Ben stopped moving, knife still in hand. Stood suspended animation-still. Like all his senses were heightened.
The doorbell rang again.
Maddy looked between the door and Ben. This was her chance. Her only chance. Run.
Ben came out of his trance, saw what she was doing. He grabbed her, fingers digging into her arms like metal claws, stopping her moving. The knife at her throat, his mouth at her ear.
‘Don’t.’ Snake-hissed.
She didn’t move.
‘Don’t move, don’t scream. Don’t do anything.’
She felt the blade on her skin. Like a razor of ice.
The doorbell rang again.
Maddy found her voice. ‘You’re… you’re going to do it anyway, aren’t you? Cut me. What, what difference does it make when you do it?’
His hand moved from her arm, clamped down hard on her mouth.
‘Look.’ A voice through the door. Muffled but familiar. ‘I know you’re in there, don’t pretend. I saw you both go in.’
Maddy felt Ben stiffen as the voice spoke, his breathing increase. He shifted from side to side. Deciding what to do next. He tightened his grip on her and, the knife still at her throat, pushed her forward. Out of the living room, down the hallway towards the door. He took his hand from her mouth.
‘Run!’ Maddy shouted. ‘Get the police! Run! Help me!’
Ben threw her to the floor. She didn’t have time to put her arms out, stop herself. She hit the stripped boards with a thud, the wind knocked from her lungs. She saw Ben throw open the front door and pull the person in, slamming the door shut behind him.
Maddy looked up. Ben held Marina Esposito at knifepoint.
‘Inside, now,’ he said. He pushed her along the hallway towards the living room, then bent to pull Maddy up from the floor. The knife was soon back at Maddy’s throat. Marina stood where she was, staring, eyes wide. ‘Now!’ shouted Ben. He pushed the knife hard against Maddy’s skin. ‘Or I cut her.’
Marina walked slowly towards the living room. Then stopped.
‘Oh my God…’
She had seen Hugo Gwilym lying on the floor.
Ben kept going, pushing Maddy, making Marina move backwards until they were all in the room. Marina was the first to speak.
‘So what did you intend to do?’ she said.
Maddy looked at her. She looked so calm, in control. But then she knew about Marina’s history. Everyone in the department did. She had faced down psychopaths before.
Ben didn’t reply.
‘Kill me,’ said Maddy. ‘He was going to kill me. Make it look like I did that to Gwilym, then make it look like I killed myself.’
‘A murder suicide,’ said Marina. ‘How original. And did you really think you’d get away with it?’ She moved in towards him. ‘Did you?’
‘Shut up! Shut up!’ Maddy could feel Ben’s ragged breathing against her neck, feel him tightening his grip on her. He was getting frantic. Out of control. Not a good sign.
‘It’s not particularly original, is it?’ Marina kept talking. ‘Look.’ Her voice was low, soothing. ‘Give me the knife, Ben. We can sort this whole thing out without anyone else getting hurt. Come on. Give me the knife.’
Marina stuck out her hand. Maddy looked at it. She isn’t as calm as she’s making out, she thought. Marina’s hand was shaking.
‘Come on, Ben. You’ve got to abandon that plan. You can’t do that now.’ She edged even further forward. ‘Come on. Give me the knife.’
Ben made a sound like a wounded animal. A scream of impotent rage. ‘Shut up! Shut up, you stupid fucking mouthy bitch, shut up! I’m thinking…’
‘Good,’ said Marina. ‘That’s good, Ben. Come to the right conclusion. You can’t do what you were going to do. It won’t work. And you won’t get away with it. Now come on…’
Maddy was aware of his head jerking up suddenly. She heard him bark a laugh in her ear.
‘No,’ he said, ‘you’re right. You’re right.’ She was aware of him nodding his head. ‘I can’t do what I planned to do. No. You’re right.’
‘That’s good,’ said Marina. ‘That’s very sensible. Now, just give me the knife…’
‘I’ve got a better idea,’ said Ben. ‘See what you think of this. Maddy comes in, hits Gwilym, leaves him lying there. Why? Because she’s found him with his lover, that’s why. His older, married lover…’ He gave another bark of laughter. ‘So she smacks him one, and before she kills herself, know what she does?’
He took the knife away from Maddy’s throat, pointed it at Marina.
‘She kills you. Perfect.’
Then Marina’s phone rang.