Cody and Kath slept until eleven. After another wild sex session, he made her breakfast in bed. Nothing Jamie Oliver would write home about—just poached eggs on toast, but you’d have thought he laid the eggs himself by the way Kath carried on.
While he was in the kitchen Cody called Ruby’s mobile leaving a message asking her to call him—mentioning their amazing date. Then he sent two text messages saying pretty much the same. He wanted to appear keen to whoever read them but not come across as a stalker.
He didn’t have to wait long for a response. His phone began ringing halfway through breakfast. He apologised to Kath and left the bedroom. Once in the bathroom, he braced himself before answering.
“Ruby, thank God. I was beginning to think you were avoiding my calls.” He laughed.
“Hello, is this Cody?” the irate caller said.
“Yes. Who are you?” The laughter suddenly dropped from his voice.
“I’m Ruby’s mother, Sharon. Do you know where she is?”
“I’m sorry?”
“She’s gone—Ruby—she’s gone.”
“Gone? What do you mean gone?”
“What do you think I mean? She’s not here. She’s vanished. What time did you drop her off at home?”
“It was late. After midnight, maybe.”
“Did you spend the night?”
“No. I dropped her off at the door, thank you very much.”
“Well, she’s not here now.”
“Hang on—I’ll come over.”
Cody raced back into the bedroom and grabbed his jacket and keys. “Sorry, babe, but I’ve got an emergency. Leave your phone number and I’ll call you later.” He kissed her upturned cheek.
“I could wait?”
“I might be a while, but suit yourself.”
He descended the stairs in three leaps and ran out to his car. It wasn’t there. He slapped the heel of his hand against his forehead. He’d left it outside the bar last night. He set off at a sprint to collect his car.
Ten minutes later, he parked his car outside Ruby’s house and was greeted at the door by a younger version of Ruby. She had the same long brown hair and peach-coloured skin.
“Hi, are you Cody?” the girl said, holding her hand out towards him. “I’m Scarlett, Ruby’s sister.”
“Has she turned up yet?” Cody asked.
“No—it’s so strange. She never goes anywhere without her phone.”
“Maybe she just forgot to pick it up. Have you checked around her friends?”
“Mum’s calling them now. Come on in, she’ll want to talk to you. But be warned, she trusts nobody.” Scarlett raised her eyebrows comically.
Taking a deep breath, Cody followed Scarlett into the house.
A short, dark-haired woman had her back to them as they entered the lounge. She had a phone to her ear.
“I’ll have to go, Melissa. Let me know if you hear from her … I will do, thanks, love.”
The woman turned. “Ah, you must be Cody.”
Cody nodded, his throat suddenly bone dry, and he couldn’t swallow. He could feel his Adam’s apple jumping in his throat.
“I’m Sharon. We spoke on the phone. Come in, sit down.”
He sat on the lounge chair and Sharon perched on the arm of the sofa. Scarlett still hovered in the doorway.
“Scar, can you let Baxter in? I put him in the backyard to do his business,” Sharon said.
Scarlett left. Sharon turned to him and in hushed tones said, “I’m worried, Cody. I’ve called the police and they said they’d send someone around. They didn’t seem too concerned, but I am. I know my daughter and this just isn’t like her.”
“Could she be off visiting a friend?”
“No. I’ve called all her friends, and anyway, she knew we were coming. We walk to the market on a Saturday together—we’ve done it for years.” She rubbed at her face and eyes. “Tell me, son. What happened last night?”
Cody instinctively knew what she meant. Although he didn’t have black eyes as he’d expected, there was a small split on the bridge of his nose and slight bruising under his left eye.
“We went to a bar, and some guy decided he didn’t like the look of me. He attacked me as we were leaving.”
“Who was he?”
“Who?”
“The one who attacked you—who was he? Could he have followed you back here?”
Cody thought about it. “It’s possible, I guess, but why would he?”
“Why does anybody do anything? I’ve spoken to the neighbours. The woman across the road saw you drop her off. She knows the exact time was twenty past midnight. She wrote it down because she intended to report you for being a nuisance, sounding your horn so late.”
“I didn’t realise how late it was, I’m sorry.”
“The elderly gentleman next door heard music playing into the early hours. Nobody saw her leave this morning.”
Scarlett appeared with the little dog in her arms. It began snarling at him.
Scarlett laughed. “Hey, Baxy. You being a guard dog?”
“Cute dog,” Cody said, getting to his feet.
“I know, but he was petrified when we found him this morning. He’d even pooed and peed under Ruby’s bed. She’ll be furious when she gets home.”
Cody reached out to stroke the dog’s head, but it flinched, its snarls turning to whimpers.
Scarlett jumped back, holding the dog at arm’s length. “The dirty bugger’s just peed on me!” she squealed, and ran from the room.
Sharon’s eyebrows furrowed as she looked back at Cody. Hairs prickled at the back of his neck.
“Okay, back to last night,” she said. “If you don’t know who the man was maybe someone at the pub will know him. Could you ask them?”
“I could. I don’t know if anybody saw it though, since we were already outside.”
“Could you ask anyway? You never know.”
“Okay. Give me two ticks.”
Cody went outside and sat in his car. He felt jittery. He’d not expected Ruby’s mum to un-nerve him so much. She had a way of looking at him that made him feel she could see right through his lies. His instincts were to leave. Get out of there as fast as his legs could carry him, but that would alert them of a problem. He wasn’t stupid. He just needed to pull himself together.
Back inside he found Scarlett and Sharon in the kitchen.
“Any luck?” Sharon asked.
“No, but they have cameras in the bar so maybe I can pick out the guy from the footage. I’m heading over there now. You’ve got my number so let me know if there’s any change. I’ll get back here as soon as I can.”
Cody couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He put his foot down once he was out of the town centre and sped towards the coast. He intended to call into his dad’s house after the pub to check how things were there.
The bar staff were more than helpful. They recognised the thug immediately and even supplied his name and approximate address. They’d been watching him for a while.
All seemed normal as he parked his car outside the house. Surprised to find Ruby’s door slightly ajar, he tapped it open with his boot.
Ruby jumped to her feet.
“Who untied you?” Cody shouted.
“Nobody. I’m not untied.” She indicated her right wrist.
“You know what I mean.”
“What did you do to my mum?” she asked.
“What the fuck you on about?”
“Your dad said you’d gone to sort out my mum.”
Cody shook his head and sighed. “Where’s Dad?”
“Tell me you didn’t hurt her.”
“I didn’t fucking hurt her. What do you think I am? A monster?”
He went in search of his father.
“Dad?” He slammed through the front door.
His father appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Hi, son. How’d you get on?”
Cody shrugged. “Why’s she not tied up? Did you learn nothing from last time?”
“She is tied up. She’s just had a sandwich for lunch and a bathroom visit.”
“You need to make sure she’s tied up at all times.”
“Alright, son. Keep your hair on.”
“Codee,” Kyle said, rushing into the kitchen. “Did-you-get-it?”
“Get what?”
“My-new-fire-truck.”
“No—sorry, dude, I forgot.” Cody ruffled Kyle’s shaggy blond hair.
“But-I-beened-good.”
“I know, Kyle. Next time, I promise.”
Kyle left the room, his shoulders sagging, and, moments later, music blared from his bedroom.
“So tell me. What’s happening?” his dad said.
“It’s all sweet. Her mother’s a bit of a battle axe, but she doesn’t suspect me. In fact, she thinks Ruby’s disappearance might have something to do with the dick’ead from the pub last night.” Cody smiled, pleased with himself.
“Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll tie her up before another one gets away. Have you forgotten how you felt when Felicity escaped? Watching the clock, wondering how long it would be before she turned up and we were arrested?”
“Of course I haven’t forgotten, but she’s alright. We’ve had a chat.”
Cody shook his head, exasperated. “You really don’t get it, do you? She’s not your girlfriend. She’s not even your friend. First chance she gets, she’ll be out that door and we’ll be behind bars. Is that what you want?” Cody yelled. He needed to get it through his dad’s fucking thick head. If this turned to shit it would be Cody’s neck on the block, nobody else’s.
“No, Cody. It isn’t.”
“Then do as I say. Tie her securely at all times. Tape her mouth if you leave her for any length of time. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Cody shoved his dad aside and headed back to Ruby.
When Cody burst back into the little room, Ruby squealed and scrambled backwards on the mattress until her back was up against the wall.
“Okay, Ruby. Lie yourself down for me, sweetheart.”
“Please, Cody, no. I promise I’ll...”
“Not negotiable, I’m afraid. Now do as you’re told,” he bellowed.
“No, I’m begging you.”
Sick and tired of being ignored, Cody grabbed Ruby’s foot and yanked her backwards. He wasn’t prepared for the sickening crunch as her head connected with the edge of the makeshift steel headboard he’d used to secure the bed to the wall.
Ruby screamed as blood gushed from the back of her head.
“What the fuck have you done to her?” his dad said, falling to his knees beside the bed.
“I didn’t do anything. She banged her head, that’s all.”
“You banged her head, Cody. You,” his dad hissed.
“Whatever. Get her cleaned up and fastened securely before I get back. I don’t have time for this.”