Toxic (14 page)

“It's the first time I've ever made a
real
meal. One that didn't come out of the microwave.”

“And it didn't take many pots and pans to do it.” Todd gestured towards the pile of dirty plates, pans, trays, pots and cutlery piled high on the sink.

“I don't know what you're laughing at.” She grinned. “You have to wash those.”

“By myself?”

“Unless you can persuade Ben to help you.”

The dog was sitting right next to the table—his nose twitching.

“You can have the leftovers, boy,” Suzy said.

“There won't be any.” Todd tucked into the meal.

With each day that passed, the house began to feel more and more like a home. It couldn't last forever, but neither of them wanted it to end. The thought of going back to their old lives filled them both with dread. They'd found a sanctuary where the world couldn't touch them—somewhere they could be themselves.

“Are you really going to make me do this all by myself?” Todd was standing by the sink.

“Yep. I cooked—you wash. That's fair.”

“We could leave the pots, and go to bed instead?”

“Nah. I'm too full.” Suzy patted her tummy. “Get on with it like a good boy.”

“I'm not sure I like you any more.”

“Just wash the pots, whiner.”

Todd knew when he was beat, so he began to run the water.

“While you're having fun with the Fairy Liquid.” She smirked. “I'm going to take a walk into the village. They've got a few paperbacks. I'll see if there's anything I fancy.”

“You bored of me already? Why do you need a book when we could go to bed?”

“There's only so many times we can shag—”

“Make love.”

“Whatever. There's only so many times we can do it in one night.”

“You're underestimating Big Todd.”

“I seem to remember that last night, I couldn't get a rise out of Big Todd.”

“We'd already done it twice.”

“I was just getting started.”

“Fine. Go get your book. Don't worry about me slaving over a sink full of pots.”

“I won't. See you later.” She made for the door. “Ben? You coming?”

The dog didn't need to be asked twice.

“Traitor.” Todd called after the dog.

Suzy threw the ball, and watched as Ben shot off after it. The beach was deserted as usual. Most tourists favoured the stretch of sands beyond the headland. Suzy, Todd and Ben rarely ventured that far—they preferred their own company. She'd done more walking during the last few weeks than she had for years. And she was eating much better—no fast food outlets for miles. No drinking either except for the one visit to The Fisherman. All in all, she couldn't remember when she'd felt better.

“Here boy,” Suzy called Ben to come to her as soon as she spotted the car. There was normally very little traffic on that stretch of road. Few locals ventured beyond the village, and tourists usually approached the headland from the other direction. Once the car had passed safely by, she let go of the dog's collar.

“Morning, Suzy,” the owner of the village store greeted her.

“Morning, Mr Warne,” Suzy said.

Old man Warne had told them to call him Jim, but neither Suzy nor Todd could bring themselves to do it. If anyone looked like a
Mr
it was Jim Warne.

“Where's that fellow of yours?” he asked.

“I left him washing the pots.”

“Don't you tell my Nancy that or she'll expect me to start doing them.”

“Don't tell me what?” Mrs Warne came through from the back.

“Nothing dear.” He smiled at his wife. “Suzy just mentioned the weather forecast wasn't good for later.”

“And why on earth shouldn't she tell me that?”

It took all of Suzy's resolve not to laugh as the old man tried to dig himself out of the hole.

“No reason, I err—. I just thought you might be going out later.”

Mrs Warne stared blankly at her husband, and then turned back to Suzy. “Men? Talking of which, where's that handsome young man of yours?”

Mr Warne shook his head—unnoticed by his wife.

 “I left him—” Suzy hesitated. “With his feet up—fast asleep.”

“Typical!” Mrs Warne huffed. “They're all the same.”

The old man mouthed 'thank you'.

“What can we get for you today, Suzy?” Mrs Warne asked.

“I thought I'd take a look at your books.”

“Young couple like you shouldn't need books for entertainment,” Mr Warne said.

“Jim!” His wife gave him such a look.

“I've got things to do in the back.” Mr Warne scurried away.

“Take no notice of him, dear,” Mrs Warne said. “Trust me; I had to read plenty of books when we were young. Jim only had so much stamina.” She winked.

Suzy couldn't hide her surprise at the woman's words. It was hard to imagine those two old dears
at it
.

**********

It hadn't taken Suzy more than a few minutes to pick out a book, but then there were only two shelves-f to choose from. When had she last read a book? It must have been at school, and even then it would have been under duress. She'd chosen a horror story. Suzy often used to drag Lacey to see horror films. It was the only way she could get her flatmate to go because Lacey was a real scaredy cat who spent most of the movie with her hands over her eyes.

Ben dropped his ball at Suzy's feet for the thousandth time.

“Hold on boy.” She grabbed hold of his collar, and waited until the car had sped past them. It was the same one she'd seen on her way to the village. Most likely tourists who had discovered there was nothing to do or see this side of the headland.

“Fetch it!” She tossed the ball towards the sea. Ben raced after it, and caught it just before it reached the water's edge.

“Go find Todd!” She pointed to the house. “Go find him, boy.”

Ben still had the ball clamped in his jaws as he raced to the house. Suzy watched him disappear through the open front door.

She followed the dog's paw prints, and was surprised when Ben came running back towards her. His ball was no longer in his mouth.

“Go find Todd!” She yelled.

Ben barked manically as he ran in circles around her.

“Daft dog. Come on let's find him.”

Suzy led the way into the house, Ben hard on her heels.

Todd had only washed about half of the dishes. She was going to have to have serious words.

“Todd! What do you call this?”

There was no response. The lazy sod was probably fast asleep. “Get up and finish these dishes!”

The bedroom was empty.

“Stop pissing around. Where are you?”

Suzy checked each room, but there was no sign of him. If he'd followed her to the village, she'd have seen him. He must have gone to the headland.

“Find Todd!” She shouted to Ben.

The dog barked and then raced outside. She'd expected to see Ben racing towards the headland, but instead he was waiting for her at the roadside.

“Where is he boy?”

Ben gave out a low whimper.

Suzy looked out towards the headland. There were no footprints on the beach.

A cold chill pulsed through her veins as she looked back towards the village.

“Oh god. Oh god!”

**********

“Suzy, what's wrong?” Mrs Warne said.

Suzy tried to speak, but she could barely draw breath. She'd run all the way back to the village.

“Are you okay? Is it Todd?”

“Phone.” Suzy managed to say. “I have to use your phone.”

“Of course, dear. Is it Todd? Is he hurt?”

“No. I don't think so. Where's the phone.”

It seemed like an eternity as the call rang out.

“Hello?”

“Lacey. It's me.”

“Suzy? What's wrong?”

“It's Todd. He's gone.”

“What do you mean? Where?”

“I don't know. I was only gone a few minutes, but when I got back. There was a car. I think they might have taken him.”

“Who? Did you see them?”

“No. I wasn't paying any attention. Lacey, I'm scared.”

“It'll be okay. Where are you?”

Suzy told Lacey where they'd been staying, and explained there was no network coverage.

“Where are you calling from?”

“The landline in the village store.”

“Can you stay there? By that phone? I need to get hold of Raw or Jason.”

“Who's Jason?”

“It doesn't matter. Stay put. I'll get back to you as soon as I can.”

“Here you are dear.” Mrs Warne handed Suzy a cup of tea. “Looks like you need this.”

“Thanks. Is it okay if I wait here until they call me back?”

“Of course.”

“Couldn't help hearing what you said,” Mr Warne said. “Don't you think you should call the police?”

“No.”

“But if someone has taken your boyfriend?”

“No! Sorry. I didn't mean to shout. I have to wait until I get a call back.”

Suzy almost dropped the cup when the phone rang.

“Hello!”

“It's me,” Lacey said. “I've spoken to Raw. He's arranged for a cab to pick you up from the store.”

“Maybe I should stay here, just in case—”

“No. It's too dangerous—they might come back. The cab should be there within thirty minutes.”

“I'm not sure what time the trains run.”

“Don't worry about that. The cab is going to bring you back here—to the Commodore.”