TOYL

corner of the room, shrouded in darkness, was a human figure, hunched forward on a chair.

68

    ‘The light,’ Emma directed. ‘Switch it on.’
    ‘Are you sure?’ Will said. ‘They’ll know someone’s here.’
    ‘Do it,’ Emma said, moving across to the figure.
    The room exploded into bright light.
    ‘Lizzy, oh my God.’ Emma knelt down in front of her friend. Lizzy raised her head, a gag tight across her mouth. Her face was bruised and her eyes hollow and vacant. It was as if she didn’t recognise Emma.
    Emma untied the gag whilst Will stayed back, glancing at the door, ready for whoever might enter the room.
    ‘Em,’ Lizzy mouthed, gasping for breath. ‘Stephen’s father.’
    Emma cupped Lizzy’s face. ‘Everything’s going to be okay. Have you seen Dan?’
    Lizzy shook her head.
    Emma smiled supportively, then looked up at Will. ‘You untie her. I’m going on.’
    ‘We both go,’ Will said.
    Emma nodded. They untied Lizzy, switched off the light and helped her out of the house, across the road, and into the car.
    ‘We’ll be back,’ said Emma, feeling a sharp shard of pain shoot up her back; Lizzy was exhausted, and carrying her had been hard work.
    ‘I’ll go first,’ said Will as they entered the house for a second time. This time they moved a little more quickly, past the staircase on their right and towards the door at the end of the corridor. They stopped at the door, able to hear muffled voices.
    Will looked to Emma for direction, his hand on the door handle.
    Emma nodded.
    As they opened the door a gunshot rang out.

69

    ‘Dad,’ Emma said from the doorway, ‘put the gun down.’
    Edward stood over Peter Myers, the gun aimed at his head. Peter Myers was clutching his knee, which was a mass of blood. He was strangely quiet for a man who had just been shot through the leg.
    ‘I’m going to finish it,’ Edward replied.
    ‘Please, don’t do this,’ Emma pleaded, edging into the room. ‘It shouldn’t end like this.’
    ‘He deserves to die,’ Edward said. ‘First his son ruined your life, and now he’s done the same. Do you really want to save the life of the man who murdered Dan?’
    ‘Dan’s dead?’ Emma said, her stomach plummeting.
    ‘In the kitchen. His body has just been dumped there on the kitchen floor. I’m sorry, Emma, but this… monster has killed your fiancé.’
    ‘No,’ Emma said, shaking her head and bringing a hand to her mouth as Will put an arm on her back. She felt as though she was going to be sick. Peter Myers looked at her, grimacing, but offering no hint of remorse.
    ‘I’m sorry, Emma,’ Edward repeated. ‘But can’t you see now why this man doesn’t deserve to live? He just wanted to hurt you and everyone you love. He deserves everything he gets.’
    ‘No,’ Emma said, trying to push the images of Dan out of her mind. ‘He’s a victim like the rest of us.’
    ‘How can you say that? He’s not a victim,’ Edward spat.
    ‘He’s suffered too,’ Emma said. ‘Stuart Harris began this, but you’re not the one to finish it – not like this.’
    ‘Em’s right,’ Will said from behind her shoulder. ‘Put the gun away, Dad. Miranda needs you. You’re going to have another child who will need you. We need you too.’
    Edward gave a sarcastic laugh. ‘If he lives, then you’ll go to prison.’ He took neither his aim nor his eyes off Peter Myers, as if the guy was going to leap up and fight back. ‘Has he told you, Emma? Has your brother told you what he did? He was an accessory to murder.’
    ‘He’s told me everything,’ Emma said. ‘We can work this out.’
    ‘No,’ Edward replied. ‘As long as this man is alive, it could all still come out.’
    ‘Who do you really want to protect?’ Will asked. ‘Me, or yourself?’
    ‘You, of course,’ Edward replied. ‘I want to protect my son.’
    ‘Then you might as well put the gun down, because it’s already too late for me. I’ve told the police everything.’
    ‘What?’ Emma glanced around.
    ‘I called them when we first arrived here, while you were still asleep. They should be here any minute.’
    ‘You idiot,’ shouted Edward, taking his eyes off Peter Myers for the first time. ‘You stupid idiot!’
    Emma saw her chance. In one smooth movement she spun towards the floor, sweeping Edward’s legs from underneath him. He fell to the ground like an uprooted tree.
    ‘Get the gun,’ Emma shouted to Will, as she held Edward in position with a carefully