The Deadliest Game Read online

  ‘Michael, I have to go.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, I’m sorry, but I need to get back for the babysitter. I’ve had a lovely time, thank you.’

  Michael’s eyes held her. ‘Can I drive you home?’

  ‘No, it’s fine,’ she said, shaking her head. A loose curl flapped across her cheek and she moved to tuck it behind her ear but changed her mind. She really did feel a little giddy. ‘I have a cab ordered; I’ll be fine.’

  ‘Can I see you again? Coffee perhaps?’

  Laura looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. Coffee, yes. That seemed to be a natural progression of things, under the circumstances. She had, after all, been pressed up against his body for the last half an hour. It would be rude not to, wouldn’t it? ‘Coffee,’ she said, nodding her head a little too enthusiastically. That would be lovely.’

  Michael smiled. ‘How about tomorrow?’

  ‘Tomorrow?’

  ‘Ten-thirty at Sam’s Diner?’

  She nodded. ‘I’ll be there.’

  ‘Come on; I’ll walk you to your cab.’

  Laura said goodnight to the Merryweather’s and stepped out into the crisp, autumn-night air with Michael at her side. He kissed her gently on the cheek.

  ‘Take care …’

  Up until then, Laura hadn’t realised how much she had missed the company of a man; the intimacy of physical closeness. There was a moment of hesitation, but then she pulled him close and kissed him long and hard on the lips, losing all the inhibitions she had felt earlier that evening. She wanted him. Wanted him right there and then. But then, as suddenly as the compulsion had taken her, she pulled away from him, looked into his eyes briefly, then jumped into the cab, lowered the window and hurriedly said goodnight before speeding off into the night.

  As Laura lay in bed that night, she could not find sleep; her mind was spinning. She wanted him badly, so much so that she wished he had been beside her there and then. Yet at the same time she felt uncomfortable with the strong feelings of desire and deeply embarrassed at her uncharacteristic display to a man she had only just met.

  It was in the early hours of the morning when Jody traipsed into the bedroom and crawled into her bed. Laura, although her eyes were finally beginning to become heavy, was aware of him slinking under the cover and of him shaking. She turned to him and wrapped her arms around him.

  ‘Did you have a nightmare honey?’

  ‘Uh huh.’

  ‘It’s okay; nothing can hurt you when you sleep, everything’s fine. Just close your eyes. I’m right here.’

  When morning arrived Laura had made up her mind; she’d call Michael and cancel. It was all too soon; she wasn’t ready to embark on a new relationship. And more crucially, she really wasn’t sure she’d be able to trust another man again. But it was only when she and Jody drove into town, as they routinely did on Saturday mornings to buy provisions for the week from Merryweather’s, that she realised she hadn’t actually got around to making the call.

  ‘Good-morning my dear,’ said Blanche, her usual cheery self.

  ‘Good-morning, Blanche.’

  ‘I hear you’re meeting a certain Mr Peterson for coffee this morning.’

  Laura sighed. As much as she loved living in such a small town, wasn’t there anything that could remain a secret? ‘Well that was the plan yes, but I don’t think...’

  Blanche looked startled. ‘Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind.’

  ‘Well, apart from anything else, I forgot it was Saturday today, and… well, you know,’ she gestured towards Jody.

  The concern on Blanche’s face lifted. ‘Oh! Oh I see. Well that’s no problem at all. Jody can stay with us for a while.’

  ‘That’s very kind, Blanche, but…’

  ‘Oh nonsense, you get yourself down there this minute young lady, and that’s an order.’

  Laura glanced around the shop. George, the only person who would have perhaps sided with her and stopped Blanche’s well-meaning ‘meddling’ had miraculously disappeared, and there were two people behind her in the queue, undoubtedly wishing she would just hurry up and get a move on. She took a deep breath. ‘Will you be okay if I just go for a quick cup of coffee, honey?’ she asked Jody.

  ‘Sure, Mom, I’ll be okay.’

  ‘Yes, of course you will,’ said Blanche warmly. ‘Now off you scoot, Laura.’

  She wasn’t sure if it was the autumn chill in the air or nervous anticipation that made her face sting and her senses tingle as she walked the few hundred yards to Sam’s. She could see Michael in the window, an empty mug in front of him. It was almost 10.45 and she felt a tinge of guilt at keeping him waiting. He looked dejected and was checking the time on his watch until the bell jingled above the door. Then his face lit up and Laura wondered why on earth she had been so worried about seeing him again. He really did have the most incredible smile.

  ‘I was beginning to think you weren’t coming,’ he said, gesturing for her to sit down.

  Laura said nothing, but swayed her head a little to let him know that he was not far wrong.

  ‘Well you’re here now – that’s the main thing.’

  ‘Yes, I’m here,’ she said, flinging her coat over the back of her chair. ‘But I can’t stay long though, my son is with Blanche – you understand.’

  ‘Yes of course. Coffee?’

  Laura nodded and waited until the waitress had taken the order and disappeared behind the counter. ‘Look about last night,’ she whispered, leaning across the table. ‘I’m really embarrassed. It wasn’t like me; so...ummm ... I guess I just want to say I’m sorry.’

  Michael raised an eyebrow. ‘I’m not. If you hadn’t sped off the way you did, well it would have been lovely to…’

  ‘Thank you,’ Laura interrupted, wondering exactly what would have been so lovely. ‘I just didn’t want you to have the wrong idea about me.’

  ‘Impossible,’ Michael said. ‘You were the most well behaved witch in the building, and ... if you’d like to ... I’ d really like to get to know you a little better.’

  The waitress brought the coffee and Laura stirred it at length, looking down, avoiding eye contact. ‘I’m afraid there are things about me you may not like.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Things in my past I mean.’

  ‘I already know, Laura. I’m a lawyer remember. I’ve known ever since you moved into the Coopers old place. Oh and don’t worry, to my knowledge no one else knows. Not that you have anything to hide, you were found innocent after all, it was self-defence, plain and simple.’

  Laura glared at him. ’You checked up on me?’

  ‘I didn’t need to. I was the Coopers lawyer, and when your name showed up as the buyer – well, I remembered the case.’

  ‘But last night you asked me if I was divorced. You were playing games with me... you knew all along that I wasn’t!’

  Michael took her hand, his face serious, his eyes unflinching. ‘No games, Laura, I promise. Last night was hardly the time to let you know what I already knew. You’d have run a mile. And ...’ he said, leaning in closer, ‘I really didn’t want you to do that.’

  Laura studied him for a moment. ‘So this is just some kind of morbid curiosity, right?’

  Michael laughed. ‘Is that really what you think? I like you Laura, and I’d like to get to know you, that’s all. That’s not so terrible is it?’

  *

  There were around a hundred guests at the wedding party, including Laura’s family members, and to a slightly lesser degree, Michael’s. His parents had passed away several years ago and he had no siblings, only a couple of aunts, uncles and cousins. However, what he lacked in family, he made up for with his large circle of friends. Blanche and George were of course invited. Both Laura and Michael felt great warmth towards Blanche in particular, as the person who had brought them together some ten months before.

  ‘I’m so happy for you both, I can’t tell you,’ Blanche said, her face beam
ing in the late afternoon sun.

  Laura smiled. ‘Well, we owe it all to you. Thank you, thank you so much – for everything.’

  ‘Nonsense. I didn’t do a thing! If I remember rightly, you spotted him across that barn almost as soon as you arrived.’

  Laura laughed. ‘I suppose I did. Here,’ she said, taking Blanche’s empty champagne flute, ‘let me get you another drink.’

  As Laura walked amongst the guests scattered around the large garden, her eyes, in a sideways glance, met with her sister. She’d have carried on walking had Sally’s eyes not flicked towards her. She stopped, stretched her smile a little wider and took a step towards her.

  ‘Hi Sally. We haven’t really had much of a chance to talk have we? I’m sorry. How are you?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Sally said coolly. ‘Congratulations, by the way. I hope it works out for you.’

  She couldn’t have sounded more insincere if she’d tried. ‘Thanks,’ Laura said through gritted teeth. ‘It will.’

  ‘I’m assuming he knows everything.’

  Laura didn’t have time for this. How dare she bring it up on her wedding day. ‘You couldn’t resist it, could you?’ she snapped. ‘Yes, he knows – everything. Now excuse me, I have to…’

  Sally reached out for her arm. ‘I hope you’re not making a mistake in getting married again so soon, Laura.’

  ‘So soon! It was three years ago. Now please,’ she said, shaking her off, ‘I have guests to look after.’ She stepped away and took a second to locate the waiter.

  ‘I just hope you know what you’re doing, that’s all,’ Sally said a little too loudly. ‘I wouldn’t want to see you have another breakdown.’

  Laura swung back to face her. ‘Sally, I’m fine. In fact I’ve never been better. Please, save your worry for someone who needs it.’ She turned on her heels and walked away, determined not to allow her sister’s comments mar her day. And it really was a beautiful day, she thought. With the sun beating down and the sea shimmering in the distance, they couldn’t have chosen a better location than their own home for the celebrations.

  They had agreed before the wedding that it would be best if Michael sold his place and that Brooksville Heights, as Laura had renamed her house, be their family home. It was considerably larger than Michael’s with more than enough room for him to have his own study. More importantly, there had been a lot of upheaval in Jody’s life, and the last thing she’d wanted to do was unsettle him by moving again.

  Laura took two flutes from the silver tray and set off in search of Blanche, aware that all eyes were on her as she swept across the lawn. She guessed she was hard to miss in her swathes of ivory taffeta and lace, and for a moment she really did feel like a princess, albeit one without a prince by her side. She quickly scanned the grounds for Michael then, finding Blanche, handed her the champagne, unaware that from the small window at the top of the house, another pair of eyes were watching her.

  Two

  Present Day

  ‘Morning Tiger,’ Michael said, ruffling Jody’s hair as he strolled into the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of freshly brewed coffee, kissed Laura on the cheek and sat down at the old farmhouse table. ‘So, what have you got on for the day, honey?’

  Laura grabbed the last of the supper plates from the worktop and dunked it into the bowl. ‘Not much. I thought I might tidy up the basement a little. Oh, and I have a new client coming to see me, this afternoon.’

  ‘Great! But be careful, okay?’

  Laura sighed. ‘You worry too much.’

  ‘And what kind of husband would I be if I didn’t? You know how I feel about strangers coming to the house, especially when they’ve got...’ He stopped.

  ‘Go on, say it.’

  ‘Well, mental problems.’

  Laura dried her hands on the tea towel. ‘Michael, I’ve been doing this for a long time. Anyway, she sounded nice. I think she just needs general counselling for anxiety. It’s really nothing to worry about.’

  ‘I wouldn’t worry so much if you were in an office in town, but if something should happen, well…’

  ‘Mike, stop it,’ she said, shaking her head and flicking her eyes at Jody as she joined them at the table.

  He held his hands up. ‘Sorry, you’re right. I’m being stupid.’

  As much as she loved him, and as much as she loved him looking out for her, it was, sometimes, just a little overbearing. She laid her hand on his arm and squeezed it gently. ‘Hey, I’m not complaining, it’s nice that you worry – just not too much, okay?’

  He nodded. ‘Okay, I promise.’ He caught her gaze briefly, gave her a quick smile and pushed back his chair. ‘Well, I guess I’d better make a move. You ready tiger?’

  ‘Uh huh,’ Jody said, dropping his spoon into his empty cereal bowl.

  Laura watched them as they placed their breakfast dishes on the counter, pulled on their coats and headed into the hallway, still amazed that they’d slipped into their new life so seamlessly. Jody had coped well with having a new father figure in his life. He had liked Michael from the first time they’d met, and it was clear to her that Michael thought a great deal of him too. They’d bonded immediately. Michael, having lived alone since graduating from Cornell Law School, had possibly found it a little harder, but she knew he had no regrets and was happier than he had ever been. As she followed them to the door and kissed them goodbye, it was hard for her to believe it had only been three months since the wedding. It felt like they had always been a family.

  Laura’s new client wasn’t due to arrive for her session until mid-afternoon, which gave her a few clear hours to make a start on clearing some junk from the basement. It was a job she had kept putting off. Basements always seemed to have the effect of spooking her. She had no idea why, and though she suspected she was not alone with her irrational anxiety, it was best perhaps to put into practise what she taught many of her clients and face the fear, something she knew was easier said than done.

  She was certain it was not linked, as was sometimes the case, to a childhood trauma of being locked away in a confined, dark space. Her childhood had always been a happy one, that is apart from her elder sister’s taunts and bullying. Laura rubbed away the dust from a framed photograph of the two of them as children; it was amongst many other long forgotten pieces collected over the years.

  She had never quite understood why there seemed to be such a deep rift between them. Jealousy perhaps, at the arrival of a new baby sister who for a brief time stole the limelight? Yes, perhaps it was that simple, she thought. But then again, she remembered her parents being fair-minded people who gave an equal amount of love and affection to both of them as they were growing up, and indeed they still did. She knew it filled them with dismay to see their two daughters permanently at loggerheads with one another. It saddened Laura also, she wished so much that they could get along, but somehow it simply didn’t seem possible.

  Sally had never married and had no desire to have children. In fact she seemed to dislike the majority of them. She’d shown affection towards Jody, her only nephew, but that was as far as it went. Sally, like Michael, was a lawyer and had devoted her life to her work, seemingly having no necessity for a relationship of any kind. Laura speculated as to whether things might be different between them now if Sally had settled down with a man and had a family. At thirty-nine there was still time for her to have a child, plenty of women these days who had pursued careers had children in their forties, but somehow she suspected Sally would not be one of them.

  Laura tossed the photograph back into the cardboard box along with an assortment of other family photographs, some framed, some loose. The glass shattered as it made contact with the edge of another frame that jutted from the box. She sighed, and returned to the box to pick out the shards of glass, and in the process managed to pierce her finger on one of the jagged pieces.

  The sharp pain made her recoil. ‘Shit!’ The blood immediately oozed from her fingertip and dripped onto the now
unprotected image of her face. It was one of the few photographs she had of her and Sally together, and despite everything, it upset her. ‘Goddammit! – Oh to hell with this.’

  She collected the remaining broken pieces, wrapped them in paper, ascended the stairs, and disposed of the glass. Then she ran cold water over her finger, dabbed it dry and stuck on an Elastoplast. For the first time in months, a slight feeling of melancholy swept over her. She’d had every intention to return to the basement, but instead she flicked off the light and headed outside.

  She knew just how easy it was to allow oneself to relapse and slip into depression. As she regularly told her clients, it was up to them to not allow themselves to be tricked by the mind, and she was no different; it was up to her to do the same.

  Memories of her past had faded away, had been locked away in the far reaches of her mind, tucked away so deeply that not once did they come to the fore. The large house no longer seemed empty; it was amazing the difference that one person could make. There was always plenty of laughter and joy, no more days and nights of loneliness and despair. There was no need for her to feel down, so why should she let a trivial incident take her there? Laura had stopped taking pills for the symptoms of depression long before she had met Michael and she wasn’t about to start taking them again.

  Once out in the fresh, crisp autumn air, with the sound of the waves clearly audible, crashing into the rocks of the cove where their boat was housed way below, and the salty smell of the sea blowing up to the house, she began to feel much better. She had an amazing view of the grounds from the garden, with its wooded area to the right, and also straight across the bay.

  She paused for a moment and gazed out across the water, the view seeming even more spectacular than ever with the fog rolling slowly in and the trees swaying gently, their leaves a stunning golden brown. Then she grabbed the rake and set about clearing the crispy leaves that had blown all the way up to the house and gathered around the front porch. With her mind elsewhere, she lost all track of time.