“I can’t impose on you like that, Alex.”
“Other option: me and the dogs sleep on your sofa. What time’s your shift at the hotel in the morning?”
She shook her head. “I have a day off.” One that she wanted to spend walking up to Felley Manor, home of Severton’s very own religious community, and talking to a woman she’d met there who had belonged to it for the period of time Abby was interested in.
“Me too.” His arms were still folded and there was a look in his eye that challenged her, almost giving her the promise of a duel.
“Then you don’t need to spend it babysitting me. It was probably a fox or something. I’ll have overreacted.” She stood up at the same time Alex’s phone rang.
He looked at the caller before answering, then glanced at her. “Ste. Tell me what you know.”
Abby heard the murmurs of conversation but couldn’t make out what was being said.
“Which alleyway?” There was a moment where Alex just listened. “How many?”
Abby took a long gulp of tea and waited.
She knew it hadn’t been her imagination or paranoia. Locking the bar up by herself was a normal occurrence. She walked around Severton late at night on a regular basis. Never had she had a feeling of being followed before. She only hoped someone had slipped something herbal into a drink that had made her feel like this and it wasn’t an actual person.
Alex said a brief thank you and ended the call.
“You’re staying here tonight. I can lend you a T-shirt. I have a spare toothbrush.” He was standing now, arms back-folded across his chest, daring her to argue.
“Why? What did your colleague say?”
“Found the remains of a joint in the alleyway, freshly smoked. No idea who it is, or why, but there was someone hanging round and that doesn’t happen in Severton.”
“Like arson doesn’t happen and people don’t get kidnapped?” She heard the tension in her voice. Over the last eighteen months, Lena Rowley, who also worked at Sorrell’s hotel, had been kidnapped and Keren’s neighbour’s house had been set on fire. Lena’s sister Lois had been taken – and found. Felley Manor had lost its main building to an arson attack – Alex’s own cousin had been trapped inside - and there had been two bodies found in burned buildings on the nearby moors.
It all coincided with her arrival in the town.
She knew it coincided with something else.
“Okay, point taken. But that means there’s no chance you’re staying at home tonight. If you don’t like the idea of one of my T-shirts, I can drive you home and come in your house with you while you get some stuff.”
She inhaled deeply and looked at the ceiling.
“Do you have a spare room?”
“Yes, but no spare bed. I’ll take the sofa. You can sleep in my room.”
She shook her head. “That’s putting you out too much, Alex.”
“I usually fall asleep on the sofa anyway. Take the bed, Abs.” His voice had gone softer. “Tomorrow I want to come over to yours and check the windows and look at the security again.”
“They probably weren’t even following me. I was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time. You know, all this with the festival –there are going to be more people hanging around, looking for weak points with the bars and shops.” She didn’t want Alex to think this had anything to do with her, even if she didn’t believe that herself.
“It could be that.” He pushed a hand through his hair, making it stand up. “Or it could be that someone is watching you, Abby Walker, and I think you know that might be the case, you just don’t want to tell me why.”
Abby looked towards the door. “I should go. I’m sure I’ll be fine.” But her feet didn’t move. Gretel rolled onto her back and showed her stomach, the large Alsatian proving yet again she was softer than butter.
“I’m not going to start asking more questions. I know there’s more to you being here than just you looking for a change, but I’m not going to start looking through your handbag while you’re asleep.”
“I really don’t want to put you out. I shouldn’t have disturbed you…”
“And if you hadn’t, whoever was lingering round would’ve either caught up to you or found out where you lived. I’ve asked Ste to drive by your house, check it’s okay, by the way.”
“Thanks for that.” She smothered a yawn. She wouldn’t sleep at home. She wasn’t sure she’d sleep here with the knowledge that she was in Alex Maynard’s bed, but given what had happened two years ago, this was the lesser of the two evils. “Do you really not mind if I stay?”
