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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

I type in the last date of the pattern from James’s email before the movements went back to normal. Perhaps that will enlighten me? There is a DUI and a domestic recorded on that date but also an attempted assault. Alice King: attempted sexual assault on Blackwater Lane. I scan the notes; the attack was interrupted by persons unknown, resulting in the perpetrator fleeing the scene. My eyes flick back to the pool of orange, searching for Blackwater Lane. It’s there, right in the middle of the orange circle. The other side of Grove Park.

Hicks was right. She’d found him – not only that, she’d caught him in the act.

51

THURSDAY 25 JANUARY 2018

When I was halfway through my workout on Thursday, I jumped as a hand slid around my waist, quickly followed by lips pressed against my cheek. Ian was back. I set my mouth into a smile before turning around to greet him.

‘Hello, gorgeous. Did you miss me?’ His eyes remained flat, not matching the words he spoke.

‘Of course I did.’ Throwing my arms around him for a second before recoiling. ‘Sorry, I’m sweaty.’ I admitted, using it as an excuse.

‘It’s all right, I like it.’ He winked, and I shuddered involuntarily.

‘You just got here?’ I asked, and he nodded.

‘I’m desperate for a workout, feel all pent up.’ He laughed, rotating his shoulders as though he was loosening up for a fight.

‘I’m almost done. Will you be here tomorrow?’

‘Yeah, think so, as long as there aren’t any catastrophes at work.’

I leant forward to kiss him briefly on the lips. I didn’t want him to think I was being weird.

‘See you tomorrow then.’ I sashayed away, hoping he was watching. I had to make myself irresistible. I needed him to ask me to come back to his on Saturday night after dinner. I couldn’t assume it was a foregone conclusion. From previous experience of being alone with Ian, I didn’t think it would be too much of a problem.

In the evening, I spent over an hour on the phone to Jane. We talked about her packing, which amazingly she hadn’t started yet. I wasn’t surprised, she always left everything until the last minute. The countdown to her leaving was edging ever closer and my heart ached. She could tell I wasn’t myself and kept trying to probe, but I told her I was just sad she was going, that was all. She didn’t believe me, she could tell something else was going on. It was impossible lying to someone who knew you so well, but I couldn’t tell her about Ian now.

Friday 26 January 2018