Page 37 of She Saw What He Did

‘We’ll visit those with the permits,’ said Ellen.

Scott lifted his feet onto the desk.

‘You’ll do the rounds this afternoon?’ she questioned, glaring at him.

‘Sure. I’ll finish this and then I’ll go and check on the wild holidaymakers.’ He grinned.

Ellen pushed her sunglasses on and left the office.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Abby

The words blur in front of me and I shift uncomfortably in my chair. Sam is playing happily beside me with her dolls and the treasure box. I feel strangely disconnected from things. It’s like I’m waiting but I don’t know what for. My muscles are tense, like I’m constantly ready to flee. In theory we are still on holiday, but Jared has gone into work.

‘We need to do normal things,’ he’d said.

I’d agreed with him while wondering how we could ever be normal again. Sometimes I wonder if I really did see a murder. Then I remember the blood-splattered body and the man chasing us. My heart starts to race and perspiration trickles down my back. I must stop thinking about it. Sergeant Burden had called. She’d been blunt and to the point.

‘They never found a body, or any evidence that someone had died on Laslow Island. I want you to know that I believe you. I won’t give up.’

I’d been grateful for her words but we both know there’s a limit to what one police officer can do.

There’s a clattering sound at the front door and I jump, knocking over my cup. Coffee trickles over the manuscript. I ignore it and hurry to the window to see the milkman delivering our milk.

‘Damn it,’ I curse, turning back to the coffee-stained manuscript.

‘Mummy, what’s wrong?’ asks Sam, looking worried.

‘It’s alright, darling,’ I assure her. ‘Mummy had a silly accident, that’s all.’

My nerves are in shreds. I need to calm down. I fetch kitchen towel and dab at the papers. Sam has already gone back to her dolls. I should have taken her to nursery. I will tomorrow, I promise myself. Jared will be cross when he finds out I kept her home. I need to keep things normal for her. I glance down at the papers and rub my eyes. It’s a tedious crime novel. The writing is dull and laborious and I’m finding it hard to concentrate.

‘Mummy’s just going to make another drink,’ I say. ‘Shall we all go into the kitchen?’

‘We want to stay here,’ she says stubbornly, hugging her dolls to her chest.

‘Right, okay,’ I sigh.

My phone trills and I take it into the kitchen with me.

‘Hi, it’s me,’ says Jared. ‘How’s it going?’

He’s trying to sound casual, but I know he’s as edgy as me.

‘Fine,’ I say. I don’t mention the milkman and my overreaction.

‘I won’t be late,’ he says.

I stand by the living room door where Sam can see me. We chat for a few minutes longer and I hang up. I discreetly check the front door again. I know it’s locked but I just need to be sure.

I make coffee and go back to the edits. Sam sits at the table with me and colours in her zoo colouring book.

Time seems to drag by and I spend most of my time yawning and drinking coffee. It’s almost four o’clock when I become alert. The novel picks up and starts to get exciting and I race through the next few chapters. I stop midway, gasp and re-read the last two pages.

‘Oh God,’ I groan, turning to look at the box that sits innocently on the floor.

I focus my attention back to the novel and read the paragraph again.

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