I come to a very sudden stop, flattened against somethingsolid and unyielding. Breathless, I find myself staring up into the dark eyesof someone familiar.
Doug?
‘Hey, are you okay?’ Holding my arms, he peers down at me.‘You were flying along as if something scary was after you.’
‘Something scaryisafter me,’ I pant desperately. ‘Awitch called April.’
‘Oh.’ He looks along the street. ‘No one there. I think youmight have given her the slip.’
‘You don’t know April,’ I murmur with feeling. ‘I need to gobefore she catches up with me.’
‘Come on.’ He takes my hand and guides me quickly through adoorway. ‘This is my place. She won’t find you in here.’
‘Oh. Great.’
He ushers me ahead of him, into the entrance hall of a blockof flats, and starts climbing a set of rather grimy stairs. I follow him, mylegs feeling like jelly, glancing hopefully at the first door we approach.
Doug looks back with a rueful grin. ‘Top floor, I’m afraid.’
‘Right.’ I plod on up, panting, sweat trickling down myback, and at last we arrive at his door on the third floor. I glance anxiouslyover the rail to the entrance hallway below, fully expecting April to burst throughthe door at any second.
‘Don’t worry. It’s a yale lock. She can’t get in,’ Dougsays, as he ushers me into his flat.
‘What a relief!’ I stand in the centre of the small livingroom, trying to smile and stop myself from shaking.
I’m damned if I’ll allow April to scare me like this.She’s nothing but a low-life scumbag and I’m determined she’s not getting apenny more out of me.
But I know I’m kidding myself. Because if I were to comeface to face with her, and she threatened me again in that terrifying way ofhers – coldly polite but oozing menace – I’d probably just hand the cash overso I could be rid of her.
Doug is at the window, looking out. ‘No sign of anyone inthe street. I think you’ve shaken her off.’ He turns. ‘Look, sit down. You’retrembling.’ He guides me to the sofa and I plop down on it with a shaky sigh.‘Can I get you anything? My Gran always used to say you need sweet tea forshock.’
I give him a watery smile. ‘So did mine. It must be a granthing. Go on, then. I’ll test the theory.’
‘One mug of sweet tea coming up.’ He disappears into theconnecting kitchen, leaving the door open so we can chat. ‘So who is she? ThisApril person?’
I wait while he fills the kettle. Then I get up and stand inthe doorway, watching him filling what looks like a cereal bowl with sugar andpopping in a spoon. ‘She’s a horrible person who lures in vulnerable people bypretending to be nice, lends them money and then charges them impossible ratesof interest.’
‘A moneylender.’ He looks over with a grimace. ‘Were you ina fix, needing the cash?’
I nod. ‘I was. I’d run up an overdraft and the threateningletters were coming thick and fast. So very stupidly, when April offered tolend me the money, I said yes.’ A shiver runs through me at the memory. ‘Neveragain.’
‘Are you able to pay her back?’
‘Well, yes.’ I glance at him in surprise. He knows all aboutmy windfall from my sister. ‘I already have.’
‘So what’s her problem?’
I shrug. ‘I think she wants to keep me on a string. That’show these people work. They charge you so much interest that you end up havingto borrow more money from them to pay for the first loan.’
He hands me my tea and the bowl of sugar. ‘You could reporther to the police?’
Thanking him, I shovel in three teaspoons and stir, then I takea cautious sip. It’s very sweet but surprisingly comforting. ‘There’s noknowing what she might do if I did, so I can’t risk it.’
‘How much does she reckon you owe her?’
He indicates the sofa and I sit down, and Doug takes thearmchair, leaning forward, tanned forearms resting on his splayed thighs. His expressionis full of concern and I find myself mesmerised by the colour of his eyes.They’re a lovely deep shade of grey.
‘Krystle?’ he prompts gently.
