Behind Closed Doors (Short Story)

It was a morning like any other. Anna and Richard sat at opposite ends of the antique dining table that had been shipped over from India when they’d moved into the house three years ago. It was set to one side of the conservatory and used only for breakfast.

Before Richard came downstairs Anna had opened the wooden blinds a touch to allow the early morning sun to brighten the room yet cause no damage to his prized leather Chesterfields.  Opening the patio doors had allowed the stuffiness of the air to be filled with the fresh scent of morning dew.

Richard wore his trademark Saville-Row suit. She thought the grey suit may have been new but made no comment. She couldn’t help but notice he’d opted for a ruby-red coloured silk handkerchief, folded with precision in his breast pocket. Red was the colour of power he’d told her. The handkerchief was complemented by a matching hand-sewn tie. To Anna it was a river of blood against his brilliant white shirt.

He scanned the Financial Times as he feasted on a cholesterol-busting spread of fruit, yoghurt, cereal and wholemeal toast. When he’d finished his freshly brewed coffee, he raised the empty cup in the air for a refill without taking his eyes from the newspaper. Anna duly obliged, filling his fruit juice as well.  

Anna ate no more than a few mouthfuls. She’d never been able to eat this early but he insisted she join him for breakfast each morning. She counted down the minutes until seven thirty when he’d leave to catch the train to his office in the city.

‘What do you plan on doing with yourself today?’

The question took her by surprise, not least because there’d been no conversation at breakfast for days.

‘Um ... well, seeing as it looks like it’s going to be a lovely day, I was thinking of going out for a few hours. Maybe buy myself a new dress for Saturday.’

‘Really?’ He raised an eyebrow at her.

‘I won’t go if you don’t want me to.’

Her body stiffened as, checking his watch, he stood up. She pulled her dressing gown a little tighter around her.

‘No, I think it’ll do you good to get out of the house.’ He was beside her now, towering over her. He lifted her chin so their eyes met. ‘But you’d better do a good job with your make-up.’

‘I will, and it’s sunny. I’ll wear sunglasses. No-one will know.’ The words stumbled breathlessly from her mouth.

She struggled to steady her breathing as he leant in and planted a kiss on her cheek.

‘Just make sure the dress is sexy. And expensive. There’s a couple of deals I want to seal on the night.’

She nodded her answer, praying her response to his touch didn’t betray her true feelings. She fought to keep her tears at bay. Yet again, her physical scars would be gift-wrapped in Gucci. If only it was that easy to conceal the emotional scars.

A minute later and he was gone. As soon as she heard his car crunching its way off the gravel driveway she ran upstairs and retrieved the pay-as-you-go mobile from the back of her wardrobe. Matthew had told her to keep it on silent, only to check it once a day for messages.  Yesterday’s message was the one she’d been waiting for - Tomorrow’s the day. All good to go. Call me at 8 in the morning.

She was desperate to make the call, but it too soon and so she went back downstairs and busied herself clearing away the breakfast dishes. At eight on the dot she pressed the call button to dial the only number stored in the phone memory. It was answered on the first ring.

‘Has he gone?’

‘Yes.’

‘Did he act any different at all?’

‘Not really, we just had breakfast and he went to work.’

‘Okay, good.’

‘What now?’

‘You need to pack a bag, but pack light. Nothing that’ll raise any suspicions. You can buy whatever you need when you get there.’

‘So it’s all sorted then?’

‘It’s all sorted Anna, don’t worry. It’ll be weeks before he notices any money missing, and even then he won’t be able to trace it. Or you.’

‘What about you, Matthew?’ It was hard to ignore the pangs of guilt about leaving him behind, unsure how she could ever repay him.

‘I’ll be fine. He’ll never know it was me. This is the only way you can get away.’

‘I know,’ she whispered, trying to block out the sadness in his voice.

‘What’s the most important thing you have to remember?’ His tone became business-like.

‘That I stick to the plan.’

‘That’s right. It’s crucial you make your way to the airport the way we discussed, okay? When you get there all you have to do is pick up the documents, they’re already in place. Have you still got the key?’

‘Yes.’

‘Good. One last thing. You have to lose the phone. Somewhere he won’t find it. There’s a new one in the safety deposit box at the airport. I’ll call you tonight. Good luck.’

And with that he ended the call.

An hour later, and with a final lick of lipgloss, she swept her mane of silky blonde locks into a ponytail, and pulled on her carefully selected outfit. Nobody would question her leaving the house dressed for the gym, nor would she look out of place boarding a plane in the comfortable clothes. The gym bag slung over her shoulder was the perfect way to smuggle out a few necessities.

Checking she had the phone and key safely zipped in the pocket of her jacket, she headed downstairs for one last time. It took enormous restraint to quell her growing nausea, her stomach was in turmoil over the journey she was about to make. Throwing a quick glance over her shoulder to what she was leaving behind, she took a deep breath and pulled the front door open.

For a split second, dazzled by the bright sunshine, she thought she was seeing things. But as she fell to the floor, and a red silk handkerchief was stuffed in her mouth, she knew she wasn’t.