I SEE YOU an unputdownable psychological thriller with a breathtaking twist by PATRICIA MACDONALD (fb2 epub reader .TXT) 📕

bent down and lifted the slight child up. The feel of Sydney’s damp hair, her warm, rosy skin and her beating heart was balm to Hannah’s soul. She was almost happy for the first time in ages. The jury had the case, and they were going to acquit Lisa. There was no way they couldn’t, she told herself. She remembered last night, and Adam’s search on Lisa’s computer. It was like a cloud over the sun but Hannah was determined to put it out of her mind. This whole nightmare was soon going to be over, and Lisa would be reunited with her parents and her child. Hannah felt it so strongly, she was almost able to convince herself that it was going to happen.

She settled Sydney back into her stroller, put on her own sandals, and, after looking at her phone to be sure that she had not somehow missed a call, walked back toward the house. Sydney fell asleep in the stroller, and Hannah did not want to wake her. She parked the stroller under a shady tree, and pulled up a chair beside it. Before she knew it, Hannah too was asleep.

She was awakened by her phone. Her heart leapt, and she blinked at the display, trying to see who was calling.

Marjorie Fox. Still groggy, she fumbled to answer.

‘The jury is coming back in. They have a verdict,’ said Marjorie.

‘Oh my God,’ said Hannah.

‘Get down to the courthouse.’

‘I will,’ said Hannah. ‘Right away.’

She speed-dialed Adam, who answered on the first ring. ‘They have a verdict,’ she said.

‘I’m on my way. What about Sydney?’

‘Rayanne already told me to leave her with them.’

‘OK,’ he said. ‘I’ll see you in ten minutes.’

Hannah took the sleepy, protesting toddler into the house, and gathered up some food, drinks and toys to take to Rayanne’s. Then she quickly changed her own clothes. She could hear Adam’s car in the driveway as she fixed her hair.

She walked out of their bedroom and met him coming in the door. They looked at one another, fear and hope and anxiety mingled in their eyes. They embraced briefly.

‘I’m going to wash my face,’ he said.

‘I’ll take Sydney next door and meet you at the car,’ she said.

Sydney wanted to walk over but Hannah scooped her up, protesting that there was no time. ‘We’re going to see if we can bring Mommy home,’ Hannah explained as she shifted the bag of supplies, whispered in Sydney’s ear and knocked at Rayanne’s back door.

The door was opened by Jamie, who seemed startled by the sight of them. ‘Hi, Mrs Wickes,’ he said.

‘Jamie, we just got a call from the lawyer. There’s a verdict. We’re on our way to the courthouse. Is your mom here? Or your dad?’

‘Dad’s sleeping. Mom went to the store.’

‘Oh,’ said Hannah. ‘Well, your mom said that she would watch Sydney when we had to go to the courthouse.’

‘That’s no problem. Greta and I can keep an eye on her. Come on in, Sydney.’ He reached for the bag. ‘My mom will be back in a few minutes.’

‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m sure you and Greta have better things to do.’

‘Not a bit,’ said Jamie magnanimously. Just then Greta came into the kitchen.

Jamie turned to her. ‘I told Mrs Wickes we’d watch Sydney till Mom got back.’

Greta immediately brightened. ‘Oh, ’course.’ She put out a hand to Sydney, who looked up at her, fascinated. ‘Come with me, you little minx,’ she said.

Hannah smiled, feeling lucky for their support, and tears of exhaustion pricked her eyelids. ‘Thanks so much.’

‘Good luck,’ said Greta.

‘Right,’ said Jamie. ‘Good luck.’

Hannah thanked them both again and stepped out onto the back porch step.

Jamie hesitated, and then followed her outside closing the door behind him.

‘Mrs Wickes,’ he said. ‘Do you have a minute . . .’

Hannah turned to look at him and saw consternation in his eyes. Just barely, she thought. It must be about his parents. She reminded herself to be patient. ‘What, Jamie?’ she asked.

‘I’ve been following the trial,’ he said. ‘I read all of the testimony. There was something I wanted to talk to you about . . .’

Hannah frowned. ‘About the trial? Can it wait? This isn’t really a good time.’

Jamie nodded. ‘Sure. Of course this isn’t the time. It’s just that . . .’

The door of the Wickes house opened and Adam emerged, waving to the two of them as he brandished the car keys. ‘Hannah, let’s go,’ he called out.

Jamie pressed his lips together. ‘Never mind,’ he said.

‘We really do have to go,’ said Hannah.

‘You go ahead,’ said Jamie. He nodded his head sharply, as if he had made a decision. ‘And don’t worry about Sydney. We’ll take good care of her.’

‘Are you sure?’ Hannah asked uncertainly.

‘Absolutely. You take your time. And give Lisa my best.’

Hannah gave a sigh of relief and rushed to the car where her husband waited.

The courtroom was crowded with spectators, TV cameramen, reporters and officers of the court. Hannah and Adam were worried about where to sit but Marjorie gestured to them to come up to the front. When they got there, Marjorie dismissed two of her support staff who were saving seats behind the defense table and immediately ceded them to Hannah and Adam.

‘She thinks of everything,’ said Adam admiringly.

Lisa turned around and looked at them wide-eyed. ‘This is it,’ she said.

‘Don’t be afraid, darling,’ said Hannah, trying to grab her hand.

‘I’m not afraid,’ said Lisa.

Hannah looked at her daughter, and knew that it was true. Somehow, she wasn’t afraid. She was as calm and detached as if this were all happening to someone else.

The bailiff ordered them all to rise, and everyone in the courtroom stood up dutifully as the judge took his