The Housewife(68)

“Just tell them she was starting to look strange, older, and that she told you she was scared of him. And say that you saw Roy lock her up in that horrible little room. We know it’s true. We just want to add a little color to the scene, that’s all. To make it more convincing.”

I knock on her door. She doesn’t reply, but I can hear the water running in the bathroom. So I knock on that door.

“Marie, it’s me.”

“I’m in the shower. Please wait for me in my room. I’ll be right out.”

I open the door to her rooms and put down my supplies and walk out again.

I go to the little room where Roy kept Deb. I have a strange feeling that I might not be back here after today, and I just want to say goodbye to her.

I didn’t lock the door the last time I was here. I walk in. There’s a small skylight above the bed, so dirty that you can’t see the sky. The mattress is bare.

I lie down on it and close my eyes. I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me, Deb. Honestly I would have staged a jail break if I’d known. I hope you’re happy, wherever you are. I miss you so much .

I open my eyes again and sit up, about to get up when something catches my eye.

Where the ceiling slants above the bed, between the wall and the exposed beam, a small corner of gray paper sticks out. I tug on it, and a little bit of dusty grit falls out. I tug harder, and pull out a small square of paper.

I unfold it.

My darling Jo.

I don’t even know why I’m writing this letter. I guess I’m slowly going crazy locked up in here and I’ve been talking to you in my head, then I found this pencil in one of the boxes up here so here I am. Anything to pass the time. You’re probably in your cell wondering why you’re not hearing from me. I was so wrong about Roy, Jo. He has me locked up in here because he thinks I’ve been having an affair with the gardener.

One day, you and me will laugh at that, one of our big belly laughs, but meanwhile I am scared and filled with rage. He’s not a good man, Jo. He’s controlling and jealous, and he’s been injecting my face with God knows what as some kind of punishment to make me ugly so no one will want me, but he pretends that I’m doing it to myself so he can cure me, like I’m one of his cases. It’s twisted beyond belief, Jo. If I confess, he’ll stop and let me out, but I will admit to nothing. I’ve done nothing wrong .

It’s going to be all right because Marie is helping me. I will tell you all about Marie when I see you. She works for Roy but she’s my friend, He brings me food on a tray, and sometimes she comes with him to take the tray away, but she always manages to whisper in my ear and she told me she’s going to find a way to steal the key and let me out when Roy is at work. Maybe even tomorrow.

Meanwhile I’ve asked Roy for some paper and pencil and paper clips so I can write my confession. I don’t know if he’ll fall for the paper clip part. I hope so—then I can pick the lock and get out of here even if Marie can’t get the key. I can’t wait to see you, my darling Jo. I miss you more than I can say. I’ll come and see you at Perryville when I get out of here. I can’t wait. I love you.

Debs x

The letter in my hand is shaking so much I can no longer make out the words. And all I can think of is, Dr. Davies gave me a week off. There was nothing wrong with Mrs. Deborah when I went on leave.

She lied to me. She’s still lying to me. She was here the whole time. She knew exactly what Roy was doing to Deb.

I put the letter in my pocket and run back down the hall. The shower is no longer running. I knock on Marie’s door but there’s no answer.

My heart is thumping. I open the door to her rooms, then I hear noises coming from the bathroom. So she’s out of the shower but she’s still getting ready.

I have to get the thumb drive. She said she’d left it in a safe place, but where? I do remember her glancing at her dresser, so I open the top drawer. It snags, and I have to tug at it to open it fully. Inside, all I find is a handful of photographs of her and her brother, folded handkerchiefs, some leather gloves and a jewelry box with a handful of earrings. No thumb drive.

I close it and open the drawer underneath. Inside is a clear plastic pouch with three syringes inside. I feel a twist in my stomach. Why would Marie have syringes?

I rummage through the drawer to see what else I can find. At the back is a blue plastic pouch with vials of liquid. They have stickers on them with names I don’t understand.

I’m going to be sick. So it was her. She was the one injecting Deb, and now me.

I hear a scraping sound from the bathroom. I need to get out of here. I close the drawer but again, something snags. I open it again and feel with my fingers along the top. A small square of plastic is stuck in there. I pry it out.

It’s the thumb drive. Thank God.

I slip it in my pocket.

I’m about to walk out just as the connecting door opens behind me, sending my heart into a somersault. I turn around to see Marie, barefoot, in a bathrobe. She’s not looking at me because she’s drying her hair with a towel, her head down. “I’ll be ready in a moment. ”

My heart is in my throat. “Sure, take your time.” I lean back against the drawer to close it silently.

She stops drying her hair and looks up. “Are you all right?”

“Yes! Yes. I’m nervous, but I’m all right. I barely slept.”