The Passenger by Daniel Hurst (great book club books TXT) 📕

work together on the outside. We complement each other, you see. I provide the brains, and he provides the brawn. I came up with this whole plan when he told me he knew of a safe full of money at a flat in Brighton. In turn, he will be the one who hurts your daughter should you not give us access to that safe.’

Then I sit forward to really emphasise my next point.

‘Trust me. You do not want him to do that. I saw what he was capable of in that prison. I saw him fight for his life on more than one occasion, and I saw him come out on top every time. He’s a strong man, and he isn’t afraid to get blood on his hands. So if I were you, I would give your daughter the gift of life and let me call him off right now, before it’s too late.’

I’ve been exaggerating in my little speech, but that’s only because I’m trying to frighten Amanda. I never saw James fight for his life in prison. Generally, the two of us were able to avoid most of the trouble that broke out on our wing during our stretch because we kept ourselves to ourselves and spent most of our time playing poker in our cell. The truth is that you don’t survive in prison by fighting; you survive by going unnoticed. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make for a very intimidating story, so I’ve allowed myself to be a little creative. But that doesn’t mean James doesn’t possess the ability to carry out violence. Far from it. It’s just that I have gotten him to a place where he won’t do it until I tell him to.

‘You two must be so proud of yourselves. Threatening violence against a woman. I bet it makes you feel like real men, doesn’t it?’

Amanda’s response shows she is still not in the mood to give me what I want, and I wonder if I am going to have to call James and get him to actually start hurting Louise after all. It wouldn’t be anything big to start with. Maybe just break a finger or two. We could move on to the bigger bones if necessary.

‘Twenty-four minutes,’ I say after checking my watch again.

I decide that silence might be a little more unnerving between us for the next few minutes instead of simple threats, so I allow the time to pass by looking out of the window and letting Amanda stew. But then my eyes are drawn back to the table by the arrival of a notification on my mobile phone screen.

It’s another message from James.

“What the hell is taking you so long? How hard can it be?”

I shake my head because he’s clearly struggling to exercise as much patience as I am. This was what I was worried about. He’s nine years younger than me but still likes to make out like he is as good at this as I am. But he’ll see how good I am soon enough. He’ll see it when I take all the money in that safe for myself and leave him just as defeated as Amanda and Louise.

Just like in the poker games we played inside, I’m thinking several steps ahead and plan to screw James before he has the chance to screw me somewhere down the line. But I can’t do that until he has the money in his possession.

“It’s coming.”

I press Send on my optimistic reply and sit back in my seat. I notice that Amanda has been watching me every time I have used my phone—no doubt worrying about what might be happening—so I might as well tell her.

‘I’ve just told James to be on standby to hurt your daughter. He’s more than willing to do it,’ I say with a shrug.

Then I place my phone back on the table and fold my arms.

I stare at Amanda until she gets self-conscious and looks away. I like that I have this control over her, but I don’t like the fact that I don’t know what she is thinking. I don’t like it because I know that a person can come up with all sorts of schemes when they are given the time to think.

If this carriage were quieter, then I could be more forceful with her and get the code much quicker, but I’m still betting she will give it up any minute now. I have all the power here while she is the one with everything to lose.

It just remains to be seen what she will lose.

Her money.

Or her child.

21

AMANDA

I’m racking my brains for any way out of this situation that doesn’t end in my daughter getting hurt and my safe being emptied. So far, I’m struggling, but I have got one idea, and it might be my only shot.

My tormentor’s mobile phone is currently sitting on the table in front of him, and his arms are folded. Maybe if I could grab it and get away down the carriage, I could use the phone to text James and tell him that the plan is off. If James believes it, he might leave my flat, and Louise will be safe. Then all I will have to do is get away from this man on the train. I almost managed it earlier, so I believe I could do it again.

I do my best to appear casual as I sit forward in my seat a little, closing the gap slightly between me and the phone. I’m tempted to just go for it now, but then he shifts in his seat and uncrosses his arms before his left hand comes to rest on top of the phone.

Damn.

‘Twenty-three minutes,’ he says.

I make sure to not let my eyes linger on the phone in case he puts it away in his pocket again. I’ll just have to stay ready for when he removes his hand. But until then, I need to figure out a way to