The First Betrayal by A. M. Clarke Read Free Book Online Page B

after dinner fun.’ Mary led the march, slowly, walkers and canes, crutches and wheelchairs, down the hall and across to the recreation area. Followed closely by two of the helpers who didn’t look too happy at the sudden turn the evening had taken.
    Vera couldn’t believe her luck, and moved in quickly for the kill.
    ‘They really are a great group; they must keep you on your toes.’ Adam laughingly said to her.
    ‘Did you get any useful information out of them?’
    ‘No, I’m afraid no one seems to remember my uncle. My mother must have it wrong. Still, I have had a lovely evening and I met you. That more than makes up for the disappointment.’
    ‘That’s so sweet of you. Can I interest you in a hot toddy, its turning very nasty out there?
    ‘I would love that; I’m not ready to call it a night yet.’
    Vera led him to the kitchen and seated him at the counter while she prepared the tasty tipples. They chatted about generalities and after the effects of the toddies kicked in, they started to flirt. Gently at first, and then more blatantly. After her third toddy, Vera had enough Dutch courage to suggest going to an empty room in the resident’s wing. Adam accepted the invitation and followed her there. The rain lashed against the window as Vera aggressively launched herself at him.
    Pulling the clothes from his firm body, she was like a rabid animal. Inflamed and ferocious in her desire, she was thrilled that Adam met her lust with equal intensity. Wild animals would have been taken aback at their behaviour, and half an hour later, they emerged from the room dishevelled but sated. Vera said a reluctant goodbye to him and went back to tidy the room so housekeeping wouldn’t notice in the morning. She waited for the residents to be in their rooms safe and left the night shift to it.
    Having walked to work that morning, she was relieved that the rain had eased off.
    She normally enjoyed her walk home through the wood walk. It was calming and serene, after a busy day looking after her residents. The moon cracking through the fir tree canopy, needles crunching underfoot, and the luxury smell of sap and earth.
    The blackness of the sky was clearing, allowing the moon to make a watery appearance. Vera almost glided along the sidewalk, her thoughts jumbling together like marbles in a bag. Her mother’s posthumous comments would no doubt be interesting.
    'Way to go girl, see what happens when you stack the deck in your favour, you can’t possibly think there will be more to it. Still a one night stand is better than nothing, can’t see him coming back for seconds.' Her mother wasn’t cruel, she was forthright, and didn’t believe in false hope.
    Vera knew the score and didn’t really believe that Adam would want more. It was a one off, a physical combustion. Nevertheless --- it would be nice. She inhaled deep breaths of the damp grass scented air. Small gusts of a breeze tussled her hair and nudged its cold nose around her neck, making her shiver. A noise behind, startled her. She wasn’t sure what kind of noise, she hadn’t been paying attention. It was just a noise, but it was something different to all the other night time noises. Her heart beat a little faster, should she stop and turn around, or keep walking. She kept walking, quicker than before and the night noises remained the same. Again, a noise, but she still couldn’t place it. Swiftly, she swivelled around; hoping to see whatever was making the noise. Nothing. Standing her ground, she waited, trying to be brave and in control of the situation. After a few seconds, she resumed her journey home. It remained uneventful until she was near her front gate, then a different kind of noise alarmed her. It disturbed her so much, that she ran to the gate, shoved it open and frantically scoured her bag for the keys. As in every scary story you’ve ever read or watched on TV, the keys were of course impossible to find, so she resorted to her emergency key, she