‘You were saying how wonderful Tasha is.’ It was a safe bet that her friend was saying something along those lines. Jodie smiled when Rivka laughed and nodded. It was impossible to spend time with her and not be cheered up. For goodness’ sake, she barely knew Flynn, she shouldn’t allow his shenanigans to impact on her so much.

When Rivka was ready to leave, Jodie jumped to her feet. ‘Give me two minutes to get dressed and I’ll walk to the station with you. I could do with some fresh air and exercise.’

They chatted about nothing in particular as they walked, the way old friends did. At the station, they hugged. ‘Thank you for coming,’ Jodie said. ‘Talking really helped. Flynn will soon be a distant memory.’

‘You deserve better.’ Rivka hugged her tightly for a second. ‘Remember, anytime you need me, I’ll be there for you.’ Then with a wave she was gone.

Jodie felt in a lighter mood after Rivka’s visit. It continued until she turned into Wilfred Street, then it plummeted, rocking her on her feet, fingers of fear tightening around her, making her heart beat faster, her breathing hitch.

Leaning against her door, both hands shoved into the pockets of a beige raincoat, stood a man she’d hoped never to see again. As soon as he saw her, Flynn straightened. He kept both hands in his pockets… perhaps he thought it was less threatening… but it wasn’t.

Jodie stopped, her eyes flicking from side to side, wondering if she should try to run for it, or if… her hand fumbled for the catch of her bag… she should ring for the police. A spurt of anger fought its way through the fear and strengthened her resolve. She refused to be a victim, to be the needy woman he’d wanted to make of her.

With her chin high, she strode to the door of her house, stopping a few feet away from a grim-faced Flynn. ‘What do you want?’

‘I had the police on the phone to me, then spent an hour being interrogated by them.’ He took a hand from his pocket and ran it through his hair. ‘They accused me of leaving threatening parcels on your door–’

‘Not threatening,’ she broke in. ‘At least not at first. But the last one… that mouse, that was threatening, wasn’t it?’

‘And you think I sent that? Seriously? How could you think such a thing? What did I ever do that you would lie about that?’

Jodie shook her head. ‘It wasn’t a lie. I found a parcel tied to my doorknob yesterday. There was a dead mouse inside.’

‘I didn’t send it!’ He turned and walked away, long angry strides that took him almost to the corner where he stopped, keeping his back to her, his shoulders heaving.