If I could just get the cottage winched to a differentlocation that would be perfect.
But failing that, my only option is to give up the tenancyand leave...
*****
Adam’s in the garage working as I trail upstairs to thinkabout packing. I’ll tell him tonight about my plans.
I’ll stay at Carrie’s until I’ve found a new place to live,and maybe I’ll think about buying a little house this time because I looked atmy bank balance the other day and got quite a shock seeing how much of thewinnings I’ve spent already. If I keep going at this rate, spending willy-nillyon ‘little things’ that catch my eye, I’m going to be bankrupt in no time atall. (The ‘little things’ tend to add up alarmingly quickly, it seems.)
I’ll be so sad to leave this place, though.
The gorgeous master bedroom. The amazing kitchen-diner. Thebeautiful wisteria.
My vegetable garden!
Weirdly, that seems more upsetting than anything else. I wasgetting so excited about watching things start to grow and being able to eatthe vegetables I was beginning to nurture from Hamish’s wife’s seedlings.
But I suppose I can grow vegetables anywhere...
With a heavy heart, I start putting clothes into a case.I’ll phone Carrie tomorrow to see if I can go and stay with her and Ronan for afew nights. And I’d better phone Lois at the estate agent to tell her I’mgiving up the tenancy. Where did I put her card? It’s not in my bag. But when Ipull open my bedside drawer, there it is.
I’m about to shut the drawer when something catches my eye.It’s April’s bank statements. The ones she dropped that time I challenged herwhen she was out running.
Idly, I glance through them.
And then, puzzled, I look at them more closely. It doesn’tmake any sense to me. Why would April be receiving...?
My heart beating a little faster at this very interestingfind, I fold the bank statements up carefully and pop them into my handbag.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
‘Look, you have to phone Amanda and say you can seeher after all! I’ll be absolutely fine on my own.’
Adam shakes his head. ‘I’m not leaving you alone. What ifApril turns up again?’
‘I’ll just do what I did last time and cower inside with thelights off!’ I laugh to show him I’m joking – except I’m really not.
Adam plucked up the courage to phone Amanda and ask her outon a date. She suggested they have dinner, and feeling triumphant and carriedaway he made a date for tonight. But he’s cancelled it because of me, which isso sweet of him, but totally not what I want.
He frowns at me. ‘Look, Krystle, Amanda understands why Ineed to be here. I told her about your problems with April and she totallyagrees you’re not safe on your own.’
‘You told Amanda? About April?’ I stare at him in horror.‘Great, just spread the word around, Adam. Krystle’s an idiot. Did you hearthat the stupid woman allowed herself to be scammed by a total stranger in acafe!’
‘Well,Amandadoesn’t think you’re an idiot andneither will anyone else who knows what a horrible piece of work April is.Amanda thinks you should report her to the police and I agree with her. Shesays there’s a special organisation that looks after people who’ve becomevictims of loan sharks.’
I glare at him. ‘Can they stop loan sharks throwing bricksthrough your window in the middle of the night? I don’t think so.’
‘Amanda says she knows a couple of families who’ve gotthemselves caught in April’s evil web.’
‘Really?’
He nods. ‘Amanda says if more people were brave and reportedApril, she might even get a prison sentence.’
Amanda says... jeez, if he uttersthose words one more time, however pleased I am for him, I’m seriously going tohave to nut him.
He sighs. ‘Look, I can see Amanda some other time. I’mstaying here tonight.’
‘No, you’re not, and I’ll tell you why. I’m actually goingout myself. Carrie’s cooking me a meal.’
