Demons Read Online Free PDF Page A

she didn’t know what he was doing in that building, up there.
She gave the police her contact details. They told her that, regrettably, her husband
would have to be charged—but, they said, for some time yet he would remain in the
care of the medical staff here.
    The woman killed, they said, was actually a work colleague, a woman by the name of
Adele. Carly’s husband had no memory of the incident but he would have to be told
eventually. The police had left it in the hands of the doctor as to the best time
to do this. Counselling was available to her, Carly, through the hospital, should
she feel the need; they suggested she follow this up.
    It was after midnight when Carly Ashburton crossed the hospital car park, pointed
the remote and unlocked her car. She was tired, sore, hungry; her brain was a mess.
She wanted to go home, sleep it off, but as soon as she thought about this, her bed,
the image of what she’d left behind—a house strewn with the evidence of her dishonesty,
not to say depravity—was too much for her. How could she revisit the shambles of
her life? She sat for a long time thinking about all this, staring at the dark concrete
wall in front of her. Then she locked the doors, lowered the seat, and slept.
    Everyone seemed to hold their breath, wondering had Lauren finished. She half shrugged
as if to say: Yes.
    And did they get back together? asked Hannah.
    They did, said Lauren.
    Did he go to prison? asked Leon.
    For a while, said Lauren: yes.
    But how could they live with themselves? said Hannah.
    They should never have sold the house in Auburn, said Evan. That was the start of
their troubles: everything would have been fine if they hadn’t sold the house. It
always comes back to money with you, doesn’t it? said Lauren, but with a sort of
smile. Evan drank his wine. Megan rolled her eyes.
    I just feel really sorry for them, said Hannah; it’s awful how things can go wrong
sometimes and you have no control over it. You can’t blame either of them for what
happened, can you, really? It’s like they were caught up in something bigger than
them both. We don’t stop to make decisions any more. It’s like the decisions are
making us. I don’t think that couple—or the marketing manager, or the carpenter—knew
what they were doing, really, it was like someone had chucked them in a river that
swept them downstream and all they could do was try to avoid the rocks. But it’s
like that for all of us, isn’t it, a lot of the time, don’t you think? They weren’t
making a real estate decision, Evan; I don’t think you think that either.
    Hannah speaks! said Evan. He was up off the couch, half standing, half sitting, his
glass held high above his head. Everyone smiled. Evan lowered himself and looked
around for approval. Leon, next to Hannah, pushed a strand of hair behind her ear
and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
    It’s always tragic, said Leon, when a relationship goes bad. I had some messy ones
too, you all know that. Megan, so did you. We’re all stumbling through this stuff,
doing the best we can. It’s a sad story, Lauren; it’s a very, very sad story.
    But it’s a funny one too, said Adam. They all looked at him. The way things happen,
he said. It’s sad, don’t get me wrong, but you’ve got to see the funny side.
    No, said Lauren.
    Everyone went quiet.
    There was the sound of a car outside and a flash of headlights on the window.
    Is he with Jackie? said Megan. Evan looked out, and shook his head. If he thinks
he can still get something to eat then he can go fuck himself, she said. Marsh! said
Evan, waving, but Marshall was already at the door.
    When he got to the top of the stairs he stood for a moment; pale, wavering; as if
trying to find his balance. Have you got a drink? he said. That’s the Heathcote,
said Evan. Marshall took a sip.
    Jackie’s brother Rylan’s just killed himself, he said. What? said Megan. Threw himself
from a rooftop café, the fuckin’ exhibitionist. Asked