BooksBarbecue
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

I told Emmerson about the soft voice, how it was more intimidating than if he had shouted.

‘Fantastic, Eve, you’re doing great. I know you’ve told me already this morning, but can you tell me again exactly what happened yesterday from when you stepped into the park.’

After reliving it again for the second time, Detective Emmerson dropped me back at home, walking me up to my front door and seeing me safely inside.

‘Well done. I know it’s been traumatic, and you’ve been incredibly brave. If you remember anything else, please don’t hesitate to call, you have my card. I’ll be in touch in a few days.’

I shut the door and my shoulders sagged, relieved it was over. I wanted a shower but contemplated going back to bed instead.

Hearing the front door, Ben came out of his room.

‘Are you okay?’

I gave him a weak smile. ‘I’m tired.’

‘Tea?’ he asked, and I nodded.

A few minutes later we both sat at the table, tea in one hand, cigarette in the other. An awkward silence between us. I hadn’t smoked for a few years and I didn’t want to start again now, but it was a slippery slope. I enjoyed the stress relief it brought and Ben was only too happy to share.

‘Fuck!’ I hadn’t called in sick for work yet. It was half nine, they would be wondering where I was.

‘What?’ Ben said, alarmed at my sudden outburst.

‘Nothing, I’ve got to ring the office and tell them I won’t be in.’

‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’

No, but I had to at some point. Perhaps if I said it fast it would be easier. Like ripping off a plaster. ‘I was raped on the way to the station yesterday morning.’

Ben’s mouth dropped open and the horrified expression on his face made my eyes fill with tears. He reached across the table and laid his hand on top of mine.

‘I’m so sorry, Eve. That’s fucking awful.’

I grimaced, yes it was.

‘Hopefully they’ll catch him quickly, they’ve got his DNA, right?’

I nodded, although I wasn’t sure, now regretting the bath in the cold light of day. Hopefully there’d be some of him left on my clothes.

5

SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018

‘But he attacked me! He tried to kill me,’ I cry out, cradling my head in my hands. Tears pool on the desk beneath me and my legs tremble beneath the table.

Terry taps my arm and I flinch away. He ignores my reaction and leans in to whisper, ‘I advised no comment’.

‘Why can’t I talk? I haven’t done anything wrong,’ I hiss back.

‘Let’s start with how you met Ian?’ Hicks leans back in his seat, waiting for me to speak.