Safe as Houses Read Online Free PDF

better endure the pain in her face and hand. Hold out just a little longer – help is on the way.
    A vague impression of Kreuger’s voice telling her he won’t harm her or Anouk pops into her mind. All he needs is a place he can hide for a while until the coast is clear. If they cooperate, nothing will happen to them.
    Anouk leans against Lisa. From the moment that she saw her mother coming back downstairs with a carefully bandaged hand, she has seemed a little less afraid, and Lisa is happy for her to remain that way.
    â€˜What are you called, by the way?’ Kreuger asks unexpectedly.
    â€˜I’m Lisa, and this is Anouk. She’s five.’ Her voice sounds a little hoarse, as though she is about to come down with flu.
    â€˜And she’s ill,’ Kreuger notes. ‘Has she been ill for long?’
    â€˜A day or two.’
    â€˜And you called the school to tell them she’d be off for a while?’
    Lisa nods.
    â€˜So they won’t try to contact you for the time being?’
    â€˜No, but there’s a chance a few of her friends might drop round.’
    â€˜You won’t let them in.’ It sounds like an order, and Lisa nods. What did he expect? That she’d let other children in?
    â€˜If anybody calls, you’ll answer the phone and you’ll behave normally. Don’t hang up right away. Have a chat and do whatever is necessary to stop anyone finding out you have an unexpected visitor.’ A grin spreads across his face as though he hasmade a particularly clever joke, and Lisa smiles dutifully.
    â€˜Whenever you’re on the phone or people come to the door, I’ll listen in and keep your daughter company,’ Kreuger continues, and Lisa’s smile slips from her face. He stares at her to check that she has understood. Lisa nods.
    â€˜How . . . how long will you stay here?’ she asks in a faltering voice.
    Kreuger’s eyes glide over to the window and his gaze becomes hard. ‘As long as I need to. Are you married?’
    â€˜Yes – my husband will be arriving home at half past five.’
    It is not clear whether he has heard her answer. He continues to stare out of the window, and after a while he walks to the dresser, where around a dozen photographs are displayed in silver frames. More carefully than Lisa expects, he picks them up one by one and studies them for a long time. Photos of Anouk as a baby, but also faded photographs from her own childhood. Sunny snapshots of holiday destinations, of Mark and Lisa with their arms around each other, laughing and tanned. Memories of happy times, defiled by the hands of an intruder.
    Lisa drops her eyes when Kreuger turns around to her. He walks over to the sofa with a couple ofpictures in his hand and holds them in front of Anouk.
    â€˜That’s you, isn’t it?’ His smile is friendly.
    Anouk responds with a cautious nod, not entirely convinced that this is a man she wants to smile at.
    â€˜With your daddy?’ Kreuger turns the frame over and studies the picture of Anouk, Lisa and Mark on a sailboat with interest.
    â€˜And with Mummy,’ Anouk says.
    â€˜And where is Daddy now?’
    Anouk looks in her direction for help. Lisa’s blood freezes because she senses where these questions are leading.
    â€˜Well?’ Kreuger insists. ‘You must know where your daddy is? Is he at work?’
    Anouk nods carefully without removing her eyes from her mother’s.
    â€˜And what time does he usually come home?’
    Silence.
    â€˜I asked you something!’ Kreuger shouts and Anouk begins to cry in shock.
    â€˜He’s gone,’ Lisa says hurriedly. ‘He lives somewhere else; we’re separated.’
    There is no point in beating about the bush; he’ll find out anyway. There are no men’s clothes in the house, and there is no shaving equipment in the bathroom. Apart from in the photos and in her heart, Mark hasn’t