Mother Knows Best (Novella): A Psychological Thriller Novella Read online

  Ruby’s whimpers were beginning to irritate the hell out of him, but he needed to keep his cool. He didn’t want to spoil that pretty little face before he got some use out of her. He bent and kissed her forehead.

  “Now, don’t forget. Best behaviour until I get back.”

  Ruby stiffened and yanked her arms and legs as she cried. Her pleading eyes never left his face and her screams followed him out the door.

  Cody found his dad and Kyle in the kitchen. “Have you told him?” he asked his dad.

  “Yes-he-told-me,” Kyle said, every word an effort as usual.

  “Don’t go in there, unless there’s an emergency. Dad will be back soon. I need you to be in charge—look after her ‘til I get back and I’ll buy you a new fire truck.”

  “Bingo,” Kyle said, holding both thumbs up.

  “Good boy.” He ruffled Kyle’s hair before leaving.

  Although only two years younger, Kyle had the mental age of a six-year-old. They sometimes left him alone for a short time, but not often. He needed a lot of looking after, one of the reasons their dad gave up work to care for him full-time after their mum vanished.

  Kyle had seemed normal for the first year of his life, but when he still couldn’t roll over or sit up unaided by his first birthday, the first warning bells sounded. Not that Cody could remember it, but he’d heard the story over and over.

  Tests were done, but they had no explanation. They eventually diagnosed Kyle with an intellectual disability, or mentally retarded as they called it back then.

  Kyle took his first step at two and a half years old, developing slowly. When he was eighteen, they were told his mental age wouldn’t develop any further and it hadn’t. But they wouldn’t change him for the world.

  Kyle had been a source of delight for Cody and their dad—always happy and playing pranks, although Kyle’s obsession with fire trucks drove him to distraction.

  Cody glanced in his rear-view mirror as he pulled over outside a row of shops at the end of Ruby’s street, and climbed over to the passenger seat.

  His dad parked his own car and then jumped in behind the wheel of Cody’s.

  “Right, where to?”

  “It’s down here on the left. I need you to wait until I get inside and switch on the light—then give several belts on the horn as you drive away.”

  “Got it,” his dad said, before driving off.

  Moments later, they pulled up outside Ruby’s house. Cody turned off the interior lights, not wanting anybody to see him when he opened the door.

  “Right, remember, park my car back up and leave the keys in the usual place.”

  His dad nodded. “Gotcha.”

  “I’m trusting you, Dad. Leave Ruby alone until I get back.”

  “I already said so, didn’t I?”

  “Right then—wait ‘til I’m inside and the light goes on.”

  “Get on with it,” his dad hissed.

  Cody took Ruby’s keys from his jacket pocket and picked her shoes up from the foot-well. Then, with a final bracing breath, he got out of the car.

  Thanks to the late hour, the street was deserted. Cody opened the door and rushed inside slamming it behind him. Fumbling for a light switch, he was alarmed by something around his ankles. He tripped and fell to the carpet, landing on what he presumed was a cat until it yelped and began to snarl. A high-pitched rrrrrrrrr turned into continual yapping. He needed to deal with it, but first he had to find a light.

  Back on his feet, Cody located a light switch.

  The little brown dog bared his teeth at Cody, just as a series of car horns sounded from outside.

  Cody raced to the front window, peeking out. Sure enough—the curtain across the street twitched.

  Pleased things were going according to plan, he turned back from the window.

  “Now all I need to do is shut this fucking dog up.

  Chapter 7

  Still drowsy from whatever drugs they’d given her, Ruby felt like she was in a dream. Maybe it was a dream—or a sick joke and her mum would jump out any minute now after teaching her the greatest lesson of her life—always listen to your mother.

  But it wasn’t a dream or a joke. This was actually happening—every terrifying second of it.

  The crunch of car tyres on gravel sounded soon after Cody left and she heard nothing but silence since.

  Screaming had achieved nothing but to wear her out within minutes, causing her to drift off again.

  She awoke to a scraping sound outside the door.

  “Hello? Can anybody hear me? Help—please help,” she called.

  Nothing but silence.

  Her eyes filled with tears and she shivered, her teeth chattering. Although the weather outside had been warm and muggy, the tiny room felt cold and damp.

  Thick black plastic ties dug into her wrists and ankles causing her to wince every time she moved. The ties were threaded through chains anchored somewhere underneath the bed. She knew it would be pointless trying to unfasten them. The only way they were certain to move would be to tighten even more, cutting the blood supply off.

  This situation was exactly what her mum had professed would happen—why the hell didn’t she listen to her?

  A tightness in her chest made it difficult to breathe and a pathetic whimper came from her throat. How would she escape this? Cody was clearly deranged, but Steve might help her.

  “Steve?” she called. “Steve. Please help.”

  Nothing.

  “Kyle—Kylie. Please.”

  Ruby’s heartbeat thudded in her ears as the doorknob turned slowly. The anticipation was enough to kill her there and then. Who was it? She couldn’t breathe—her eyes were trained on the opening door.

  After what seemed like forever, a man appeared. His shaggy mop of blonde hair and sapphire blue eyes told her he was related to Cody and Steve.

  “Kyle?”

  “I’m-not-allowed-in,” he said from the door. His voice sounded slow and slurred, every word ran into the next. He was nothing like Cody had described.

  “It’s okay, Kyle. I give you permission to come in—I need your help.”

  “Only-an-mergency.”

  “Yes, Kyle. This is an emergency.”

  “This-is-an-mergency?” Kyle tilted his head to one side, one eye half closed in confusion.

  “Yes, I promise. This is an emergency.”

  “Okidoke-then.” Kyle stepped into the room. “Do-you-like-my-fire-truck?” He shoved a bright red fire engine towards her.

  “That’s beautiful, Kyle.” She didn’t have time for this, but this odd man-child was her only hope of escape.

  Kyle nodded as he studied the truck—a simple, sweet smile on his face.

  “Kyle?”

  Kyle pressed a button on the truck and a siren sounded.

  “Kyle, can you help me?”

  “Can’t.” Kyle shook his head and stepped backwards, a frightened expression clouded his face.

  Ruby panicked. She knew she needed to get this overgrown child on side and fast.

  “You know, my uncle is a fireman,” she said, making her voice sound as bright as possible.

  Kyle gasped. “A-real-fireman?”

  “A real one. He’s the driver,” she said, smiling.

  “Did-you-touched-it?”

  “The fire engine? Yes, I touched it. I even had a ride in it.”

  Kyle’s eyes bulged as Ruby watched the cogs turning in his brain.

  “I bet I could get him to take you for a ride too. That is if you want to?”

  “I-go-for-a-ride?” His excitement was almost palpable.

  “Uh-huh. If you could help me get out of here.”

  Kyle’s expression clouded once more. “Can’t.” He shook his head.

  “Please, Kyle.” Ruby twisted herself as far around as possible, she wanted to get face to face with him, but a searing pain in her left wrist made her cry out. She examined her wrist. The plastic tie had cut so deep that blood soaked into the sh
eets and mattress.

  “Blood!” Kyle shuddered, his face screwed in disgust. Shaking his head, he put the fire engine underneath his arm and marched from the room, leaving the door open.

  “Kyle!” Ruby screamed. “Kyle, please—I need you. It’s an emergency.”

  Nothing. Her whole body trembled.

  Think—think. There must be some way out. If she’d done what her mum insisted she do, there would probably be a search party arriving any minute. But all she’d told her mum was Cody’s first name and the approximate location of the pub.

  Taking another deep breath, she exhaled in a noisy blow and closed her eyes, bracing herself for one last try.

  “Kyle?” she called, her voice now quieter—calmer. “I’d love to see your fire engine Kyle.”

  She heard the plastic rattle of the fire engine’s wheels. Kyle was close by.

  “It’s okay, Kyle. There’s no more blood. Why don’t you come back in and I’ll tell you about my uncle’s fire engine?”

  “It’s-called-a-fire-TRUCK,” Kyle said from somewhere outside the door.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, buddy. My mistake—fire truck.”

  Kyle appeared in the doorway. Inching slowly forward, he held out the plastic red toy to show her.

  “Wow! That’s a beauty. Does it have a ladder?”

  “Yup.” Kyle’s eyes lit up as he pointed to the ladder on the back of the truck.

  “So it does,” Ruby smiled. “And what about a fire hose?”

  “Course-it-has-a-fire-hose-look.” Kyle laughed. His blue eyes crinkling at the corners.

  “My uncle told me that although they need the fire en … truck, to put out the fires, a lot of their work is rescuing people from other situations.”

  Kyle’s eyebrows furrowed.

  “For example, they rescue a lot of cats from up trees.”

  “My-cat-climbs-trees.”

  “Does he? They also rescue people that are stuck.”

  “Up. Trees?”

  Ruby laughed. “If someone climbs a tree and gets stuck, then yes, they’d rescue them. They would use the fire truck and cherry picker on top.”

  “Ah.”

  “But if a fire officer was here right now, he would rescue me by cutting these plastic ties and helping me get out of here.”

  Kyle backed up, shaking his head.

  “No, Kyle—Kyle, come back, it’s okay.”

  “I’ve-got-to-go. My-head-hurts.”

  “I’m sorry, Kyle. Just one more thing—do you know the number to call in an emergency?”

  “Nine-nine-nine.”

  “Well done. Could I ask you to do it for me? Dial nine-nine-nine?”

  “Kyle shook his head. “Not-an-mergency.”

  “It is. I’m trapped, see?”

  Kyle scurried away.

  “Kyle.” Her voice was now tinged with hysteria.

  The sound of tyres crunching on gravel filled the little room, followed by the slam of a car door and footsteps.

  It was too late—she’d missed her opportunity to escape.

  Steve kicked the door fully open, a frown on his face. He seemed relieved to see Ruby still tied to the bed. “Has somebody been here?”

  Ruby shook her head, her lips tight shut. She didn’t want to get Kyle into trouble.

  “Who opened the door then?”

  Ruby shrugged, whimpering.

  Standing to the side of the bed, Steve checked her out from head to toe. The bulge in the crotch of his stonewashed jeans was unmistakable, even to her innocent eyes.

  “Please Steve—I need to get home, Mum will be worrying by now.”

  “Oh no, she won’t—Cody’s seen to that.”

  “What do you mean?” she cried. The thought that Cody had hurt her mother tore at her insides.

  Steve’s laugh had a maniacal quality to it.

  Ruby shuddered as she realised he was loony too.

  He bent towards her face and inhaled deeply, as though he could smell her fear.

  Ruby flinched and tried to twist away from him. Another searing pain in her wrist made her squeal.

  “Look what you’ve done to yourself, silly girl,” Steve said as he noticed the blood. He bent a little further and kissed the raw wound.

  Ruby gasped for air, certain she was about to pass out if he didn’t get out of her space. He didn’t smell horrible. In fact, all Ruby could smell was polo mints, an aroma she normally loved as she associated it with her dad. But the sudden rush of nostalgia mixed with her current situation threatened to tip her over the edge.

  Steve finally pulled back. He slid to his knees beside the bed, and with blood all over his lips and chin, he stroked her hair.

  She whimpered. “Please, Steve, please …”

  He leaned forward and his mouth muffled her screams.

  Chapter 8

  Cody dropped to his haunches. “Here, doggy-doggy,” he said, holding his gloved fingers out towards the yapping pooch.

  Eventually, the stupid dog came to investigate what Cody was offering and Cody punched it in the ribs with all his might. The dog yelped and raced from the room and up the stairs yelping all the way.

  Cody chuckled before setting to work. He’d dropped Ruby’s shoes in the hallway when he’d fallen. He now placed them side by side next to the door, as though somebody had just stepped out of them. He tapped the left one and it fell to the side. Cody smiled and nodded.

  Taking the phone from his pocket, he brought up every text Ruby had sent and received from her sister, reading every one. Then he composed his own using the same tone and words Ruby would have used.

  Hey, Scar. Just letting you know I’m home. Had a great night – c u tomoz, love Rubes xx

  Cody had a quick look through the house, messing up the bed and closing the bedroom curtains. He placed Ruby’s phone on the docking station and Amy Winehouse began singing Rehab.

  He left the music playing while he made himself a slice of toast and cup of coffee, leaving the dirty cup and plate in the sink. He wanted to make sure it looked as though Ruby had come home alone.

  Once satisfied, he placed the keys on the hall table and left via the back door. The typical Yale type lock didn’t need a key to secure the door behind him.

  In the small backyard, Cody climbed up onto the rubbish bin and over the top of the gate which had been bolted at the bottom. Whistling to himself, he strutted off down the back entry, to the end street where he found his car outside the shops. His dad had left his keys in the exhaust pipe as usual—something they always did.

  Afterwards, feeling pleased with himself, he went round to Jed’s bar which, despite the late hour, was just ramping up. Cody had been a regular there since moving to town as it was only a couple of blocks away from his flat.

  He made a point of chatting to everyone he knew and after an hour or so, and two JD and cokes, he walked home.

  Kenny Mac sat on the doorstep looking decidedly worse for wear.

  “Hey Ken, What’s up?”

  “Oh, hey, Codes,” Kenny slurred.

  “Had a skinful have ya, mate?” Cody said, laughing.

  “I’ve had the odd snifter here and there.” He chuckled.

  “Don’t bother coming in if you’re gonna throw up. I don’t intend cleaning up after you again.”

  Kenny belched noisily.

  “Fuck man, let me get in.” Cody shoved his way into the hallway and ran up the stairs.

  Kenny’s girlfriend, Sam, and a girl Cody had never met before, were in the kitchen making pizza.

  Cody bobbed his head into the lounge. Jez and Syd, Cody’s flatmates, were with two other men. Jez was rolling a spliff.

  “Hey guys,” Cody said, before heading back to the kitchen. He made himself a coffee and listened to the two girls, who were obviously pissed off at Kenny. Sam’s friend, a plain looking, dark haired girl, was encouraging Sam to dump his sorry arse.

  Cody took his coffee and sat opposite them at the table. “Aren’t you gonna introduce me
to your friend, Sam?”

  “Yeah, sorry. This is Kath. Kath—Cody.”

  “Hi Cody,” Kath said, her voice suddenly taking on a sweet, girly tone.

  Cody made a blatant play for her. She wasn’t his cup of tea really, but after spending the evening with Ruby, his cock was straining against the fabric of his jocks. And besides, what better alibi was there than a girl getting rogered in his bed all night.

  It didn’t take long before he had her hanging off his every word. When he got up to leave, she looked as though she might burst into tears.

  “Oh well, think I’ll crash. Nice to meet you, Kath. Maybe we could go out for a drink one night?”

  “I’d love that,” she panted.

  As he reached the door, he nodded his head and indicated with his eyes she should follow him. Within minutes, he had the dirty bitch stripped to her flimsy pink underwear, and sucking his cock as though her life depended on it.

  Chapter 9

  Ruby gasped for breath as Steve pulled away, groaning.

  “I’m sorry. You’re just so beautiful.”

  Ruby spat into the air several times, trying to get the taste of him from her mouth.

  “Don’t be like that, sweetheart. Maybe you need something to relax you a little.”

  Steve left the room, returning moments later with a bottle of whisky. He glugged from the neck of the bottle before holding it out towards her, then he laughed. “Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot.”

  He poured some of the amber fluid into the lid of the bottle and, after placing the bottle on the floor by the bed, he grabbed Ruby’s head and held the whisky to her lips.

  Ruby tried to resist, clamping her lips tight together, but he poured anyway. Horrible, stinking whisky ran down her chin and chest, and when she protested, the fiery liquid made it into her mouth. Ruby choked.

  She’d never been a drinker. The odd glass of cider was her limit. She’d never even tried hard liquor before and from the taste of it, couldn’t understand why anybody drank it willingly.

  Steve took another drink, sucking on the neck of the bottle like a baby sucks on a teat, ending with a satisfied, “Ahhhh.” He handed it back towards her, “More?”