The Stranger by Mark Ayre (ebook reader wifi .txt) 📕

“Come on, mate. Let’s get you up.”

Danny came, with more moaning and groaning than Abbie thought his condition warranted. From a couple of metres back, she watched. She feared if she was closer, Danny might chance another attack. She wasn’t afraid he would hurt her but that she might do further damage. That would be as bad for relations with Eddie as it would be for her soul.

“Bitch cheated,” Danny was muttering. “And I think she’s broken my bones.”

“Sounds like your jaw’s doing alright,” Abbie said. She couldn’t help herself.

“I think you should go home,” said Eddie. Keeping himself between Danny and Abbie, he propped his brother up and began to walk him down the tunnel.

“From what I know, Francis is a ruthless man surrounded by ruthless cronies,” Abbie said to Eddie’s back.

The guys paused. Eddie said, “What’s your point?”

“You’re going to take Danny to your home. What happens if Francis’ boys find him there?” She paused for dramatic effect. “Didn’t I overhear your wife’s pregnant?”

Eddie spun. Danny staggered. Almost fell. Once he steadied himself, he stared at Abbie with wide eyes as Eddie approached her.

Abbie’s palms were sweaty. She realised one of them was on her stomach and dragged it away. Her heart was racing. It was nothing to do with Eddie. She imagined a woman with a bump. A baby kicking. If she didn’t pull herself together, she would be sick. The sea seemed to be rushing in her ears. She had to focus on Eddie’s lips to know what he was saying.

“Don’t talk about my wife.”

“Don’t misunderstand me,” she said. “I’m saying this because I don’t want anything to happen to your wife. All I’m suggesting is you keep Danny out the way until tomorrow. He can use my hotel room.”

Still, Abbie’s heart was pounding. Her words weren’t coming with any surety. Was that a baby’s cry she could hear in the distance? No. Her mind. Stupid, messed up mind.

Eddie might have seen her struggle when he looked into her face. After taking a deep breath, he looked back at Danny.

“You shouldn’t stay at mine.”

“I can stay at mine,” Danny said.

“Out of the question.”

“You ain’t my boss.”

Ignoring this childish remark, Eddie returned to Abbie. Looked her up and down as though he might have missed the knife in her hand or the slogan on her T-shirt: I like to murder people called Danny while they sleep.

“I’ve no idea who you are. You must be crazy to think I’d leave my brother with you overnight.”

“You think, what, I’m a plant?” Abbie shook her head. “Is that Francis’ style?.”

“No,” said Danny, but Eddie shrugged.

“I don’t know enough about him to take the risk.”

“Then don’t. Danny can have my hotel room. I’ll sleep elsewhere.”

Eddie shook his head. “You could sneak back in the night.”

Abbie watched Eddie’s eyes, watched his expression shift and change. He was in turmoil. He didn’t trust her. He feared for his brother’s life. He was also out of his depth. He wanted a reason to believe her. If she could just nudge him in the right direction…

It came in a flash. Danny could stay at the hotel. Abbie could be somewhere she couldn’t possibly sneak off to do any killing.

Smiling at Eddie, she said, “Do you have a spare room?”

Four

It was 03:47 when Eddie pulled into the driveway of his worn three-bedroom terrace house. He stopped the car, and the light above their heads came on, illuminating them in an eerie glow.

For the entirety of the short drive, Eddie had kept his eyes on the road. This was the safe thing to do. Abbie sensed his main reason for keeping his neck so straight was that he feared looking at Abbie, lest it force him to consider his choices.

When the car stopped and that soft yellow glow kicked in, he couldn’t help himself. Hands stuck to the wheel, he turned her way. While they were driving, Abbie had pushed her hood down and brushed her hair over her shoulder. When he looked at her, not a strand obscured her face. She didn’t look away nor blink. He wanted to read something in her expression. Whatever, let him try. She needed his trust and quickly. Time was running out.

After thirty seconds, he looked away. He thumped the steering wheel then forced his hands into his lap. Abbie watched this show without comment. They were both facing the house when Eddie kicked off the conversation.

“This is such a mess.”

“Family,” said Abbie. “Who’d have them?”

“Yeah, well. It’s tough. We lost our parents when I was twenty-four. Danny was nineteen. Still living at home. He should have been taking those last steps into proper adulthood, and he went completely off the rails. I’ve tried my best. Tried to keep him on the straight and narrow, but what would I have to give up to ensure he never strayed? I’d have to be a full-time carer, but I have a job, a wife, a home. A baby soon.”

Abbie closed her eyes. There were those distant wails again. A baby in need of its mummy. Her hand drifted to her stomach, and she yanked it off. Eddie looked to her lap, then back to her face.

“Now I’m sitting in my car talking to a stranger,” he said. “A stranger who came out of nowhere, attacked my brother, then offered him a room. What’s that about?”

“Actually, he attacked me.”

“Whatever. It’s not right. Shows how messed up my life’s got, how complicated, that I’d even consider taking your help. No offence.”

“None taken.”

“This is a one-night thing,” he said. “You’ll take the spare room. It’s right next to mine, and I’m on edge. I won’t be sleeping soundly. You try to leave, I’ll hear. Got it?”

“Received and understood.”

He glared. Was Abbie taking the piss? He was too tired, drained, to push the matter. He went on.

“You wake up before me, you stay put. You do not leave that room until I fetch you, okay?”

“Got it,” she said. “You’re the dog,