Sleeping Cruelty Read online

  Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National Theatre and RSC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing – and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series Widows. Her novels have all been international bestsellers. Her original script for the much-acclaimed Prime Suspect won awards from the BAFTA, British Broadcasting and the Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Writer’s Award.

  Lynda La Plante has been made an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was given the BAFTA Dennis Potter Writer’s Award 2000. She was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2008 and inaugurated into the Crime Thriller Writers’ Hall of Fame in 2009.

  Visit Lynda at her website: www.laplanteproductions.com

  Follow her on Twitter @LaPlanteLynda

  Also by Lynda La Plante

  Wrongful Death

  Backlash

  Bloodline

  Blind Fury

  Silent Scream

  Deadly Intent

  Clean Cut

  The Red Dahlia

  Above Suspicion

  The Talisman

  The Legacy

  Entwined

  Cold Shoulder

  Cold Blood

  Cold Heart

  Royal Flush

  The Little One: Quick Read 2011

  Prime Suspect

  Seekers

  She’s Out

  The Governor

  The Governor II

  Trial and Retribution

  Trial and Retribution II

  Trial and Retribution III

  Trial and Retribution IV

  Trial and Retribution V

  First published in Great Britain by Macmillan, 2000

  This paperback edition first published by Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2014

  A CBS COMPANY

  Copyright © Lynda La Plante, 2000

  This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.

  No reproduction without permission.

  ® and © 1997 Simon & Schuster Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  The right of Lynda La Plante to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.

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  Simon & Schuster UK Ltd

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  222 Gray’s Inn Road

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  Simon & Schuster Australia, Sydney

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  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available

  from the British Library

  Paperback ISBN 978-1-47113-093-9

  Ebook ISBN 978-1-47113-094-6

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Typeset in Bembo by M Rules

  Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

  To Monte Farber and Amy Zerner

  Contents

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Acknowledgements

  My sincere thanks go to Suzanne Baboneau and Ian Chapman at Simon and Schuster for their constant support in my current and past novels. I am very fortunate to have a strong team at La Plante Productions, Liz Thorburn, Callum Sutherland and Richard Dobbs-Grove who keep me on my toes. Sleeping Cruelty had some very steamy scenes that were deleted at the request of my agent Gill Coleridge, who, like my team, is forever a brilliant and diplomatic censor, and a strong guide to what my fans would feel inappropriate.

  I want to make it very clear that all characters and events in this book are fictional. Any resemblance between them and real characters is coincidental and is not intended.

  I would also like to thank the following for their generous contribution: Juliet Battersby, Bulgari, Hugo Waring for his wine expertise, Professor John Henry at the Poison Unit at St Mary’s Paddington, the Ritz, West Indies Tourist Office, British Virgin Islands Tourist Office, French Antilles Tourist Office and the Necker Island Office.

  Prologue

  Summer 1977

  The villa was nestled in a hollow cut into the side of a cliff, overlooking the sea. A strange, low, sprawling building, it was shaded by the massive fir trees that surrounded it, almost encroaching on to the small paved patio at the front. The grounds of the house curved upwards steeply so that you could look in through the windows on the top floor. The nanny could tell that the villa must have had another storey at one time, a third floor, high enough to overlook the forest and give panoramic views of the sea and maybe even a glimpse of the beach below.

  Though highly experienced, and with tip-top references, she was surprised when she received a call in answer to the advert she had placed in the Lady magazine, asking if she could start work immediately before she had met either parents or children. The wages were almost double what she had anticipated, and a first-class ticket and travel expenses were sent from a reputable firm of solicitors in Paris. She was told that her duties would be outlined to her on her arrival. It seemed a wonderful opportunity, and she felt fortunate.

  The children’s father, a handsome man in his late forties, had shown her in. He was aloof and rather condescending, especially when she had questioned the weight of the household duties he was expecting her to take on. He spoke slowly, not looking into her face but staring over her head. ‘I checked your references. Previously you have been paid a standard rate. I am offering substantially more. Surely it is not asking too much of you to run the household. There will be no interference. I will not be here. I have business commitments in Paris.’ He went on to say that he would spend only the odd weekend at the villa but would always give her warning if there were to be any guests and then, if necessary, he would bring staff from his Paris home to cook and assist with the cleaning.

  The interview was brief. She felt guilty about even mentioning the household tasks, especially when she saw her luxurious quarters: a huge bedroom with vast wardrobe space and en-suite bathroom. What a change from her London bedsit! She looked forward to spending days on the beach with the children and perhaps going for rambles and picnics.

  No sooner had she unpacked, showered and changed ready to meet her charges than she heard a car departing. He had not even introduced her to his children. There was a sound at her door, a child’s knock. It opened and there they were. The children stood together, sweet and shy. They shook her hand, welcomed her with downcast eyes and, as if rehearsed, said they hoped she would enjoy working at the villa. They looked so vulnerable that she was fired with enthusiasm to make the most of this job.

  As she got to know them over the next few days, however, they began to make her feel uneasy, sometimes downright scared. Both children were astonishingly beautiful, but their faces were chillingly devoid of emotion and their wide, clear blue eyes oddly expressionl
ess. Both had ash blond hair, bleached white by the sun. Their slender bodies had a golden tan, and for two such young children they were remarkably clean and poised. She soon realized they were both neurotically fastidious about their clothes. Though she was only eight, the girl changed numerous times during the day. The nanny also noticed that she washed her hands and face repeatedly. The boy, at ten, was just as meticulous about his appearance. But there was nothing feminine about him: he had an unusually mature masculinity, giving the nanny sidelong glances when he thought she wasn’t looking. If she caught his eye, he would give a slow adult smile.

  The nursery was always tidy, the toys lined up with military precision. They made their beds without having to be told, and asked for fresh sheets and pillow-slips every two days. The amount of washing and ironing ensured that the nanny’s working day stretched well into the evening. When she questioned them, it soon became clear that they had not been forced into this disciplined lifestyle. It was how they liked it, they said in unison. They were always whispering and giggling together but fell silent when she approached. They ate sparingly, simple food with lots of salads and vegetables. She presumed the menus had been established by their previous nanny. But when she asked, they changed the subject. Once they spoke briefly of their mother, who had died two years before, they said, in the villa, in a fire. They didn’t seem distressed, just stated the fact, then asked if she would like to come swimming. She agreed to meet them in the garden as soon as she had put on her swimsuit.

  They were waiting for her, but not in their swimsuits. They were still dressed. The boy strolled ahead, the girl took her hand and led her towards the pool. ‘Dive in,’ she piped.

  The nanny was puzzled that the pool should be in such a shaded area, and from where she stood the water appeared murky. But the children told her again to dive in.

  ‘Go on, close your eyes,’ said the little girl. ‘I’ll guide you right to the edge.’

  The nanny’s toes were gripping the edge of the pool when she looked, really looked, at the water. It was infested with wasps and bugs, a seething, green, moving carpet. She was so shocked that she almost lost her balance as the children ran away, laughing.

  Later she served them supper and watched them get into their beds before returning to her own room to read. The heat was oppressive and when she opened a shutter to let in some air, she was taken aback to see the children in a dark corner of the garden. The little girl, wearing a white nightdress, dragged a large doll with curly blonde hair behind her. The boy pointed at the ground with a spade. In silence, she watched the children until they came back inside. Then she went out to see what they had been doing. Handmade crosses marked what appeared to be a row of graves. One cross, made from rough twigs and bound with string, had a piece of pink writing-paper pinned to it, with the word ‘Papa’.

  The following morning as she served them breakfast, she mentioned that she had seen them playing. The boy pushed his plate to one side. ‘You must have been dreaming. We were in bed.’

  ‘Yes,’ said the girl. ‘We always do as we’re told. We weren’t outside.’

  The nanny didn’t want to make an issue of it, but after breakfast was cleared away, she went in search of the garden graves and discovered they had gone.

  She was frightened. She knew she hadn’t imagined it.

  She tried to be cheery and inject some fun into their strict lives, but they weren’t interested. They didn’t want to go to the beach, or for walks. They preferred to sit together, reading or whispering. Their routine remained the same day after day, and she felt like an intruder in their world. She hoped their father would return one weekend.

  No one ever came to the villa. There were no calls, there was no mail. The groceries were delivered on Friday, so she had no need to go to the nearest village. She was pleased when she saw the deliveryman roar up the drive. But he seemed in a great hurry to get the receipt signed and leave. He didn’t even turn off the van’s engine. ‘Did you know the children’s mother?’ she asked, as he laid the carbon paper between the receipt and copy.

  He shook his head. ‘She burned alive, up there.’ He used his chewed ballpoint pen to point to the flat roof of the villa. ‘It used to have another storey – that’s why the roof is flat.’ His face glistened with sweat as he then leaned close. ‘No one stays there now, not for more than a few days anyway. He stays away for months at a time, the father. He hates it here.’

  ‘But what about the children?’

  The deliveryman gave her a strange look. ‘They’re the reason no one stays. It was them that started the fire they reckon. They’re … not normal.’

  Later when she entered the nursery she found them lying side by side, their arms entwined around each other, whispering. They parted quickly and fell silent, as if annoyed by her intrusion.

  ‘This afternoon we’re going on a picnic,’ she said. ‘Which would you prefer, the beach or the heath? You choose.’

  As if on cue there was a clap of thunder and heavy raindrops began to fall. The children giggled.

  ‘Ah, well,’ said the nanny, ‘maybe tomorrow. These storms never last long. Let’s see what’s on the television.’

  She turned on the set, but it was crackly and unwatchable, so she offered to play a game with them, but none of her suggestions drew so much as a flicker of interest. The two children sat, hand in hand, dead-eyed, until she became angry with her own inability to cajole them into animation.

  ‘Why don’t you want to play?’ She couldn’t stop her voice rising. ‘Have you ever played like normal children? What on earth is the matter with you both? Stop looking at each other and look at me. Look at me! Now, tell me what’s the matter. You behave as if you hate me.’

  The boy kicked at a chair leg. ‘We don’t hate you,’ he said. But he had a strange smile on his face.

  ‘No, we don’t hate you,’ piped up his sister.

  The nanny took a deep breath. ‘Are you like this because of your mother? Because of what happened to her?’

  The children held each other’s gaze for a long time, as if having a silent conversation. Then the boy eased away from his chair and crossed to her. Reaching for her hand, he began to stroke it. His skin felt almost silky. He pressed his body closer and closer to her as if wanting to slip his arms around her waist. She found it moving, as if he was trying to comfort her.

  Apparently encouraged by her brother, the girl crossed and hugged the nanny’s knees, so tightly that she could feel the child’s hot breath against her thighs. Suddenly her joy turned to panic as she realized that this was no show of juvenile affection.

  The boy was easing up her skirt, his small hands rhythmically stroking her thigh, as his sister’s hot breath centred at her crotch. Just as the boy’s hand reached for her breast she pulled away. ‘Stop this,’ cried the nanny, standing and smoothing her skirt. ‘Stop this right now.’

  They looked up at her, puzzled.

  ‘But you said you wanted to play with us,’ said the boy petulantly. Then he punched her in the stomach while his sister sank her teeth into her hand. The nanny let out a yelp of pain. The children responded with high-pitched shrieks of delight.

  ‘Get away from me,’ screamed the nanny. ‘Stop this.’

  She ran to her room. She put a call through to Paris, to their father. He was curt, dismissive, and did not question her reason for wanting to leave. He asked if she would please remain at the villa for that evening until he had made alternative arrangements. The nanny stayed in her room, packing her suitcases, not wanting to face either child again. She was ashamed that she couldn’t deal with them but she knew that someone far more experienced than her would have to unravel their psyches.

  As dusk drew in she went into the kitchen and made up a tray of cold chicken and salad for herself, leaving the children’s food laid out on the table. She could hear no sounds from the nursery, and was unsure if they were inside the villa or not. Then she returned to her room and locked the door. The rain lashed do
wn: the storm had returned.

  Later that night she awoke to a loud bang. The thunderclaps seemed to be centred on the villa itself. She moved around the house, checking doors and windows. A light was showing beneath the nursery door. She paused to listen, then bent down to peer through a crack in the door. An eye peered back at her and she straightened up fast as a high-pitched laugh echoed across the corridor.

  She made her way to the master bedroom suite. The room was in darkness. The furniture was oak, as oppressive as the night itself, and a wardrobe door hung open. She looked inside. Rows of shirts, suits, trousers, racks of ties and handmade shoes, bottles of cologne with silver-backed hairbrushes were neatly lined up in open drawers.

  She jumped in fright as a loud bang came from the bathroom. The shutters had come loose. Standing in a puddle on the blue and white tiled floor, she reached out to close them. At that moment the lights went out. She groped around for the switch. It must be a power cut. She found a hand towel and knelt to mop up the water – she didn’t care that she was using a pristine white towel to dry the floor. Whoever had the misfortune to work here after her could deal with it. She was glad to be leaving. She wrung out the towel into the bath. Then she froze.

  A sound came from above her, from the flat roof. It was as if something was being dragged across it, like a heavy, unwieldy sack. Frightened, she listened and, still carrying the sodden towel, she left the bedroom. On the landing outside she listened again, looking upwards. She wondered if perhaps an animal had jumped on to the roof. But as she could hear nothing, she hurried along the corridor to her own room, went in and closed the door behind her.

  Then she heard the sound again, coming from directly above her room. She stepped out into the corridor again. Looking up, she inched towards the old staircase that once led up to the third floor, but now terminated at a bolted wooden trapdoor.