Page 70 of The World Outside My Window

Laura hesitates. She is starting to piece together a jigsaw in her mind about what might have led Jim to up and leave, but she’s not ready to share it yet. After all, it all points to the fact that she didn’t really know her husband at all – and what sort of wife does that make her? ‘I’m getting there,’ she says.

Jane turns back to Tracy. ‘Do you remember Jim acting differently just before he disappeared, Trace?’

Tracy ponders for a moment, then shakes her head.

‘No, he didn’t say anything to me, love.’ She frowns, deep in thought. ‘Although…’

Laura freezes, her heart caught in her throat. ‘What? Have you thought of something?’

Tracy shakes her head again slowly. ‘I’m not sure. It was a long time before Jim went missing, a few months ago, so it’s probably nothing. Only—’

Laura waits, holding her breath. Could this be the final piece of the puzzle that she needs?

‘A young girl came in here, asking for you.’

‘For me? Are you sure?’

‘Yes, I’m fairly sure it was you. She described you, although of course that meant nothing to me at the time. But she said Laura, and she mentioned Jim. Anyway, I said I couldn’t help her because – well, you never know who someone is or what they might want, do you? So you can’t go giving out people’s details to any Tom, Dick or Harry.’

Come on, come on,Laura willed.

‘Anyway, I mentioned it to Jim when he next came in and he looked confused and said I must have been mistaken, that she must have been looking for someone else.’ She shrugs. ‘So I put it out of me mind, like. I hadn’t thought about it at all since then, and it’s only now you’ve come round asking that I’ve thought of it again.’

Laura doesn’t know what to say. It isn’t the huge revelation she was hoping for, although she isn’t sure what that would have been. But it isn’t nothing either.

‘What did she look like, this girl?’

‘Really young, about nineteen I fink, small slip of a thing. Long dark hair, all over her eyes, baggy trousers, lots of make-up. She seemed nervous, and I didn’t take much notice of her, to be honest.’

Laura can’t think of anyone who fits that description, although…Couldit have been the person she saw hanging around her flat in London that time, the one she chased down the street? That person was small, possibly a young girl. But – what on earth would they want with her? And, more to the point, how on earth would they have known she’s here? Nobody apart from Debbie knows she’s even moved, as far as she is aware.

No, sadly, although this seemed promising at first, the chances are it’s just another red herring. As Jim said, Tracy must have misunderstood. Disappointment seeps into her.

‘Thank you. I’ll keep it in mind,’ Laura says, pushing her basket forwards. ‘Can I pay for these?’

‘Course love.’ Tracy begins ringing the items up and loading them into a thick white carrier bag. She doesn’t flinch at the three vodka bottles and Laura is relieved.

‘That’s twenty-five pound thirty pence please love,’ Tracy says, and Laura hands over two twenty-pound notes. As she counts out her change Jane speaks.

‘Oh, I meant to ask how you got on with Jim’s things.’

‘Oh, I—’ Laura stops, unsure how much to reveal to this woman she’s only met once. She’s never been one for gossip, likes to keep her own business to herself. But then again, she likes Jane, and if she wants people to help her, she needs to learn to be a little more trusting. ‘I found a birthday card from his dad.’

‘Right…’ Jane sounds uncertain. ‘I told Laura she had to search through Jim’s stuff,’ Jane explains to Tracy. ‘Remember what I found in Robbie’s piles of crap?’

‘God yes.’ Tracy hands Laura a ten-pound note and some coins, which she slips into her purse. ‘And what did this card say?’

‘It wasn’t what it said. It’s – Jim told me his dad died when he was twelve. This was a thirtieth birthday card.’

‘And you’re absolutely sure it was for your Jim?’

Laura shakes her head. ‘Not completely sure, no. But I don’t know who else it could have been for.’ She stops. Is she being paranoid? The truth is she can’t be certain of anything. All the ‘clues’ she’s collected so far are nothing more than a collection of ifs and buts. If she really is going to find Jim, she’s going to need something more concrete.

‘Oh, love,’ Jane says. ‘I’m so sorry. Listen, maybe Jim does have nowt to hide. I mean, I always thought he was a pretty good guy, and I’m the biggest cynic there is.’

Laura nods miserably. ‘Maybe. But then again, he’s gone, hasn’t he, and left me all on my own?’

‘That’s true.’

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