Page 112 of Every Silent Lie
“Or massively insensitive.”
“It’s fine. I still have a sense of humour. What happened to your face?”
“I wasn’t paying attention.”
“To what?”
“The door.”
Meredith sits back in her chair, and I’m quite sure I don’t like the way she’s considering me.
“What?”
“The door?”
“Yes, the door.”
Nodding mildly, she picks up her pen. “The door. I may have used that a few times myself.”
I recoil so much, it takes me back a few steps. “He was physical with you?” I murmur, moving in closer and checking the vicinity.
“He had anger issues. I blamed myself for a long time.” She laughs, low and without humour. “You know, I used to beg him not to leave me. It only happened a few times, but each time it did, somehow I concluded it was my fault.”
“Oh, Meredith.”
She waves a hand flippantly, and it’s wholly inappropriate. “I just hope you’re not in the same situation.”
Compelled to ease her mind, I lean forward on her desk. “The truth is, I got mugged.”
“What?”
“Well, they didn’t take anything, as someone scared them off, so I guess it was more of an attack.”
“Camryn!”
“It’s fine, I’m fine. But if anyone asks, a door did it.”
“Did you report it to the police?”
“No.” It’s now my hand flapping flippantly, dismissing her. “It would be a waste of time. There was no one around, and it was dark.”
“You said someone scared them off.”
“She was yelling from a window, and I doubt she saw anything useful. I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Have you?” she asks, tilting her head, her face all kinds of stern.
“I have.” But have I? Because, really, it was only the snow that made the street so deserted. I’ve never walked the streets of central London and felt vulnerable. Could I give up walking everywhere? Do I want to? I shake my head and bring myself back to the present. “Now, then,” I muse, lifting my chin, my eyes on Meredith’s top drawer. “Any suspects?”
The fleeting blush that creeps onto her cheeks tells me she’s wondered. And, perhaps, has a few ideas. “Maybe.”
I waggle my eyebrows and leave Meredith to continue pondering that. “I’d like updates.”
“Camryn,” she calls. I stop and look back. “Phillip’s really pissed off.”
“Is he causing you problems?”
“It’s fine, I’ve moved out. Staying with my parents, but I just thought I should warn you.”
