Somewhere to Hide (The Estate, Book 1) (31 page)

‘But, it’s not right. We –’

Austin silenced her with his mouth. He pushed down the handle and stepped backwards, his free hand staying on her back, pulling her into him. Incapable of resisting, Becky giggled as he threw her down on Cathy’s bed and then fell on top of her.

‘I am so horny,’ Austin said, unzipping his trousers. ‘I might come here and now if I don’t get inside you soon.’

Becky pushed him away. ‘No, there’s plenty of time for that.’ She sat forward and took him in her mouth.

‘Perfect,’ he replied. Austin groaned as Becky took him deeper. He looked around the room. It was exactly how he imagined it would be: tidy, clean and modern. And orderly, like her life: Cathy Mason didn’t stand any nonsense from Becky. And it seemed that Becky really respected her.

Suddenly he thrust forwards. ‘Fucking bitch!’ he shouted as he reached orgasm.

Becky wiped her mouth and glared at him. ‘Fucking bitch?’ she said, a little miffed.

Austin grinned. ‘Did I say that? I meant oh, fuck. You certainly know how to give great head, Becks.’

Satisfied with his answer, Becky lay back on the bed. ‘Now, my turn,’ she smiled coyly, her index finger in her mouth.

Austin grinned. ‘I couldn’t think of anything more appropriate.’

‘I had such a good time tonight,’ Matt whispered to Cathy as they stood on her doorstep. He stroked her hair away from her face and then kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Again.’

Cathy smiled at him. ‘Coffee?’ she asked as she unlocked her front door.

‘If it means another half an hour in your company, then yes. I just need to use the little boy’s room.’

Cathy dived away from his searching hands and into the kitchen. The house seemed quiet as she filled the kettle with water. She stopped to listen afterwards but there was nothing. Then again, it was only just after ten o’clock. She knew both Jess and Becky had gone out before her.

Matt came back. His arms circled her waist and he ran his tongue over her neck. She shivered at his touch. It didn’t go unnoticed.

He turned her to face him. ‘Even though I enjoy coffee, I was wondering if you’d fancy making me breakfast soon.’

Cathy’s heart felt like it had located into her throat. She could almost hear the roar of it inside her head.

‘I’d really love to,’ she said. ‘But…’

Matt stuck out his bottom lip. ‘But,’ he pressed himself up against her so she could feel his erection, ‘look what you do to me.’

‘Typical man,’ Cathy muttered.

‘I –’

She looked up at him with a grin. ‘Only kidding.’ She thought back to Josie and Liz’s advice. Then she kissed him. ‘It’s because of the girls.’

‘Oh!’ Matt’s smile was back.

Cathy pressed her finger to his lips. ‘Give me one minute?’

She ran upstairs. As she had suspected, both Jess and Becky’s rooms were empty. For a moment outside her own bedroom door, she hesitated. Then she pushed it open. The room as ever was tidy but she left it like that. It was too soon.

Matt was sitting on the settee in the living room when she went downstairs. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.

‘It couldn’t be better.’ Cathy closed the curtains and then, very bravely she thought afterwards, went to sit on his lap. He smiled as his hands slipped around her waist again.

‘The girls are out at the moment but we need to be prepared in case either of them arrives home sooner than usual.’ In one swift move, she pulled her T-shirt over her head and threw it to the floor. ‘I can’t offer you my bed because –’

‘I wouldn’t ask,’ Matt replied, his voice soft.

‘– it’s too soon.’

His hand slid up behind her neck and he pulled her towards him. ‘This will do fine,’ he whispered before his lips touched hers again.

Two hours later, Jess and Becky were home and in bed. They’d spent a fair bit of time ribbing Matt before they’d left him and Cathy in peace to fool around again. Now they were trying to say goodbye on the doorstep.

‘I need to go,’ Matt said as they kissed again. ‘It’s late and if I stay here much longer, I’ll have to stop over. And what would the neighbours say then, Cathy Mason?’

‘I don’t give a stuff what the neighbours would say, Matthew Simpson.’ She kissed him again.

‘But you should be setting a good example for those girls of yours.’

‘I do set a good example for them.’ She ran her tongue suggestively over his top lip and he groaned. They kissed again.

Matt broke free. ‘I’m going now.’

Cathy stepped forwards. ‘I’ll walk you to your car.’

‘It’s only down the street.’ He kissed her again. ‘Go in and I’ll call you tomorrow.’

As soon as she closed the door, Cathy ran to get her phone. Feeling like she was fifteen again, she texted Matt a quick message and grinned as she thought of him reading it outside.

Matt laughed out loud when he read the message. Cathy had certainly blown more than his mind! He texted back a reply and then searched out his car keys. A noise made him turn quickly but before he could focus on anything, he was hit from behind, a sharp knock to the back of the head. He fell to his knees. An elbow came down on his back, followed by a fist upwards into his face. He bent forward to protect himself as he was kicked in the stomach. Instinctively he curled up into a ball, trying to guard himself from the punches raining down on him.

Finally, it stopped. In the silence of the night, Matt struggled to get his breath.

‘Keep away from her,’ his attacker spoke. ‘And if I hear you mention this to anyone, I’ll get you again and next time I’ll finish you off.’

Matt tried to speak but there was too much blood filling his mouth.

‘Get in your car and drive away. And don’t come back here or I’ll be the death of her. Do you understand?’

Matt retched as he was kicked in the stomach one last time.

‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’

‘Yes!’ Matt pushed himself to his feet. Holding onto his chest, he staggered to his car, fumbled with the lock and clambered in. As he drove off, he could see the silhouette of his attacker, a black shadow that would look the place in any crime drama. The shadow was still there when he turned out of Christopher Avenue.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Cathy woke up the next day feeling like the proverbial cat that had lapped up the cream. She stretched out lazily: the grin on her face wouldn’t subside. Matthew Simpson had brought back so many feelings that had long ago disappeared after Rich had died. She felt lustful, tingly and contented even. Like Sleeping Beauty, she’d been awakened from a very long sleep. Yet still she felt guilty.

She reached over to the framed photograph beside her bed and brought it closer. She ran a finger over the sharp jut of Rich’s chin, looked into eyes that sparkled out from the image. It had always been her favourite photo. Rich seemed so happy, so… so alive, just like she was now.

‘Please don’t hate me,’ she whispered. ‘It’s been such a long time without you. And I – I think you’d like Matt.’

She put the photo back before jumping out of bed. Then she sent a text message to Matt. After she’d taken a shower, she checked to see if he had replied but there was nothing yet. Impatient for an answer, she sent another and then went downstairs. She’d most probably see him soon anyway. She was due at the community house in an hour.

Before that morning’s session, Cathy was searching out pens in the stationery cupboard.

‘Need any help today?’ she heard a voice behind her.

She turned to see Liz and handed her a box and two note pads. ‘An extra pair of hands will do. Are you coming to join my session?’

‘I am indeed.’

‘Great.’ Thinking back to their previous conversation, she couldn’t help grinning but, alarmingly, she felt her skin start to redden.

‘You’re blushing!’ said Liz. ‘And by the look on your face… have you been up to something with our lovely maintenance officer?’

‘Nothing that hasn’t been done before. And you were right. It was like riding a bike.’

‘You were definitely riding then?’

Cathy blushed even more. She hid a yawn as she checked her phone but there were still no new messages.

‘You’re not waiting for him to text you?’ Liz sniggered.

‘Yes. Honestly, I feel like a teenager again.’

‘I wish I’d made more use of mobile phones in my teens. It would have been so much fun to send and receive love messages.’ Liz sighed. ‘But, knowing my luck, I’d probably have been dumped by text.’

‘It is good, I suppose, but it still leaves you hanging around waiting for a reply. I sent a message this morning and now I’m checking my phone every two seconds to see if he’s got back to me. It’s mad!’

‘Perhaps he’s in a meeting. Or maybe he doesn’t do texting. It’s definitely more of a woman thing, don’t you think?’

Cathy’s phone beeped. Both women gasped in anticipation. But Cathy tutted as she read who the message was from.

‘That bloody Jess!’ She shook her head in annoyance. ‘I told her she had to help me out this morning. She’s now saying she can’t make it because she has to go into town. But she’s sending Becky in her place. Un-bloody-believable. I can’t even dock her any wages for not showing, either – as well she knows. I’ll have to think of something else. She can’t keep getting Becky to help out. It’s only making coffee and doing a few dishes. It’s not hard graft.’

‘Well, I’d far rather work with Becky than Jess,’ said Liz. ‘She’s a pleasure to be around, really gets stuck into whatever you give her. And talking of which, I’ve got a few hours working on the counter at Pete’s Newsagents on the square. It’s not much but I can fit it in around Chloe’s school hours.’

‘That’s great news, Liz.’ Cathy snapped her phone shut.
‘I just wish I could engage the same enthusiasm out of Jess.’

Becky had sent a text message too. She’d replied to Austin’s ‘where are you’ by telling him she was in Davy Road. Moments later, she heard a car pull up alongside her. Austin had commandeered Danny’s heap when he’d been put on remand.

‘Hey, gorgeous. Fancy a lift somewhere?’

With a smile, she slid into the passenger seat and threw her arms around his neck. He kissed her before starting the engine.

‘Where are you off to so early?’ he asked.

‘I’m covering for Jess at the community house.’

‘You shouldn’t have to do her dirty work. Let someone else help out.’

‘There isn’t anyone else. And I don’t really mind.’

‘It’s not your problem, though?’

Becky caught her breath as she felt Austin’s hand creep up inside her skirt. ‘But I don’t think it’s fair on Cathy that she has to do it all.’

‘I’m lonely,’ he whined. ‘I was hoping that you might keep me company. That’s why I came to find you.’

‘Can I meet you afterwards?’

As Austin withdrew his hand, she felt a curtain come down between them.

‘I suppose I’ll have to occupy myself then,’ he sulked.

‘It’s only for three hours.’ Becky checked her watch. ‘I should be there until one but I’ll try and get off before, if you like.’

Austin didn’t reply. They were only a street away from the community house now. Becky was stuck. If she didn’t turn up, she’d get the wrath of both Cathy and Jess. But if she didn’t spend time with Austin, he’d go into a sulk and maybe wouldn’t want to meet her later.

She reached across to touch his cheek but he pulled his head away.

‘I’ll see if I can do two hours instead of three,’ she suggested.

Still he didn’t reply. He turned the corner and the car screeched to a halt. Becky shot forward in her seat.

‘Okay, okay. You win.’ She raised her palms then let them fall heavily in her lap. ‘I’ll come with you.’

Cathy’s phone beeped and she reached for it again. Sighing heavily, it took all of her strength not to sling it across the room. Instead she began to stab at the keys as she sent back a reply.

‘I take it that isn’t Matt either?’ Liz asked, trying hard to hide a smirk.

‘No. Becky isn’t bloody coming now.’ Cathy pressed the send button before looking up. ‘Honestly, kids these days.’

‘Shall we go to your place?’ Becky suggested casually to Austin. She was aware of the way his mood could change so quickly with a few choice words but she was curious too. Every time she’d suggested it so far, he’d refused. 

‘It’s given out a good day.’ Austin glanced up at the sky through the window. ‘I’ve got a blanket in the back. I’m sure we can find a quiet spot somewhere.’

‘Are you ashamed of me?’ she blurted out.

‘No.’

‘Then why won’t you tell me anything about yourself?’

‘Nothing to tell. Been nowhere, done nowt.’

‘But you clam up when I mention family. Or friends. Or… where do you live?’

‘I told you, not far.’

‘But why the big secret? You never –’