02-Shifting Skin Read Online Free Page A

the room, Dawn wrapped some ice cubes in a bandage and passed it across. Fiona regarded her, thinking that her concern seemed to extend beyond mere sympathy. ‘This has happened to you as well, hasn’t it?’
    Those eyes again. They moved with a look of perpetual alarm.
    ‘How could you tell?’ she asked.
    Fiona was surprised at how quickly her crestfallen look had appeared. She guessed Dawn was used to people seeing through her fragile front to the vulnerable person beneath. ‘Your kindness. It’s the sort of thing one shows to a fellow...you know.’
    ‘Survivor. The word you’re looking for is “survivor”.’ But it didn’t ring true, coming from her lips. Dawn sat down.
    ‘I’ve suffered, yes. But in the past, not now. I’m with a good person now.’ The comment was more than emphatic: it was defiant.
    ‘I’m glad for you.’
    ‘And you? How long has he been doing this to you?’ Breaking eye contact, Fiona lowered the ice pack and re-adjusted the cubes inside. ‘On and off over the last few years.’
    ‘On and off? But more and more often?’
    Fiona pressed the ice pack against her forehead and shut her eyes. More and more often? In truth, she couldn’t tell; her recent past had merged into one long nightmare. ‘He’s under a lot of pressure at work. He’s always so sorry afterwards.’
    ‘You mean, once he’s sober?’
    Fiona opened her eyes, surprised at the accuracy of the guess.
    Dawn leaned forward, anger in her voice. ‘They’re always sorry the next morning. But that doesn’t last for long. In fact, it lasts for less and less time. It’s a cycle, don’t you see? It’s a cycle that just gets faster and faster. You have to get out of it.’
    Fiona closed her eyes again, but the tears had escaped down her cheeks. ‘You know that’s not so easy. We’ve been married almost twenty years. I haven’t anywhere else to go.’ She started getting ready to stand. ‘In fact, I should get home. He’ll be asleep now. It’ll be safe.’
    ‘He’s not coming back,’ Dawn said quietly.
    ‘Sorry?’ Fiona replied, half out of her seat.
    ‘The man you married. You’re hoping he’ll come back one day, aren’t you?’
    Fiona pictured her husband of all those years ago. Slim, a full head of hair, the quantity surveyor eager to work his way up the construction company. She thought of him now. Overweight, balding, face ravaged by drink, the strength she’d once found so reassuring now used against her.
    ‘He’s gone,’ Dawn continued, laying a hand on her shoulder.
    ‘Don’t go back there tonight. Stay here – there are plenty of empty rooms.’
    Fiona gave a hollow laugh. ‘I don’t have any money.’
    ‘Sod the money.’
    ‘I can’t have you risking your job because of me. What if your manager found out?’
    Dawn smiled. ‘I’m the night manager. As long as you’re out before the day manager arrives at seven, there’s no problem.’
    Fiona looked around the room uncertainly. ‘Who actually owns this place?’
    ‘Some business conglomerate down in London. I’ve never seen them. It was built for the Commonwealth Games last summer and it’s been dying on its arse ever since. Please don’t go back to him. You’d only be setting the whole process in motion again.’
    Fiona sighed. ‘Staying the night here won’t achieve anything, other than to aggravate him further. I’ll have to face him at some point.’
    ‘Why? Have you left any children back there?’
    Fiona gave an aggressive shake of her head. She couldn’t face that one, not now.
    ‘Then put a stop to it for ever. Leave him.’
    Fiona stared at the floor. ‘Don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me. But leave him for where?’
    ‘Get a good night’s rest, and tomorrow I’ll put you in touch with some people. There are houses you can go to, places where you’ll be safe.’
    ‘You mean women’s refuges?’ Fiona said. ‘But they’re for . . .’
    ‘Battered women.’ Dawn completed the sentence for