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Back The Open House
Chapters (118)
  1. Cover
  2. PRAISE FOR SAM CARRINGTON
  3. Dedication
  4. Prologue
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Chapter Forty
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Chapter Forty-Five
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. Chapter Forty-Eight
  53. Chapter Forty-Nine
  54. Chapter Fifty
  55. Chapter Fifty-One
  56. Chapter Fifty-Two
  57. Chapter Fifty-Three
  58. Chapter Fifty-Four
  59. Chapter Fifty-Five
  60. Chapter Fifty-Six
  61. Chapter Fifty-Seven
  62. Chapter Fifty-Eight
  63. Chapter Fifty-Nine
  64. Chapter Sixty
  65. Chapter Sixty-One
  66. Chapter Sixty-Two
  67. Chapter Sixty-Three
  68. Chapter Sixty-Four
  69. Chapter Sixty-Five
  70. Chapter Sixty-Six
  71. Chapter Sixty-Seven
  72. Chapter Sixty-Eight
  73. Chapter Sixty-Nine
  74. Chapter Seventy
  75. Chapter Seventy-One
  76. Chapter Seventy-Two
  77. Chapter Seventy-Three
  78. Chapter Seventy-Four
  79. Chapter Seventy-Five
  80. Chapter Seventy-Six
  81. Chapter Seventy-Seven
  82. Chapter Seventy-Eight
  83. Chapter Seventy-Nine
  84. Chapter Eighty
  85. Chapter Eighty-One
  86. Chapter Eighty-Two
  87. Chapter Eighty-Three
  88. Chapter Eighty-Four
  89. Chapter Eighty-Five
  90. Chapter Eighty-Six
  91. Chapter Eighty-Seven
  92. Chapter Eighty-Eight
  93. Chapter Eighty-Nine
  94. Chapter Ninety
  95. Chapter Ninety-One
  96. Chapter Ninety-Two
  97. Chapter Ninety-Three
  98. Chapter Ninety-Four
  99. Chapter Ninety-Five
  100. Chapter Ninety-Six
  101. Chapter Ninety-Seven
  102. Chapter Ninety-Eight
  103. Chapter Ninety-Nine
  104. Chapter One Hundred
  105. Chapter One Hundred and One
  106. Chapter One Hundred and Two
  107. Chapter One Hundred and Three
  108. Chapter One Hundred and Four
  109. From Amazon Charts bestseller Sam Carrington comes an utterly tense and taut thriller that will have you gripped.
  110. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  111. Keep Reading …
  112. You think you know those closest to you.You are wrong …
  113. ‘My name is Alice. And my son is a murderer.’
  114. If you play with fire …You’re going to get burned.
  115. AN INNOCENT GAME. A SHOCKING CRIME. A COMMUNITY FULL OF SECRETS.
  116. About the Author
  117. BY THE SAME AUTHOR
  118. About the Publisher

Because in the end, this storm should have passed me by, and I can relax, spend the rest of my days as though none of it ever happened.

Chapter Thirteen

Amber

‘The first group coming out maybe had more people than you thought?’ Jo comes to my side and leans over me, twisting the phone screen towards her. There’s nothing left to see now, though, just an empty step.

‘They came out slowly, not in a big huddle or anything. But yeah, I guess I must’ve.’ I frown, then let out a big sigh. ‘God. I got my hopes up at the end there, thinking the last couple were The Ones.’

‘Nothing to say The Ones weren’t there somewhere today, Amber. It was a pretty good turn-out.’

‘If they weren’t all my friggin’ neighbours, yeah.’

‘I’m sure Carl will give you the lowdown soon. Keep positive.’

I want to call Carl right now. But as I’ve just seen him drive away, I’ll give him ten minutes or so to get back to the office, or home – if that’s where he’s heading – before quizzing him.

The question of how many people turned up is the one upmost in my mind.

‘Right, I’d best get out of your hair,’ I say, finally getting up from the chair I’ve been practically glued to for the past hour. ‘Thanks for lunch, Jo. I really appreciate you having us over this afternoon.’

‘Anytime. You know that.’

I tear Leo and Finley away from the Lego – and Keeley – and we say our goodbyes then walk back home.

‘What’s the matter, Mum?’ Finley asks me as I hesitate on the front step, my hand poised with the key an inch from the lock.

‘Nothing,’ I say, pushing it firmly into place and twisting it. My gut also twists with an uncomfortable sensation. Thirteen strangers have just been inside. It feels weird. But I know it’s not just that fact that is bothering me. The cause of my nervous discomfort is more to do with the horrible thought that someone is still in there, waiting for me to get home.

And then what? They’re going to attack me? Us? Is that really what I think will happen?

With a rush of annoyance at my irrationality, I push the door open. But my boldness vanishes instantly.