Mother Knows Best (Novella): A Psychological Thriller Novella

by Netta Newbound

  Cody tipped his head back in acknowledgement, still smiling—at least on the outside. His dad would have a fit when he found out—but he couldn’t stop her contacting her mother without looking like a complete psycho. He would deal with it later.

  Chapter 3

  Ruby could have strangled her mother. Her phone buzzed continually the whole journey. Once she got to the pub, she snatched it from her bag and read five new messages.

  Did you get my last text?

  Ruby Fitzroy, answer me immediately. I’m worried.

  Please text Mum – she’s driving me mad – Soz sis x

  WHERE ARE YOU?

  Why are you punishing me like this? If you don’t reply, I’ll call.

  Ruby hit reply.

  Mother please get the hint – Stop nagging! I’m having a great time with Cody. We are in a pub close to the coast. NO MORE MESSAGES.

  Letting out an angry sigh, she stuffed the phone back into her bag. He glanced up and noticed an altercation with Cody and a large wall of a guy. Moments later, skirmish avoided, Cody slid in beside her.

  This was her first date since David, and although she’d spent the past twelve months waiting for him to call, she accepted he never would and had decided to get on with her life.

  There was something about Cody she liked a lot. Not just his looks, although his shaggy blond hair and deep blue eyes were to die for. But when he told her about his poor brother—or indeed, sister situation, her heart missed a beat. Nothing was more appealing to her than a sensitive man.

  He even seemed to understand about her mum. It was still early days, but she had a good feeling about him.

  “I hope you’re hungry,” Cody said.

  A large group of people left and although the place was still noisy, she could now hear Cody’s voice.

  “Starving.”

  “Good, because I ordered us both burger and chips—there wasn’t much of a selection. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Sounds lovely,” she said, sipping her cider.

  The rest of the evening ran smoothly. They devoured their food and drinks. Because of the noise, they huddled together in order to hear each other. But Ruby wasn’t complaining.

  Cody poured his heart out about his mother—she had vanished without a trace when Cody was four years old, his brother only two. How, after a massive search the police had found nothing at all. She was declared dead when he was eleven years old. He told her about his obsession with football and how his dream of playing for Swansea ended at the UK trials when he suffered a hamstring injury.

  Ruby had never felt such a connection with another person—apart from David of course, but she’d known him all her life. She didn’t want the evening to end and her heart sank when Cody picked his car keys up from the table.

  “We’d best get going,” he said.

  She sighed, and followed him to the exit.

  As they stepped onto the porch, the blond man from earlier appeared—blocking their way.

  Ruby squealed and grasped Cody’s upper arm with both hands.

  “Well, look who it is,” the larger man said.

  “Listen man, I don’t want any trouble—we were just having a quiet drink.”

  “Who said I want trouble? I’m after an apology—you threw your drink down my jacket earlier.”

  “No I didn’t.”

  “Are you calling me a liar?” The man’s voice boomed.

  “Of course not, but I didn’t spill my drink.”

  “So what do you call this then? Scotch mist?” He pointed to the front of his jacket.

  Ruby couldn’t see anything.

  “Listen, mate. If I accidentally spilt my drink—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. Now can you let us pass?”

  “So, you’re admitting you did it?” The man’s lip curled as he spoke.

  Ruby could hear her heartbeat in her ears. She’d never experienced anything like this in her life.

  “No—I’m saying if I did, I’m sorry,” Cody said.

  “Why apologise then, if you’re innocent?” The man stepped forward, prodding a large sausage-like finger in Cody’s chest.

  “What do you want me to say? I didn’t mean to spill my drink down you, but if I did, I’m sorry.” Cody put an arm around Ruby’s shoulders and tried to manoeuvre them both around the huge brute.

  “Hey! Where do you think you’re going? The man’s arm shot out blocking their way once more.

  Before she knew what had happened, Ruby flew backwards hitting the door with a bang. When she managed to right herself, Cody was up against the wall, his nose bleeding and the guy standing over him.

  Several men seemed to appear from nowhere and managed to bundle the blond guy away.

  Ruby ran to Cody’s side. “Oh my God—are you alright?”

  Cody held a hand below his nose catching most of the blood, although several large splashes had made it down the front of his shirt.

  “I’m okay,” he said. In fact, the exact words were I’bokay, but Ruby knew what he meant.

  “Let’s get you back inside—clean you up.” She escorted him to the men’s toilet and he went inside alone. He emerged a few minutes later looking more composed.

  “You need to get that shirt in to soak—it’ll be ruined if not,” Ruby said.

  “Do you mind if we pop to my dad’s on the way home? He lives close by.”

  “Course not. Are you sure you can drive though? I don’t have a licence.”

  “I’ll be fine, come on.”

  Back outside, Ruby’s nerves were so tightly wound she almost ran to the car expecting the big man to appear around every parked car they passed. But the parking area was once again deserted.

  Safely in the car, Cody turned into the street heading in the opposite direction they came from. He held a large wad of toilet tissue to his face.

  “Are you okay?” Ruby asked.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Do you want me to call your dad? What if he’s not at home?”

  “I have a key, but he’ll be home. He never goes out.”

  Cody turned the car away from the coast into a winding gravel road. The trees alongside were dense and the huge branches created a leafy arch across the road.

  The eeriness gave Ruby the shivers. “Is it much further?” Her voice sounded whiny to her own ears.

  “Uh-huh.” He shook his head.

  Her heart raced in her chest and prickles forming at the base of her neck developed into goose bumps which covered her entire body.

  Cody must have sensed her unease as he glanced at her. He dropped the tissue into his lap and reached for her hand. “It’s okay, don’t worry.” He smiled.

  Ruby pointed at the large drop of blood growing rapidly at the end of his nose.

  He grabbed the tissue and caught the blood before it fell.

  “We should call the police. That brute needs locking up,” she said.

  “There’s no point—the police won’t do anything.”

  “He can’t be allowed to go around smashing innocent people’s faces in just for the sake of it.”

  “I’ll get him back—don’t you worry.”

  Ruby wasn’t sure if he was acting all macho in front of her. She had just witnessed him getting his arse kicked after all. But the way he said it, combined with the icy cold glint in his eyes, Ruby wasn’t so sure.

  “Where is this place?” The car had slowed as it began climbing the steep hill. “It’s freaky.”

  Cody laughed. “It must seem that way, seeing it in the dark for the first time, but it’s not—it’s quite beautiful. All this land used to belong to a mining company. Dad bought it off them before we were born. I’ve lived here all my life.”

  “Your dad owns all this?”

  “Yup. I only moved into town recently, but I come back here whenever I get the chance.”

  As they reached the top of the hill, Cody took a sharp turn to the left and moments later a two-story stone house came into view.

>   The house was lit up like a Chinese lantern, every room illuminated from within and the porch light also came on as they approached.

  Ruby breathed a sigh of relief. “Your dad’s electricity bill must be shocking.” She laughed.

  “I know, it is. I’m always going around after them both turning off the lights.” He shook his head.

  “Shall I wait here?”

  “No, don’t be daft. Come on in.”

  “But it’s late—won’t your dad mind?”

  “No. He’s not like that—he’ll be pleased to meet you.”

  “Well, if you’re sure.”

  “Certain,” he said and walked around to her side to open the door.

  A large grey cat skulked in the shadows, startling Ruby as its eyes flashed.

  “Don’t mind Wesley, he’s harmless.” Cody took a step towards the cat, making a hissing sound and the cat vanished into the bushes.

  Feeling self-conscious, Ruby followed Cody into the porch.

  He unlocked the door. “It’s only me,” he called as he stepped into the spacious hallway.

  Considering three men lived there, Ruby was surprised how neat and tidy everywhere was.

  A large plastic bin to the side of the front door was filled with boots and shoes. The wall opposite the staircase held a painting of a man’s head and upper body. Although the painting was brightly coloured, the green eyes held a darkness reminding Ruby of Dracula.

  “Who’s the artist?” Ruby asked.

  “My brother.”

  “Wow! He’s very good.”

  Cody stared at the painting as though seeing it for the first time. “Yes, I suppose he is.”

  Odd, thought Ruby.

  The sound of a TV came from a room to the right.

  Cody walked straight ahead into a large farmhouse style kitchen. The thick oak cupboard doors and large square porcelain sink looked like something from Home and Garden magazine.

  Once again, Ruby was surprised by the neatness. She’d expected a house full of men to be in need of a good clean and a woman’s touch—but not this house. In fact, it was tidier than her mum’s house had been when three women lived there.

  Chapter 4

  Cody made Ruby a cup of tea before leaving her in the kitchen.

  Instead of heading upstairs to change his shirt, first he went back out the front door and into the garage to the side of the house.

  As he entered, his dad jumped off the makeshift bed.

  “What the fuck happened to your face? Don’t tell me—she got away.”

  “Calm down, Dad. She’s in the kitchen having a cup of tea. I thought you might like to meet her—but leave the foul language out here, please.”

  “Why didn’t you stick to the plan? And you still didn’t tell me what happened.”

  “Some dick’ead decided to rearrange my face at the pub. But he did me a favour to be honest. Ruby didn’t mind us coming up here afterwards, so she’s none the wiser.”

  “Good.”

  “There is one problem, though,” Cody said.

  “What?” he screwed his eyes up and rubbed his temples.

  “She told her mum where she was and who she was with.”

  “Fucking hell, lad. How’re we gonna deal with that?”

  “Don’t worry, I have a plan. Trust me.”

  “Come on then. Let’s get this over and done with.”

  They found Ruby sitting at the kitchen table sipping her tea.

  “Ruby, this is my dad, Steve, Dad meet Ruby.” Cody watched the older man’s eyes light up.

  “I’ll leave you guys chatting while I grab a clean shirt,” Cody said.

  Ruby nodded, smiling.

  Thudding music sounded out from another part of the house and in response to Ruby’s confused expression his dad said, “My son, Kyle. Sorry, he has awful taste in music.”

  “Oh, Kylie?” Ruby asked.

  Cody froze half in, half out of the door.

  “Yeah, Cody told me about it,” she said.

  “Oh did he? Yes, Kylie,” his dad said.

  With a sigh, Cody ran up to his bedroom to change, certain the drugs he’d slipped into her tea should start working soon.

  Halfway down the stairs, he heard a clatter. Heart racing, he jumped the remaining steps and ran into the kitchen.

  Dad sat on the floor piling several baking trays and cake tins that had been strewn across the floor.

  “What the …?” Cody said.

  “That bloody brother of yours, that’s what. He’s getting worse. This is the second time today I’ve had the entire contents of a cupboard throw themselves at me.”

  Cody turned to Ruby and smiled. “Kyle enjoys playing pranks on Dad. But Dad makes it so easy, wouldn’t you say?”

  Ruby smiled as she touched her temple. “I don’t feel well—can you take me home, Cody, please?”

  Cody jumped forward and caught Ruby as she slid from the chair.

  Chapter 5

  Cody’s dad was delightful. Even though he had a good thirty years on his eldest son, they were the image of each other. The same mop of shaggy blond hair—although Steve’s was tinged with grey—and identical deep blue eyes—albeit framed with several clusters of lines. She could have been looking at the same face in a time warp.

  He pulled a chair out and sat opposite Ruby. Cody left the room.

  “I presume you live in Penderton, Ruby?”

  She nodded. “All my life. My mother owns one of the original cottages on Clark Street, off the old road.”

  “Ah, yes. I think old Bill used to live in one of them.”

  “Mr Grundy?”

  “Yeah, old Bill Grundy. Do you know him?”

  “I did—he died last year. I used to run errands for him as a kid.”

  “What a small world. I worked with him at the steelworks. He was my supervisor and mentor. I owe a lot of my skills to him.”

  “He never told me what he did for a living. He had been retired for as far back as I can remember. A lovely man though—always told lots of stories.”

  “He did that—he had a tough life—his wife died of lung cancer when his two kiddies were no more than knee high,” he said.

  “Really? I never heard about that.”

  “I have something here—look at this.” Steve jumped off his chair and opened a cupboard door above the sink. All of a sudden, several trays and tins toppled out and fell to the floor, each one hitting him on the way down.

  Ruby wasn’t sure if it was surprise from the noise or delayed shock from the evening’s events, but she came over all woozy.

  Cody burst through the door as if ready for a fight—then stopped—relief flooding his face. He said something to Ruby then laughed, but she couldn’t focus. What the hell was wrong with her?

  She tried to get to her feet just as the kitchen floor fell away.

  ***

  Her head thudded. She tried to open her eyes, but couldn’t. She couldn’t move at all.

  She heard voices, but not the words. Her limbs had a heaviness she’d never experienced before—her eyelids too.

  She eventually managed to open her eyes, but the stark white light-bulb above her head blinded her.

  After a few moments her eyes adjusted to the light. Still thick-headed and confused, she tried to make sense of the cold whitewashed breezeblocks and the boarded up window. She still couldn’t move, but this time, she realised why. Her hands and feet had been tied.

  Sheer terror flooded her system and her screams filled the silence.

  Chapter 6

  “She’s awake. Have you decided what we’re gonna do?” Cody’s dad said.

  “Yes. We need to go back into town in two vehicles.” Cody held up Ruby’s keys and phone. “I’ll sort it.”

  “I can’t go out—there’s Kyle to think about and not to mention …”

  “It’s just a car-ride, Dad. You won’t have to do anything else, I promise, and you’ll be back before you know it.”

  “
But what will you do? Once she’s reported missing your name will be given to the police.”

  “I’ll go to Jed’s bar and make sure I’m seen by everyone. Then I’ll go back to my flat—there’s always a load of people there on Friday night, so at least I’ll have an alibi.”

  “Don’t come back here until it’s sorted—the last thing we need is for the police to follow you.”

  “What do you think I am? An idiot? Course I won’t lead anyone back here, but you’ve got to promise you won’t touch her ‘til I get back. Swear to me, Dad—not one finger, you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear.”

  “And do you swear? She’s mine first—I found her—them’s the rules.”

  “Right! Stop fucking moaning.”

  Cody gripped the back of his dad’s t-shirt and yanked him back, pushing his arm into the older man’s throat. “I’m serious,” he snarled.

  His dad gulped and pushed at Cody’s arm. “Alright, son—knock it off.”

  Cody released him. “Anyway, you still didn’t tell me what you think of her?”

  His dad nodded, brushing himself down. “Aye—you done good, son.”

  “She’s perfect,” Cody said, rubbing at his crotch. He had a good mind to go in there now and give her what for—but he couldn’t—the first time had to be slow, so he could savour every second. No, he’d waited this long, another couple of days wouldn’t make any difference. “Get Kyle to keep an eye on her while we’re gone—I’ll check she’s properly tied—we don’t want her to escape like the last one.”

  His father went inside the house and Cody into the garage.

  Ruby twisted her whole body as he entered—her eyes reminiscent of a wild animal caught in a trap.

  “Cody, help me. What’s happening?”

  “Ah, calm yourself, Ruby. Everything’s going to be all right, but you must trust me—you do trust me, don’t you, babe?”

  Ruby nodded, although her stricken, terrified eyes told a different story.

  “What’s going on? Why am I tied up? Please Cody, let me go.”

  “No-can-do, sorry, babe. I’ve got to go away for a little while.”

  “No!” she shrieked.

  “Shhhh.” Cody sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her silky, brown hair. “I need you to calm down for me. Dad and Kyle will be here to look after you. When I get back, I promise things will be hunky-dory.”