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Back Stalker Save as PDF
Chapters (66)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. EPILOGUE
  63. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  64. MORE FROM GEMMA ROGERS
  65. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  66. ABOUT BOLDWOOD BOOKS

‘Thanks so much for doing that for me.’ I handed over the cash, gushing of how I couldn’t wait to see Doug the pug wandering around the house when I was out. Inside the bag, she’d included a copy of the order, so I could see how much it was. It was a sweet gesture, but I didn’t believe for a second that she would rip me off.

My redundancy had been paid, although most of it had been swallowed up repaying the debt and this month’s bills. Ben had insisted on helping and paying a little more in rent, knowing I was taking a pay cut to work for Jason. I was touched by his generosity, but he was adamant I wasn’t charging enough anyway and waved away my squirming. It was wonderful to be finally free. I cut up all but one credit card, only to be used in emergencies, which I gave to Ben to keep so I couldn’t be tempted to use it.

As Debbie dominated the conversation with gossip from the people I used to work with, I could see she was faking her confidence, as did I. She used her bubbly personality to hide behind. We agreed to meet again in a few weeks. We were an unlikely pair, but I couldn’t help but find her endearing.

At home, Ben and I were teetering on the edge of a platonic relationship. Some of our exchanges were fun and relaxed, but as soon as there was any intimacy; or conversation that strayed into awkward territory, a wall shot up between us. We’d been to the cinema the weekend just gone and had an uncomfortable brushing of hands as we shared an enormous tub of popcorn. The fact it was dark didn’t help and the action film we’d chosen to see had a frantic sex scene in the middle, unbeknown to either of us. I could sense Ben cringing in his seat as I slid lower into mine, glad the darkness hid my rosy cheeks. I wasn’t sure if he’d been out much with Amy. He didn’t mention her, and I didn’t pry. There’d been no sign of her at the flat. Not when I was there anyway.

He did ask why I hadn’t been to the boxing club and what prompted my move to a new gym. I could tell he was convinced something was going on between Jason and me even though I assured him there wasn’t. Once I’d finished with Ian, I would be free. Then I could see what developed with Ben. If he was interested of course, but by then I wasn’t sure he would be available.

29

SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018

‘Did he invite you back to his apartment?’ Detective Hicks asks.

‘Yes, once we finished dinner, he invited me back for a drink.’

‘How did you get there?’