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Back The Blame Game Save as PDF
Chapters (39)
  1. Cover
  2. SANDIE JONES
  3. Dedication page
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. PART ONE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. PART TWO
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. EPILOGUE
  37. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  38. About the Author
  39. Also by Sandie Jones

There’s a splash of water, as if someone has jumped into the pool, and my heart stops, frozen in time as I try to work out what’s going on.

The realization creeps up slowly, but once it does, I can’t get to my feet quickly enough. The pain sears through me, but I have to get away from here – I can’t waste another second.

I’m a moving target as twigs crack and my breaths come in short, sharp, audible gasps. I can’t risk looking back to see if he’s heard me. This is my only chance to get help for Vanessa, even though it already seems too late to save her.

As I run away, towards the opening in the trees, I can’t help but picture her lifeless body floating down to the bottom of the pool. She looks so serene, but then I imagine her eyes opening as the water starts to choke her; her desperate attempt to get to the surface for air, only to be met by Michael’s forceful arm, pushing her back under.

I feel like I’m drowning myself as I push on, but I can’t stop. Not while Vanessa might still be fighting for her life.

28

I’m wrapped in a blanket, shivering in the first aid tent as uniformed police come and go, several of them checking that I’m OK but none of them brave enough, or perhaps qualified enough, to ask or answer any questions.

‘Shh, it’s OK,’ soothes Leon, as he pulls me into him. I wince from the pain; every grain of dirt stabs like a needle. Every tear I’ve cried stings like acid.

‘You’re going to be OK,’ he says, breathing me in.

‘He killed her,’ I cry. ‘I saw him do it.’

‘I’m so sorry,’ he says, his lips resting on my forehead. ‘I can’t begin to imagine how it must feel to see that happen.’ He has to stop himself from saying ‘again’.

‘I never thought I’d allow a man to hurt a woman after what happened to Mom, but there was nothing I could do.’ I fall into him.

‘To think that he’s been in our house, in the office with you for all those sessions . . .’ he says, almost to himself. ‘Did you have any idea he was capable . . . of this?’

I shake my head. ‘What have I learnt?’ I wail. ‘After all these years, I’m no more able to save someone than I’ve ever been.’