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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

‘You need him to do it again?’ I asked.

Emmerson hesitated, pushing her blonde hair back behind her ear, before nodding. ‘Well, it would give us more to go on. We’ve got a team calling in on all known local sex offenders; cross-referencing those against the physical description you gave us and determining their whereabouts at the time. It might lead to something.’ She looked tired and a fleeting flash of pity hit me before the anger burned brighter. It wasn’t fair. He was going to get away with it and there was nothing anyone could do.

‘Do you think he’s done it before?’

She sighed and leaned back in her chair, as if anticipating my question.

‘I can’t discuss other ongoing cases, Eve.’

‘But do you?’ I pushed, knowing I was on to something.

Emmerson folded her arms tightly across her chest. ‘Yes. We think so. But he leaves very little evidence behind.’

I felt sick. If only I’d gone straight to the police, we could have had his DNA. They could have been out searching for him immediately. Now, even if they caught him, it was his word against mine.

Lowering my face, I continued to cry. Emmerson reached across the table and rested her hand on my arm, the skin prickled beneath.

‘We’ll keep trying.’ She sounded genuine, but I knew it was bullshit. I was being placated. The case would go cold, no leads to follow and they would move on to something else. Anger bubbled inside, filling me up. I entwined my fingers in my hair and pulled at the scalp.

‘I’d like to be alone please.’ It was as polite as I could manage.

‘Of course. Can you come in around two tomorrow afternoon to look at the photos?’ Emmerson asked, as she stood.

I nodded. I just wanted to get her out of the flat.

When I heard the front door click shut, I slammed my fists onto the wooden table top. Pummelling them into the flat surface as it shook. I howled like a wild animal and threw my chair to the ground, again and again until the wood split. Red-faced and sweating, I returned to my room to sob into my pillow. Everything had gone to shit.

10

SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018

I need to use the bathroom and the interview is paused while I am escorted to the ladies’. The custody officer waits outside for my return. There is little privacy when you are a suspect. I wash my hands in the sink and try to ignore the reflection looming large. It doesn’t look like me. Bruises on my neck are starting to appear, purple blotches in the shape of his fingers. I can’t bear to touch my face; one side is unrecognisable. I look away from the mirror. It won’t do to get emotional now.