‘Nobody’s getting up,’ he said. ‘Is something the matter?’
‘No,’ Scott answered. ‘Nothing’s wrong. Is everything okay with you?’
Daniel nodded. ‘The man. In the other room.’
Scott’s heart was suddenly at full speed. Was his night-time activity all a dream – had he not disposed of the body? Gemma turned to look at him, fear in her eyes.
‘What about him?’ Scott asked.
‘He’s gone.’
Phew.
‘Uhm, yes. He went home after you’d gone to bed.’
‘Is he all right now?’
‘Yes, he’s fine. Like I said, he was just knocked out for a while.’
‘Will he tell on me? Will he tell the police?’
‘No. I don’t think he’ll be doing that.’
Daniel nodded again, although he didn’t seem entirely satisfied.
‘Can we have breakfast now? I’m starving.’
‘Yes,’ Gemma said. ‘Of course. We’re getting up now. Go and put the kettle on.’
Daniel left the room and closed the door. Gemma and Scott looked at each other.
‘You weren’t lying to me, were you?’ Gemma asked. ‘We can stop worrying?’
‘I wasn’t lying. Go and see for yourself. Make some breakfast. I need to go out.’
‘Out? Out where?’
‘Just out. Some things I need to tidy up.’
‘Scott, you said it was over. You told me—’
‘It is! It’s over. I’m just tying up some loose ends, that’s all.’
‘What kind of loose ends?’
Scott chopped the air in front of him. ‘Gem! Stop, okay? It’s all in hand. Trust me.’
There was a heavy silence, and then Gemma swung her legs out of bed.
‘I need the bathroom,’ she said.
‘Oookaay.’
‘What I mean is . . . is it safe to go in there?’
Scott realised she must have heard some of what went on in that room last night. The walls were hardly soundproof. It made him wonder if Daniel had heard any of it too, even through his earmuffs.
‘It’s perfectly safe. I’m sure Daniel’s already been in there.’
Gemma stood up. Put on a dressing gown and slippers. Shuffled off to the bathroom. Scott remained seated on the bed for a while. She had sneaked doubt into his mind: doubt that he had been thorough enough, and that any second now he would hear her scream at the sight of a blood stain or a gobbet of flesh.
He relaxed a little when he heard the shower come on.
He dressed swiftly and went into the living area. Daniel was seated at the dining table, his eyes turned towards the sofa. Scott looked too, and was reassured that there was nothing to see. He had even disposed of the sheet and plumped up the cushions. But still Daniel stared.
A line from a movie flashed through Scott’s mind: I see dead people.
‘So,’ he said, too loudly, ‘where’s that cup of tea?’
Daniel dragged his gaze towards the kettle. ‘Oh. I forgot.’
Scott smiled. ‘Doesn’t matter.’ When he saw Daniel returning his attention to the sofa, he went and sat on it, hoping to crush whatever image Daniel might be seeing. He bent to retrieve a pair of trainers from alongside the sofa and began to pull them on.
‘Are you going out?’ Daniel asked.
‘Just for a few minutes.’
‘Where are you going?’
