The Child Taker & Slow Burn by Conrad Jones Read Free Book Online Page A

face and stuck her tongue out childishly. Her husband nudged her gently to make her stop teasing.
    “I’ll come with you,” Karl said. He pulled the keys to their BMW estate car from his pocket.
    “I’ll be fine Karl, just give me the keys please.” Hayley needed five minutes away from them all to calm down. Her sister-in-law’s antics had annoyed her immensely.
    “I really don’t mind going, Hayley,” Steve chirped. He squeezed Louise’s bottom and she giggled like a schoolgirl. She pouted at Karl and thought it had gone unnoticed, but Hayley caught it.
    “I’m going to drive to the village, on my own, before I’m sick. Now can I have the fucking car keys please?” Hayley held out her hand and Karl handed her the key fob in silence. “Thank you,” she said curtly. Hayley turned and walked towards the estate car.
    “I don’t think there was any need for that,” Karl hissed as he followed her a few steps behind. “That was just plain rude.”
    “Oh well I wouldn’t want to upset Louise now would I, babe?” She replied sarcastically. “The Ice Queen is spoiling the night and having a go at everyone again, am I?” Her tone was acidic. Karl stopped in his tracks. Hayley turned to face him, and he could see the anger in her eyes. Her demeanour warned him that debate was futile until she’d calmed down.
    “What’s the matter, babe? Did you think that I hadn’t heard her?” Hayley imitated Louise’s girly voice.
    “I don’t know what your problem is. Why do you want to cause a scene?” Karl reached out to hold her hands. Hayley pulled away and turned towards the car again.
    “Leave me alone, Karl, I do not need that bitch talking about me behind my back, especially not to my husband.” She pressed the alarm button on the fob and the lights flashed to indicate that the vehicle was unlocked. Hayley pulled the door open and climbed into the dark blue BMW. Karl grabbed hold of the door to stop her closing it.
    “Look, Hayley, she’s a drama queen, just ignore her. We’re supposed to be on holiday.” Karl tried to calm his wife. “She’s had a lot of wine.”
    “I don’t care, Karl, leave me alone.” She grabbed the handle and slammed the door. Karl stood back from the car as she started the engine. The muffled sound of Dire Straits, playing ‘Sultans of Swing’, came from the stereo. Hayley glanced at her husband briefly as she drove away. He looked at Louise and shrugged his shoulders, and in that instant Hayley knew that they were sleeping together. She didn’t know how, or why, but she knew. Karl watched the estate crossing the campsite. Halfway across the site the headlights flicked on. The sun was fading fast and the shadows were lengthening. The indicator light flashed as the car reached the entrance gate, and then he heard the engine gunning as Hayley pulled the vehicle onto the main road. His heart felt heavy with guilt, but there was something else eating at him too. Hayley seemed to sense that there was something between him and his sister-in-law and that frightened him. He had tried to be as careful as possible to hide it from his wife and his brother, but Louise’s antics were not helping one bit.
    Karl heard the sound of the infant crying again, but this time it was much more urgent, almost a scream. He looked towards the woods and the spaces between the trees had become inky darkness. The trees were dark silhouettes against a darkening sky. The first stars were visible in the north above the lake. It was such a beautiful setting that the view calmed him for a moment, and then the child cried out again. This time it was accompanied by a female voice. He couldn’t make out the words but it sounded like the woman was calling for help. Karl looked at the handful of tents and caravans that were on the site, but they were all in darkness, their occupants out walking or fishing, or eating an evening meal in one of the country pubs that were dotted around the lake. The site was