Silent Footfall Part 5

Silent Footfall Part 5

Gina heard Max’s familiar tread on the stairs. She sighed in relief. Max knew how much she loved Chalkie; knew she’d never harm him. It had been his present to her two Christmases before. She cracked open the bathroom door and waited impatiently. He could turn right or left when he reached the landing. Turning right would take him past the bedroom. Left would take him to the bathroom. Her eye to the crack, she tracked his head and shoulders as they appeared over the wooden banister. She furrowed her brows. What was he doing here anyway? And why had he been skinning a rabbit? She pressed her eye closer to the gap in the door. He looked clean shaven and handsome in his white tee shirt with its football motto and his usual jeans. There was no sign of blood now.

Her skin prickled and her sense of foreboding returned. She pushed away the uneasy thought that Max might be connected in some way to him and what had went on in this house. She shook her head vehemently. Max loved her. She was sure of it. He wouldn’t harm her.

Her heart flapped against her ribcage. If he turned left she’d know he was seeking her out. If he turned right towards his bedroom ….she choked down the panic and glanced upwards towards the trapdoor. That route was closed to her. She’d have to find another way of getting out of the house.

“Gina?” Mac’s voice said in a loud whisper. She pressed her eye to the crack again. Mac was making his way towards the bathroom. She had to believe he was on her side. Flinging open the door she rushed towards him. “Oh Max! Oh Max, I am so glad you’re here.. I was so frightened. I came to take photographs of the old house. For us, for us – so that I can stop taking my medication …so we can…” He was so close to her now she could smell the familiar smell of his aftershave. “Why are you here,” she said leaning into his chest.

Mac held her. “You left in such a hurry you forgot your medication,” he said gently disentangling himself from her grip.

“But how did you know…”

“Shush, shush…I kinda knew you’d always come back here.” He open his palm and nestled there was her daily dosage of drugs. “Here, wash them down with this “he said proffering a tumbler of amber liquid. She threw the fistful of tablets into the back of her throat and drank the brandy down in one gulp.

She smiled lovingly at Mac and stroked the side of his face. “You and Chalkie – my protectors.”A sob catch in her throat. “Chalkie by beautiful brave Chalkie. You know I would never harm him, don’t you? The new choker lead…he just needs water, water!” She realised she was gabbling and clutching at the front of his tee-shirt. Max calmly grasped her by the wrist, loosening her grip. “I know. You loved that dog.” Gina gave him a perplexed look. He had used the past tense. He had said she had loved her dog. Something he had said as he’d given her medication lingered at the edge of her mind. She furrowed her brow. No. It was gone. She’d remember later.

The thing was for her and Max to get out of this house, collect her things at the holiday park and go home to Belfast and their life together. “Come on. I know a good way out of this place.” Was it her imagination or had her voice sounded younger, like a child’s? Like it used to sound before she had set out to change it – to change everything of the stupid naive child she had been.

“C’mon, “she insisted when Mac didn’t move. She tugged at his hand. Sometimes Mac was so calm and in control he needed her to prod him along; to impress on him the need for urgency.

Max cupped her face in his hands and kissed her – a long lingering kiss. Gina felt herself beginning to melt. He folded her tenderly in his arms. “I love you. I knew it within minutes of meeting you in the holiday park swings when we were just kids,” he murmured. She felt his mouth on hers again but somehow her head was growing fuzzy. Max was becoming more amorous. His hands were sliding up under her top. “You haven’t lost your touch,” he breathed his hands roaming around her body. Gina felt herself getting aroused. She tried to focus. She wanted to make love but not here in this house. “I know you strangled Chalkie,” Max whispered huskily. “It’s OK. I understand.”

Gina struggled in his arms. “I didn’t…

“You did,” he said admiringly. “You’re perfect. Killing pups when we were children is one thing but killing someone or something you love is the real deal.”

Gina’s blood chilled in her veins. She remembered now what he had said as she’d swallowed her medication. “I kinda knew you’d come back…” That’s what he had said, she thought as the ground rushed up to meet her. .

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR KEEPING READING THE SERIES   PART 6 WILL BE POSTED ON SATURDAY 30TH