In too deep, p.1
In Too Deep, page 1
IN TOO DEEP
A SHORT SUSPENSEFUL READ
SARAH A. DENZIL
CONTENTS
Also by the author:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Epilogue
About the Author
Copyright © 2023 Sarah A. Denzil
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this work, in whole or in part, in any form.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, organisations, and products depicted herein are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Cover Design by Damonza
Newsletter
Website
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR:
Psychological Suspense:
Saving April
The Broken Ones
Poison Orchids
Little One
The Housemaid
My Perfect Daughter
Find Her
The Stranger in Our House
The Nice Guy
The Silent Child Series:
Silent Child, Book One
Stolen Girl, Book Two
The Silent Child Box Set
Aiden’s Story, a novella
Crime Fiction:
One For Sorrow (Isabel Fielding book one)
Two For Joy (Isabel Fielding book two)
Three For A Girl (Isabel Fielding book three)
The Isabel Fielding Boxed Set
Supernatural Suspense:
You Are Invited
Short suspenseful reads:
They Are Liars: A novella
Aiden’s Story (a SILENT CHILD short story)
Harborside Hatred (A Liars Island novella)
A Quiet Wife: A novella
In Too Deep: A novella
CHAPTER ONE
Godfrey’s Island pokes up like a crooked fang out of the troubled sea. The boat pitches back and forth, and I grab hold of my bag, trying to keep my lunch inside my body. The captain, Frank, grins at me with his cracked lips partially hidden by rugged beard whiskers.
“Almost there now. Hold on, though. The waters are rough around the rocks!” He laughs.
I’m already clutching the safety railing for dear life on this tiny fishing boat. My hair is plastered to my forehead, covered in saltwater. Because the cabin is full of fishing equipment, I kept my bags with me, and they’re at my feet, sliding back and forth, depending on which way the water pushes the boat.
Oliver told me the island was a short boat journey from Newquay, and he wasn’t wrong, but he failed to warn me we would be heading towards such rough waters around the island itself. Cliffs loom above me, making it impossible for the boat to moor. The captain steers the vessel around the coast, and with a great dose of relief, I see the small harbour up ahead.
Frank’s calloused hands work the ropes as rain pours down. “Right. Here you are. Do you have a lift?”
“I think Mr Sizemore is coming to collect me,” I reply. I peer out at the island, checking for cars, but no one is around.
“Now, you can’t leave the island at night,” Frank reminds me. “Oliver warned you of that, did he?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Good. But you can hire me whenever else you like.” He smiles. “It’s twenty minutes back to Newquay.” He nods at the island and frowns. “Pretty place, but there aren’t a lot of folk here now. Just Anita and Oliver, their staff, and a couple of cottages down by the harbour. There’s a few shops for the tourists we get in summer, but…” He lifts his head to the rain. “October tends to be too cold for visitors. Can’t say I blame them.”
I thank Frank for getting me to the island in one piece and pay him my fare, then I climb onto the wooden pier, collecting my heavy bags as the old fisherman passes them over.
“Rose, what the hell were you thinking?” I mumble to myself, making my way down the slatted pier.
Three weeks ago, I was working on a new portrait of my mum’s Siberian cat, Leo, when I took a break and checked my Instagram DMs. Now, I’m no Kylie Jenner, but I have gradually built up a modest following and have managed to make a living on painting commissions for the last few months. Little did I expect Anita Low’s husband, Oliver, to contact me. And I certainly never expected him to ask me to paint his wife, possibly the most famous opera singer of the twenty-first century.
Oh, and they live in a mansion on a tiny island off the coast of Cornwall. And I get to live with them until the portrait is complete.
Though they did fail to mention that the weather is like a freezing-cold monsoon.
Standing by the road, I dig my phone out of my jeans pocket to check whether Oliver has sent me a message. He set up all of this as a surprise for Anita. She turns forty-five in a few weeks and is expected to announce her retirement because of problems with vocal cord surgery. That’s one of the aspects that frightens me. Anita Low might not even agree to have her portrait painted. I assume her husband knows her well enough to make sure it’s something she wants. I hope so, anyway.
Most of my commissions are done via Zoom, or the sitter sends me a photograph, which isn’t ideal, but it works for me, since my customers live all around the world. Those were the methods I suggested to Oliver when he contacted me. But he insisted I needed to meet Anita.
“You need to see her movements,” he’d said. “You can’t capture the essence of my wife without seeing her up close and hearing her voice.”
That was when he offered me the all-expenses-paid trip. For the first time ever, I sat in first class on the train here, sipping complimentary tea and feeling like a queen. The boat was certainly less fancy than the train, but I’m sure staying at the mansion will more than make up for it.
There’s no message on my phone. No welcome. Nothing. Maybe he’s forgotten. I load up Google maps to put in the Lows’ address, but as I’m pinching the screen to figure out exactly how to get up the hill, a blue sports car comes flying down the road. It screeches to a halt a few feet away, some sort of bombastic orchestral music resounding through the windows. The driver’s door opens, and a tall man with dark hair climbs out. He pulls his waxed coat over his head and jogs over.
“Rose?” he asks.
“Yes. Mr Sizemore?”
“Oliver,” he corrects. “Come on. Get in.” He grabs a couple of my bags, opens the back door, and throws them in.
Behind him, I’m wincing at his mishandling of my things. The paints and brushes I brought with me were expensive, and I can’t afford to replace them. I clutch a canvas I stretched myself, not wanting him to throw that around, too, then I place it carefully on top of my bags. He gestures for me to get into the front passenger side, which I do, relieved to be out of the rain.
“You’re soaked,” he says, leaning forward to turn the music down. “We do have some wet autumns. Warm but often wet. They can be extremely beautiful, though.”
He puts the car in gear, and we peel off, much faster than expected, before I can even put on my seat belt. The wet harbour and Frank’s fishing boat become a speck in the back window as Oliver’s Porsche takes the coastal road.
“How was the journey?” he asks.
Now that there’s no rain and saltwater in my eyes, I can take in more of Oliver’s appearance. I already knew he was handsome from his Instagram profile picture, but it’s only now that I see how hot he is. While he’s in his midforties, almost twice my age, he must have aged like a fine wine. The salt and pepper in his stubble brings out the grey tones of his silvery-blue eyes. Neat black hair frames his eyes and jagged cheekbones.
“Great,” I say, swallowing my nerves and embarrassment when I find myself checking him out. “Well, the boat ride was a bit scary, but apart from that, fine.” I pull down the sun visor and check my reflection, hoping I can salvage the current state of my appearance. Anita Low is not going to be impressed by a drowned rat entering her home.
I lean down to grab a comb from my handbag. Oliver watches me, his blue eyes slightly narrowed, as though intrigued. I quickly sit up straight with the comb in my hand.
“Is… Is Anita expecting me, or is it still a surprise? Only I’m a bit of a mess. I’m not sure if I’m going to make a good first impression.” I give him a smile, my cheeks warming. Next to him in his perfectly tailored shirt and slacks, I look like I’ve been living rough for weeks.
“It’s a surprise,” he says. “But you look great. Don’t worry. No one reaches the island without getting a bit of seawater in their hair.”
As I drag the comb through my tangled locks, Oliver begins to tell me more about this rugged rock off the Cornish coast.
“Godfrey was a fifteenth-century monk who split off from the church to set up a religious order here,” he says. “The building still exists, right at the top of the hill. But it’s empty now.” The Porsche traverses another tight bend, taking us higher
“What kind of practice?” I ask.
“One that involved them throwing themselves off the cliff if they heard God’s voice.” He shrugs. “Apparently as some sort of sacrifice. It’s just a rumour, though. And it’s not one I put a lot of stock in, if I’m honest.”
I turn my head to gaze out beyond the cliffs, realising for the first time how far the car has climbed. We’re miles from the harbour now, and the drop is heart-stopping. When I picture a monk tumbling to his death, I pull in a deep breath to steady my pounding heart.
“Are you okay?” Oliver asks.
“Yeah. I… I actually don’t like heights. It’s a bit of a phobia of mine.”
“Oh,” he says. “Then I apologise for telling you the story. It’s a morbid one, but like I said, it’s more than likely untrue. Besides, I’m sure none of them heard God’s voice.”
“You’re probably right,” I reply.
“If you look to your right, you’ll see the remains of Godfrey’s monastery.”
I gaze past Oliver’s head to see the top of the hill and the walls of the old building. Nothing but the rough edges remain, beaten over hundreds of years by the coastal gales. A lighthouse is on the other side of the island, its red and white stripes reaching almost as high as the house on top of the cliff. Then Oliver slows the car and turns onto a new road heading into the island. I’m glad to be away from the coast.
What I assume to be their mansion comes into view, and it’s a far cry from the ruin that overlooks the island. This is modern, glass fronted, with perfectly manicured gardens leading up to the house. Oliver punches a code into the keypad that opens the gates before we cross the threshold onto the estate.
“It’s beautiful,” I say, staring out at the sprawling gardens.
“Anita loves roses, so I made her a rose garden,” he says.
“My mum loves roses too. That’s how I got my name. She gives me a yellow rose for my birthday every year.”
It was just me and Mum growing up. There was no father in the picture, and she never truly expanded on that. The man who provided the extra DNA was a man called Robert whom she had a short affair with and never saw again. But she was such a force that I never longed for a father, at least not consciously. Mum has always been enough for me. I already miss her. I recently moved back home after a few disastrous years following university. But the less I think about that, the better.
“The name Rose really suits you,” he says, pulling me back to reality.
I’m not sure what to say to that. He’s probably being polite, finding the most charming response to my anecdote, but I still find myself blushing, and warmth rushes up from my toes to my forehead.
Oliver pulls up and sets the hand brake, lifting his eyebrows to indicate that we’re here. The heat is replaced by nerves, tickling my abdomen. Now I get to meet Anita Low while looking like a rat that crawled out of the Celtic Sea. That’s basically what I am.
We exit the car, and I’m glad to see that the downpour has reduced to a drizzle. I’m in the process of grabbing my luggage from the back of the Porsche when an older man in uniform strides over to the car. He’s dressed exquisitely, his hair slicked to the side, dress shoes polished to perfection, and a bow tie at his neck.
“Ah, good timing, Wesley. Could you grab these bags for Miss North?” Oliver asks, opening the car door.
“Of course, Mr Sizemore.” Wesley smiles at me as he pulls the bags out of the car.
I make sure to snatch the canvas, because I would still rather keep hold of it. Wesley starts to walk away, and guilt gnaws at me. He’s much older than me, though granted, he has a stocky build and is likely stronger. Still, I feel like I should be carrying my own bags, but Wesley is gone before I can protest.
Oliver notices my reaction. “It’s his job, Rose. He wouldn’t let you carry them anyway.”
I nod, regarding the house with some trepidation. My fingertips feel numb, like panic is beginning to spread across my body. Oliver waves me towards the house, and this is it, my time to meet Anita Low. My mum buys her albums every Christmas, and she’s performed for world leaders, including at the inauguration of the latest US president. Every muscle in my body is taut, like canvas skin stretched across its frame. The lurching of my stomach reminds me of the boat journey. Even though my body resists, I follow Oliver up the front steps to the grand porch outside the house. It’s modern and painted white, with two bay trees on either side of the huge grey door. He pushes it open, and we head into an entrance hall that could have been carved from marble.
The floor stretches as though it’s all one piece, and even though I wipe my feet thoroughly, my trainers squeak and slip across the surface. Following Oliver’s lead, I remove the shoes and put them in a hidden coat closet. He shuts the door, and I carry on into the house, carrying my canvas. I have no idea where Wesley went with the rest of my luggage.
“Darling? Ani? I have someone I’d like you to meet.” Oliver pushes his hands into his pockets and wanders through to a lounge.
My jaw drops. One side of the house is nothing but glass, and the vista is all craggy coast and sea. The water churns and chops, bashing against rocks as it pulls into the shore. The entire wall is one long painting waiting for me. For a moment, I’m hypnotised by the beauty, so much so that I forget to even look at the living room, a space bigger than my mum’s house.
There are footsteps and the swish of fabric. I turn to a door on the other side of the room, catching my first glimpse of this elusive woman. Anita Low is every bit as glamorous as one could hope, dressed in a long, sweeping robe over comfortable indoor clothes. Her scarlet hair hangs over her shoulders, the colour of a red flower petal. Her eyes are as steely-blue as Oliver’s. She wears a full face of perfectly applied makeup, the eyeliner wings enhancing those incredible eyes.
“Who’s this?” she asks. It’s more of a demand.
Anita carries a glass in her hand, and I can only assume that the pale-pink liquid is rosé wine. Her eyes are wide, staring at me in horror. In return, I adjust my gaze to my feet, hoping the ground might swallow me whole.
“This is Rose North,” Oliver announces with a grandeur I don’t deserve. “I hired her.”
“For what?” Anita says, overpronouncing each word.
“Your portrait, of course. She’s extremely talented—”
Oliver’s words are punctuated by a smash as Anita pitches the glass of wine at the wall opposite us. She glares at me then Oliver, who is open-mouthed, before turning on her heel and storming out of the room.
CHAPTER TWO
“I’ll go and talk to her,” Oliver says, rubbing his stubbled jaw. “I’m sorry. I didn’t expect that kind of reaction. She’s… Well, she’s a little sensitive about the topic of her retirement.”
He gives me a tentative smile that does nothing to allay my concerns. Then he walks out of the room, leaving me there in my sodden clothes.
I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s almost three, and that means the sun will be setting in about three hours. Maybe I’ll have time to call Frank and get him back before night falls. Otherwise, I’m stuck in this house with a woman who doesn’t want me here. Then I turn to the glass on the floor and the wine stain on the wall. I put down my canvas, resting it against a coffee table, and head over to the mess. I may as well make myself useful.
Everything in this room is white. Three large white sofas take up most of the space, plus a carpet that stretches from wall to wall. It’s pleasant underfoot, soft and bouncy. The wine is going to leave a stain, but I don’t know where the cleaning products are. The best thing I can do it pick up the glass.
