she would wait a few minutes to make sure he was asleep and then go back downstairs. Fighting a yawn, she waited in the darkness, her brother’s breathing the only sound in the room. Unconsciously her hand closed around the key, its cool solidness reassuring. Passages from the book were replaying in her mind and she found herself wondering again just what it was that she had found. Who was the mysterious figure the man had mentioned? Could he really have killed the man’s brother or was that just coincidence? What was so important about the key? And what exactly had happened out on the moorland? As Vicky considered these questions a wave of tiredness washed over her and she yawned again. Before she knew it her eyes had closed and she had fallen into a deep sleep.
*****
Paul surrendered to Nicola’s kiss and then felt her body go limp as she fell into unconsciousness. He caught her gently and picked her up, one arm supporting her head and shoulders, the other under her knees, and like that he walked out of the alley and along the street. A couple was walking towards him and they glanced curiously at him as they passed. He met their gaze, their eyes dropping to the pavement, and then they were gone behind him.
He carried on, coming to the square which was now almost deserted. Following the edge of the square he came to a side street and he turned into it coming to a small hotel. Knocking on the door with his foot he saw the doorman, a thin teenage boy with several pimples, look up startled from behind the desk. Then recognition crossed his face and he came out and hurried towards the door unlocking it and opening it wide.
“Is everything alright sir, with the lady?”
“Sure, she’s just very tired,” replied Paul swinging his body so he could pass into the lobby.
“I’m glad you found her okay,” said the porter trying not to stare at Nicola. His eyes hid the several inquisitions that he knew he could not ask.
“Thanks,” said Paul. “Look, do you mind?” He nodded towards the lift.
The doorman looked confused for a moment, and then as he caught on grabbed the room key from a rack behind the desk and walked round to the lift to press the call button. The doors hissed slowly open and Paul stepped in, the doorman squeezing in behind him. As the doors slid shut the silence was immediate and uncomfortable.
With an alarming clang the lift jerked and then with more noise moved slowly upwards taking an almost unbearable time to travel two floors. Stopping with another jerk the doors slid open and the doorman stepped out waiting for Paul to follow. Walking down the corridor he went through a fire door and then turned left coming to room twenty-two. Unlocking the door he pushed it open and then stepped aside to allow Paul to pass through.
Paul laid Nicola gently on the bed before turning and pulling a twenty-pound note out of his pocket.
“Thanks,” said Paul offering the money, which the doorman discreetly took from his hands. “If anyone asks, you didn’t see her.”
He nodded.
“Of course, sir. Good night sir.”
Paul pushed the door closed as the doorman retreated back down the corridor, cutting out the light from the hallway. Letting out a deep breath he turned and leaned back against the door. In the darkness he could hear Nicola’s breathing and could make out her outline on the bed, her stomach slowly rising and falling with each breath.
Quietly he pushed himself from the wall and stepped to the bed to stand over her. He remained motionless for what seemed an eternity before his right hand slipped down into his coat pocket, his fingers curling around the hilt of the knife. His left hand traced the line of her face, feeling her smooth skin and the warmth of her breath on his fingers. In his mind he saw Gwen’s lifeless eyes staring back at him, her body crumpled over him, red blood staining the pure white of her clothing. Paul looked down at the knife now pressed against Nicola’s neck, the knife that he was holding in his own hand. He saw her pulse throbbing against the blade and she stirred, causing him to focus on her, on the present.
Paul ripped the knife away from her, his head spinning. What was this? What was he doing? For a moment he was back in the room with