Page 66 of The Psychopath Next Door

‘Nah. I looked you up online. There’s no trace of you. Loads of Fiona Smiths, but none who look like you.’

‘What the hell?’ Her pulse was pounding in her ears. ‘You’ve been looking me up? That’s stalking.’

‘No it’s not. It’s a free country. And I just want to know who I’m living opposite. Because there’s something not right about you. Are you even an Aussie, or are you putting that accent on, eh?’

She increased her pace. ‘Leave me alone, or I’m calling the police.’

‘Go on then. I’ve been trying to get them to talk to you, because Iknowyou had something to do with the accident.’

‘You’re a dickhead,’ she said.

His dogs were right behind him, trotting along and watching like they understood what was going on. She was having to drag Lola, who seemed terrified, along on her lead. If it weren’t for his massive German shepherds, she might punch Tommy. Most men, even morons like him, wouldn’t hit a woman back, at least not in public. His dogs, though, if they had been trained to protect their master, wouldn’t care.

Suddenly, Tommy was in front of her, with his phone out. He was trying to take her photo.

‘What the hell?’ She threw her spare hand up to cover her face and whirled around.

‘Come on, hold still. I just want a picture.’

With her back to him she said, ‘If you don’t put that away right this second I’m going to start screaming.’

As she’d turned around, she’d noticed a young couple had entered the field with a couple of small dogs in tow. They were watching, curious. Tommy saw them too, and backed off, putting his phone in his pocket.

He pointed a finger at her. ‘I’m going to find out who you are. I know you caused that accident. Maybe I’ll ask Ethan. He seems to know you pretty well.’

She gave him the finger and he laughed and walked away, the dogs trotting beside him, their tails wagging like they’d seen a fun show.

Fiona stopped walking and bent over, hands on her knees, sure she was going to throw up. The feeling passed, but her head still spun and her heart was hammering.

Had he managed to get a photo of her face? She hadn’t heard a click, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. And if he had, what would he do with it? Who would he show it to?

A horrible realisation dawned.

He could reverse image-search it.

There were news stories out there on the internet with her picture, and even though she looked different now she thought Google’s algorithms would probably match any photo Tommy had taken with the images of her online. After all, Patrick had recognised her. A computer system surely would too.

She had to do something.

Without hesitation, she hurried after him, calling, ‘Tommy. Hey, stop.’

He carried on for a few more steps but couldn’t resist. He turned his head.

‘Listen,’ she said, adopting her most rehearsed smile. ‘I’m sorry for going off on you like that. We’ve got off on the wrong foot. I think I might be able to help you figure out what happened with Albie.’

He turned fully now, the dogs either side of him. Lola cowered behind Fiona.

‘What are you going on about?’

‘I might know what happened. Just ... something I saw the day before the accident. I don’t want to talk about it out here in the open, though, in the middle of a field. Why don’t you come back to my house and I can explain? And I’ll answer all your questions about me too.’

He narrowed his eyes at her. He was suspicious, of course he was. But he was desperate to know. Also, this would feel like a victory to him. Her capitulating. And why would a big, macho bloke like Tommy be scared of a little woman like her?

23

The laser tag venue was on an industrial estate – as fun children’s activities often were – on the outskirts of Oswestry, a short drive from the cabin resort. The idea to go there had come up when we woke to find it was raining and Emma had searched online for indoor activities.

‘Bowling?’

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