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Chapters (80)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. CONTENTS
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. CHAPTER 1
  6. CHAPTER 2
  7. CHAPTER 3
  8. CHAPTER 4
  9. CHAPTER 5
  10. CHAPTER 6
  11. CHAPTER 7
  12. CHAPTER 8
  13. CHAPTER 9
  14. CHAPTER 10
  15. CHAPTER 11
  16. CHAPTER 12
  17. CHAPTER 13
  18. CHAPTER 14
  19. CHAPTER 15
  20. CHAPTER 16
  21. CHAPTER 17
  22. CHAPTER 18
  23. CHAPTER 19
  24. CHAPTER 20
  25. CHAPTER 21
  26. CHAPTER 22
  27. CHAPTER 23
  28. CHAPTER 24
  29. CHAPTER 25
  30. CHAPTER 26
  31. CHAPTER 27
  32. CHAPTER 28
  33. CHAPTER 29
  34. CHAPTER 30
  35. CHAPTER 31
  36. CHAPTER 32
  37. CHAPTER 33
  38. CHAPTER 34
  39. CHAPTER 35
  40. CHAPTER 36
  41. CHAPTER 37
  42. CHAPTER 38
  43. CHAPTER 39
  44. CHAPTER 40
  45. CHAPTER 41
  46. CHAPTER 42
  47. CHAPTER 43
  48. CHAPTER 44
  49. CHAPTER 45
  50. CHAPTER 46
  51. CHAPTER 47
  52. CHAPTER 48
  53. CHAPTER 49
  54. CHAPTER 50
  55. CHAPTER 51
  56. CHAPTER 52
  57. CHAPTER 53
  58. CHAPTER 54
  59. CHAPTER 55
  60. CHAPTER 56
  61. CHAPTER 57
  62. CHAPTER 58
  63. CHAPTER 59
  64. CHAPTER 60
  65. CHAPTER 61
  66. CHAPTER 62
  67. CHAPTER 63
  68. CHAPTER 64
  69. CHAPTER 65
  70. CHAPTER 66
  71. CHAPTER 67
  72. CHAPTER 68
  73. CHAPTER 69
  74. CHAPTER 70
  75. A LETTER TO MY READERS
  76. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  77. ALSO BY RACHEL ABBOTT
  78. OTHER NOVELS BY RACHEL ABBOTT
  79. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  80. READING GROUP QUESTIONS

I struggle not to cry out as a memory of the last time I saw Ian leaps into my mind. At least, it’s the last time I remember seeing him. We were in our bedroom and I threw his clothes out of the window. But I have no memory of going back there, of hurting him. Have I erased it from my mind?

I want to do something decisive that will clear my name, but my eyelids start to feel heavy, and the woman takes the cup from my hand and walks towards the door.

‘What’s your name?’ I mumble as she reaches the door.

She stops with one hand on the jamb, and my heart jumps as she answers.

‘It’s Judith, of course,’ she says.

CHAPTER 35

35

I can’t believe that I slept again. It’s so quiet down here, but after I drank Thea’s brew I settled back and my worries seemed to float away.

They’re back now, though.

I remember Thea telling me that I was safe, but for how long? What’s going to happen? When can I leave? Is Thea planning to help me flee the country? I’m so confused and I’m desperate to talk to her. My eyes flood with tears. How did I get myself in this mess? What did I do? I just want to go back in time to before the nightmare began.

I turn my head and see another mug of something sitting by me. I’m thirsty, and I know that Thea’s herbal remedies always make me feel so much better, but right now I don’t want to feel better. I don’t want to forget, and that’s what will happen if I drink the contents of that mug. I want to force myself to remember.

No matter how hard I push my thoughts, to dredge deep down for a glimpse of what happened, all I get in my head is the afternoon when I visited Ian and lost my temper. Nothing more.

‘Come on,’ I moan, beating the heels of my hands against the side of my head. But there’s nothing. Only a blank.

I reach for the mug, suddenly eager to sip its delicious contents and sink slowly back into oblivion. But at the last moment I change my mind. I push myself off the bed. Maybe a cool shower will drive the fog from my brain and allow me to focus.

I turn the handle on the door, for some strange reason expecting it to be locked. It isn’t, and I tiptoe into a dim corridor, scared that I shouldn’t be out here.

‘Hello?’ I call softly. There is no response.