BooksBarbecue
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

I think of Jeff, sitting in there by Dad’s side. I wonder if they’re talking, discussing me or Danny, or just sitting there, Dad trying to swallow the truth, Jeff wishing he was someplace else.

‘There’s a deli over there,’ Joanna says, pointing to Jack’s Deli across the road. ‘Or there’s a vending machine inside.’

I don’t want to answer her, to make normal conversation with her after what she’s done, so I walk in the direction of the precinct. ‘Do you need change?’ she says, taking her purse from her bag. I grab the purse and walk ahead of her into the building. Dad turns to look at me when he hears the doors open. I freeze.

‘It’s over there,’ Ms. Know-All says, her manicured nail pointing at the machine in the corner. Afraid to take my eyes off Dad in case he disappears, I stand for a moment watching him watching me. Do something, Dad, say something. He smiles, just a small one. It forces its shape onto his shrinking face. But it’s enough for now.

Joanna walks back over to Dad while I make my way to the vending machine. Two dollars, I need two dollars. Opening the zip on her expensive Gucci purse, I take out a bundle of notes as a young woman pushes past me, cursing and swinging her arms, knocking the purse from my hand. It opens out – credit cards, identity cards, loyalty cards, probably all in alphabetical order, fill the pockets of the wallet. Bending down, I’m about to close it over when I see something that looks out of place. A slip of white notepaper.

I open it.

Chapter Sixty-Three

To Rebecca Wall,

My name is Katie Collins. I need to talk to you. My cell is 1 504 6070143 Email – [email protected]. I’m only in town for a few days. It’s crucial we meet up.

I HAVE SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU.

Call me.

Katie

I read it again, this time the room fading from my consciousness. It was her. Joanna. Perfect fucking Joanna, with her perfect eyelashes and perfect house. How could I not have seen it? I knew it was someone in the family but she completely dodged my radar. How could I possibly have suspected Danny or Dad?

Oh my God. Joanna killed Katie Collins. She had the note all along. She is the one who arranged to meet Katie. What does this mean? Poor Liam. Poor Danny. The bitch stood by and let Danny get arrested. How could she do that?

I lift my head. All I can see is Joanna. Dark green eyes open wide, locked on mine, unable to blink. MAC Chili-coated lips, open with fear. Slowly I stand, holding the stare, clenching the note in my hand.