Read Online Conflicted Innocence by Netta Newbound - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Netta Newbound
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fuck, fuck!” he said, pacing backwards and forwards.
He didn’t know how much time passed while his thoughts were in a riot. He spotted Susie’s tobacco pouch on the kitchen workbench and he leapt on it, needing a cigarette more than anything. He gave up smoking almost ten years ago, but he’d smoke two together if he could, right now.
Out on the back step he tried to put things into perspective. But he couldn’t work out what the fuck he could do to make it right. He had to collect Lydia tomorrow. He roared as he threw the cigarette butt into the garden, and stuffed the pouch into his pocket.
He needed to talk some sense into Susie. She was, after all, trying to blackmail him so she wouldn’t be able to go to the police. Maybe, he could somehow record her saying how much she wanted and what she’d do if he didn’t pay up. At least it would give him some sort of leverage over her.
The cellar door creaked as he slowly opened it. “Susie, we need to sort this out before it gets too out of hand.”
Nothing.
He flicked the light on, and saw that she hadn’t moved a muscle.
“Susie?” She was out for the count.
If he could carry her back up the stairs and lie her in the same place they’d struggled, she wouldn’t need to know she’d been biffed down the cellar at all.
As he stepped into the cellar, he shuddered. The stone steps and flooring kept the temperature significantly lower than the rest of the cottage. That was the reason the previous owners used it as a wine cellar.
“Susie?” he whispered as he reached the bottom step.
Something didn’t look right, but he couldn’t work out what it was. He gasped as he took a closer look.
One of Susie’s arms had twisted behind her in an unnatural position, and her eyes were wide open, staring straight ahead.
At first, Lee couldn’t comprehend what this meant, and, the second it registered, he dropped to his knees shaking Susie’s dead body, pleading with the heavens to let her wake up.
After a few minutes, he tore himself away, pressing his hands over his mouth to stop himself being sick. He turned, scrambled up the steps and slammed the door on the monstrosity below.
With his back pressed firmly against the door, his phone rang and he vomited all over his shoes.
Chapter 11
Tall Poppies, the bright and welcoming day care nursery, was better than I could have wished for. It was in a purpose-built building at the rear of a residential property that catered for just a small number of children.
Wendy, the staff member in charge of the babies, greeted us warmly, and had Grace eating out of her hand within minutes. After filling out and signing all the paperwork, she encouraged me to leave my daughter there for an hour or so.
Stepping out onto the street I felt lost. I’d expected Grace to at least play up a little, but she hadn’t even whimpered. The traitor.
I called James.
“Hey, babe,” he said.
The sound of his voice made my eyes well up.
“Hi, how are you? I just left Gracie at the nursery.”
“Already? I thought you were only meant to be checking it out today.”
“I was—I am. She’s just having a trial run, but I couldn’t believe how easily she let me leave.”
“Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I know it is, but it’s not normal, is it?”
His booming laughter filled my ear.
“Don’t laugh, you pig! I was hoping for a bit of sympathy.”
“She’s a good girl, and not clingy in the least, so she wouldn’t play up, would she?”
“But why isn’t she clingy? Is it because I’m a bad mother?”
More laughter.
“Oh, forget this. I’ll see you at home later.”
“No, babe. Babe. I’m sorry, alright?”
I shrugged moodily.
“You still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here, but one more snigger and I swear...”
“I promise, no more. I was about to call you anyway. Lee’s not answering his phone again.”
“So, does he need to?”
“Well, I was going to grab some stuff for the
He didn’t know how much time passed while his thoughts were in a riot. He spotted Susie’s tobacco pouch on the kitchen workbench and he leapt on it, needing a cigarette more than anything. He gave up smoking almost ten years ago, but he’d smoke two together if he could, right now.
Out on the back step he tried to put things into perspective. But he couldn’t work out what the fuck he could do to make it right. He had to collect Lydia tomorrow. He roared as he threw the cigarette butt into the garden, and stuffed the pouch into his pocket.
He needed to talk some sense into Susie. She was, after all, trying to blackmail him so she wouldn’t be able to go to the police. Maybe, he could somehow record her saying how much she wanted and what she’d do if he didn’t pay up. At least it would give him some sort of leverage over her.
The cellar door creaked as he slowly opened it. “Susie, we need to sort this out before it gets too out of hand.”
Nothing.
He flicked the light on, and saw that she hadn’t moved a muscle.
“Susie?” She was out for the count.
If he could carry her back up the stairs and lie her in the same place they’d struggled, she wouldn’t need to know she’d been biffed down the cellar at all.
As he stepped into the cellar, he shuddered. The stone steps and flooring kept the temperature significantly lower than the rest of the cottage. That was the reason the previous owners used it as a wine cellar.
“Susie?” he whispered as he reached the bottom step.
Something didn’t look right, but he couldn’t work out what it was. He gasped as he took a closer look.
One of Susie’s arms had twisted behind her in an unnatural position, and her eyes were wide open, staring straight ahead.
At first, Lee couldn’t comprehend what this meant, and, the second it registered, he dropped to his knees shaking Susie’s dead body, pleading with the heavens to let her wake up.
After a few minutes, he tore himself away, pressing his hands over his mouth to stop himself being sick. He turned, scrambled up the steps and slammed the door on the monstrosity below.
With his back pressed firmly against the door, his phone rang and he vomited all over his shoes.
Chapter 11
Tall Poppies, the bright and welcoming day care nursery, was better than I could have wished for. It was in a purpose-built building at the rear of a residential property that catered for just a small number of children.
Wendy, the staff member in charge of the babies, greeted us warmly, and had Grace eating out of her hand within minutes. After filling out and signing all the paperwork, she encouraged me to leave my daughter there for an hour or so.
Stepping out onto the street I felt lost. I’d expected Grace to at least play up a little, but she hadn’t even whimpered. The traitor.
I called James.
“Hey, babe,” he said.
The sound of his voice made my eyes well up.
“Hi, how are you? I just left Gracie at the nursery.”
“Already? I thought you were only meant to be checking it out today.”
“I was—I am. She’s just having a trial run, but I couldn’t believe how easily she let me leave.”
“Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I know it is, but it’s not normal, is it?”
His booming laughter filled my ear.
“Don’t laugh, you pig! I was hoping for a bit of sympathy.”
“She’s a good girl, and not clingy in the least, so she wouldn’t play up, would she?”
“But why isn’t she clingy? Is it because I’m a bad mother?”
More laughter.
“Oh, forget this. I’ll see you at home later.”
“No, babe. Babe. I’m sorry, alright?”
I shrugged moodily.
“You still there?”
“Yes, I’m still here, but one more snigger and I swear...”
“I promise, no more. I was about to call you anyway. Lee’s not answering his phone again.”
“So, does he need to?”
“Well, I was going to grab some stuff for the
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