Gone

38

‘Jasper doesn’t like it here. Jasper thinks that man’s going to come in those windows.’ In the flat DI Caffery had transferred the Costellos to, little Emily was sitting on the bed, toy rabbit clutched against her chest. They’d had lunch, spaghetti and meat sauce, and now they were making up the beds. Emily frowned at her mother. ‘You don’t like it here, do you, Mummy? You don’t really like it, do you?’

‘I don’t love it.’ Janice pulled Emily’s Barbie sleeping-bag out of the dustbin liner she’d used to transport it and gave it a shake. This bedroom was nicer than the last one. In fact, the whole flat was better than the police house. Cleaner and tidier with cream carpets and white woodwork. ‘I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it. And I do know something very special about it.’

‘What?’

‘I know it’s safe. I know no one is going to hurt you while we’re here. Those windows are special safe windows and Nick and the rest of the police have made sure of that. The nasty man can’t get you here. Can’t get Jasper either.’

‘Or you?’

‘Or me. Or Daddy, or Nanny. None of us.’

‘Nanny’s bed’s too far.’ Emily pointed out of the room, down the corridor, past the living room and bathroom to the door at the back of the flat. ‘Nanny’s bed’s all the way down there.’

‘Nanny likes her new room.’

‘And my bed’s too far from yours, Mummy. I won’t be able see you in the night. I was scared last night.’

Janice straightened and looked at the little trundle bed Nick had set up in the corner for Emily. Then she looked at the rickety pine bed she and Cory would sleep on. Last night at her mother’s Cory had fallen asleep easily. While he snored and grunted she’d lain awake, watching car headlights pass on the ceiling, waiting for one to stop, waiting for footsteps, straining her ears at the tiniest noise outside. ‘I tell you what.’ She went to the T-shirt and joggers Cory had worn last night. They were in an untidy tangle in his suitcase where he’d thrown them this morning. She picked them up and dropped them on to the trundle bed. Then she pulled Emily’s pyjamas out from the rucksack, crossed to the double bed and put them under Cory’s pillow. ‘How’s that?’

‘I sleep with you?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Great,’ said Emily, bouncing eagerly. ‘Great.’

‘Yeah – really great.’ Cory stood in the doorway. He was wearing a suit, his hair slicked back from his forehead. ‘I get the camp bed. Thanks a bunch.’

Janice put her hands on her hips and gave him a long look, up and down. The suit was the most expensive one he owned – YSL – and had cost them a small fortune. Last night, in the time she’d been grabbing toys, food, sleeping-bags and clothes for Emily, he’d been getting this suit out of the cupboard. Now he was busily fitting the tiny Paul Smith cufflinks she’d bought him for Easter last year. ‘You look nice,’ she said coldly. ‘Where are you off to? Hot date?’

‘Yeah – really hot. I’m going to work. Why?’

‘Work? Jesus, Cory.’

‘What’s the matter with that?’

‘Well, Emily to start with. She’s terrified – you can’t just go.’

‘There are four of you – Nick’s not going anywhere and there’s an officer sitting outside. You are being looked after. Watertight – watertight. In the meantime, my job is not quite as secure. In the meantime, Janice, our livelihood, our house, your car – everything is not quite as watertight. So forgive me for applying myself to the problem.’

He headed back down the hallway. Janice leaped up, closed the door behind her so Emily wouldn’t hear and hurried down the corridor to where Cory was standing at a little smeared mirror next to the front door, checking his tie was straight. ‘Cory.’

‘What?’

‘Cory, I—’ She took a deep breath. Closed her eyes and counted to ten. Emily had had enough to put up with. She didn’t need to hear her parents tearing each other’s heads off. ‘I am very grateful to you for how hard you work,’ she said tightly. She opened her eyes and smiled. Bright. Patted his lapel. ‘That’s all. Just very grateful. Now, you have a lovely time at work.’