BooksBarbecue
Back The Hollows
Chapters (77)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Dedication
  5. PART I
  6. 1.
  7. 2.
  8. 3.
  9. 4.
  10. 5.
  11. 6.
  12. 7.
  13. 8.
  14. PART II
  15. 9.
  16. 10.
  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. 30.
  37. 31.
  38. 32.
  39. 33.
  40. 34.
  41. 35.
  42. 36.
  43. PART III
  44. 37.
  45. 38.
  46. 39.
  47. 40.
  48. 41.
  49. 42.
  50. 43.
  51. 44.
  52. 45.
  53. 46.
  54. 47.
  55. 48.
  56. 49.
  57. 50.
  58. 51.
  59. 52.
  60. 53.
  61. 54.
  62. 55.
  63. 56.
  64. 57.
  65. 58.
  66. 59.
  67. 60.
  68. 61.
  69. 62.
  70. 63.
  71. 64.
  72. 65.
  73. PART IV
  74. 66.
  75. 67.
  76. 68.
  77. Acknowledgements

Ellie double-checked her utility belt. She didn’t usually envy the American police’s penchant for heavy armaments, but there’d be firearms in the house and there was no predicting things with the Harpers. She took off the fur hat and put it on the passenger seat; the ear flaps might limit her peripheral vision, and she’d rather not risk that.

The grim grey bulk of Barrowman Farm squatted there, as if crouched to spring. Ellie got out and locked the car. From the dark sky, the snow spiralled slowly down.

4.

4.

The heavy wooden door was still solid, but rotten beneath its years-old crust of red paint: at the bottom it was crumbling away. Ellie banged the verdigrised brass knocker, and a dog started barking, a ferocious, almost rabid sound, which grew suddenly choked, no doubt because the chain around the animal’s neck was being pulled tight, ready to be released if Dom Harper received an order from Liz.

A baby began squalling – screaming, really – and a woman’s voice, coarse and jagged-sounding, yelled “Shut that fucking brat up or I fucking swear I’ll fucking –” There was more shouting – men’s voices this time, and a young girl – then scuffling and a cry.

A second woman shouted. “Jess! Leave her alone!”

A third: “But Mam, it was her who –”

“Shut up, you dumb fucking slag,” spat the first woman. “Do as you’re fucking told – shit!”

A crash – something had been thrown, Ellie guessed, and hit the wall. “And you can pipe down too, Keira Lucas.” The second woman sounded older than the other two. A growling, phlegmy voice. “That’s enough from all of you! Jess – shut the fuck up and go get the door.”

Footsteps in the hallway. The baby’s screaming came nearer. A voice mumbled, trying to shush the child. Ellie breathed out slowly. She had to be calm and relaxed. Don’t go looking for a fight. You’re here to break bad news to a family. That’s who they are. A family. People. Whatever else they might be.

A key turned in the lock. The door part-opened, then stopped, secured by a brass chain. A dark eye and a pale, heart-shaped face showed in the gap, framed by lank brown elf-locks. The eye blinked at Ellie. The baby squalled.

“Sh,” said a soft breathy voice – the third woman Ellie had heard. She was talking to the baby. “Sh now. Shut up.” The voice cracked, close to tears. The baby quieted a little, probably out of breathlessness. The dark eye focused on Ellie again. “What do you want?”

Ellie forced a smile. “Hiya, Jess. Your Mum in, love? Need a word.”

The baby squalled again; the half-seen face tightened in frustration. Jess rocked the baby, clumsily and too fast. “What about?”

Ellie was afraid – for the baby, in those arms, not herself. “It’s about your Tony. Can I come in, please?”