The Secret_An absolutely gripping psychological thriller

by K. L. Slater

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  LOUISE

  Louise stormed out of the apartment, vaguely aware of Archie scuttling behind her trying to keep up.

  How dare Alice presume to tell her, Archie’s mother, how to parent her son? Not only had she no children of her own, she’d barely been in the company of kids at all, so far as Louise knew.

  It was fairly easy to see why her sister had turned out this way, though. Favoured and spoiled by their mother from an early age, she’d grown up thinking she could conquer the world.

  Louise found herself wishing her mother had lived to see the utter mess Alice had made of her life, and in contrast how well Louise was doing. She was a fighter.

  But then Lily probably would have made an excuse for her favourite child as she always did when they were younger.

  ‘Come on, hurry up,’ she snapped at her son, opening the car door. ‘Get in, we’re already late and your dad will be home soon.’

  ‘Can’t I stay with Auntie Alice, Mum? I’ll be—’

  ‘Get in!’ she snapped, rushing around to the driver’s side.

  A few minutes later, they were stuck in traffic. Archie was immersed in the handheld game console she kept in the glove compartment, and Louise, still fuming from Alice’s interference, drifted into remembering how it felt to be their mother’s firstborn and least-favoured daughter.

  Twenty years earlier

  ‘Now that’s what I like to see. My two girls playing nicely together for a change.’ Their mother stopped by the kitchen table and began folding the smalls she’d just brought in from the washing line. ‘What nice bright colours!’

  Louise held her painting aloft. ‘Mine is a picture of you, Mum, in the garden. Look, you’ve got your pretty pink flowered dress on.’

  Lily tipped her head to one side and pursed her glossy red lips as she considered the artwork. ‘So I have.’

  Mum had thrown that dress out now because Dad didn’t like it, but she didn’t point that out.

  Louise held the picture out. ‘It’s yours to keep, Mum. I made it for you.’

  ‘How nice, thank you, darling.’ Lily didn’t take the painting but glanced over at Alice, who hadn’t said a word, her fair head still down and focused. ‘Let’s see your painting then, Alice!’ she said brightly.

  Alice paused in her brushstrokes and frowned down at her work. Lily laid down the clean washing and walked over to the table, standing behind her.

  Lily tapped the corner of her painting with a pearly pink nail. ‘Well now, that is something special. A real work of art!’

  ‘She hasn’t even finished it yet,’ Louise said. ‘And Morris’s ears are the wrong shape.’

  ‘Nonsense.’ Lily leaned forward and picked up the painting by its top corners, turning it around so it faced both the girls. ‘See how Alice has filled the space, Louise? See the detail, the careful application of paint rather than those fast, clumsy splodges? And don’t worry, darling.’ She kissed the top of Alice’s head. ‘Morris is a gnarled old thing now, he’s been in his share of cat fights. His ears look exactly like that in real life.’

  Alice smiled and tipped back her head to look gratefully up at her mother.

  Both Lily and Alice visibly jumped as an almighty crash sounded on the other side of the table. Palettes containing a rainbow assortment of paints exploded onto the terracotta tiles of the kitchen floor.

  ‘Oh!’ Alice said in a small voice.

  ‘You little…’ Lily bounded over to Louise and grabbed her by the arm.

  ‘Owww!’

  ‘Get up to your bedroom this minute, you spoilt little—’

  ‘YOU ALWAYS LIKE HERS THE BEST!’ Louise screamed, glaring over at her sister. Alice looked down at the table and covered her ears with her hands. ‘I’m the eldest and my pictures are tons better than hers. She’s always your favourite.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ Lily pressed her lips together and pinched Louise’s arm harder. ‘That’s a terrible thing to say. Take it back this minute!’

  ‘I won’t! I won’t take it back!’

  Louise twisted out of her grip and ran from the room.

  Through the crack in the door, she watched as her mother turned to face Alice, her slender back straining against her silk blouse. Lily smoothed down her immaculate blonde curls and addressed Alice.

  ‘You’ll come across this all your life, Alice. Jealousy.’ Lily’s light brown eyebrows knotted together. ‘You must learn to bear the burden of it.’ She moved closer and laid her hand on Alice’s arm. ‘You’re gentle, creative and special. Remember that. Promise me you’ll never let your sister’s poisonous tongue dim your shine, my darling.’

  ‘I promise,’ Alice whispered.

  Louise wanted to walk away, but she could not. She watched as Lily carefully lifted Alice’s painting from the newspaper spread over the table and fixed it to the refrigerator door.

  ‘There. All ready to show when Dad gets home,’ Lily said, and Louise felt something inside herself harden forever like stone.

  Present day

  The traffic started to crawl and then progress at a reasonable pace as the council roadworks lorry blocking their lane finally moved.

  Alice might have grown up as their mother’s favourite daughter, being taught she was the cleverest girl who was never in the wrong, but in Louise’s opinion, that scenario had changed a good few years ago.

  Judging by the conversation they’d just had in Alice’s kitchen, her sister thought she was onto something. She thought she’d got things sussed when it came to Archie, but she was way wide of the truth.

  Even Louise herself didn’t want to think about what was really happening to the boy.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  ALICE

  Speaking to Louise about Archie didn’t go well. In fact, that’s probably an understatement, but I’m satisfied with how I dealt with it. I couldn’t think of any other way of saying those unpleasant things. She was always going to blow.

  But I know from past experience that although she is fast to lose her temper, she also doesn’t stay mad for long. In the past, she has often said unpleasant things in the heat of the moment and then approached me afterwards with an olive branch of sorts.

  Her accusations about using underhand means to get my job at the gallery was one of those times.

  Three years earlier

  Later the same day that she’d accused me of nepotism, Louise came into the kitchen again.

  I was still drawing at the table as Mum prepared soup for our tea at the hob and we worked in companionable silence.

  Louise walked over and leaned on the table.

  ‘I’m sorry if I upset you earlier,’ she said.

  I looked up. Had my sister just apologised?

  ‘You always get oversensitive with these things,’ she remarked. ‘I was just saying that although I’m pleased you got the job, you have to admit, it’s not that easy for most people.’

  ‘Fine.’ I sighed, keen to avoid rekindling the argument. ‘It didn’t feel easy at the time, but thank you for apologising.’

  Louise didn’t go away. Instead, she pulled out a chair and sat opposite me.

  Mum looked round at us, still stirring the pea and ham soup, but she didn’t say anything.

  Louise leaned forward.

  ‘Actually, I’ve been doing some thinking, and it’s occurred to me that I can help you in your new job.’

  I frowned.

  ‘What’s that look for?’ Louise sounded offended. ‘I thought you’d be pleased.’

  ‘When you say help,’ I said cautiously, ‘what exactly do you mean?’

  Louise spelled it out slowly, as if it should be obvious. ‘You work for a new art gallery with an upcoming high-profile launch event, yes?’

  I had an uncomfortable feeling about where this conversation might be leading, but I didn’t interrupt her. Nonetheless, the realisation that Louise had actually done a bit of research about The Art Box surprised me.
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br />   ‘I work for one of the best public relations companies in the East Midlands.’ She clapped her hands. ‘See the connection? We can help each other!’

  ‘You mean with the launch event…’ I said slowly.

  ‘Yes, with the launch event. The planning, the ideas… everything really. Surely your boss, Vasser, will be using a PR agency.’

  ‘It’s Visser,’ I corrected. ‘Yes, he’s looking at local companies, but he’s already mentioned one or two that he already had his eye on.’

  ‘Well you’ll have to take his eye off them again, won’t you?’ Louise winked at me. ‘It would really do me a massive favour if I could show our CEO that I’ve brought a high-profile event like the Art Box launch on board.’

  ‘Would it help your promotion prospects, Louise?’ Mum asked.

  ‘Help them? It would probably secure the promotion,’ Louise replied in a sniping sort of way. ‘And God knows Archie and I could do with the money.’

  Clever: she’d always known how to get Mum onside.

  An uncomfortable feeling started in my solar plexus, but I ignored it. Louise had a boss too; perhaps I could appeal to her experience of managers pulling rank.

  ‘Mr Visser is quite single-minded in his ideas. I can mention your company but I wouldn’t hold out much hope.’ Louise’s face dropped. ‘How come you know so much about the gallery anyway?’

  ‘I’ve heard one or two people in the office mention it. Art fans.’ Louise said it like that was an affliction. ‘They were talking about how great it would be if our company could spearhead the launch campaign. It would seriously mean the world to me if I could bring this one to the table, Alice.’

  ‘It would be wonderful if you girls could help each other out,’ Mum added.

  I felt like a bug under a microscope. Mum turned from her cooking to gauge my reaction and Louise’s eyes were still glued to me.

  Didn’t they realise it wasn’t that easy to bring a company on board? I was the gallery assistant, not the manager, and a brand-new employee at that.

  ‘I can’t promise anything,’ I said again. ‘I can try—’

  ‘If you don’t want to help me, then just say so,’ Louise snapped. ‘I’d much rather you were honest than treating me like an idiot. Don’t forget, I’ve worked in the business of promotion and PR far longer than you have. I can tell when someone is fobbing me off.’

  ‘Louise, please!’ I ran my hand through my hair, exasperated. ‘Will you just stop being so defensive? I’m not trying to fob you off at all; quite the opposite, in fact. I’m being honest when I say Mr Visser may already have made arrangements. If he hasn’t, I can mention your company. I can’t do more than that, can I?’

  ‘Actually, you can,’ Louise said thoughtfully. ‘You can do a lot more than that without putting yourself out at all.’

  I looked at her, dreading what was coming.

  ‘The launch event is on the second of May, right?’

  I nodded.

  ‘Well, if you can give me some insider info about your boss and the kinds of colours and styles he prefers, I can get some invitations mocked up for you to take in to show him. What do you think?’

  ‘I… I don’t know, it might seem…’

  ‘It might seem what?’

  With each added increment of frustration Louise added to her voice, I became more and more uncomfortable.

  I’d literally just started this job, a position that was a dream come true for me. Mr Visser didn’t know me well enough yet to be taking recommendations, and I hadn’t worked with him long enough to gauge his tastes when it came to things like invitations. Plus, Jim was the gallery manager. I didn’t want him to feel that I was stepping on his toes.

  ‘There’s a procedure to follow, Louise. I’m sure you have them at your place too.’ I ignored the rolling of my sister’s eyes and looked to Mum for support, but she turned back to her soup. ‘I’m not saying I can’t help, but I have to do it the right way.’

  ‘Little Miss Goody Two-Shoes,’ Louise mumbled under her breath.

  I felt a hard lump in my chest. That hated phrase was what Louise had called me all the years we were growing up. It was a put-down then and it still felt like one now. Still, I bit my tongue.

  ‘Like I said, I’ll see what I can do,’ I said lightly, and with that, I stood up and left the room.

  Present day

  I feel more frustrated after thinking back than I did when Louise just left.

  The best thing I can do, I decide, is to get out of the flat for a short time. A few basic things like milk and bread need replenishing.

  Fresh air and a bit of exercise might bring a new perspective on things.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  ‘Darren!’

  My brother-in-law stops dead in his tracks on the stairwell and looks up at me, his face almost as surprised as mine.

  ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I’m coming up to see you, of course.’ He flashes me a healthy white grin and strides up the last few steps with no effort until he reaches where I stand on the second-floor landing. ‘Didn’t expect to bump into you on the stairs, though.’

  ‘I was just off to get a few bits from the shop.’

  He’s wearing jeans and looks broad and fit in his close-fitting fine wool sweater. His hair is a bit messy and he has the faintest shadow of whiskers on his face. He’s not a vain man, but I’ve always thought him attractive in a rugged kind of way.

  ‘Useless lift is broken again.’ I pull a face. ‘Still, it’s all much-needed exercise, I suppose.’

  ‘I meant more that…’ His face reddens and he fiddles with the strap of his small rucksack.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘Louise mentioned you don’t get out much these days.’

  ‘That’s true, but I’m probably nowhere near the mad recluse she enjoys making me out to be.’

  ‘Course not.’ He stuffs his hands in his pockets, glances up the stairs behind me.

  I realise it’d be rude not to ask him back to the apartment. ‘Come up and have a drink. The shop will wait.’

  ‘I don’t want to disturb you, Alice. I’ll call again some other time.’

  ‘It’s no trouble, honestly. And you must’ve come to see me for a reason.’

  ‘Oh… yes. It’ll wait, though…’

  But I insist on going back upstairs and he follows me inside the flat.

  ‘I’ll stick the kettle on,’ I say, slipping off my coat and shoes. ‘Make yourself comfy in there.’

  ‘Don’t bother with a hot drink for me; a glass of water is fine, thanks.’

  I take two glasses of water through and sit down in the lounge and he walks over to the window, peers down at the street and then sits down himself.

  ‘I just came to see how you are, really. I never get to see anyone any more, with my work schedule.’

  ‘As you can see, I’m fine.’ I take a sip of my water, fully aware that despite his politeness, I haven’t got to the reason for his visit yet. ‘More to the point, Darren, how are you?’

  He sighs and hangs his head, but he’s smiling. ‘You were always the astute one, Alice. Can’t fool you, can I?’

  ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘No. Well… maybe.’ He pinches the top of his nose. ‘It might be. I wondered if you’d had any thoughts at all… just lately, I mean. That’s why I came here.’

  ‘Thoughts on…?’

  This is not such a satisfying guessing game.

  ‘Look, I’m just going to say it,’ he sighs. ‘Have you noticed anything different about Louise these past few weeks?’

  I think for a moment. ‘In what way?’

  ‘The way she’s been acting and… the way she looks.’

  ‘I can’t say I have, not really.’ But even as the words leave my mouth, I know I have noticed one or two things.

  ‘I appreciate that I’m putting you on the spot here, and I’m sorry. I thought long and hard about it before calling in, but I’m just desperat
e to talk to someone really. Maybe I’m getting paranoid and imagining stuff. I don’t know.’

  His features look drawn and I think he’s lost weight since I last saw him about a month ago, when he picked Archie up.

  ‘I’ve noticed Louise is working much longer hours than before and she’s dressing smarter, but—’

  ‘Yes!’ He looks vindicated. ‘Those are the sorts of things I’ve noticed, too.’

  ‘She’s had a promotion, Darren,’ I say gently. ‘It’s not unusual for people to smarten their image to better fit the expectations of a new role.’

  ‘You’re right, but you know these after-work meetings she’s been going to? Well, I bumped into one of her colleagues the other day who I knew from years back. I just happened to mention that Archie and I aren’t seeing much of her at night lately and he looked really taken aback. He didn’t say anything, but I think he just didn’t want to speak out of turn.’

  ‘Hmm. There are the breakfast meetings too,’ I say thoughtfully. ‘She says she’ll have to drop Archie here for a few days at least.’

  In an instant, I realise from the way he looks at me that he didn’t know.

  ‘She’s dropping him off every morning?’

  ‘Not every morning.’ It’s so obvious I’m backtracking. ‘It hasn’t been happening for long, only just lately she’s needed me to take him to school.’

  Darren’s foot starts to jiggle.

  ‘I didn’t know this was happening, Alice. I’m really sorry she’s been putting on you.’

  ‘Not at all, I don’t mind.’ Louise’s furious face looms large in my mind. This could easily be relayed quite innocently by Darren and end up sounding as if I’m trying to drop her in it. ‘I’m very fond of Archie, you know that, and I was under the impression you’re working longer and longer hours.’

  ‘I do work long hours, but no more than I’ve always done. I’ve come home early two nights this week but Louise has been out.’ Darren’s face seems to crumple, and for a moment I think he’s going to get really upset, but he takes a deep breath. ‘Just between you and me, Alice, I worry about Archie.’