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Back Familiar Strangers Save as PDF
Chapters (71)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Prologue
  4. Chapter One
  5. Chapter Two
  6. Chapter Three
  7. Chapter Four
  8. Chapter Five
  9. Chapter Six
  10. Chapter Seven
  11. Chapter Eight
  12. Chapter Nine
  13. Chapter Ten
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Chapter Fourteen
  18. Chapter Fifteen
  19. Chapter Sixteen
  20. Chapter Seventeen
  21. Chapter Eighteen
  22. Chapter Nineteen
  23. Chapter Twenty
  24. Chapter Twenty-One
  25. Chapter Twenty-Two
  26. Chapter Twenty-Three
  27. Chapter Twenty-Four
  28. Chapter Twenty-Five
  29. Chapter Twenty-Six
  30. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  31. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  32. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  33. Chapter Thirty
  34. Chapter Thirty-One
  35. Chapter Thirty-Two
  36. Chapter Thirty-Three
  37. Chapter Thirty-Four
  38. Chapter Thirty-Five
  39. Chapter Thirty-Six
  40. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  41. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  42. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  43. Chapter Forty
  44. Chapter Forty-One
  45. Chapter Forty-Two
  46. Chapter Forty-Three
  47. Chapter Forty-Four
  48. Chapter Forty-Five
  49. Chapter Forty-Six
  50. Chapter Forty-Seven
  51. Chapter Forty-Eight
  52. Chapter Forty-Nine
  53. Chapter Fifty
  54. Chapter Fifty-One
  55. Chapter Fifty-Two
  56. Chapter Fifty-Three
  57. Chapter Fifty-Four
  58. Chapter Fifty-Five
  59. Chapter Fifty-Six
  60. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  61. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  62. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  63. Chapter Sixty
  64. Chapter Sixty-One
  65. Chapter Sixty-Two
  66. Chapter Sixty-Three
  67. Chapter Sixty-Four
  68. A Letter from Jackie
  69. Acknowledgements
  70. About the Author
  71. Also by Jackie Walsh

Jeff nods, lifting the dishes off the counter, readying for action. He must not know what to think. He didn’t expect this drama when he said hello to me the first day we met in the elevator. Giving me his big flirty smile, winning me over straight away. But he’s been in my life, in one shape or form, ever since. I wonder, is he regretting that ‘Hi’ now?

Water washes over my body, refreshing me, and I find myself wondering what Louise is like. Will she be strong? Becca wasn’t. Will she survive this? I hope so. I also hope Danny doesn’t get into trouble, what with little Liam and lovely Joanna. But what if he did kill Katie Collins? What then? Even the idea seems completely bizarre: Danny, a killer. But something inside me argues back. Is it really so unrealistic? Did he not do it before? He said it was an accident, that he was only a little kid himself at the time, he thought he was helping Mom, thought the baby was dead. But what if that’s a lie? What if he didn’t want the new baby there? What if Danny was jealous of Becca, of having to share his adoring mom with this new baby? What if he decided to bury her knowing she was alive? What then?

Chapter Fifty-Two

Jeff holds my hand as we walk in through the sliding doors of the precinct. My nerves are tingling, making me shake all over. But I have to be strong. I have to do this. The cop at the desk tells us to wait while he gets Detective Turner.

Around me people come and go, reporting their life’s dramas, looking for answers, for help. A young man shoves past, eyes wild, anger bubbling in his blood as he rushes outside. I feel strange; this institute of trouble is not where I belong.

I check my cell to see if Danny has called. He texted twice during the night when I was out cold on Jeff’s magic pill.

Her breath is labored

Her breathing is slowing down

What does Danny want from me? Does he expect me to stand by his side and mourn the woman who abducted me? I haven’t thought yet about the funeral, or whether I’ll go. If Dad doesn’t know Mom took me, it makes the decision harder. Maybe I should go for his sake.

After a few minutes of tossing thoughts around in my mind, Detective Turner comes through.

‘Rebecca?’ she says. ‘This way.’

I turn for one last confidence boost from Jeff. He nods.

‘You’ll be okay,’ he says. ‘Just tell her the truth. I’ll be waiting here.’