Chapter 45

45

The bastard had texted and arranged where to meet, and then hadn't showed up. Shannon felt like sinking to the ground and crying like a baby. Instead she called Jess.

‘I'm out and dateless. The bastard didn't turn up. Please, Jess, come out.'

‘I'm wrecked. In bed already. Sorry, hun. Another time.'

Shannon hung up and eyed the inviting door to Danny's while mentally counting the few euros in her purse, with even less in her bank account. She couldn't go on stealing from George. She needed the escort money, if only to get by. It wasn't fair. Life wasn't fair.

She needed another drink. To help get rid of her disappointment. But she hadn't even the price of a half-glass.

She pushed herself away from the pub wall and began her slow walk home.

He couldn't believe his good fortune when he saw her walking down the street. Alone, again.

The night was sepia-dark. A forbidding sky heavy with unshed rain blocked out the moon and stars. The street lights cast ochre glints on the tarmac, and he hoped it might rain. Soon. Now. Then he would have a good reason to stop and offer her a lift.

He felt an urge to stop anyhow. To take her and keep her for himself. To not bring her home to her . Could he do that? Maybe. But where would he keep her? No way he'd get her into his shed unnoticed. The kid regularly found his key and entered his private domain, where she often destroyed his little plants. He liked to think it was just a kid being a kid, but he sensed evil lurked in her heart too.

He looked over his shoulder at the child seat in the back. His safety net. It would make her feel safe, especially as she had a child herself. And therein lay the flaw. A woman with a child going missing would cause a bigger stink than a woman with no attachments. Not that he knew much about her family life, but she appeared on an escort site, so that told him she might not have a partner and needed the money. That was why she put herself out there. He was certain she hadn't seen him in the park. And he'd approached the kid before realising he might be making a huge mistake. He'd disappeared before she'd seen him. Who would believe a little kid anyhow? They were always making things up.

He drove down the street ahead of her. She had on that awful pink coat and an umbrella in her hand. Would she recognise him? No, he'd shaved off his beard.

He drove slowly and checked the side pocket in the door. To be sure that all he needed was at his hand. He knew the route she'd take, so he drove on ahead of her until he reached a CCTV blackspot. He pulled into an opportune space. Maybe the gods were aligning in his favour for a change.

In his rear-view mirror he watched her approach. He lowered his window.

‘Going to rain, love. Can I give you a lift?'

‘Nah, nearly there now.'

‘It's no trouble. I'm just heading home. Bad night. Was supposed to meet someone and they never turned up.'

She had stopped, glanced into the car, noticed the child seat in the back. Good.

‘Same story for me.'

Her face looked cold and miserable. Perfect.

‘I've to go out to the cinema, if you're going that way? No bother if you're not.' He knew right well that was the direction she was going, though not that far.

She peered behind her, down the quiet street, and the first drops of rain fell onto her nose. ‘Sure, why not. Don't want to be drenched, and this will be useless.' She smiled as she waved the folded-up umbrella. Pink, like her coat.

He held his breath. She stalled for a moment, before walking around and easing into the passenger seat. Superlative, he thought, using one of the words he'd found in his dictionary. It suited the excitement he now felt in his gut. She would be so happy with him. And then he felt sad. He couldn't keep her for himself.

‘I'm Shannon,' she said.

‘Like the river?' He was proud of himself for making glib conversation.

‘Suppose so. Though I'm not travelling as far as that.'

That confused him, but he waved it off as he pulled the car out onto the deserted street.

‘Where to then, river lady?'

Laughing, she said, ‘Cairnbeg Terrace. Drop me at the head of the road.'

‘Sure thing. Who's the twat who abandoned a lovely young lady like yourself?' The gormless attitude was second nature to him. Or maybe it was his real nature. Who cared?

‘Just an online date thing.'

‘The worst sort.'

‘Exactly. Hiding behind a screen like a vampire.'

He had no idea what she meant, so he just nodded. The lights changed. Cairnbeg was close. He'd have to act fast.

‘Do you mind if I swing out by the cinema first? I'm late to pick up my eldest. He was at a movie.'

‘You can drop me here instead. It's fine.'

He sped past the turning. ‘Won't take long. He's only fifteen and the movie was for over eighteens. You know what kids are like. Then again, you're too young to know.' He felt elated at his easy lies. Then he wondered if he'd made a mistake. Hadn't he said he'd been in town to meet someone?

She squirmed a little on the seat but didn't go for the door handle to jump out. Clever girl. It was locked anyhow. He didn't want a repeat of the Laura fiasco.

‘Oh,' she said. ‘I think the cinema might still be closed. Because of the murder.'

He slowed at the entrance, to make it look like he had intended going there. ‘Shit, you're right. Crime-scene tape is still up. Where did the lad go, if not to the cinema?'

‘Probably went to a friend's house. Look, can you drop me back? I really need to get home.'

‘What's the hurry? You'd have been out longer if your date had turned up.'

‘Yeah, I know, but I have to get home to Davy.'

‘Davy's your husband? Partner?'

‘My… my son.'

In the lights around the cinema complex he noticed the first dawning of fear skitter across her face, and she clutched the umbrella tight in her fist. That could be a small problem. She was thinking she'd made a mistake and he had to act fast.

‘Okay. I'll drive round the ring road and bring you back that way. Okay?'

‘Suppose.'

‘Great. I might see my lad hanging around. I'll kill the pup when I find him.' He stifled a snigger. He'd quite like a pup to kill, because he didn't have a fifteen-year-old son. And there was no way he could let this girl die either. He had to get her to his home in one piece. Otherwise, he may as well move into the shed full-time.