Meanwhile, Holly looks like she’s going to faint.
‘Holly, it’s not true.’ I reach for her, but she takes a step back. ‘She’s lying to you. Listen to me, Holly. Look at me. She’s lying to you. I’m not leaving you.’
‘That’s not what you told me,’ Teri says.
‘Shut up,’ I snap.
‘You’re going to leave me with…him?’ Holly whispers, a look of absolute horror on her face.
‘Don’t,’ I hiss. ‘Don’t say a word. Go home, Holly. We’ll talk later. Just give me a moment with Teri and go home.’
But it’s like she can’t hear me. ‘You’re leaving me with?—’
I raise a finger. ‘Holly, don’t say a word. Go home. I’ll be right there.’
Holly looks from me to Teri, then takes off and runs out of the house.
‘Now that was interesting,’ Teri says, head tilted. ‘What was that about?’
‘Why would you say something like that?’ I cry. ‘You know that’s not true. You’re just hurting her for nothing. Because you’re sick. You’re just…evil.’
‘Don’t say a word?’ She narrows her eyes at me. ‘That’s very…specific. What is it about? What was she going to say?’
‘Nothing.’
She looks at me, haughtily this time. It sends a chill down my spine. She nods slowly, then comes closer, until her face is inches from mine. ‘Do not ever wipe my phone again. In fact, don’t even touch my phone, Kate. Ever again.’
‘Or what?’ I ask. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘You have no idea what I’m capable of. Now get the fuck out of my house.’
She nudges Holly’s bag on the floor with her foot. I pick it up.
‘Next time I see you in my house, it better be you bringing me the fifteen thousand pounds you owe me.’ She takes me by the shoulders, swivels me around and pushes me towards the front door. ‘Five days, Kate, or I’m going to the police.’
29
‘Holly?’ I shout her name as I open the door, and for a horrible moment I think she’s run away, but then I see her, sitting on the bottom step, her head on her knees. When she looks up, her face is streaked with tears. Mixed with all that makeup, it makes her look like a sad clown.
She rubs her nose with her sleeve. ‘Is it true you’re leaving?’
‘Of course it’s not true. She’s trying to turn you against me.’
‘Why would she do that?’
‘Because she’s a horrible person.’ I close the door after me.
She stands up. ‘I don’t believe you!’ she cries, her mouth distorted, before taking off upstairs and slamming her bedroom door so hard it echoes through the house.
I put her things on the table and follow her. I knock on her door. ‘Can I come in?’
‘Go away.’
‘Holly, I’m not leaving you. We’ve gone through so much together, you and me. You barely know Teri. Why would you believe her?’
‘Go away!’ she shouts.
I open the door. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ I step inside her room. She’s sitting on her bed, arms wrapped around her knees, her face blotchy. ‘Why do you believe her over me?’
