Page 71 of One Step Behind

Matthew smiles and then so does she. ‘You can go to that party.’

‘What party?’

‘The one on Thursday. I heard you and Mum talking. I don’t need a babysitter.’ He holds the camera out and snaps a photo of Sophie on the bed.

‘I hate it when you do that,’ she says, covering her face with her hands.

‘Sorry.’

Sophie moves her hands and watches Matthew for a moment. He’s staring at the screen. Her mum’s right. There is something about having the camera that seems to help Matthew.

‘S’K,’ she says. ‘What were you saying about the disco? I can’t go. Mum said I have to stay with you.’

‘I’m old enough to look after myself.’

He’s not wrong. Matthew is almost thirteen.

‘I won’t tell her or anything,’ he adds.

‘And you think she won’t notice when she comes home from her dinner with Trevor and finds I’m out?’

‘I’ll stay up and tell her you went to bed with a headache. You can make a lump under your duvet and I’ll make sure she doesn’t check. Then I’ll sneak down and unlock the back door. She might hear if you come in the front, but I think the back door will be OK. She’ll never know you went out.’

Sophie thinks for a moment. Matthew has really thought about it. She’s not sure she’s ever heard him say so much in one go before. ‘Thanks,’ she says eventually. ‘That would be cool.’

Matthew smiles and takes another photo of Sophie. She throws a pillow at him and he dives out of her room before it can hit him.

Maybe her life doesn’t suck after all. It’ll be just like Matthew says. Her mum will never find out, and even if she does, the worst she’ll do is ground Sophie for ever and her life will be exactly the same as it is now. Wait until Flick and Vicky hear about this.

Chapter 41

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Not long now!

Tick tock, Jenna. It’s almost time to finish this!

Chapter 42

Jenna

The front door bangs and I jump up from my stupor on the sofa, blood pounding in my ears, legs wobbling under me from the sudden shift in weight. Someone is in the house.

‘Who’s there?’ I call out.

‘It’s me,’ Stuart replies, appearing in the doorway to the living room. ‘Don’t shoot,’ he laughs, before checking something on his phone.

The fear is gone, replaced with crushing panic. Have I fallen asleep and forgotten to collect the kids? I was sleeping, dreaming of you again and running. This time it was me who was chasing someone. You, I think. Or Rachel. Buses were flying past us and I almost had you. My hand was out and I could almost touch your shoulder.

I blink, the remnants of the dream disappear and in its place comes the email.Tick tock, Jenna.

I want to call DS Church and ask if she’s been back to see you. Either you’re sending these emails or you’re getting someone else to do it for you. Whichever wayI look at it, you must be in a fit state to be interviewed. But no matter how many times I pick up my phone to call her, I can’t bring myself to do it. She’s called me twice now, and both times I’ve not answered. I can’t avoid her for ever.

DS Church doesn’t think you’re my stalker, and while I know that you are, that there’s evidence on your phone and in your house, I can’t ignore the feeling I’m missing something.

‘You’re home early,’ I say to Stuart, checking the time. It’s only two thirty. I rub a hand against my neck, stiff from my awkward sleeping position.