No Way Out Read Online Free PDF

ringtone.
    ‘Marcus?’ I say nervously when you pick up. I already know you’ll be cross.
    ‘Lisa, for fuck’s sake, where are you? What’s going on?’ Your voice is tinny, remote.
    I catch sight of the blade in Tom’s hand. ‘I … I don’t know, Marcus. Listen, this is serious.
He’s
serious. He’s already hurt Ellie. Badly.’ I let out a little sob at the thought of it. ‘Please, just do whatever he’s asking. If you don’t…’ I glance at Tom, who makes a revolting gesture at our daughter with his fingers. I can hardly speak as the shiver spreads through me, unable to tell you what he’s going to do to Ellie.
    ‘The police are on their way,’ Marcus booms. ‘Tell him to give himself up. This call is being traced. The police are with me now.’
    Oh thank God, I think, feeling a surge of relief. But it’s short-lived. Tom’s laugh makes me doubt you. It’s as if he knows what you’re like, how easy the lies come out. Suddenly, I see you sitting alone in the library, red faced, drumming your fingers on the desk, fuming at the inconvenience. I wonder if you’ve called Molly yet; asked her to come round, turned down our bed knowing that I’m likely away for the night; likely forever.
    ‘Marcus, please … Will you just do what he says? For Ellie?’ I don’t want him to know that if he doesn’t, I will have to.
    ‘I don’t respond to blackmail,’ you say. ‘Who the hell is this joker? Put him on.’
    I look up at Tom, his sharp eyes, smooth skin, and jutting cheekbones cutting a stern yet oddly affable face. Then it strikes me. ‘He’s just a lad,’ I say quietly. ‘He says he’s called Tom.’
    I feel desperately sad all of a sudden, almost resentful, as if Marcus and his belligerent ways are the intruders in our cosy little scene. Perhaps we could just stay in this cottage forever, with Tom cooking soup and making us tea, while I look after Ellie. We’d be safe from you, at least.
    ‘Tom who?’ you boom. ‘The police are taking all this down, you know.’
    Tom laughs again. ‘You’ve got three minutes,’ he says loudly at the phone, muffling his voice through the check scarf at his neck. Before he hangs up, I hear Marcus’s howl of frustration.
    We sit in silence. When the time is up and we don’t hear from you, Tom pulls me to my feet. ‘Looks as if you’re on,’ he says, giving me a little wink. He hands me a large penknife. ‘Your choice,’ he says, touching his eye, his lips, and then his ear. ‘But one of them has got to go.’
    *
    ‘There’s a situation,’ Marcus said down the line.
    ‘I thought you sounded a bit tense before,’ Roy said. ‘What sort of situation? Is everyone OK?’ He sounded slightly impatient, and Marcus could tell he’d caught him eating, but nonetheless he remained polite and concerned. It was Roy’s quarter decade as a detective, Marcus assumed, forcing him to check on everyone’s well-being.
    ‘Fine, fine,’ he replied. ‘In fact, it’s not about me. I need some advice for a friend. He’s got himself into a pickle.’
    ‘Ah,’ Roy said slowly, knowingly. ‘And what might that pickle be?’
    ‘A long story, but to cut it short, he believes his family may get hurt. His wife and … and his son, to be precise.’
    ‘This sounds serious,’ Roy replied. ‘Are you certain no one’s in immediate danger?’
    ‘He’s handling it,’ was Marcus’s evasive response. ‘But he could sure use some advice from someone in the know.’
    ‘Is someone threatening them, or is it a blackmail situation perhaps?’ Roy’s voice was clipped and urgent, and Marcus wondered how he knew. ‘If so, he should call the police immediately.’
    Marcus needed to slow things down. He didn’t want Roy leaping out of retirement and back into action. Besides, he wasn’t even sure what this Tom person’s motive was. ‘Sort of blackmail, I think,’ Marcus replied. ‘Do you have any negotiating tips I can pass on? To stop the bugger harassing my