“Who? I’ve never told anyone apart from you, Daisy and Leanne. Isis said that if you let go of all your worldly attachments, it opens up a channel within you that the spirit world can reach, and … and … Fuck!” She clutches her hands to the sides of her head as though she’s trying to shake the thoughts out. “She said Tommy was in the room with us. She kept saying his last words to me, over and over and over. I can’t stay here, Emma. This isn’t what I came here for. It’s not what I wanted. It’s fucked up. It’s too fucked up.”

I catch Al as she falls into me, and hold her quivering shoulders as she sobs into the crook of my neck. The door to the hut next to mine opens and Isis steps, blinking, into the sunshine. She catches my eye and smiles. I don’t smile back.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Present Day

I’m still staring at the note. It’s not Will’s handwriting. The letter “a” is formed differently throughout the note, with a loop at the top, more like the “a” on a keyboard rather than an enclosed “o” with a tail.

I thump the van’s steering wheel with the flat of my hand in frustration. Of course it’s not Will’s handwriting. What possible motive would he have for trying to scare me like that? Everyone who knows him – including his head teacher and the board of governors – thinks he’s a good man. He’s either fooled us all and he’s a high-functioning sociopath, or he’s as trustworthy and caring as he appears.

I was being ridiculous even considering he was responsible for the letter. Ridiculous and paranoid. I was lying to myself when I said that your past doesn’t shape your future. Or maybe it was wishful thinking. Your memories are the one thing you can’t run from, the one thing you can’t change.

I slide my mobile out of my pocket and tap the keyboard with my thumb. I need to apologise to Will for running off when he put Chloe to bed last night. I overreacted when I saw he’d been reading Al’s article about Ekanta Yatra on his iPad. Whatever his reasons for reading it, surely he can’t have had any kind of malicious intent. We need to talk. I need to talk. I compose a careful text.

Sorry about last night, Will. The alarm went off at work and I was worried someone had broken in to take their dog.

I delete the last sentence. I have to stop lying.

Sorry about last night, Will. I need to talk to you. Could we meet for drinks at The George tonight? 8pm okay? x