Who is Sarah Lawson: A Captivating Psychological Thriller (21 page)

The M4 was busy, caravans and holidaymakers heading for West Wales clogged the middle lane, many driving at a steady fifty and refusing to pull over.  Owen switched on the air con and felt a cool rush of air hit his face.  Pulling out into the fast lane, he left the line of caravans behind him.  He intended to spend a month at the cottage.  The month when he and Rowena had been due to start their new life together.

Mark Furnish had been supportive.  “Relax, get away for a bit, but please, dear heart, don’t forget the showing I’m in the middle of making arrangements with other exhibitors and as soon as I get a go ahead on the date, I’ll be in touch.”

There was no one else who would care whether he was in London or Timbuktu, he thought with a heavy dose of self-pity.  The village of Gareg Wen was busier than he’d ever seen it. Spring bank holiday and the good weather had made it a certainty that the Anchor would be full of people requiring lunch and a cool beer and the parking situation would be impossible. Deciding to give it a miss and drive straight to the cottage, Owen turned down the lane and saw Megan Lloyd Jones with a small dog on a lead. He pulled over.

“Owen? What a nice surprise. I didn’t know you were coming down.” She looked uncomfortable. “I’d like to say how sorry we were to hear about you and Rowena. I do hope it had nothing to do with Duncan opening his big mouth.”

He shook his head. “It was bound to happen. It’s not Duncan’s fault. If anyone is to blame it’s me for being so stupid. Anyway,” he said, changing the subject. “Is that your pooch?”

She shook her head. “No. It’s the vicar’s but he’s broken his ankle and this poor thing doesn’t get taken for a walk very often. I’m just helping out.”

“Good for you. Well I must be going or I’ll cause a traffic-jam. I’ll see you around I expect.”

“How long are you staying?”

“Not sure, couple of weeks, I think.”

“Please come over, anytime, you know we’ll be glad to see you.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that.”  As he drove away he thought that the last thing he wanted at the moment was company.

Waking in his cottage the following day Owen could feel the heat of the morning threading through the blinds. He put his feet over the side of his bed, yawned and walked to the window. A carpet of green fields stretched to the cliffs; the hedges were in full bud and a few early swallows were swirling in the air currents. 

Dragging a deck chair and folding table on to the veranda, he drank coffee; eating was out of the question, until he’d visited the supermarket on the outskirts in Gareg Wen. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the scents of the morning and closed his eyes. How could he have been such a fool? He should have told Rowena about the party – if he’d explained from the start maybe she’d have understood. He was such a wimp. Sarah Lawson should have been stopped months ago. He was still in the process of beating himself up about it all when his mobile rang.

“Owen, I’m sure you haven’t eaten yet and Duncan has made enough breakfast to feed the five thousand, would you be a love and come and help me out?”

It was impossible to say no to Megan and besides his stomach hadn’t been filled since lunch the previous day. Walking across the field, dew-wet grass stroking his ankles, Owen decided that for just one day he’d forget all about the women in his life. Rabbits dived for their burrows as he approached and the closer he walked to the cliffs seagulls became his companions.  The cliff path was busier than he’d anticipated, holiday-makers carrying cool bags and picnic hampers took the steps leading to the beach where he could see earlier risers had bagged what they considered to be the best spots. A family occupied the cave where he’d previously spent the autumn days sketching and two young children were jumping up and down as their father attempted to build a sand boat.  Opening the gate at the bottom of the garden, Owen crossed the lawn to where he could see Megan and Duncan sitting in the conservatory.

“Good, just in time. Black coffee?”

“Please. This is very kind of you,” he said, as Duncan handed him a plate piled with eggs, bacon and sausage.

“Not at all. Eat up there’s plenty more.” Duncan sat alongside him and waited until he had his mouth full. “Er, look, I’d like to apologise for that Sarah Lawson business.”

Owen shrugged.

“The thing is we both thought you two were an item, after the party, I mean.” He looked at Megan for confirmation.

“Yes, well, that’s what Sarah led us to believe.”

“What d’you mean?”

“She rang to thank us for the party and during the conversation she implied that you and she were now a couple. A few weeks later, she came down with some proofs and said that things had got serious between you and that you’d even talked of getting married.” Megan looked at Duncan for confirmation.

“That’s right. I remember saying to Megan that I thought it was all a bit sudden.” Duncan picked up Owen’s empty plate. “A refill?”

“No, no thanks, that’s fine. What exactly did she say about us getting married?”

Megan hesitated then said. “She said that, as neither of you had any reason to wait, you’d decided to get married at the end of May. She even told us that you’d booked the venue, something about a Manor house.”

Owen pressed his forehead with his hand. “I can’t believe it! There’s something seriously wrong with that woman. She’s a complete fantasist.”

“It wasn’t true then?” Duncan asked.

“Of course not.”

“We did wonder.”

“Sarah Lawson’s lies have ruined my relationship with Rowena, the woman I
was
to marry, at the Manor house at the end of May.”

“Good heavens.” Megan covered his hand with hers and patted it. “I’m so sorry. We had no idea. What on earth could have got into Sarah?”

“That’s one question I’d like answered. Whether you believe it or not, I never gave her any encouragement intentionally. The woman just wouldn’t take the hint. I was a fool to get drunk at your party, I was missing Rowena and the prospect of spending Christmas without her was getting to me. And I still have absolutely no idea what happened that night. I can’t believe that I’d have no recollection of sleeping with her, if it actually happened.”

Duncan frowned. “That’s something none of us will ever know; Sarah obviously can’t be trusted to tell the truth.”

“So you see. I can’t wholly blame her for this mess up. I can’t avoid my part in it all.”

“What you need is a day on the water to take your mind off things. We’ll call in at the Anchor later and arrange to join the old gang on a fishing trip tomorrow. The tide is full at nine. So you’ll have to get up early. What d’you think?”

Owen smiled. “ I think that would be just great, thanks.”

Megan stood up as the phone rang. “That’ll be my publishers. I’l
l leave you to it,” she said. “Nice to see you again, Owen.”

The sea was relatively calm with a gentle swell as the fishing boat left the harbour and headed out along the coast.  “Mackerel sh
ould be good off Wilson’s point,” The skipper Jack Lewis said, turning the boat into the open sea.

Duncan, sitting alongside Owen at the stern, said, “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. I’ll be fine.” He was trying to be positive but in actual fact he felt anything but. The sun on his face, the smell of the sea, and the prospect of a long day fishing should have been the catalyst to lighten his mood but somehow it wasn’t working.  His new life with Rowena had filled his thoughts for months and now it was gone. He knew there was no chance that she’d forgive him. Sarah Lawson had got what she wanted; she’d damaged their relationship beyond repair. What did she hope to achieve by it, he wondered? Did she really believe he would run to her and forget all about Rowena?

“Penny for them?” Duncan nudged him.

“Eh?” Owen took a deep breath. “ Just wondering if the fish will bite,” he lied.

The Anchor was busy, a crowd had congregated outside and were drinking in the car park when, at a quarter past nine, Owen and Duncan arrived at the pub smelling of fish and salt water. Pleased with their catch, they pushed their way to the bar and ordered drinks.

“This isn’t much fun,” murmured Duncan as a loud, overweight man with tattooed arms elbowed his way past them. “ I think I’ll call it a day. Fancy popping in for a nightcap on your way home?”

“Yes, I’d like that, if Megan can stand the smell of fish.”

“She’s used to it. Probably make us drink on the terrace but it’s a fine night so why not?”

“Suits me.”

Megan was working in her study on the top floor when they arrived. As Duncan had predicted they were banished to the terrace and were on their second ‘nightcap’ when she joined them.

“Good day?” she asked, sitting down.

“Excellent.”

Looking intently at Owen, she said, “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He knew it would come, just not when or what it woul
d be. He was holding his breath; waiting.

“I had a phone call from my publishers earlier today. They wanted to arrange an appointment for me to see them to discuss the outline for the new book.”

Owen exhaled with such force that Duncan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Megan, who seemed not to notice. She was twisting the cuff of her cotton Kaftan between her fingers.

“It was Sarah.”

“I thought it might be.” Owen put down his drink. “Right, let’s have it then.”

“You sound as if you were expecting trouble.” Megan frowned.

“In a way. She’s been like a weight around my neck for so long, I can’t believe I’ll ever be rid of her.”

“After the preliminaries about the book were discussed, she asked if I’d seen you. I was on guard, so I said. ‘Why do you ask, Sarah?’ And she replied with something to the effect that you know what men are like. There was so much work arranging the wedding and now it looked as if you’d decided to get away for a bit.”

“Wedding?” Owen looked confused.

“Yes. She said now that Rowena was ‘out of the picture’ you and she could get along with the plans you’d made without interference.”

He shook his head. “It’s just too ridiculous for words.

Duncan leaned forward in his seat.  “I don’t like the sound of this. You should get the police involved.”

“How can I? They’d say it was her word against mine. There’s nothing to prove one way or the other whether she’s telling the truth.”

“She’s dangerous, Owen.” Megan touched his arm. “You must be careful.”

“I’ve got to get back. First thing in the morning, I’m going to London. This has to stop.”  He stood up. Duncan and Megan walked with him to the garden gate.

“You know that we are always here if you need us,” Megan said, kissing his cheek.

“That’s right. And I’ll come up to London at the drop of a hat should you wish it.” Duncan shook his hand.

The motorway was busy with rush hour traffic but he couldn’t wait until later. He was trying to quell his outrage by concentrating on the road but the injustice of recent events obliterated everything else. Somehow he managed to reach the outskirts of the city without a major incident and took the well-worn route to his flat.

The acrid smell of smoke and charred wood hung like a curtain in the air as he looked up at what was left of his flat. The windows had gone, the brickwork showing blackened remnants of fire-damage. But it seemed to him that the surrounding flats had escaped with relatively minor damage. There was no sign of a fire engine just a thickset man standing in the foyer talking to
the night warden. Owen opened the glass door.

“Here he is now, sir.”

The thickset man stepped forward. “Chief Fire Officer Mason. I’d like to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind, Mr Madoc.”

Bewildered and shocked, Owen nodded. “I’ve a few of my own that need some answers too. What on earth happened?”

“Perhaps we could find somewhere to talk?”

“In here, sir.” Jack, the night warden indicated a room behind the desk, which was little more than a cupboard with two chairs and a table on which stood a small TV.

The Fire Officer cleared his throat and began. “Apparently Miss Shaw had arranged to meet you and Miss Lawson here at eight o’clock last night? Miss Shaw arrived to find Miss Lawson smoking heavily and very upset, something about a forthcoming marriage? Anyway Miss Shaw said that she soon realised you weren’t coming and decided to leave Miss Lawson alone in the flat.”

“I don’t understand. I knew nothing about this meeting and how on earth did this Lawson woman get in without a key.”

“The man at the desk let her in. She told him that you’d be coming along later. He said he recognised her as your fiancée.”

Owen sighed.

“At about ten o’clock the night warden smelled smoke and alerted the Fire Brigade.”

“What about the smoke alarm?”

“Batteries dead, from what we could see after our initial inspection.”

“But I changed them a week ago.”

Mason frowned and coughed again. “Well, Mr Madoc, Miss Lawson was still in the flat when the fire started and I’m afraid it was under way by the time we arrived.”

Trying to make sense of it all Owen hadn’t considered whether anyone had been hurt. “Is she OK?”

“No. I’m afraid not. She was taken to St Thomas’s with breathing difficulties and there are some facial burns. It looks as if she’d been smoking and had fallen asleep; all too common, in my experience.”

Owen put his head in his hands. “ I should go to the hospital.”

“I wouldn’t at present, sir. The police will want to take statements and they’ll no doubt be in touch with both you and Miss Shaw. You should inform someone of where you are likely to be staying.”

“How much damage is there? May I take a look?”

“Pretty extensive, I’m afraid. The fire was well contained though and fortunately hadn’t spread to other properties. You can’t go up there just yet, not until the Police and Fire services have finished their enquiries.”

After the Fire Chief left, Owen told the warden that he’d be staying at the Travel Lodge in Covent Garden for a day or two. He was shaken and traumatised by the news; all he could think about was that it could have been Rowena and for that, at least, he was thankful. He didn’t want to think about Sarah. Remorse and Sarah no longer went hand in hand as far as he was concerned. 

The room in the Travel Lodge was basic but clean. Owen picked up his phone and rang Rowena’s number. Her voice sounded different, colder.

“It’s me,” he said

“You know then?”

“I arrived home from Wales this morning. The Fire Chief was still at the scene. He filled me in. I’m so glad you’re not hurt.”

Silence.

“Rowena?”

“Sarah’s badly burnt.”

“So I understand.”

“She may be scarred for life.”

“Let’s not talk about Sarah. I want to know how you are.”

“I thought you’d be there. I thought you’d come.”

“I didn’t know. I was in Gareg Wen. But I can meet you now, darling.”

“It’s different now. Things have changed. I’m going away.”

“Where?”

“To Lockford initially then maybe to the States.”

“Can I see you before you go?”

“No, I don’t think so. Goodbye, Owen.”

Owen heard the click as she cut the connection and he was left with nothing but the sound of silence.