The Puppet Master Read online

  “Billie doesn’t want me to go there,” replied Adam quietly.

  He had to force down the tirade that was longing to burst from him. He wanted to make her realise that what she did to Billie was despicable. She knew what his uncle was doing and she didn’t do anything about it. She let Billie resort to an overdose. He blamed her unequivocally for the fact that Billie might have died. She could have prevented it if she wasn’t so wrapped up in her own life.

  “Look, I went to see her today. I talked to her. About you. I told her to come to you. To forgive you and be happy. I may not have treated her right or always done the right thing but I know my daughter and I want what’s best for her. I could see the desperate longing in her eyes, just at the sound of your name. But she is petrified that you will hurt her. She won’t let herself come to you. You need to go to her.”

  She walked back over to Adam, who hadn’t moved from the front door. She came right up to his face, a fierce look had transformed her features, and she was very intimidating.

  “I read what you said. I’ve been in this world long enough to know the truth when I read it. So I know that you are what she needs. But I swear to you, if you ever, ever hurt my little girl, I will come for you. And this time, you won’t walk away with just a small wound. You won’t walk at all.”

  She moved away. The menacing look was replaced with a cool, calm and collected look. She walked towards the door and then looking back said, “Now, what are you waiting for? Go, be happy. Make her happy.”

  Billie’s mum smiled and Adam could see Billie in that smile. Maybe she wasn’t as awful as he thought. After all, he knew better than anyone how easy it was to make a mistake.

  The door to Billie’s flat was open. She was lying on the floor. Bobby was draped over her. When he registered Adam’s presence, he walked off, looking over at Adam as if to say: ‘it’s about time’.

  He felt physical pain in his heart at the sight of her curled up on the floor, so small, enveloped in her sadness. She must have heard him enter but she didn’t move. He wondered why she didn’t panic but then she spoke.

  “I told you to leave me alone, Adam.”

  Ignoring her, he got down on the floor and wrapped his body around hers. He pulled her back towards him and breathed in the smell of her. His whole body hummed with pleasure at how right it felt to hold her. His touch broke her defences as she turned over and wrapped her arms around him. He could feel the warmth of her tears through his shirt. He stroked her flaming red hair and whispered to her all the things he’d been dying to say to her. She seemed to cry herself to sleep and eventually he felt her relax in his embrace. He gently lifted her into his arms. Walking over to her bed, he manoeuvred her so he could pull back the covers and put her in the bed. He tried not to wake her, but as he placed her down, her vivid green eyes locked on his.

  “Don’t leave me,” she pleaded, desperation evident in her quiet voice. He carefully moved her over and got into the bed with her.

  Pulling her head down so she lay on his chest, he answered, “Never, I’ll never leave you.”

  Epilogue

  Six Years Later

  The guard had just delivered my breakfast. Normally, I eat with the others but I’ve been put in solitary confinement as punishment for trashing my room and attacking my cellmate.

  The other prisoners and the guards looked surprised when they found out that I have pulled my bed off the wall and knocked out cold a thirty-six-year-old motorbike thug. I am old but they didn’t seem to understand that I had to stay in shape. Strength is control.

  They had taken the picture from me. The picture was the reason that I was in here. I wasn’t allowed to bring anything with me. But it didn’t matter because it was seared into my brain. It was a family photograph. A mother, a father and two children. They are smiling at the camera, they aren’t even trying hard to be happy – it just exudes from every feature. The mother’s love for her children transforms her features. She is beautiful and radiant. Her arms are wrapped around the child in front of her, clutching her like a precious stone. The father fills the picture, using his large frame to touch every member of the family. Their protector and provider. He is looking at his wife with pure adoration. They are the epitome of the perfect family. And it makes my blood boil. Anger courses through my body like poison. I can’t escape the image. When I close my eyes, I see it. When I open them, I see it.

  I know why they have sent it to me. I don’t think that Billie would have had the guts. But then I can barely recognise her in the photograph, joy and love have evolved her into a new woman. I can no longer see the indicators of my control, of the damage that I caused. She is just a normal, happy woman. This made me the angriest.

  I put so much time and effort into shaping Billie. She was my most successful project. She had lived for ten years under my control whether I was there or not. Just the thought of me followed her around.

  But there was no sign of that fear in the picture. Adam had sent this picture. I am allowed to use the Internet, now I’ve earned enough privileges. I saw Adam’s article when googling his name. I laughed my way through it. I was convinced that there was no way Billie would go back to him. My power and hold over her wouldn’t allow it. I taught her not to trust anyone. But now I know she has, just that thought makes me want to smash things again. But the bed is nailed down and I have no cellmate this time. I settle for hitting my head against the wall. The thud of my skull hitting the wall echoes around the empty cell. I won’t have it, the pain is clearing my rage. A plan evolves as the blood trickles down the back of my neck. I have nothing but time ahead of me. I must put that time to good use. I will have my revenge.

  Yes, I am stuck here until I die. But that doesn’t mean I can’t get to them. I have honed my skills of deceit and control. I just need to be patient, and clever. Adam had sent that photograph in a brazen attempt to show that they had won and he had lost. But instead, he’d unleashed his own downfall. I will see to it that all he has is photographs of a happier time. They would be sorry. I’ll make them pay. I’ll put them both back on their puppet strings where they belong.

  THE END

  Acknowledgments

  The first thing I want to do is acknowledge an apology I need to make. My best friend is not a book reader. I’ve failed each time I’ve tried to make her read the books I like and so when I had finished writing this book, I dismissed seeking her help, assuming that she wouldn’t be able to, or that she would not even read the book. How wrong was I? In fact she has been instrumental in publishing this book. She has helped with everything and she is amazing at it too. She read my book and gave me such confidence and belief in myself. If she hadn’t, then I’m not sure I would have published it. Elle, my soulmate, you are fantastic and I love you – thank you!

  Stacey, I’d like to thank you for showing me what it is to be brave. I know that you have gone through an awful time this year and there hasn’t been a day that I haven’t thought of you. I hope that you can be proud of me as I couldn’t be more proud of you, you beautiful strong lady.

  I’ve been blessed with another best friend who also helped me with generating and shaping my ideas for this book. When I first told her my idea it was pitiful but using her to bounce ideas off made this book so much better. Leah, you are my star and guiding light!

  My family and friends are an incredible bunch that have supported me and given me a life full of inspiration for my writing. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today – there aren’t enough words to thank them.

  I’d also like to thank the beta readers that read my book and gave me such in-depth and thoughtful feedback. Jo, Lisa, Davina, Angela, Sara, – thank you so much! I can’t describe how terrifying it was to send off my work to them and they were so lovely and reassuring. I also need to thank my very patient editor and cover designer, Helen and Paul – you’ve done amazing work and I can’t thank you enough.

  I’m a member of a few Facebook groups and they have been incredi
ble as a way to find people to read my book and give me advice when I needed it. So thank you to the members of Book Connectors (this group is particularly amazing), The Write Revolution and Writers’ Support Station.

  My final and most important acknowledgement goes to my husband. I was lucky enough to find the love of my life at only twenty-one. Thank you, husband, for always being at my side. For picking me up at my lowest points and for your unshakable belief in me. The only reason I can write a book about love is because you have given me more love than I could ever deserve.

  About the Author

  Abigail is an English Literature graduate who works with dyslexic and disabled students attending University. She has a passion for reading with her own Dewey decimal system for her books at home and a booking-out system to make sure she gets her books back! She has over 1000 books and can’t wait to hit the 5000 mark. This is his first novel but she is currently working hard on her next. For more information you can contact her at the following:

  www.abigailosborneauthor.com

  @Abigail_Author

  Table of Contents

  Part One

  Chapter One Present Day – 2018 Billie

  Chapter Two Diary Entry

  Chapter Three Adam

  Chapter Four Billie

  Chapter Five Billie

  Chapter Six Billie

  Chapter Seven Adam

  Chapter Eight Adam

  Part Two The Past

  Chapter Nine 1998 Adam

  Chapter Ten 2004 Billie

  Chapter Eleven 1998 Adam

  Chapter Twelve 2006 Billie

  Chapter Thirteen 2003 Adam

  Chapter Fourteen 2006 Billie

  Chapter Fifteen 2006 Billie

  Chapter Sixteen Adam

  Chapter Seventeen Billie

  Chapter Eighteen Adam

  Chapter Nineteen 2007 Billie

  Chapter Twenty 2005 Adam

  Chapter Twenty-One 2008 Billie

  Chapter Twenty-Two 2008 Adam

  Chapter Twenty-Three 2009 Billie

  Chapter Twenty-Four 2009 Adam

  Chapter Twenty-Five 2010 Billie

  Chapter Twenty-Six 2009 Adam

  Chapter Twenty-Seven 2010 Billie

  Chapter Twenty-Eight 2010 Adam

  Chapter Twenty-Nine 2010 Billie

  Chapter Thirty 2010 Billie

  Chapter Thirty-One 2010 Adam

  Chapter Thirty-Two 2010 Billie

  Chapter Thirty-Three 2010 Adam

  Chapter Thirty-Four 2010 Billie

  Chapter Thirty-Five 2011 Adam

  Chapter Thirty-Six 2011 Billie

  Part Three Present Day

  Chapter Thirty-Seven Diary Entry

  Chapter Thirty-Eight Billie

  Chapter Thirty-Nine Billie

  Chapter Forty Billie

  Chapter Forty-One Twelve Months Later

  Chapter Forty-Two Billie

  Chapter Forty-Three Billie

  Chapter Forty-Four Adam