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At last Steve spoke. ‘Look, I like you, Laura, but there’s clearly something weird going on here, and I don’t want to be part of it.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘If you haven’t already gone to the police, you should do so now. Your ex is a psycho, and I don’t want to end up injured or dead because your ex doesn’t want you dating anyone else. So I’m out of here. Sorry.’

‘Oh, Steve, I’m the one who should be sorry for what’s happened to your car,’ Laura said humbly. ‘Please let me pay for the repairs –’

Steve’s smile was bitter. ‘Forget it, Laura. It’s not your fault, but you’ll have to go to the police. Otherwise this guy will keep ruining your life.’

Laura nodded, feeling awful.

Steve took out his phone, called a taxi and, when it arrived, paid the cab driver and helped Laura in.

‘Goodbye, Laura,’ he said sadly. ‘I’m sorry it had to end this way.’

Feeling numb, Laura wept quietly as the taxi drove off. It wasn’t just the loss of such a nice guy that bothered her so much, but the fact that Jeff was still ruining her life. She’d do what Steve had suggested. It was definitely time to contact the police.

C
HAPTER
41

W
hen an emotional Laura arrived back in the apartment, Kerry hastily threw on her dressing gown and joined her in the kitchen, as Laura angrily told her friend what had happened.

‘Why won’t Jeff leave me alone?’ she shouted. ‘How dare he interfere in my life! How dare he think he can still tell me what I can do, or who I can go out with!’

‘He’s not just interfering in your life – he’s wrecking it!’ Kerry said grimly. ‘I presume your guy Steve will report the damage to the police?’

Laura was looking miserable. ‘He said he would. Unfortunately, he’s not “my” Steve any longer – Jeff’s made sure of that! I’d just assumed that Jeff was still venting, and that eventually he’d stop his stupid carry-on. But what if he doesn’t? What if he keeps hurting anyone connected to me? Even you could be next!’

Kerry nodded, unable to think of anything to say.

Laura sat staring into the cup of coffee that Kerry had just made, her anger mounting. ‘How on earth could Jeff know where Steve and I were tonight?’ she whispered angrily. ‘Even if he was standing outside the apartment and saw us leave, he wouldn’t know where we were going. He’d have needed luck to get a taxi straight away …’

Kerry grimaced. ‘Maybe Jeff’s employing other people to do his dirty work?’

Laura nodded. ‘Yes, I think you could be right. I’m positive he wasn’t outside the apartment when Steve and I left here tonight. So maybe he arranged for someone else to follow us –’

Kerry gasped and Laura turned quizzically towards her. Kerry quickly pressed a finger to her lips, then grabbed a piece of paper and wrote hastily on it before passing it to Laura. Then it was Laura’s turn to gasp. Kerry was suggesting that there could be a listening device in the apartment.

In total silence, and using only hand signals, the two women began checking behind clocks and ornaments, in drawers and beneath cupboards, and in between books and CDs.

Eventually, Kerry located a small device with a tiny, blinking light attached to the underside of the coffee table in the living room. Gesturing to Laura to follow, she headed for the kitchen, where she dropped the device into soapy water in the washing-up bowl. The blinking stopped immediately.

‘Now you can’t hear us any more, you bastard!’ Kerry hissed. Then she turned to a horrified Laura. ‘So that’s how lover-boy knew we’d be at the bar in Flower Street! And that you were annoyed with him for hanging on to the wedding presents. He’d also have known about your date with Steve, because we sat at that very coffee table talking about it!’

Laura shivered. ‘How on earth did he manage to put it there?’

‘He must have done it the night you were both here for dinner,’ Kerry replied. ‘Remember he was alone in the living room for about ten minutes – that would have been more than enough time to attach it.’

Laura let out a groan. She was still finding it hard to take in the enormity of Jeff’s deceit. ‘But why would he want to bug
your
flat? It doesn’t make sense. He and I were still together then!’

Kerry grimaced. ‘Obviously, being married didn’t stop him
wanting to spy on you,’ she reasoned. ‘He must have wanted to find out what you and I were talking about.’

Laura cradled her head in her hands. ‘How could anyone stoop so low?’ she whispered.

‘You said he was insecure – I guess men like him can’t bear their women to be independent of them. And after you’d broken up with him, the device he’d planted here was even more useful, since he could now find out everything about your new life.’

Laura shivered. ‘Why can’t he just let me go? I’m never going back to him.’

‘I don’t think Jeff can accept that you rejected him. He’s convinced that you’ll come back to him if he just pursues you enough. Either that, or –’

Kerry hesitated.

‘Or what?’

‘Or he’s deliberately trying to drive you out of your mind.’

Laura stared at her. ‘Why would he want to do that?’

‘Because if he can’t have you, he wants to make sure you’ll never be happy with anyone else.’

Laura gave a heartfelt sigh. ‘I’ve been a fool, haven’t I? Why did I try so hard to make it work with Jeff? I guess it was because I wanted somewhere to belong, and someone to belong to. I’ve been so lonely since I lost Pete and my parents.’ She looked earnestly at Kerry. ‘Our families give us our identity and history, don’t they? I suppose I thought that Jeff could give that back to me. By starting our own family, we’d be building a family history of our own.’

Kerry nodded. ‘Thanks goodness you didn’t!’

Laura was still reeling from all the bizarre events of the night. ‘One thing that Steve said was that I should contact the police myself,’ she said.

Kerry looked worried. ‘I see the logic, but I’m beginning
to wonder if that’s a good idea,’ she cautioned. ‘Jeff might become even more violent if you report him.’ She put her arms around her friend. ‘I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you.’

Laura said nothing, feeling overwhelmed by Jeff’s vindictiveness.

Kerry injected some positivism into their discussion. ‘Look, it might just be enough to change your mobile phone number. Tomorrow, you should definitely contact your service provider.’

‘Yes, you’re right.’

Kerry squeezed her friend’s arm. ‘Cheer up, love – before long, Jeff will get fed up with pursuing you. Hopefully, by this time next year, we’ll hardly remember his name!’

Laura smiled weakly. She knew Kerry was trying to rally her but, deep down, she wondered if Jeff would let her go so easily. I won’t allow him to get under my skin, she vowed. He’s not going to win.

C
HAPTER
42

‘O
ooooh!’
Kerry wobbled uncertainly and the bicycle juddered for a few seconds, then she fell headlong into a flowerbed.

Alan ran to her and helped her up. ‘Are you okay? You did really well!’

Grimacing, Kerry wiped the dirt from her hands. Her knees were stinging, and she felt certain she’d skinned them both. But she was determined not to cry. She was relishing every minute of her time with Mr Thornton. It was almost like having a dad of her own.

She’d been astonished and thrilled when Mr Thornton had kept his promise. He’d arrived at Treetops one afternoon after school with a new bike in the boot of his car, and it had been exactly the right size for her. ‘But you mustn’t tell Laura, or anyone else, about the bike or the lessons,’ he told her sternly.

That very afternoon, she’d had her first lesson.

‘It’s all about confidence,’ Alan told her, as he helped her to brush the mud off her knees. ‘You were doing fine until you got a fit of nerves, right?’

Kerry nodded.

‘Now, hop up on that bike again, and let me see what you can really do.’

Kerry grinned, climbing on, determined to show Mr Thornton that she was a worthy pupil. He’d already spent ages running alongside her, holding on to the bike as she pedalled up and down Treetops’s driveway. It was only when she’d realised that he’d let go, and she found she was actually cycling on her own, that she’d got such a fright and ended up in the flowerbed. At least the ground there was reasonably soft. So far, she’d managed to veer away from the holly bushes near the front gate.

As Kerry got on the bike once more, Alan held the back carrier and ran alongside her as she pedalled. ‘Keep going, Kerry!’ he shouted, as she cycled down the driveway. ‘You’re really getting the hang of it now!’

Kerry smiled as the bike wobbled. She knew he’d just let go, but she was managing to keep steering straight ahead. Then she cycled around the grass in a circle, and came to a neat stop in front of him.

Alan’s face was wreathed in smiles. ‘You were great that time! You’ve got amazing balance!’

Kerry’s little face was aglow as she wallowed happily in his praise. She so envied Laura having such a great dad! She was enjoying their secret meetings, and her mum definitely liked him too, because they were always whispering and laughing when they thought she wasn’t listening.

However, Kerry had also worked out that once she learnt to ride, Mr Thornton wouldn’t need to spend time with her any more. So she was actually taking a lot longer to learn than was strictly necessary. The pain of a few bruises and scraped knees were worth it in order to have his undivided attention.

‘I’m definitely getting the hang of it,’ she told him. ‘But I still need a few more lessons –’

‘Yes, of course. I’ll see you here at the same time next week –?’

As she nodded, Kerry’s face was a picture of happiness. She had more of his visits to look forward to, and maybe she could fake a bad fall next time, to stretch out the lessons a little longer.

Alan was also enjoying the time he was spending with his secret daughter. Throughout the winter months and into the spring, he’d been giving Kerry a lesson once a week. Having spent the earlier part of the afternoon with Ellie, he was able to claim that he’d ‘just arrived’ at Treetops when Kerry got back from school.

He was well aware that the child had already become a perfectly competent cyclist, but he didn’t mind her little deception – he was flattered that she wanted to spend time with him. He’d also come to appreciate Kerry’s determination and her courage, and he realised that she, too, was benefiting from their time together. She was a hardy little thing, so unlike Laura, yet their differences seemed to have cemented a surprising friendship between them.

Kerry’s mother appeared at the door. ‘Would you like a cup of tea before you go, Mr Thornton?’

‘Yes, please, Ms Beckworth – this is thirsty work out here!’ Alan replied amiably. ‘But Kerry is doing brilliantly. She’ll be a really competent cyclist by the summer!’

Leaving Kerry to put away her bike, Alan headed inside to Ellie’s kitchen, glad of the opportunity to spend even a few minutes alone with her. Seeing her, but not being able to hold her, was torture. And soon, their time together would be even more limited – summer was approaching, and the children would be on long holidays from school.

Alan sighed at the thought of not being able to see Ellie every afternoon. For years, he’d led a charmed life, slipping away from the office for a late – and long – lunch with Ellie almost every working day. Sylvia assumed he was at work all day, and during the evenings and weekends he’d been able to tell her that he had urgent factory business to attend to. But now that Kerry was growing older, things weren’t quite so easy. Already he was unable to visit Ellie at weekends, and during the week he had to leave Treetops long before Kerry returned from school.

‘I don’t know how I’ll cope if the school holidays get any longer,’ Alan grumbled, giving Ellie’s hand a surreptitious squeeze. ‘As Kerry gets older, maybe we can send her to one of those summer camps for a week or two?’

Ellie laughed. ‘Luckily, she’s old enough to join the junior tennis club this year, and she’s really looking forward to it.’ She smiled at him. ‘That takes place every weekday afternoon for most of the summer.’

Alan winked conspiratorially at Ellie. ‘Then I’ll buy her the best tennis racquet money can buy. After all, the more she likes tennis, the more she’ll keep playing!’ He sneaked a hand up Ellie’s sweater. ‘And the more time we’ll have to spend together!’

Alan was pleased. Maybe the school holidays wouldn’t be such a problem after all.

When she saw Laura’s little face appearing at the front door, Ellie thanked her lucky stars that Alan had left ten minutes earlier – it would have been a catastrophe if the child had spotted him teaching Kerry to ride her new bike.

‘Hello, love,’ Ellie said, addressing Laura warmly, more out of relief than anything else. ‘Kerry’s upstairs getting changed.’

She glanced out of the window. Thankfully, Kerry had put her bike away, so there was no evidence of her daughter’s clandestine activities on display. ‘What brings you here today, Laura?’ Ellie asked. ‘Don’t you usually have ballet classes on Fridays?’

Laura nodded. ‘Class was cancelled today, so I thought I’d come over and see if Kerry wanted to play.’

Just then, Kerry came downstairs and greeted Laura warmly.

Ellie smiled at both girls, who were by now sitting at the kitchen table. She produced two tall glasses and filled them with juice from the fridge.

Laura studied Ellie’s left hand as she put one of the glasses down in front of her. The diamond in the gold ring she always wore was enormous, and it sparkled as it caught the light. Laura had always been enchanted by its beauty – she’d never seen anything quite as stunning in her whole life. It looked like a ring that should belong to a queen who lived in a palace, rather than a widow who lived in a very modest house.