got the better of him. She knew he could kill; that much was proven. But what if he turned the tables on her? Her gun . . . it was nestled in her bedroom cabinet upstairs. Perhaps she should wear it when Mike came around. It was small but provided lethal force.
‘All right,’ Mike finally replied, oblivious to Sheridan’s darkening thoughts. ‘I’ll come around. Text me your address.’
Sheridan changed the phone to her other hand, wiping her sweaty palm on the back of her dress. She’d better wear jeans. A baggy sweatshirt so he didn’t get any ideas.
‘Thanks,’ she said, her mind racing ahead. ‘I knew you wouldn’t let me down.’
‘Do I need to bring anything? I’m presuming you’ll fill me in when I get there?’
Sheridan nodded into the phone, her mind on the occupant of the basement below. She had been there too long. It was time for her to go. Mike would find a burial place. Mike would sort it all out. But how far would she have to go to persuade him? She pushed the thought away. Took a calming breath. Told herself to stay in control. ‘You’ll need a shovel . . .’
‘A shovel?’ Mike interrupted. ‘How am I meant to hide that?’
‘I don’t know, put it in a bag or something . . . Call me when you arrive. I’ll get you in through the back.’ She stood firm, kept her voice light. If she sounded scared, he’d never come.
‘Now I’m interested,’ Mike replied. ‘Husband’s away, you’re sneaking me in. If it wasn’t for the shovel, I’d think you were seducing me. How am I going to get in without being seen?’
Sheridan forced a flirty laugh. ‘Let me take care of that. There’s a private entrance to this building. I’ll meet you when you call.’
Her hands shook as she placed the phone back on the receiver. In that moment in time, she’d had a frightening moment of clarity. How far was she willing to go to get what she wanted? And was it worth it? She thought of Roz, below her. She was overdue a scan, but today Sheridan had dismissed Dr Blumberg, unable to face seeing her again. The key to the secret room burned in her pocket. She could not bring herself to walk down that corridor, let alone open the door. Because it wasn’t just Roz down there.
It was Kelly, too.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
ROZ
I lay on the bed, the sheets damp beneath my body. I had washed them but couldn’t get them dry. My room smelt like a laundromat, set in permanent dim light; three of the spotlights had blown. Even Anna had looked at me with sympathy when she delivered my latest meal. Not enough to help, though. I had thrown my dirty laundry into the lift and it was still there when she returned the next day. I told her about Sheridan’s plans and how she was preparing to bury me. As usual, Anna’s visits were brief, my words falling on deaf ears.
I reached beneath my pillow, my fingers winding around the handle of the knife. It was time to gather my courage, dry my tears. I could be in for the fight of my life. I listened to heavy footsteps as Mike arrived on the floor above. Soft murmurs were exchanged. Fear permeated my being and I was too scared to eavesdrop on the exchange.
If only I had listened to Dympna when she warned me that I was making a mistake. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of my friend so many miles away. How different my life would have been if I had taken her advice. Guilt sucked me in like quicksand, dragging me down until I could barely breathe. Was it the lure of New York that first drew me in? Or the empty promises that were made? I wiped away my tears with the back of my hand, telling myself to get a grip. How could I have predicted how this was going to turn out?
‘It’s OK, little bean,’ I whispered to my unborn child. ‘I’ll keep you safe.’
I tried to stay calm in case my baby sensed my fear. There was movement as she pressed against my ribcage. The thought of her entry into the world was making me sick with nerves. It was not the prospect of giving birth that worried me; it was what would happen the second she was born.
A door slammed on the floor above and a muffled argument ensued. I