Page 5 of Somewhere Only We Know

Rubbish. I liked Anna but I knew full well that she wouldn’t have said anything to jeopardise winning this contract.

‘Let’s get out of here,’ I said with a shiver. ‘Two hours in that man’s company and I need a shower.’

Once the bill was settled, we walked out to the car park and bumped into Kevin leaning against the no-smoking sign, a cloud of smoke billowing from his e-cigarette.

‘Are you waiting for a taxi, Kevin?’ Anna asked. ‘Because I’m sure Maggie wouldn’t mind giving you a lift. I’d offer myself but I’ve got another appointment to get to.’

My heart sank. I’d do it, of course, but I’d rather stuff my shoes with stinging nettles than spend one more minute with Kevin Armstrong.

‘No problem, although Uber is probably the quickest,’ I suggested.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at it, thinking it would be George again. It was my mother.

Hello Magnolia, I hope you’re well, darling? Long time, no see. Are you free at the weekend? Perhaps you could pop over?

I felt my jaw tighten, not fooled by her one bit. She wasn’t interested in whether I was well or not. She only got in touch when she wanted something. Usually money.

‘Taxi?’ Kevin scoffed, shaking a bunch of car keys. ‘Why would I need a ride when I’ve got my own car?’

My reaction was so severe, so instant that I felt every hair on my arms stand on end.

‘You’re not driving?’ I stammered. ‘You’ve been drinking.’

‘Maggie’s got a point, Kevin,’ Anna agreed. ‘You might be over the limit.’

He gave a dismissive laugh and patted his stomach. ‘This body was built to take alcohol. If anything, it sharpens my reflexes.’

The smugness of him. Bile rose in my throat.

Kevin was struggling to stand without swaying. It was people like him who … I shook the image from my head, the one of Brontë in the mortuary, the one which tortured me night after night as I lay awake in the silent hours before dawn. She and Harry had been walking home after seeing a film, two kids minding their own business, when a drunk driver lost control and the car mounted the pavement.

‘Is that right?’ I stepped forward and swiped the keys from him. Any pretence of liking the man had evaporated. ‘Oh dear, look what I’ve got. Reflexes not so sharp, after all.’

‘Give those back,’ Kevin demanded, one hand outstretched, the other clasping his e-cigarette.

I gripped the keys to my chest. ‘Only if you promise not to drive.’

‘What the hell is this?’ His eyes slid from mine to Anna’s. ‘Give me my keys, now.’

‘Maggie,’ Anna warned. ‘Don’t do anything you might regret.’

I pinned her with my stare. ‘Oh believe me, I won’t.’

Kevin lunged at me, but I jumped sideways out of his path and without me to break his fall, he staggered forward and crash-landed on his knees.

‘Shit. Ouch!’ He sat back on his heels and looked at his hands. Beads of blood appeared from under the grit. ‘Help me up, for God’s sake.’

‘I’m so sorry.’ Anna leapt forward to assist, taking his elbow. ‘Maggie didn’t mean that to happen, it was an accident.’

He continued to protest and swear as she found a tissue in her handbag and brushed his hand.

Blood thrummed in my ears as I watched them through a haze. His attitude to drink-driving had triggered the rage I worked so hard day after day to suppress. I’d been unable to save my child from people like him, but I’d do anything to prevent someone else from going through this living hell.

I looked down at the car keys in my hand, then across the car park to the canal on the other side of the fence.

Fatigue, anger, adrenaline swirled like a cyclone inside me and before I had a chance to weigh up the consequences, I threw the keys as high and hard as I could. They sailed over the fence and landed with a faint splash in the water.

‘Oh Christ.’ Anna pressed a hand to her mouth, eyes wide with horror.