her. The engine ticked as it cooled.
Why were they here? Deep in the woods, miles from civilization? She struggled to think but her brain wasn’t working properly, it seemed to have got itself stuck. Then, in a mind-gasping rush, she understood.
He’d brought them here to rob them, yes, take their car too. But he wasn’t going to leave them in the woods to find their way back.
He was going to kill them.
She was awash with desperation. You fool, you bloody fool! She was now certain that he’d come here because he wanted their bodies not to be found. She was an idiot to have driven here. She’d gone along with what he was telling her, hadn’t thought about any of it, hadn’t thought what might happen, how she could take back control of the situation. If he’d just wanted to rob them, he would’ve done it metres from the petrol station. Why hadn’t she realized this?
‘Leave the key. Get out the car.’
Abby looked back. He was talking to her. She knew she was doing exactly what he asked again, as she slowly opened the car door, stepped outside. Now’s your chance, she thought. But she did nothing and within seconds he’d got out too and dragged Ellie from her seat as he put the knife back against her neck.
Abby pictured Matteo arriving at the hotel. He couldn’t be there yet, but when he did arrive, she’d already be dead. He’d be waiting, thinking she’d changed her mind about meeting him. That she didn’t trust him or he didn’t matter that much to her after all. It made her unbearably sad.
It was cool in the night air and she shivered. She looked down at her arms, hanging impotent by her side. She felt as she’d done on the ground in a dirty alley in Florence, being kicked – totally and utterly helpless, with a knowledge that her life was in someone else’s hands, free for them to do with as they pleased.
FIFTY-SIX
It felt strange, being in the house alone. Susanna had got used to Matteo being around. She’d been surprised when he’d knocked on her bedroom door earlier that evening to explain he had to go out and would be away overnight, maybe longer. She’d pressed him for more detail but he’d been evasive, deliberately so, she thought, citing something to do with a friend. It had sounded highly suspect and it crossed Susanna’s mind that his absence was connected to Abby and Ellie, but she had no way of finding out. She’d even called Baroni but had got her answerphone. So far the lieutenant hadn’t called her back.
Now it was dark, Susanna could go outside. She took her simple supper of tomato salad and grilled tuna and sat on the terrace to eat. There was something intensely magical about Mediterranean nights: the gently warm air, the sound of crickets with their high-pitched song. In the softness of night, the scents of the garden grew stronger. Hypnotic jasmine hung in the air. Susanna stood at the top of the steps that led down to the sea. It was a full moon and the light glinted off the waves. She thought of her son then, of how small he’d been when he died. Such a tiny little coffin. She was suddenly engulfed by a desire for him to be alive that was so strong it made her gasp. It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. So many things in her past that she hadn’t meant to happen.
A distant rhythmic banging made her jump. There was someone at the door. Curious, Susanna made her way back through the house.
She stopped for a moment at the front door, suddenly nervous, aware she was alone. Then there was another knock – louder this time – and she jumped. Susanna tentatively opened the door.
It was her mother. Kathleen didn’t ask to be invited in, just entered as if it were her right. Not many people said no to her, Susanna supposed. She’d lived a life of believing herself to be a superior breed, had an innate sense of entitlement and expectation for herself and her offspring.
‘Where’s Matteo?’ asked Kathleen as she swept into the living room.
‘Gone.’
‘Gone where?’
‘He didn’t say.’
‘Something to do with the girls?’ Kathleen said sharply.
‘Possibly.’
‘Don’t you know? Why aren’t you with him, for God’s sake?’
‘He wasn’t issuing invitations. Anyway, he said it was to see a friend.’
‘And you believed him?’ scoffed Kathleen.
‘No, not exactly. I . . .’ Susanna trailed off, unsure of what