Deadly Cry (DI Kim Stone #13) - Angela Marsons Page 0,98
they wouldn’t listen. They called me careless and clumsy and almost convinced me I was hurting myself. They didn’t want to believe they had a child capable of violence and hate at such a young age, and if they did believe me they hoped it would just sort itself out.’
‘So what did you do?’ Kim asked, wondering what he could have done as a small child being physically abused by his sister, with parents who turned a blind eye.
‘One night I waited for her to come and I punched her in the face. I thought it would stop. I thought that if I stood up to her she would leave me alone, but she didn’t. The torture just changed, and as we grew up we competed for attention, stupid stuff at first but Lena would always raise the stakes. She’d do something and then tick me for my turn.’
‘But couldn’t you just walk away?’
He shook his head. ‘No, because I want to win too. I have to beat her. I have to show her she’s not in control, that she’s not better than me. All my life she’s been there, in my ear, haunting me. It’ll never end as long as she’s—’
‘Oh, you pathetic piece of shit,’ Lena said in a tone filled with boredom.
Kim wondered if she’d forgotten who was holding the knife.
‘You are ridiculous. You’ve always been a follower. You’re weak and have no will of your own. I define you, you ineffectual prick. Everything you have is because of me. I made you. I moulded you. It’s beyond ridiculous that you would ever consider hurting me. You think you want this to stop? I’m the only person in your life that has meaning. No wife, no girlfriend and no real friends, because you’re invisible, you’re nothing. No one ever remembers you. You’re like a glass of water: colourless, tasteless, devoid of personality and totally forgettable.’
Kim watched silently as every barb hit its mark. Still he didn’t use the knife. She could see the control that Lena had over him. Right now, this was between the two of them and Kim had no clue how to stop him using the weapon in his hand.
Lena continued, ‘I validate you, you pointless wanker. Everything you’ve achieved was because of me. You’ve followed and tried to compete on every level. You think you’re better than me when all you do is equal what I’ve done. You never get ahead.’
‘I took a little boy,’ he said in a childlike voice.
‘And brought him back unharmed, so what was the fucking point in that?’
As the exchange continued, Kim saw two things: the way their lives had always been and something else – Chris was also seeking approval from his older sister. And then she got it: if Lena was the only person who had paid him attention as a child, it was her attention he craved now, as well as her approval.
And if Lena had the sense to understand that, there was a chance they could all leave this room unharmed.
She now understood that Chris had reached out to her specifically because she’d stood up to his sister in that first meeting. It was what a small part of him wished he’d done years ago.
Kim was silently praying that Lena would use her influence to ensure everyone’s safety, because right now no one knew where any of them were.
‘You’ve never surprised me, Chris,’ Lena said with a heavy sigh. ‘You’ve never exceeded my low expectation of you. Not once have you taken the initiative and proven yourself worthy of any affection or respect.’
Yes, she got it, Kim realised. Lena knew what he wanted from her. She could use that influence to ensure everyone’s safety. Tell him to drop the knife, Kim thought. He’ll listen.
‘You’ve never liked me,’ Chris whined.
‘You’ve never given me a reason to. You’re vanilla, Chris. You’re boring and predictable. You don’t take risks. You allow yourself to be led, to be manipulated. You’re pointless. Right now, you have the chance to do something spectacular and you don’t even realise it.’
This did not sound like she was trying to get him to put the knife down. This sounded more like a goad, a call to action and somehow that action was going to include her.
Some people used their power for good and others did not.
Kim knew she had to somehow break this bond.
‘Don’t listen to her, Chris,’ she said.
He glanced her way, as though he’d forgotten she was there.