Heathen/Nemesis Read Online Free PDF Page B

the switch marked ‘Incoming Message’. She heard a high-pitched squeal, a cacophony of indecipherable noise as the tape rewound quickly then began with its catalogue of calls.
     
    A reporter from the local paper.
     
    Diana Wellsby, Ward’s editor, offering her condolences.
     
    Nick Crosby, Managing Director of his publishers, also offering his sympathies.
     
    No message.
     
    Chris’s accountant; could he ring him? (Obviously not everyone read the papers, Donna thought.)
     
    Her mother, who said she refused to speak to a machine but would ring back.
     
    Donna smiled thinly when she heard her mother’s voice.
     
    Jackie. Ring her, just to let her know how things were going.
     
    ‘Mrs Ward, this is Detective Constable Mackenzie. I’d appreciate it if you could call me as soon as possible. Thank you.’
     
    Donna chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully. The policeman had called yesterday, too. What was so important? She reached for the pad and pen beside the phone, rewound the tape and took down the number he’d left.
     
    ‘Donna, it’s Martin Connelly,’ the next voice announced. She smiled at the warmth in the tone. It was Chris’s agent. ‘I realize what you must be feeling and I’m very sorry about what’s happened. I’ll call you back later. Take care, gorgeous.’
     
    One more call.
     
    She waited for a voice but there wasn’t one.
     
    A wrong number, perhaps?
     
    She could hear breathing on the tape, slow, rhythmic breathing. No background noise. Nothing but breathing.
     
    Then the message was brought to an abrupt end as the phone was put down.
     
    Donna flicked her hair from her face and was about to walk away from the phone when it rang again.
     
    Her hand hovered over the receiver. She thought about picking it up but finally allowed the machine to click on.
     
    Breathing.
     
    The same breathing as on the message she’d just listened to.
     
    Pick it up.
     
    Donna stared at the phone, listening to the breathing. Then finally she heard, ‘Shit.’ The phone was put down, slammed down hard at the other end.
     
    Donna backed away from the machine as if it were some kind of venomous serpent. If it was a crank call, it was either bad timing or a particularly sick bastard getting his rocks off at the other end of the line. She suddenly felt very lonely and vulnerable.
     
    It was then that the doorbell rang.
     

Twelve
     
    For long moments she hesitated, standing rigid in the hallway.
     
    The chain was off.
     
    Donna swallowed hard and took a step towards the door as the two-tone chime sounded again. She gently eased the chain into position and finally peered through the spy-hole.
     
    She saw her younger sister immediately.
     
    Donna hurried to open the door, throwing it wide and holding out her arms.
     
    When Julie Craig embraced her the two women clutched each other tightly, unwilling to be parted. Finally Donna pulled back slightly, with tears in her eyes.
     
    ‘Thanks for coming,’ she whispered.
     
    ‘Nothing would have stopped me,’ Julie told her. They embraced again. ‘Donna, I’m so sorry.’
     
    Both of them were crying now, weeping softly against each other’s shoulders. At last Donna guided her sister inside the house and pushed the front door closed:
     
    ‘I’ll get my stuff out of the car in a minute,’ Julie told her, wiping a tear away. She touched her cheek and shook her head gently. ‘You look so tired.’
     
    ‘I haven’t been sleeping too well,’ Donna said, smiling humourlessly. ‘You can guess why.’ She wiped her eyes. ‘I’m glad you’re here, Julie.’
     
     
    When she’d finished telling her story Donna didn’t even raise her head. She merely shifted slightly in her seat, running the tip of her index finger around the rim of her teacup.
     
    Julie watched her sister seated at the other end of the sofa, legs drawn up beneath her. She reached out a hand and touched Donna’s arm, gripping it.
     
    ‘Why didn’t you call me as soon