Chapter 73

The paving slab was heavier than she thought, though not nearly the weight that it should have been, having been replaced by a lighter weight alternative and made to match the surrounding colours. Emma used both her hands and bent her knees to pull the slab open into the upright position. She let it clunk back down to the surface. It gave out a small thud as it landed on the stone path adjacent. Even from close proximity, it had fitted in extremely well. It was only when you lifted it that you realised the cover was much more recent than the other slabs.

Emma peered down and saw the vertical, shiny, metallic ladder leading to the base of the floor below. Archie and David were nowhere to be seen so Emma had no choice now. She just had to follow on. Descending the ladder into the gloom she did wonder if she was making the right decision.

From behind the thick wooden door immediately in front of her she could hear two voices in intense discussion. The voices were raised, the density of the materials within this subterranean layer blocked out most sound. The light was only partial but Emma’s eyes were becoming more accustomed to her surroundings. Apart from the ladder which she had descended and the thick wooden door, there was nothing else to take in. Should she call the police? She attempted to make out what was being said by gluing her ear to the door but to no avail. The voices just produced muffled sounds and she recognised both.

Emma felt she had no choice. She pushed open the wooden door with all her weight and went into the underground chamber.

Emma found it difficult to take in what her eyes were telling her. Archie and David were both on their feet in front of her. Their conversation was more than animated, it was rapidly moving from being an intense discussion to pointing, gesturing, assertion and aggression. Down to her left was a covered chamber pot and to her right were two metal beds. Grey sheets covered the majority of the two occupants but their heads were both watching the events unfurling in the room. What were these two ladies doing here? Emma’s presence stopped David and Archie in mid-flow.

As if in unison, David and Archie both looked at each other and asked pointedly, “What’s she doing here?”

David added, “Archie, you’ve done enough by stealing Emma away, let alone come and follow me here. What is going on? Why is Emma with you?”

Emma was shaking as Archie and David started to push each other across the room. Their builds were very similar and the two of them were of equal height.

“Stop it!” she screamed.

This seemed to bring about a momentary pause in the jostling that was taking place.

“I said stop it!” Emma demanded in vain as David continued to push Archie back to the far wall. David worked himself up into a rage whilst pummelling Archie in the stomach, the ribs and the arms. He kept thumping him, an endless torrent of emotion. Archie attempted to block his blows and question him at the same time. Who was he working with? How did he know Betts? What were the two women doing in this underground chamber?

Archie was backed up against the far wall, and had nowhere to go. He attempted to take David’s legs out from underneath him; to pin him on the ground so that he could be contained. However, David had other plans. The man was like an animal. David had resented the fact that Archie had come between him and Emma. He also resented Archie for his good looks, for his perfect life and for discovering David in the midst of his other life. How would he cover it up now? It was Archie who had brought Emma into it… and she had to see him in this mess also. Archie just could not be forgiven.

David clouted him on the jaw and Archie went down. David kicked him in the head, once, twice, another few times, violently, without mercy, out of control. Emma ran towards David to make him stop. In the small contained space she had not gained any momentum and David cast her to one side. Emma threw out her arms to protect herself from landing directly onto the hard floor. David loomed over her, grinning, and Archie lay next to her. He was not making a sound.