‘She had so much going on in her life. I could have been there more and maybe I could have helped her, maybe offered to put her up so that she could leave her house. I shouldn’t have let her wander alone when she was that drunk at the party. I have no idea what that man said to her but it obviously made an impact.’
‘None of this is because of anything you didn’t say or do. You’ve been really helpful and we don’t want to keep you from your class. Would we be able to speak to Miriam next?’
‘Of course.’ The woman stood and nodded. ‘I’ll go and relieve her now.’
‘Thank you.’ As Kirsty left, Gina turned to Wyre. ‘Looks like we have another suspect. Something happened at that party and I want to know what.’
TWENTY-FOUR
Omar
I have to keep up with everything and the only way I can do that is to watch Annabel’s house. The police drive by now and again like they’re on the lookout for someone but they can’t see me when I stay back. There was a moment of excitement a few minutes ago when I spotted a figure sneaking around the back of the house. A clump of pink hair had escaped from her hood. I wanted to run over and confront the childminder. It’s like she was waiting for the police to go. That girl and Annabel’s husband have been making a fool of Annabel. That much I’ve seen from afar. Anyway, the girl soon went and now here I am, bored again. I’ll be back later to watch and if the childminder comes back, I will confront her. No more hiding in the bushes, Annabel deserves better and I have to start becoming the man I want to be.
I hit a fly that lands on my arm then I play with my phone. Everyone is asking about Annabel. It’s all over Facebook and Twitter. Everyone’s asking but no one has any answers. I select TikTok and watch a video of a dancing dog followed by those roller-skating girls again. I wonder if Annabel watches TikToks. She has a dog so maybe she too would watch the dancing dog video.
Not much more has been said on the news so it’s down to me to fish for information. Mum thinks I’m at school. As I left this morning, it was all,Omar, don’t forget your lunch. I’ve popped in a pack of Gummy Bears because you’re my little Gummy Bear.I tried to get out of her embrace. She’s weirdly clingy, like she can’t accept I’ve grown up and it gets embarrassing when she’s like that in public. It’s since Dad died. She holds on to me like it will be the last time, every time I leave the house. I don’t want her to put mini packs of sweets in my lunchbox. In fact, I don’t even want my lunchbox. It’s embarrassing. All the others at school go to the canteen and I have three pounds so it’s going to be pizza for me.
As I wait, I try to work out the best way to sneak back into school. Going through the gym hall is always best. In through the back, past the shower blocks and straight into the back of block A. I can then simply turn up for my next lesson, which is maths. I bet Ms Law will be teaching me instead of Annabel. I don’t really like her lessons. I’m bound to get a detention if I get busted, but it will have been worth it.
Pulling out the cheese and pickle sandwich my mother made, I remove the foil and throw it to the birds. If I tell her I don’t want them, she’ll be upset. She’ll never know that I ditched them and had pizza. It’s best this way.
I watch as a man delivers post to Annabel’s house. Boring. Where’s the husband and where’s her dad? Maybe I should revise for my chemistry test. Pulling my workbook from my rucksack, I begin to scan my notes on metals and non-metals. It’s no good, nothing is sinking in while I’m here. Instead, I stare at the house. Perhaps her husband chose that green front door. He must have done because it doesn’t look nice at all. More swamp than meadow. Annabel wouldn’t lack that much taste. I’ve never seen her wearing a green this shade and she wears a lot of colourful dresses. I love her style and the way she moves and smiles. Her teeth are the brightest of whites and her skin smooth. I run a finger over my acne scars and scrunch my nose.
I watch as another man walks along the path. He seems to be gazing around as if he doesn’t want to be seen so I duck behind the trees, trying not to catch my blazer on the low hanging branches. I wonder if he saw me. As I listen, I hear his footsteps stop. It’s no good me hiding away. I need to get a better look at him, see who he is. It’s all part of me knowing everything about Annabel. The more I know her, the closer we can get.
Creeping forward slightly, I peer between two branches. It’s okay. He’s pretending to look at his phone but I can see that it’s too low and angled wrong. He’s looking at her house. I duck as he turns. My heart starts to bang like someone is trying to punch their way out of my chest. If he saw me, I am in such big trouble.
What is he doing here?
Just as a car pulls up, he continues down the path. Annabel’s dad and her little girl get out of the car and run to the door. That was close.
I check my phone and notice that I have a message.
You’re in such big trouble, dickwad. Teachers know you’re missing. Boo hoo! Mummy’s going to be so upset with her little boy getting into trouble.
I’m never going to be popular but I am grateful of the warning. I throw my chemistry notes back into my rucksack and jump over the fence onto the footpath where I get straight on my bike. In a few measly minutes I’ll have to face Ms Law and I’m dreading it. As I reach the high street, I wait for the traffic to subside before pulling onto the road. That’s when my eye meets his. Does he know I saw him watching Annabel’s house? The way he stares back, I’m sure he knows everything. It’s like he’s looking inside me.
As I turn back to the road, I swerve, narrowly missing the back of someone’s car and half crash into a hedge. That was close. I pull a couple of leaves from my hair. Maybe next time, I won’t be so lucky. Swallowing, I feel my muscles tense.
He saw me and he’s dangerous. He’s the secret Annabel wants me to keep. I must continue my work to protect her.
TWENTY-FIVE
As Wyre called the station to give Jacob and O’Connor an update, Gina checked her phone. Another message had appeared from Briggs.
Okay, so you’re not talking to me now. That’s mature.
She threw her phone into her pocket. If he wanted to be like that, then so be it. He had found someone new. He was in a relationship and he could save himself the bother of telling her it was over now.
The school office smelled a bit musty and she craved fresh air.
Wyre ended her call. ‘I wonder how long we’ll have to wait.’
Gina exhaled and leaned back on the chair. For once, she didn’t mind waiting. After that message, she didn’t want to go back to the station in a hurry.
‘Sorry about that.’ Miriam walked in, took her cardigan off and placed it behind the chair. She tucked a long brown curl behind her ear and sat down. Her flowery top bulged a little as she sat. Gina guessed she was in her early thirties. ‘I would have been quicker but I caught one of the kids texting and he got a bit cheeky. Detention for him.’ She smiled. ‘Kirsty said you wanted to talk to me. She said it was about Annabel. We’re all getting really worried. How can I help?’
‘We’d just like to ask you a few questions. It shouldn’t take long. Do you mind if we call you Miriam?’
