AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jess is smiling, two spots of high colour on her cheekbones.
‘You deserve it,’ she says. ‘You’ve been brilliant through all of this. We know it hasn’t been easy. But it’s nearly over now. Let’s just see what happens over the next twenty-four hours or so. If he dares to show his face, and we can bring the murdering bastard in, well …’
‘We’ll think of this as a last supper then,’ says Pete, then winces as I punch him in the arm.
‘Pete! Don’t even joke about it, please,’ I say, and his face contorts apologetically.
‘Bad joke,’ he says. ‘Is everything in place, Jess? Everyone at their posts for midnight?’
‘If they’re not already, they will be soon,’ Jess replies, glancing over her shoulder at the house opposite. ‘I’ll be across the road with Steph and a few of the others. Are you both happy? You know what to do if anything – and I meananything– happens?’
‘We do. We’ve been well briefed,’ I say. ‘Steph’s come round to go over it with me at least three times now, and Pete’s heard it all twice. All good.’
We stand there for a few moments, looking at each other, and then Jess suddenly takes a step forwards and before I know what’s happening, she’s wrapped her arms around me and pulled me in for a hug.
‘Good luck, Mary,’ she whispers, before quickly releasing me again, her cheeks even more flushed now.
A little startled by the unexpected physical contact, but touched too, I reach out a hand and squeeze her arm.
‘Thank you, Jess. For everything. And good luck to you guys too. It might be a long night.’
‘We’ll see. Take care, right? Both of you. See you on the other side.’
She nods at Pete, then turns and quickly walks away, heading for her car which I can see parked a little further down the street.
We watch her go, then Pete says:
‘That was … well, quite nice, really, wasn’t it? Are you all right? I’ll unpack this lot. Time to double-lock the door and get this party started, I think.’
He bends down and scoops up the box, and I nod.
‘I’m OK. I might go and have a soak, actually. I’ll see you in a bit.’
‘Good idea. I’ll be up in the lounge. See you shortly.’
He’s already marching down the hall, heading for the kitchen. I turn back to the front door, making sure that it’s locked and bolted, then walk slowly up the stairs to the second floor and head for my en suite bathroom. I turn the taps on and scan the row of bath oils on the shelf next to the window, finally selecting lavender and jasmine. I normally find the fragrance relaxing, but I’m not sure it will work today; the strangest feeling has begun sweeping over me. It started as I watched Jess turn and walk away, and it’s intensifying. As I strip off my clothes and climb into the warm water, sinking into it and breathing deeply as it laps around my shoulders, I’m trying desperately to stay calm.
Come on, Mary. Pete is here with you, I tell myself.And we’re surrounded by a huge safety net. Nothing bad can happen, nothing at all.
And yet the bad feeling is still getting worse. The back of my throat is aching, and I have a chill deep inside my chest despite the warmth of my bath. I’m surrounded by people who want to help me. And yet I feel completely alone, I suddenly realise.
Why? Why do I suddenly feel like this? As if there’s actually no one who can really help me at all. As if whatever happens next isentirelydown to me. There are tears running down my cheeks now, dripping from my chin and mingling with the lavender-scented water, and I let them flow, lying there sobbing until the bath cools and I start to shiver. Then I clamber out, get dressed again, and head back down to the lounge.
