Chapter 5
The following morning Owen is up early and when Naomi comes down a half full cafetière of coffee is on the kitchen table.
“Morning. It should still be hot.”
She checks, frowns, fills a mug and sticks it into the microwave.
“I’ve just had an email from Adam,” he says.
“What, another one? And to you this time?”
“It’s very short. It just tells me to ring his mobile.”
Naomi looks across at the phone still sitting on the shelf. “Why?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t say. What’s the number?”
Naomi picks up her phone and calls Adam’s mobile. It rings, and then goes to voicemail.
“Nothing unusual. What’s he up to?”
“I think he means that I should call it. From this phone,” and he wakes up his phone and hands it across.
“What difference does it make?”
Naomi taps in Adam’s number, and gives the phone back to Owen, who puts it on speaker and places it on the table between them. This time a different message comes on.
Hi Owen. Adam here. You should have had the Easter egg by now, so you know that I found out about you cheating fuckers. I’ve nothing to say to you, but you can give the phone to Naomi, I know she’s there.
There’s a short pause in the message, and Owen pushes the phone towards Naomi. The message continues.
Take it off speaker, this is just for you.
She picks up the phone, taps it, and holds it to her ear.
Thanks for the donation to MND. If you’re going to screw money out of my customers it might as well go to a good cause. It won’t break the bank. Neater than leaving it in my will don’t you think?
His voice slows down, softly now.
I was already ill that holiday in Italy. I knew something was wrong, but not what it was. I’m sorry, I should have said something, but wasn’t brave enough. I didn’t want to lose you. I’ve got the necklace here in front of me. And on my screen is the picture of you when we bought it. You never really loved it like I did; but I thought it was perfect. I was wrong, a diamond wouldn’t have been right at all. I’m in the study now. I’ve had fun setting this up, but in the end none of it matters. There are no more games, no more messages. Everything’s in the open now, where you’d expect it to be. I’m on my own checking off the last things on my list. There’s not much left on it. It’s quiet in the house. But in my head I can hear the sound of drums. And when you get back tonight you’ll find me dead, and you can do what you like.
There’s a short pause, and then the message continues again.
But please look after the Egg for me… no, for you… I don’t matter now. Given the number of daily hits we get on the website hardly anyone will have seen the changes I made. The new password is Blink. It was always my favourite David Tennant episode. Make whatever changes you like. But I’m tired now.
Adam’s voice fades, and there’s another pause, and a rustle of noise in the background. Then Adam speaks again. More clearly now.
I’ve had enough of this. Naomi, I always loved you. I still do. But this is the end, I need to go now. Goodbye.
And the message ends.
Owen reaches his hand across the table towards her, but as he does Naomi pulls her own hand back. Owen picks up his phone instead and touches the screen to end the call.
“No,” she reaches out to stop his hand, “call it again.”
Owen redials Adam’s number and they listen to the message again, on speaker this time, Naomi braced against the table in front of her, eyes shining with tears. She stands up suddenly, and grabs the back of her chair with one hand, covering her eyes with the other. And then she starts sobbing, quietly, shoulders shaking. Owen starts to stand up, and she backs away, half turning from him. And then she turns back, blotchy, wet, looking straight at him. So different from Adam. Suddenly the look of him appals her, and she takes another step backwards.
“You’d better go. Please don’t say anything. Just go.”
“Naomi,” he says, coming towards her.
But she interrupts him with a hand. “No, please. Just go.”
Owen turns away. “I’ll call you later. I’ll come by the shop.”
He waits for her to respond, but she says nothing, struggling to calm her ragged breath. He pauses, and then turns and leaves.