew it would be pointless. Was their watcher enjoying this? She took Maisie’s hand and led her out of the porch. She put her eye to the gap at the hinges of the lounge door but there was no light. Peering through the keyhole gave her the same result. ‘Move behind me.’ Lily raised the hammer.

  Maisie obeyed.

  She swung the head hard at the panel, but the wood was solid and the hamme
r bounced off it. The door at home was lightweight, but this was obviously made of something sturdier. Was there any point trying to take this off at the hinges if it was set against steel like the front door? He’d told her she’d be wasting her time. Now she believed him.

  Maisie examined the tiny dent in the wood. ‘What do we do now?’

  It was a good question. But Lily knew she had to keep making decisions. ‘First, we’re going to get dressed. Then we have breakfast.’

  ‘Because the scary man said?’

  Lily glanced briefly up at the camera. ‘No. Because we do need to eat.’

  ‘But I said I’m not hungry.’ Suddenly Maisie’s stomach bubbled and grumbled in contradiction and it echoed down the hallway. She smirked slightly.

  Lily smiled too, for her benefit. But she had no idea what they would do after that. It was clear that the space that had been created to trap them in was designed to be anything but temporary. ‘We’ll feel better once we’ve eaten. Then we’ll figure this out together.’

  Maisie nodded and turned to go to her bedroom.

  ‘Wait.’

  Lily stopped and turned.

  ‘Let’s just listen a moment.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘Ssshhh.’ Lily held up her palm and tried to let her heart rate slow down so she could hear.

  They both stood still.

  Nothing. No sound of traffic. It didn’t appear they were anywhere near a main road.

  Maisie opened her mouth to say something, but Lily held her hand out firmly.

  They stood like that for three minutes and only then did they just hear a sound. Wind mournfully blowing through one of the upstairs rooms. Were they really all alone?

  Chapter 16

  Lily flipped open the lid of the see-through kettle. It was identical to hers but pristine inside. The bottom of the one in Fallstaff Gardens was coated with chalk. She sniffed the interior and then took it to the sink. She turned the familiar tap and suddenly a loud clunking noise emanated from behind the splash tiles.

  A few seconds later, water squirted harshly from the mixer but then stopped. Pressure built again and it started sporadically flowing down the plughole. It looked slightly brown. Where was this coming from, the original plumbing or had a pump been set up specifically?