Page 41 of The Plot Twist

‘What?’ Verity’s head snapped back up.

‘Well, I need to be in touch with Tessa about my book. I guess I could see if I could befriend her, get her to confide in me?’ Allie really couldn’t believe what she was saying now. She was in a deep enough mess without attempting to uncover an underground publishing drugs ring. But saying these words and making these promises was worth it to see the eager look on Verity’s face.

‘You’d do that?’ Verity cried.

‘Well, I’m not making any promises,’ Allie faltered, ‘but yes, I guess I could see if I can.’

Verity stood up and flung her arms around Allie.

Allie fought for air and then when she got her breath again she laughed. ‘OK!’ she protested, pushing Verity off a little bit. ‘I said I’ll try. First I need to write something for her to read.’

‘Yes, about that.’ Verity sat back down in her chair immediately business like. ‘I can’t believe you were lying to me about your next book.’

‘I wasn’t lying!’ Allie quailed under Verity’s look. ‘I was just protecting you from some distressing information.’

Verity raised her eyebrow.

‘Ugh, OK. I admit it. I lost my mojo. Couldn’t write for ages. Had a long dark night of the soul moment and started wondering if I should turn to crime.’

Verity’s eyebrows shot higher.

‘I meant for my writing!’ explained Allie, but Verity’s eyebrows remained stubbornly aloft.

‘You want to write a crime novel?’ Verity asked in surprise.

‘No, not really. Well maybe. I mean, I considered it briefly.’ Allie stood, deciding that now really was the time to distract Verity with salty snacks. If she was being honest, the wine had completely gone to her head. She had already promised to help try to bring down Jake Matthews by befriending and abusing any trust she managed to gain with Tessa. She needed to eat something and fast, before her mouth made any more promises that her weak will and cowardice couldn’t fulfill. She rummaged through the cupboards, disappearing from Verity’s view as she did so.

‘Here.’ She reappeared again, clutching Doritos, Pringles and salted pistachios. Allie pulled some bowls out of another cupboard and dumped snacks out into them, carrying them over to the kitchen table where Verity was sitting. She was heartened to see Verity take a large handful of Pringles and eat them decidedly less than daintily.

‘Carry on,’ Verity said through a mouthful of crumbs.

Allie stalled, trying to remember what she had been saying before the interruption of the snack stop. ‘Oh right, yes, crime novels. Well, I came up with an idea about murdering bankers, you know, a serial killer with a grudge against the immorality of the banking industry, decides to pick them off one by one in a grisly way, as recompense for the sins of their business.’

Verity sniffed. ‘Not a bad premise,’ she said.

‘Thanks.’ Allie felt rather proud of herself. ‘Inspired by Dominic.’

‘What?’ Verity said in alarm.

‘Oh, yeah, I didn’t get round to telling you, what with your firing and then disappearance and all the rest. Dominic dumped me. The night of the summer party in fact. Left here,’ Allie gesticulated in the direction of the front door, ‘in the car of his new girlfriend. I mean, I presumed that’s who she was.’

Allie looked up to realise Verity’s eyes had filled with tears again. ‘Oh, no, it’s fine really!’ she said quickly. ‘I didn’t like him all that much anyway. I’ve got a feeling he was the reason I couldn’t write. Lack of romance you see…’

Verity didn’t look any less close to crying so Allie tried a different tack. ‘Honestly, it’s fine. I’ve already been on another date AND…’ She paused for dramatic effect. ‘I’ve started writing again. I mean, it’s not much, and I could really, really use your help if I’m honest.’

‘Crime?’ Verity asked. ‘I mean, is it the crime novel you’ve been working on?’

‘Oh no,’ Allie said hastily. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve parked that idea.’

Verity looked relieved to hear this.

‘I’ve given it to Martin.’

A look of utter confusion passed over Verity’s face. ‘Who?’

‘Martin Clark, the author?’

‘OK, I have a few questions.’ Verity placed her immaculately manicured hands down on the table. ‘Firstly, Martin Clark? The famous crime writer?’ Allie nodded. ‘The one who wroteIn Darkness?Total Eclipse?’ Allie nodded again. ‘Secondly, how do you know him?’

---