BooksBarbecue
Back Stalker
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

Perhaps I didn’t think it through, got too cocky. I knew it wasn’t without some risk. A few days ago I thought I had nothing to lose. Now I realise exactly what losing everything will mean. I’d hoped to be home by now, celebrating my release with copious amounts of alcohol. Looking to the future and putting everything behind me. I thought I was smarter and maybe that was my downfall.

Looking around the walls, I better get used to this space. What is it, 8’ by 12’? The urge to run ripples through me, to feel a breeze fluttering my hair as I head towards the horizon. I may not run again for a long time. At least not anywhere green, beyond the confinement of prison walls.

45

SUNDAY 21 JANUARY 2018

I stopped off on the way back from the hospital to see Susie at Baristas. I caught her just before closing. She locked up and we sat at the back with a latte and a toasted teacake.

‘I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks, Eve, you been busy?’ Susie asked between mouthfuls.

‘Yes, I’m sorry. I’ve been working at the boxing club.’

‘Oh, don’t be silly, pet, I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m glad you’ve popped in. It’s nice to see you.’ Susie was always smiling, it was so refreshing. Life was always better after a chat with her. I wanted to tell her how my stomach was in knots. How the guy I was seeing was a violent sexual predator and what I was planning to do about it. If only I could. ‘Still writing your crime novel?’ she asked, bringing my attention back to the table and the teacake I’d barely touched. I bit into it, the warm butter escaping down my chin.

‘Yes, but it’s slow going.’

‘It’ll come along. Just keep writing, it’ll happen eventually.’

I raised my eyebrows and she chuckled.

‘I had a thought about rebranding. What do you think of the name “Roasted”?’

It was my turn to laugh then. I wasn’t sure whether she understood the term and how it was used now.

‘Told you I was down with the kids,’ she said with a wink.

‘Very catchy, I like it,’ I admitted. My phone buzzed in my handbag. A text had just come through from Ian. Susie noticed me shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

‘Bad news?’

I must be so easy to read.

‘No, but I’m going to have to get off. Thanks for the chat, Susie.’ I put a few coins in her tip jar on my way out as she hadn’t charged me for the coffee or the teacake.

‘Don’t be a stranger,’ she called as I unlocked the door, the bells chiming above my head.

Out on the street, I opened the message.

Hi beautiful. How are you?