Page 91 of Forever Mr Black

The friends Theo had when I knew him weren’t the type who would go somewhere like Savage or have even heard of it. Footy and the pub were their main interests. Tara sighs. “But apart from that, I can’t think he’s told me anything that would be useful. Listen, I’d better go. I guess I just wanted you to know that … well, no hard feelings, I suppose.”

I smile. I can’t believe I’m about to say the next words. “Thanks, Tara, for coming round and trying to help.”

She opens the front door and steps onto the landing. “If I think of anything, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you. Anything you remember could be helpful.”

“See you, Sophie.” She goes to walk off and then stops in her tracks, remembering something. “Oh yeah, that was it. I know you said you didn’t believe him when he said he’d got help, but he mentioned going to therapy. Been going quite a while by the sounds of it. Sees her every week. So, I think he has been honest about that.”

I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “Well, that makes a change.”

“Yeah, well, I’ll see you around.” Tara goes to leave when a thought sparks in my head.

“Wait!”

She looks at me like I’ve gone mad.

“When you said Theo was seeing a therapist, you said ‘her’”.

Tara frowns. “Yeah, that’s right. He talked about it one of the nights after he had a few.”

It can’t be.

“Did he ever mention her name?”

Tara looks off into the distance, thinking. “Not sure. I’m not very good with names. I think he did because I remember thinking at the time that it sounded unusual.”

It’s got to be worth a shot.

“Aisling?” I mutter. “Aisling Lonergan?”

Her eyes widen in recognition. “Yeah, that’s it. Do you know her?”

She’s the link. Aisling’s the poisonous connection between Theo, me, and Art. Theo’s opened up to her. Told her about me and him. God knows what she’s said to him to make him turn back up in my life. In return, she’s armed Theo with information about Art’s past.

I feel sick. “Yes. Yes, I do.”

I need to tell Art.

Art! He’s with her now, oblivious to her evil scheming.

Panic rises in my chest as I mumble a thank-you to Tara and rush back into the living room. Grabbing my mobile, I hit Art’s number on speed dial.

“Fuck!” I cry as it switches to voice mail.

I can barely think straight, mentally willing his pre-recorded message to hurry the fuck up. “Art, it’s me. You need to call me as soon as you get this message. It’s Aisling. She’s the one who told Theo about you. She’s his therapist; he’s been seeing her for ages. Call me. And be careful. If she’s gone to these lengths, I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

Now what?

Maybe I should go after him. But I don’t know where he arranged to meet her.

There’s a knock on the door, and I hurry to answer. Hopefully, Tara’s remembered another nugget of information that will help us piece together exactly what the hell has been happening.

I open the door. There’s no one there.

Confused, I step out onto the landing, glancing around to make sure I’ve not imagined it. And freeze.

Theo appears round the corner from where he was hiding. I’m like a rabbit caught in headlights. The last time he was this close to me …

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