two years ago. It was only when she’d been taken to hospital after that fateful day on the cliff that it had all come out. ‘I’m normal,’ she continued. ‘Not the ill person. Never again.’
‘Course.’ Abby lay back on the other lounger and started to apply sun cream.
Ellie could see her sister glancing over every so often; she knew Abby was plucking up the courage to ask something she’d been dying to confront her about for months. She’d been skirting around the subject, knowing Ellie didn’t like to discuss it.
‘Do the doctors know?’ asked Abby casually. ‘How you got it?’
Ellie smiled wryly. Her sister already knew the medical professionals couldn’t say how she’d developed her illness. This wasn’t the real question. Better to deal with this once and for all. ‘If you’re asking whether I got MS as a result of what Mum did to me when I was younger, the answer is no.’
‘Is that what the doctors said?’
‘There’s no credible scientific link. That’s enough for me.’
Abby nodded. ‘How do you like the sunbeds?’
Ellie ran her palms over the soft padded cushion. ‘Spectacular. What I can’t get over is the quality. You really splashed out, didn’t you?’
‘I thought I’d celebrate. Seeing as the Spanish justice system decided it wasn’t in the public interest to prosecute me.’ Abby felt a shiver, despite the sun. That night in the woods still made her wake up in a cold sweat every now and then. She would never forget how close it had been to ending differently.
‘Thank God,’ said Ellie.
‘Plus, I didn’t want . . .’ Abby trailed off.
‘What?’
‘As you once pointed out, the rocks are hard. Can play havoc with my joints.’
Ellie raised her sunglasses and narrowed her eyes as she looked over to her sister. But Abby had her eyes closed: the picture of innocence, no mollycoddling in sight. As it happened, Ellie felt fine and had done for some time. In fact, she’d been in remission for seven months now. The doctors had said that there was every possibility that the remission period could last for years. Of course, Ellie also knew it might not. Moving out here had really helped. Maybe it had even bought her some more time, time she was intending on making the most of. She’d given up her full-time job in London and had a less stressful role working at a local language school teaching English. It paid enough to rent a small place and get by, and with some careful managing, she was slowly paying off her credit card debt. Once, Abby had offered to help, but now Ellie couldn’t stomach it. She refused and made it clear she didn’t want her sister to bring it up again. It had surprised Ellie how much her independence had meant to her.
‘This is nice, isn’t it?’ said Abby.
‘What?’
‘You know.’
Ellie smiled. She did know. She and Abby together. Sisters.
‘Just think,’ said Abby pensively, ‘if it hadn’t been for Mum, we wouldn’t have been apart for all those years. She was determined to keep us apart, too. Would have succeeded if she’d convinced everyone it was me who did those awful things when we were children.’
‘Don’t let it get you down, Abby.’
‘You’re in a very forgiving mood.’
‘What’s the point otherwise? I know she lied about you, said terrible things, but she was scared. If the truth came out about what she’d done to me, then the police might have reopened the case into Ben.’
Their grandmother had sent Ellie and Abby a letter. In it she’d spoken about the brother they’d never known had existed. She’d also told them about the confession she’d got out of Susanna – a confession that, when given to the police, was enough to make them leave Abby in peace.
‘I wonder what Ben would have been like. If he was still around,’ said Ellie. ‘What would he be doing? Where would he be?’
‘He’d be here. With us,’ said Abby firmly.
Ellie smiled. She liked this new inclusive sister. She knew there was a truth in what Abby was saying – and the two of them had lost decades that could have woven a very different story. Yet those years were gone. And now Ellie dared to think about a possible future. A future that, because of her illness, currently had an unknown limit on it. But at least she had a future. Ellie knew that policeman’s bullet had been meant for her.
‘If it hadn’t been for Mum,’ she said, ‘we wouldn’t be together now.’
She glanced over at Abby, who nodded. ‘You’re right.’
Ellie looked out at the Tyrrhenian Sea, at how it met the horizon. The light held the promise of a new season and the sky seemed to go on forever. Her eyes travelled over the ocean and the clear blue water near to her rocked in the sun. There was such beauty in nature. In life. Their mother had done an awful thing to both of them. But Ellie knew you had to live in the moment, right here, right now.
‘If it hadn’t been for Mum, we wouldn’t be.’
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A huge thank you to all the wonderful readers who have decided to pick up this book and take it home with them or download it into their hands. You are always who I think about most when I have a new book out, and your support and kind words mean more than you can ever know.
Trisha Jackson and Jayne Osborne, my fantastic editors, thank you for helping to shape this book and for your continued guidance and enthusiasm. It means a tremendous amount.
Mel Four, the minute I clapped eyes on your jacket design, my heart sang. It’s outstanding – thank you so much.
Samantha Fletcher, your eagle eyes saved me more than once. I am indebted to you. Huge thanks also to Lorraine Green for saving countless other blushes. There’s a whole team of people who work incredibly hard to get a book published and I am also extremely grateful to Eleanor Bailey, Ellis Keene and Rebecca Lloyd.
Gaia Banks, my wonderful agent, who has the rare and precious ability to give just the right advice at exactly the right time. Lucy Fawcett and Alba Arnau for your psychological insight – into the characters, not me – and putting your thoughts so succinctly. Big thanks also to Joel Gotler and Markus Hoffman.
The Coulsdon girls – Gabriella Ferri-Marshall, thank you so much for your insight into all things Italian; and Anna Stimson, yet again you have been my police ‘rock’. I would also like to thank the staff of the Public Relations Office of the General Command of the Carabinieri, who patiently answered question after question on following an investigation in Italy and beyond. And a special mention for Di Oakley who helps spread the word.
My family, as always, for your incredible support: Mum, Rhys, Dad, Sally, Ettie, Neil, Tina, Leila and Brandt.
And, of course, Jonny, Livi and Clementine, who put up with all my crazy working hours. I couldn’t do it without you. The adventure continues!
PRAISE FOR MICHELLE FRANCES
‘Brilliantly twisty, a sharp, sinister and addictive read’
Sunday Mirror
‘I was blown away. The Girlfriend is the most marvellous psychological thriller’
Jilly Cooper
‘Tension oozes from the pages’
i newspaper
‘A fab debut with two twisted women at its core’
Prima
‘Utterly compulsive reading’
Jenny Blackhurst
‘An original and chilling portrayal of twisted relationships’
Debbie Howells
‘A fantastic psychological thriller . . . We couldn’t put it down’
Take a Break
‘Taut and suspenseful’
Heat
SISTERS
Michelle Frances has worked in television drama as a producer and script editor for several years, both for the independent sector and the BBC. Sisters is her fourth novel, following
The Girlfriend, The Temp and The Daughter.
ALSO BY MICHELLE FRANCES
The Girlfriend
The Temp
The Daughter
First published 2020 by Pan Books
This electronic edition first published 2020 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
The Smithson, 6 Briset Street, London EC1M 5NR
Associated companies throughout the world
ISBN 978-1-509-87718-8
Copyright © Michelle Frances 2020
Cover images: women © OJO Images/Getty,
all other images © Shutterstock
The right of Michelle Frances to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damage.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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