Page 4 of The Last One to See Him

Outside, it’s raining, and Kate shivers, pulling her scarf on. She takes out her phone again to order an Uber, trying to ignore her disappointment that Ellis hasn’t replied. Why does she care? She’s let him go.

‘Well, this is a coincidence!’

She spins around and Jamie Archer is walking towards her, zipping his coat. ‘Bloody cold, isn’t it? And I’m sure it wasn’t supposed to rain. Are you waiting for an Uber too?’

Kate nods and turns back to her phone, but she can feel his gaze on her. The app freezes again, and she has to reload it before it works.

‘How long will yours be?’ she asks.

‘No idea – can’t get the app to work. Think I’m going to have to walk.’

‘Not exactly the weather for a nice walk – I hope you don’t live far.’

‘Richmond.’ He laughs. ‘Might be home for breakfast. Well, nice to meet you, Kate.’

Normally she’s on guard, never taking reckless chances with anything, but there’s something about the sight of Jamie walking off in the pelting rain that makes her throw caution aside. ‘Wait!’ she calls. ‘Maybe you can share mine. Supposedly it’s only three minutes away.’

He turns around. ‘Are you sure?’

She’s not sure, but what harm can it do to share an Uber? ‘I’m going to Wimbledon – he could drop you off first then straight on to me. I’ll have to change the booking. What’s your address?’

Thanking her again, he tells her his postcode. ‘I’m really grateful for this. The kindness of strangers, eh?’

‘It’s fine.’

By the time they reach Jamie’s home – a luxury block of flats in a gated community – Kate’s been laughing so much her stomach hurts. The Uber driver glares at them, making no attempt to hide his annoyance that they’re being so loud.

Jamie thanks the driver and opens the door. ‘Wimbledon next for my friend.’

The driver frowns and glances at Kate. ‘No, it was one stop she booked. Only one.’

‘Actually, it was two,’ Jamie insists.

Kate checks her phone. ‘Um, it might not have gone through. It’s just showing your address.’

‘Can’t you just drop my friend home?’ Jamie insists. ‘Wimbledon’s not too far.’

‘No can do. There’s somewhere else I have to be now.’

‘Oh, come on.’

Kate closes her eyes. This driver won’t give in, and through the haze of a few drinks, she hardly cares what happens.

‘Sorry, can’t,’ the driver protests. ‘Booking didn’t come through. Not my fault.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ Kate says, opening her eyes and clambering out of the car. ‘I’ll just get out here and book another one.’

On the pavement, they watch as the car screeches off into the night. Kate clicks on the Uber app. ‘It’s saying the nearest car is forty minutes away!’

‘I’m so sorry.’ Jamie glances at his building. ‘Want to come in for coffee? At least you’ll be dry while you wait.’

‘I’m not going in your house – I don’t even know you.’

‘Actually, it’s a flat. Does that make a difference?’ Jamie laughs, and Kate can’t help but smile. ‘My wife and son kept the family home,’ Jamie explains. ‘It was the right thing to do.’ He points towards his building. ‘Can’t complain – I have a three-bed penthouse apartment all to myself. And Dex is here every weekend. It’s our father–son time together. It makes it all the more special knowing he can’t annoy me during the week.’ He smiles. ‘Just kidding. I love my kid really.’

His words disassemble her carefully constructed barriers. What’s the harm in having a quick coffee with Jamie? All she has to go home to is an empty house, devoid of life because Thomas is with Ellis. She’s never done anything like this, too afraid of the consequences, of what has already happened to her. ‘Show me some ID,’ she says.

‘What?’

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