Читать книгу The Choice - Alex Lake - Страница 13

She heard footsteps outside the front door a few minutes later and went to open it. He was standing on the step, a shopping bag in each hand, a packet of pasta poking out of a hole in one of them. His face was flushed and he was breathing heavily.

Her chest tightened in alarm. He had sounded terrible on the phone, but he looked worse.

And not only was he not in the car. He was alone.

‘Matt,’ she said. ‘Where are the kids?’

He stepped into the house. His expression was rigid, but there was a wild look in his eyes. She realized with a start that it was fear.

‘Sit down,’ he said. ‘You need to sit down.’

‘I don’t need to sit down,’ she said. ‘Where are the kids? Tell me where the kids are!’

He took her elbow and guided her into the living room and onto the sofa. Her tea was still on the carpet beside it.

Matt sat next to her. He was no longer breathing heavily; now he was taking short, shallow breaths. It could have been the running, but it looked more like he was trying not to panic.

‘Matt,’ she said. ‘What’s going on?’

He blinked, his expression almost puzzled. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

‘Matt! Where are the children? Tell me!’

‘They’re gone,’ he said, his voice breaking. ‘The children are gone.’