Read Online Who is Sarah Lawson: A Captivating Psychological Thriller by K.J. Rabane - Free Book Online Page A

He was carrying a tray into the summerhouse as we arrived.
    “Just in tim. Glad you decided to see sense, Sarah.”
    Ignoring his comment I said, “Something smells nice.” It was the sort of remark that sounded reasonable I decided. I was beginning to get used to censoring my words. There was no point ranting and raving, that hadn’t worked.
    The sun was sinking in the sky casting elongated shadows over the lawn when Andy, leaving the kitchen carrying another bottle of wine, approached me, but I found it easier to concentrate on the shadow rather than its initiator.
    “How are the children?” I tried desperately to remember their names. “Jack and Sally.”
    Andy shot a quick glan ce at his wife. “Jake,” he said. “His name is Jake.”
    “I know that, it was just a slip of the tongue.”
    Lies piled up like litter. For a moment I was aware of an uncomfortable silence until Hannah picked up her empty dish. “They’re fine.”
    “How long did you say they’d be away?”
    “Just for tonight. They might be spending some time with relatives soon though, especially during the school holidays.” I didn’t miss the look Andy gave his wife. This time it spoke volumes.
    I nodded, which seemed to satisfy them.
    Later, as night fell, they suggested we move back into the house.
    “Why don’t you stay over? Your bed is still made up in the spare room. I’ve drunk too much and Andy is way over the limit. It makes sense; you don’t want to have to pay for a taxi. I’ll drive you back home tomorrow morning,” Hannah said, running the sentences into one as if in a hurry to finish them.
    “Right, thanks.” I registered the look of surprise on Andy’s face. He’d obviously expected an argument.
    I sat with them whilst we watched television. At least, they watched my plasma screen - I watched them. At half-past ten, Hannah offered to make some hot chocolate.
    “I’ll make it, after all I know where everything is don’t I?” I said.
    I noticed the hesitation; they missed a beat in unison. Then as if awakened from the same dream, they responded, “Yes, thanks.”
    In the kitchen I switched on the kettle - my kettle - found the large jar of drinking chocolate that I’d bought in Sainsbury’s before this nightmare began - poured milk into a saucepan and waited for it to rise in the pan. Then I tipped an equal measure of water and milk over the powdered chocolate - exactly as they liked it.

Chapter 16
     
    There was no possibility of him posing as another official. It was too risky. He had to find another way of engaging Andy Lawson in conversation without arousing suspicion. Richie, assessing the situation, found that he kept returning to the children. Busy fathers usually spent time with their children at weekends, took them to the park, whilst mothers had a break. Surveillance of the property was required and he knew exactly how to achieve it.
    Opening up the Internet application Google Earth, he homed in on Bramble Lane then eased the cursor back until each side road and geographical feature lay before him. He saw a heavily wooded area at the rear of the property beyond which lay fields that appeared to stretch in the direction of the house where Sandy’s father lived.
    He stood up and walked into the outer office where his receptionist was busy filing her nails and applying a coat of peach coloured varnish. “I need Bruce.”
    She didn’t look up. “Surveillance?”
    “Got it in one.”
    “Give me a moment for my nails to dry and I’ll ring Dad.”
     
    Bernard Smith was in his early seventies and suffering with osteoarthritis, which made walking Bruce, a golden Labrador, difficult. Sandy helped at the weekends and with her brother Dan made sure that Bruce had plenty of exercise.
    Bernard was waiting on the doorstep as he drew up.
    “Good to see you again, lad. Still keeping that girl of mine in order?”
    “Other way around.”
    The older man chuckled. “Just as I thought. Come in, there’s a cup