Safe as Houses Read Free

fingers reach for the workbench. She finds a tool box and rummages around in it until she feels the heavy weight of a hammer. She spins around, looking for both the man and her daughter, but can see neither of them in the darkness.
    â€˜Anouk!’
    All of a sudden the strip lighting comes on, blinking hesitantly and then resolutely bathing the garage in its violent glare. The man is on the left of the car; Anouk is in the backseat, sliding hurriedly across to the opposite side and tugging helplessly at the child lock.
    Without wasting a second, Lisa opens the cardoor and with the same fast energy holds the hammer aloft.
    â€˜Come near us and I’ll batter you to death, I swear it!’ she cries with a catch in her voice.
    The man walks around and forces Anouk out and backwards, towards the darkest part of the garage, where they have no chance of escape.
    Lisa darts in front of Anouk to protect her and swings . . .
    â€˜Drop it, bitch!’ The man holds the knife poised and makes a stab at Lisa.
    The hammer swings down and a scream suggests a hit, but when Lisa goes to attack again she feels a shooting pain in her hand. Warm fluid drenches the sleeve of her sweater before she realises in shock and disbelief that it is blood. The next moment a large hand clamps hold of her arm and twists it behind her back until she drops the hammer.
    Before she knows it, Lisa is lying on the cold concrete floor and a knife is pressed against her throat. Behind her, she can hear Anouk calling, but Lisa finds herself remarkably calm. It occurs to her that she is no match for her attacker. With a weak child and a wounded hand, she is doubly handicapped, and if she continues to resist she’ll be risking not only her own life but also Anouk’s.
    Her eyes seek out those of her attacker and she forces herself to keep looking at him.
    â€˜Please, don’t,’ she says with difficulty. ‘I’ll do what you want, but don’t kill us.’
    He hovers right over her, panting from the effort, an almost hysterical look in his eyes. The knife cuts into her skin.
    â€˜Please,’ Lisa whispers. ‘I’m sorry.’
    â€˜Shut it! Stand up!’ The man pulls Lisa up and drags her out of the garage. Anouk runs behind them, like a nervous fawn that wants to stay close to its mother. Moaning in pain, Lisa allows herself to be shoved into the utility room, through the kitchen, and back to the sitting room, where she is thrown on to the sofa. Blood drips on to the wooden floor. The television is still on.
    Anouk crawls up against her, and Lisa wraps her good arm around her. As if they’ve agreed on a strategy beforehand, neither looks up; they keep their eyes fixed on the trail of blood on the floor. The man plants himself in front of them with his hands on his hips. He stays like that for a time, watching them, until Anouk begins to sob. He sinks down on to the edge of the coffee table, the bloody knife still in his hand.
    â€˜Well,’ he says calmly. ‘Now we are going to agree on a few rules.’
    At that moment the television programme is interrupted by a news bulletin.

4
    ESCAPED CRIMINAL COMMITS MURDER
    For the third time in recent months a dangerous criminal has escaped in the Netherlands. The man disappeared while on accompanied day-release from a psychiatric prison on Sunday afternoon .
    The criminal in question is 43-year-old Mick Kreuger, who was convicted of several counts of murder just two years ago. The police have launched a nation-wide manhunt, but as yet they have no leads on the suspect’s whereabouts. He is highly dangerous, having already taken one life in the course of his escape, and should not be approached by members of the public under any circumstances .
    All three watch the announcement: Anouk with wide eyes that flick from the television screen tothe man, Lisa with a dizzy feeling, Mick Kreuger tense with concentration. Lisa compares the image on the