Dead Dry Heart_A psychological thriller

by Toni Pike

  “What’s that to you, anyway?” I asked, hardly able to believe that Letitia’s demure mother had ever been unfaithful.

  He raised a brow as he locked eyes with me. “The dates add up. And she doesn’t just remind me of her mother. I can see so much of my own mother in Letitia. That’s where her beautiful red hair came from.”

  “You’re mad,” I said, staring at him in horror and filled with hatred.

  “I’m her father. Charlie is my grandson. I don’t want her to be married to you, the boy who put me in jail. She won’t want to live with you now that you’ve confessed to murder. When she finds out who I am, she’ll want me to stay and be a part of her life.”

  “You’re the man who’s holding her prisoner upstairs. And Letitia loves her parents. She’ll be devastated.”

  “She’ll understand that I was trying to protect her from you.”

  I was frozen to the spot as Joshua stood up. My stomach turned to ice.

  Faster than a whip, he lunged out and punched me in the solar plexus. I doubled over and crumpled to the ground with the breath knocked out of me.

  He stood there watching me as I writhed in pain.

  But I found my breath again and struggled to my feet. I felt dazed and confused, bringing back memories of the night my parents died. All those years ago, my head had been spinning in confusion as Joshua told me that I had just killed them. That night I felt as if I was coming to after being knocked out. He leaned towards me and spoke into my ear, described everything, how I hit them both with a rock.

  His words that night flooded my mind, contaminating me with his lies. When my confusion ended, his words had become my reality and I could remember killing them.

  In my living room, I looked straight at him, still clutching my stomach. The scales had suddenly fallen from my eyes.

  “You killed my parents,” I said, choking on the words. “Then you made me believe that I’d done it.”

  Joshua sneered at me. “It wasn’t hard to convince you. You were holding that rock in your hands, so I grabbed hold of it and killed them myself. I needed your help to hide the evidence and bury the bodies. You were so frightened and so keen to help.”

  “All these years I’ve tortured myself with guilt.”

  “I killed them to protect you, Tyler. I figured no one would blame a neglected child. But even better than that, I came up with the perfect plan so no one need ever find out they’d been killed.”

  Relief washed over me to think I was not a murderer. But at the same time, hatred and fury surged up in me like a volcano about to blow its top.

  ***

  All these years, my memories about killing them had been so vivid.

  Now those same recollections were fading to nothingness. I couldn’t remember hitting them. But there was a mental picture of Joshua Byrnes that night, telling me the story.

  “Why let me go on thinking that?” I asked, my voice contorted in anger.

  “I wanted you to keep your mouth permanently shut to protect us both. But instead of that, you betrayed me. I saved you and you let me go to jail even though you thought I was innocent. I should have been given a medal.”

  “So all along I was telling the truth.”

  “Yes, Tyler, I killed your parents while you stood there crying. But we buried them together.”

  Memories came flooding back like a blurry image coming into sharp focus. As a child I stood there trembling in fear, watching as Joshua murdered them and wondering if he was about to do the same to me.

  “I didn’t know at the time that you were some sort of genius,” said Joshua. “You sure didn’t act like it that night. I told you, over and over, that it was you who did it and you believed me.”

  Letitia was still banging on the door upstairs. “Somehow my brain created the memories and kept replaying them,” I said.

  “Did you ever wonder why I didn’t say anything when they arrested me?”

  I nodded in reply, still trying to believe what had happened.

  “I wanted you to have a good life. You should always try to help people and have integrity. Right and wrong, good and bad. You’re the Prime Minister, you’re meant to understand those things.”

  “Was the Prime Minister. I just resigned.”

  “Your betrayal ate away at me all those years in prison. You didn’t lift a finger to help me, not even when you grew up. You came to see me once and ran off after a few minutes.”

  “I’m sorry, Joshua. I was a coward.”

  “The trouble was that I could have borne it. I was planning to find you when I was released, get you to set me up nicely. Figured there was a big payday coming especially when you became a politician. But then I found out you were going to marry my only child. That was something I couldn’t abide.”

  His words made me snap out of my trance, just as he scuttled back to the kitchen.

  I chased after him but not before he grabbed a knife from the wooden block on the bench. Pivoting around to face me, He raised the weapon ready to strike.

  “I can’t endure it for another minute,” he said, his face twisted in hatred. “I can’t wait to tell Letitia that she’s my daughter. That dear little boy is my grandson.”

  I tensed every muscle in my body, ready to defend myself. There was no way I could let Letitia find out about her real father.

  He plunged the knife down just as I stepped out of the way. The point struck the side of my arm, and the pain made me cry out in shock.

  I turned and raced out of the room towards the front door. He probably thought that I was running away and ran after me.

  Barry Elliot gave us a large pewter vase for a wedding present, made with a solid square base for extra stability. That had been one of our favourite gifts and Letitia placed it in pride of place on the side table near the front door.

  That was the perfect weapon. I grabbed it and swung around, holding the heavy object with both hands.

  Joshua stopped and looked at me with narrowed eyes, the same way he did that night when we were sitting around the campfire. There was pity in his eyes then, but now there was only determination.

  My grip tightened.

  He was still holding the knife as if he was about to stab me again. “Why did you have to marry her?” he asked.

  Little Charlie began to cry and I knew that Letitia would be trying to comfort him. Everything wrong in my world at that moment was caused by Joshua Byrnes. He was my enemy, threatening the peace and stability of my family, and had already destroyed my career and reputation.

  “Do you need me to help you, Tyler, the way I did that night?” he asked, lunging forward in an effort to stab me in the chest.

  I smashed the vase against his skull with all of my strength. I didn’t murderer my parents, battering their skulls the way I imagined. But now I was hurting Joshua Byrnes, striking his head three times in quick succession.

  He slumped to the ground and a moment later I was staring at his body on the floor.

  My stomach lurched, but then I heard the sound of Letitia banging on the bedroom door.

  First I grabbed a tea towel hanging on a hook and wrapped it tight around my bleeding arm. I could tell that it was only a minor wound and that took care of it for the time being.

  I ran upstairs three steps at a time and tried to turn the doorknob. But it wouldn’t budge and soon realised that the door had somehow been secured. I examined it and saw there were at least ten large nails around the perimeter, each one firmly planted at an angle through the doorframe.

  “He’s nailed the door shut, I can’t get it open,” I shouted.

  Letitia yelled back. “I was in here with Charlie about three hours ago when we got back from the camping trip. I didn’t know what was happening.”

  “I’ll get something to break it down. Hang on.”

  “Okay, be careful,” she said in a desperate tone.

  I raced downstairs and into the garage. Grabbing a small axe, I returned to the house but took a detour to th
e front door.

  There was Joshua Byrnes, my supposed saviour all those years ago, still lying on the ground. But as I stared at him he blinked and half opened his eyes.

  My heart rate jumped. Maybe my mind was playing tricks, wanted him to be still alive

  He blinked again. He wasn’t dead and I was not a murderer.

  Relief washed over me but then I knew with cold, calculating certainty what had to be done. I didn’t kill my parents but there was murder in my heart. I raised the axe and was about to strike with all the force I could muster. But something held me back. “I’m sorry, Joshua,” I said aloud.

  He looked at me for a second and then exhaled his last breath. His head rolled to the side as he passed away.

  ***

  I walked up the stairs, feeling as if I was walking into the jaws of hell.

  “Is that you, Tyler?” asked Letitia.

  “You and Charlie need to shelter behind something. This will be dangerous.”

  I heard the sound of footsteps. “Okay, we’re behind the armchair,” she called out.

  I swung the axe at the centre of the door and the timber began to break apart. With one swift kick, the door burst open.

  Dropping the axe, I ran over and wrapped my arms around Letitia and Charlie. In the mirrored closet door there was the most beautiful sight in the world – my wife and child. “I love you so much,” I said, joy welling up in me to know that she was safe.

  Tears streamed down Letitia’s face. “I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she said.

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No, we’re fine, but when he locked us in here I was afraid that he might kill us.”

  She broke down into sobs. I held her tight in my arms and covered my baby’s face in gentle kisses. “I’m here now and no one will try to hurt you ever again,” I said.

  “Where’s Joshua?” she asked.

  “Downstairs. Just stay up here, the police should arrive very soon.”

  At that moment, we heard the sound of wailing sirens in the distance. I felt sick at the realisation that I had a lot of explaining to do and would probably soon be under arrest. I kissed Letitia tenderly, knowing that we would be facing another separation.

  “Joshua told me that he killed my parents, and then made me believe that I’d done it,” I said. “All these years I’ve thought it was me. Now I remember clearly.”

  She stepped back with Charlie still in her arms, gazing at me with wide eyes. “That’s incredible,” she said, shaking her head.

  “I was confused that night and he talked me into thinking it was me.”

  We realised that the sirens were getting closer. “They always arrive too late,” said Letitia. Then there was a spark of recognition in her eyes. “Is Joshua downstairs?”

  “He can’t hurt us now,” I replied as the wail of the sirens became deafening.

  Letitia carefully placed Charlie in his cot. She always had such a strong and steady nature and now she looked calm and resolute, ready to take control of a difficult situation.

  “Don’t go down there, darling, please,” I said.

  She waved away my concerns and walked downstairs with me trailing behind, wishing that I could hide my crime. She saw him in the hallway and gasped in shock. I expected her to scream but instead she turned around and gave me a steely look. “We’ll get through this,” she said.

  “Yes, of course we will,” I replied. Her words tore me apart. Now she was my ally, wanting to help me the way that Joshua did all those years ago.

  “Are you sure he’s dead?” she asked.

  I walked over and knelt beside him, checking for any signs of life. There was no pulse, no breathing, and he was lying in a pool of blood with his skull bashed in. He was as lifeless as a lump of rock.

  “I didn’t want to hurt him,” I said and then gingerly touched my bandaged arm. “He had a knife and was trying to kill me.” I didn’t tell her that Joshua Byrnes was her father. I knew that would have to remain my secret.

  “You were defending yourself,” she said, putting a hand on my shoulder. “You did what you had to do and were very brave trying to save us.”

  There was an insistent knock at the front door. “Sounds like they’re here, I’ll let them in,” I said. I stood up and the pain in my arm began to bite.

  “We’ll go together,” said Letitia.

  Chapter 22

  We greeted the six police officers in a textbook display of family unity. The tea towel bandage around my arm was soaked in blood and there was red splatter on my clothes. Letitia had her arm around my waist, helping to support me.

  “Joshua Byrnes was holding them hostage in the bedroom upstairs,” I said. “He had a knife and tried to kill me. He’s right here. I think he’s dead.” Letitia squeezed my hand to show that she approved.

  “Anyone else here, sir?” asked a female officer who looked as if she was in charge.

  “Only our baby upstairs, in his cot,” said Letitia.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll look after everything,” she said. “I’m Sergeant Connie Bryan.”

  The police swarmed in, spreading out to check every room. Letitia and I stood in the hallway, holding each other tight.

  As soon as they saw the body, their agitation swelled.

  “I’ll get the baby and then you all better step outside,” said Connie Bryan. “This is now a crime scene.” She headed upstairs and returned with Charlie, who was sound asleep. Two of the policemen led us out to the front lawn. Neighbours, mostly in their bathrobes, gathered in the street to see what all the commotion was about.

  Three minutes later, Stan Wickowski arrived with two others guards from The Lodge. “Sir, you better sit in our car,” he said. “There’s an ambulance on its way. It’s good to see you’re all safe,

  “Thanks, Stan,” said Letitia as we got in the back seat. We sat there watching as the police unfurled the crime scene tape around the front garden.

  Stan and one of the regular policemen sat in the front seat and listened to my explanation of events. “Joshua told me that he killed my parents that night, then made me believe it was me,” I said. “He was guilty, after all.”

  “And you were innocent,” said Stan.

  An ambulance arrived and I climbed in the back so that one of the paramedics could patch up my arm. It was only a flesh wound and they told me to visit my doctor the following day. Letitia was sitting beside me with Charlie in her arms and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I wondered how long it would take before the police arrested me. It could be my turn now to spend twenty-five years in jail.

  Another vehicle arrived after twenty minutes with a giant set of portable lights and our townhouse was soon illuminated like a football stadium. Then a forensics team arrived. Clad in overalls, they put on rubber gloves and masks and walked inside. My future was not looking good.

  One of the ambulance officers also examined Letitia. “You both seem to be in good condition considering what you’ve been through,” he said.

  “We’ll be okay so long as we’re together,” she replied, her eyes swimming with tears.

  “Sir, why don’t I drive you back home now?” asked Stan as we got back in his patrol car. “You can all try to get some sleep.”

  I was stunned to hear him speak so politely to me, almost as if I was still the Prime Minister. “Home? This is our home now,” I said.

  “Connie Bryan said that they want to see you and the baby safely back at The Lodge, and for you to try to get some rest. They’ll speak to you in the morning. You also won’t have any safety concerns there.”

  “That sounds good, Stan,” said Letitia. “We can’t stay here all night.”

  “There’s another car with a couple of forensics people coming with us, they want to take some photos of you and take your clothing and some swabs as evidence. They’d normally do that at a police station, but in view of who you are, they’ll do it at home and then we’ll be responsible for looking after you.”

  �
�That’s very kind,” said Letitia.

  Stan didn’t say the words, but to me that sounded very much like house arrest. That was better than I deserved, but I knew the VIP treatment wouldn’t last for long. Soon I’d be in handcuffs, being dragged away with a sweatshirt pulled over my head to hide the shame in my face.

  Our bleary-eyed neighbours gawped at us as we drove slowly past. Some gave us subdued waves as if they were relieved to see that we were okay and wanted to show their support. We waved back and gave them a restrained smile. Then I remembered that a short time ago I announced that I had killed my parents.

  It was strangely comforting to drive through the front gates and return to The Lodge. That night the three of us would be under the same roof, perhaps for the last time. First we had to cooperate with the forensics team but then we put Charlie in his cot and finally we were alone. We showered together and then crawled into bed and made love, knowing that we may not have another chance.

  Two hours before dawn, my eyes blinked open and my mind was in a panic. Letitia was sound asleep and I tiptoed downstairs to my study. The previous day, to fill in the time while I waited, every nasty little detail of my life had been recorded on the computer. But now my public life was over and Joshua Byrnes was dead. There was no need to share my story any more or for the police to discover it. It could certainly be used in evidence against me.

  I pressed the delete button and my story vanished with a whooshing sound. My thoughts could stay where they belonged, deep inside my brain.

  I walked back and climbed into bed beside Letitia, so overwhelmed with exhaustion that a moment later I was fast asleep. When I woke up again, the sun was shining.

  “What will we do Tyler?” asked Letitia, still laying beside me and wiping sleep from her eyes.

  “We don’t need to do anything. It’s all out of our hands now,” I replied.

  “What do you think will happen?”

  “I think they’ll send me to jail, but at least you and Charlie are safe – that’s all that matters to me now.”