Saving Sophie: A compulsively twisty psychological thriller that will keep you gripped to the very last page. Sam Carrington
Читать онлайн книгу.
remember, that’s all. I’m home safe, aren’t I?’ Sophie lay down again, pulling the duvet back over her. ‘I’m tired, I need more sleep.’
‘Tough.’ Karen’s face flushed. She’d been gentle enough, now Sophie’s matter-of-fact attitude bristled her. ‘I’ll tell you how you got home, shall I?’
‘Urgh. Please can you leave me alone? I’ll talk to you later.’
Karen stripped the duvet from her. ‘No, Sophie, we’ll talk about it right now.’
‘Fucking hell, Mum.’
‘I can’t believe you don’t remember.’ She lowered her face level with Sophie’s. ‘The police brought you home, Sophie. The police.’ She glared at her, waiting for a response, waiting for ‘I’m sorry, Mum’. But no. She gave nothing. ‘Are you going to say anything? Your dad went mental, you know.’
The smile spreading across Sophie’s face was like a smack in Karen’s. How dare she smile. Was Mike right? Did she think this was funny?
‘Okay, Mum. Enough. I get it. I shouldn’t have had so much to drink, I obviously annoyed you and Dad by coming home late, probably woke you up. I’m sorry. Joke over. But it’s not like you’ve never got drunk, is it? Now can you leave me alone to sleep it off?’ Sophie widened her eyes at Karen, ‘Oh, and don’t give me the tilted head crap, you always do that when you think someone’s lying …’
Karen jerked her head back upright. ‘Are you serious? Enough? I haven’t even started. It’s not a joke. And trust me, we were not laughing last night. You didn’t wake us up in the early hours. You were brought home at ten bloody thirty. How the hell could you have got into such a state so quickly?’ Before Sophie could retort, she added, ‘Maybe that’s why my head’s doing this crap.’ Karen cocked her head again, accentuating the move. She stopped talking, waiting for an explanation.
Despite Karen’s anger, the shock on Sophie’s face set her back. She really didn’t remember the police ride. A knot developed deep inside her stomach. She nudged Sophie across the bed so she could sit on the edge. She took Sophie’s hand in hers.
‘Why were you on your own? Where were your friends?’
‘I … I’m not sure. I don’t remember.’
‘Try. Please. It’s important.’
‘Why?’
‘You have to ask? You were found wandering around on your own, in a drunken state near the roundabout on the main road going out of town. Then, when they brought you back, you rattled on and on about Amy, talking utter rubbish – kept saying something about how you didn’t know she wanted to be Amy …’
‘That’s odd,’ Sophie lowered her head. ‘I don’t understand—’
‘No. Neither do I. Why had you left your friends? Or had they left you, like usual?’
‘Oh, don’t start, Mum,’ she withdrew her hand from Karen’s. ‘Let me think about this. I can’t …’ She rubbed her hands over her face. ‘I’m too tired, I need to sleep.’
Karen sat a while longer, staring at Sophie. She’d had the feeling last night there was more to this than being drunk.
Now she was sure of it.
‘Has the drunken mess surfaced?’ Mike raised his eyes fleetingly from his iPad as Karen entered the kitchen, returning them immediately to whatever was more interesting. On his days off, if he wasn’t watching TV or in the office, he had his head buried in his beloved iPad. Karen wished she’d never bought it for him.
‘I went in and woke her.’ Karen passed by him to get to the kettle. She touched its side, then flicked the switch. ‘You want a coffee?’
No answer.
‘Mike,’ she shouted, ‘you want a coffee?’
‘Uh, no. Not long had one.’ He placed the iPad on the breakfast bar. ‘What did she have to say for herself? Any explanations?’
‘She can’t remember any of it—’
‘Oh, of course not,’ he rolled his eyes. ‘Should’ve known she’d deny all knowledge.’
‘No, I don’t think it’s like that, she really didn’t seem to remember.’
‘Don’t be so damned gullible.’ He snorted – an annoying habit he’d developed when belittling what Karen said. ‘She knew she’d be in trouble, so she’s taking the easy way out with this “I can’t remember” bull.’ He waved his arm dramatically. ‘It doesn’t wash with me.’ He got up, pushing the bar stool back. The screeching made Karen wince.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m going to find out what exactly went on last night.’ He was already at the kitchen door.
‘No, don’t. She’s not up to it, you’ll get nothing from her.’
He swung around to face Karen. ‘I’ll do what I see fit. She was out of order. She needs to know the trouble she caused, and what she put you through.’
‘She didn’t really put—’
‘Enough.’ He scowled. ‘Stop sticking up for her. She was in the wrong, she has to learn there are consequences.’ He disappeared up the stairs.
Standing, stirring her coffee, Karen considered how this was going to play out. He’d have a go at Sophie, she’d throw a strop, Mike would then blame Karen for Sophie’s reaction; her shortcomings were always laid at Karen’s door, and then he’d be unbearable for about a week before he finally realised he’d overreacted and apologise. She sighed and took a sip of the coffee, hoping it might quell the growing nausea. Mug in hand, she crept to the bottom of the stairs. No shouting. She raised her eyebrows. Unusual. She stayed there for a while, listening intently. Only muted voices.
Sophie’s door opened. Karen scuttled back to the kitchen, spilling hot liquid as she went. Damn. Hearing his footing on the stairs, she quickly seated herself at the breakfast bar. ‘Well?’ She looked to him as he walked in.
‘You’re right.’
Karen almost dropped her mug. ‘What do you mean?’
‘She really has no clue about last night, Karen.’ He plonked heavily on the stool opposite her. ‘Why? I don’t understand how she could get ratted to the degree she has no memory of anything past seven o’clock. That’s not good. Not good at all.’ He rubbed his forefinger along his bottom lip.
Karen’s hairs prickled on her arms. The niggling worry in her gut grew into an intense knot. She hadn’t checked her phone. Had Liz texted her back? She got up and ran to the bedroom. Retrieving the phone, she stabbed at the screen to access her messages. Her heart jolted. Liz had replied a few hours ago. Amy didn’t come home last night. She isn’t answering her mobile, does Sophie know where she is? Liz xx
Running back downstairs, Karen burst into the kitchen and thrust the phone in front of Mike’s face.
‘I told you not to text her, Karen.’
‘Really? You’re going to have a go about that now? Have you read it? Shit. Sophie was going on about Amy last night, and now Amy is missing.’
‘She’s not really missing, is she?’ His tone was sarcastic, one reserved for the innocent ignorance of a child. ‘She probably just stayed at a friend’s last night and is sleeping off a hangover. Like Sophie!’
It was a valid point. He was probably right. But why did she have a nervous feeling, a worming thread of fear branching throughout her belly? How could she tell Liz that