Chapter 7

“We could tidy up. The place is all dirty and dusty.”

He ran the tip of his finger through the dust on the coffee table, leaving a faint line in its wake.

“Maybe not,” he said, realising that any cleaning would be a wasted effort.

Suddenly, he thought he heard a noise. It was difficult to tell over the screaming winds and driving rain outside.

“Do you hear that?” He cocked an ear. “I think there’s someone at the door.”

“Are you sure?” asked Ellis. “I can’t hear anything. I’m surprised anyone can hear anything over the racket out there.”

Charlie moved towards the door. He glanced over his shoulder at Ellis, following close behind. “Who’d be out on a god-awful night like this?”

At the door, Charlie could see immediately that someone was jiggling the handle from outside. Then he heard voices, making his heart race. He’d almost forgotten what it was like to talk to anyone who wasn’t Ellis.

“Come on, arsehole.” A man’s voice. “I’m soaked through.”