Page 48 of Dying Breath
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Lucy started to warm up the microwave meal she’d bought at the Co-op a week ago and hoped that it hadn’t gone too far out of date. She was too scared to check the packet; she’d rather not know if she was about to get an attack of food poisoning. She should have ordered a takeaway; after today she deserved it. Neither she nor Mattie had eaten much, surviving on cups of coffee and adrenaline instead.
As she sunk into her sofa, she closed her eyes. Sara Cross, her counsellor, had suggested trying to use meditation as a way to get rid of the day’s stresses. Lucy had rolled her eyes at her, then gone home and tried it – what did she have to lose? She wasn’t very good at it, but it was helping her to clear her mind a little. Of course, she would never admit that to Sara; they hadn’t got off to a flying start due to Lucy’s stubbornness.
She sat on the sofa now trying to empty her mind and breathe deeply in through her nose and out through her mouth, when a knock on her front door disturbed her flow. She looked up at the clock on the mantle; it was almost seven and she wasn’t expecting anyone. She thought about ignoring it but then it came again. She flew up and crept into the hall. It couldn’t be Ellie – she would have been dropped off at Fern’s by now, ready for their early-morning flight. Pushing her face against the door, she stared through the spy hole and jumped. Standing on the other side was Toby. What the hell did he want? Furthermore, how did he know her address? She opened the door, keeping it on the safety chain and feeling like a bit of an idiot. After her run-in with Lizzy Clements, she knew that it was better to be safe than sorry.
‘Toby! What do you want?’
His cheeks flushed a deep red. ‘I, erm, I’m sorry to bother you. I just had something to tell you.’
Amanda’s jibes about him having the hots for her repeated in her head and she felt herself groan inwardly.Oh God.‘How did you know where I lived, Toby? And could it not have waited until tomorrow when I’m in work?’
She saw his shoulders sink and his cheeks turn even redder as he mumbled, ‘Yes, I’m sorry. I didn’t think, I just thought you’d want to know. Sorry.’
He turned and began to walk away down the path, looking like Tom Hanks inBigwhen he’d turned back from an adult into a child and his suit was too big for him. Hoping she wasn’t going to regret this, she slid the chain off the door and opened it wide.
‘Toby, if you think it’s important you’d better come inside.’
He spun around and smiled, nodding his head. ‘I do think it’s important.’
‘Come on, then. My gourmet meal is getting cold. You can tell me while I’m eating it.’
Fully aware that she was dressed in a set of My Little Pony pyjamas, she stood to one side and let him pass. She shut the door and snatched her mobile up from the hall table, also grabbing the too-big knitted cardigan that Mattie’s aunt Alice had made her and wrapping it around herself. She led him into the kitchen and pointed to a stool at the breakfast bar.
‘Would you like a drink?’
He shook his head. ‘I don’t drink tea or coffee, but thanks.’
‘I have wine, vodka, cola?’
‘A Coke would be great, thanks.’
She opened the fridge and passed him a can, then took her meal out of the microwave and peeled back the film. Sniffing it, she decided it smelt okay and tipped it into a bowl. Toby looked at the burnt offering.
‘Is that your dinner?’
‘Yes, do you want some?’
He shook his head. ‘God, no. That looks worse than my cooking. You can’t live off microwave meals, you know; they’re not good for you.’
She looked at him. ‘Who sent you – Browning? You sound just like him.’
Toby looked puzzled. ‘No one sent me.’
She started to laugh. ‘Lighten up, Toby, I’m only kidding. Browning is always moaning at me about what I eat, that’s all. Now tell me what’s so important you’ve had to come and see me at home when it’s your day off.’
‘I know this is strange; you’re going to think I’m weird. I suppose I am, but I’m not a complete freak and I need you to understand that.’
Lucy crossed her fingers behind her back.Please don’t declare your undying love for me.
‘Go on, I’m listening.’
‘Well, I’ve always had a fascination with serial killers.’
That was not what Lucy had steeled herself to hear, and she stared at him.
‘It’s because of my mum.’
