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Back The Family Next Door Save as PDF
Chapters (117)
  1. Also by
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Epigraph
  5. PROLOGUE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
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  18. 13
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  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
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  36. 31
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  38. 33
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  45. 40
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  113. 108
  114. 109
  115. 110
  116. Teaser chapter
  117. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

But Wildeve did not answer his question because an elderly man had just emerged from the bushes at the entrance of Blatches Woods. He threw a glance down the street and walked briskly toward the parade of shops on the corner of The Avenue before climbing into a battered blue Ford Fiesta parked outside the Doll & Fancy Dress Emporium.

Wildeve pulled open the door and slid in next to Mac.

“That man,” she said, pointing to the car. “Follow him—and whatever you do, don’t lose him.”

67

67

Tuesday 31st July 2018, 2:33 P.M.

26 The Avenue

Dessie settled herself at the kitchen table, the neat rectangle of her laptop in front of her.

She stared at it, knowing that by opening its lid and switching it on, she might be risking everything she held dear.

Since Fletcher—Benjamin, a tiny voice whispered—had come into her life, she’d found a new sense of belonging. She’d dated men—and a couple of women—and enjoyed a handful of long-term relationships, but none had made her feel as Fletcher did, both safe and seduced, that rarest of feats.

From the first time they’d got talking at the station and both missed their trains, he’d struck her as a decent guy, ordinary, straightforward. He’d lived an itinerant lifestyle, swapping jobs, moving from one town to the next because he “liked meeting new people and experiencing new things.” But they had connected and the weeks stretched into months, and before long, she had invited him to move in with her. With a good salary of her own, she didn’t want him to impress her with Michelin-starred restaurants or expensive weekends in luxury hotels. She could pay for those herself. What she enjoyed most were the simple things. He called when he said he would and showed up to dates on time. When she was cold, he took off his coat and placed it around her shoulders without being asked. He didn’t indulge in mind games or petty jealousies and had never given her cause to doubt him. Until now.

“What’s going on, Fletch?” She muttered the words into the stillness of the kitchen, as if the universe might answer her and she wouldn’t have to wade through the murky waters of secrets and lies. But she lacked the temerity or strength, she couldn’t decide which, to turn a blind eye.

She switched on her computer, drew in a breath and typed in Benjamin Turner.

68

68

Tuesday 31st July 2018, 2:41 P.M.

London Road

The traffic on the London Road was lighter than usual with the holiday season in full swing. Wildeve’s gaze was fixed on the blue Ford Fiesta three cars ahead.

“I think we should call this in,” said Mac.

“No.” She sounded sharper than she meant. “I need to speak to him first. We’ll take him in ourselves.”