Girl A, Dan Scottow [best short books to read .TXT] 📗

to let it go. Let them have some fun.

‘Right, Daisy, my darling. What would you like to do first?’ she asked in the poshest voice that Daisy had ever heard.

14

Beth placed a pile of plates next to the sink in Derek and Anna’s immaculate kitchen, turning on the tap to rinse them. She heard Anna’s stilettos clacking across the solid wood floor as she approached.

‘You don’t need to do that, Beth,’ she said softly, standing beside her.

‘It’s fine. I don’t mind. It’s the least I can do after such a lovely meal.’

They stood without speaking, the sound of the running tap breaking the silence. Taking a plate from Beth, she crouched down to place it in the dishwasher.

‘Charlie told me about your latest round of IVF,’ Beth said. Anna smiled, but it failed to reach her eyes.

‘Ah well. When it’s meant to happen it will.’

The tone of Anna’s voice suggested to Beth that she was not feeling hopeful.

‘Anyway, are you okay?’ She placed her hand on Beth’s forearm.

‘Me? Yeah, I’m fine. Why?’

‘Charlie told Derek about the note you got.’

‘Oh.’

Anna’s face reddened slightly as her eyes darted away from Beth’s. ‘I’m sorry. Was I not supposed to say?’

‘No, it’s fine.’ Beth picked up a tea towel, drying her hands, before folding it and placing it back on the worktop. She closed off the tap, turned around and leaned against the kitchen unit. ‘I don’t know what to say about it. It’s… strange.’

‘And you’ve no idea who it might be from?’

‘No.’

Anna frowned.

Beth paused for a moment. ‘Out of interest, what exactly did Charlie tell Derek?’

‘That a letter came through the door on Friday night, and all it said was found you.’

‘Right.’ Charlie had chosen not to tell Derek about the second note. The one he received at work. Or about what had happened with Daisy. Beth was glad of that at least.

‘You need to be careful, Beth. A friend of mine had a stalker. It all got out of hand. He started turning up outside her work, bumping into her in the supermarket, that sort of thing. She went to the police, but they weren’t helpful.’

‘I don’t think we have a stalker, Anna. It’s probably one of Peter’s friends having a laugh. Besides, we don’t even know who the note was intended for. It wasn’t addressed to anyone.’

‘Right. I’m just saying. You never know.’

‘Thanks for your concern. I’m touched. Really. But don’t worry. I’m sure it’s nothing sinister.’ Beth checked her watch, and was surprised to see it was almost ten. The plentiful supply of wine had fooled Beth into relaxing a little. Derek was an excellent host. But the conversation had reminded her that her children were at home.

And somebody was outside her house. Watching them.

She shivered, noticing Anna’s eyes flick towards her.

‘Are you cold? I can put the heating on if you like.’

‘No, I’m daydreaming.’

Beth closed the dishwasher.

‘I promised the babysitter we wouldn’t be late, so I think we need to be getting home.’

Anna placed her hand on Beth’s arm. ‘Have I upset you?’

‘No, not at all, I just… I need to go.’

Beth crossed the kitchen, heading down the vast hallway towards the front of the house where the men were sitting in the lounge.

‘I don’t know. She’s being quite weird about it all…’ she heard Charlie’s voice explain as she neared the door. Derek and Charlie stopped talking at her arrival. As they looked up, Beth couldn’t help thinking they were like naughty schoolboys, caught smoking behind the bike shed.

‘Oh hi, love. You okay?’ Charlie’s face flushed. He wasn’t good at hiding things.

‘We need to go. I promised Margot we wouldn’t be late.’

Charlie checked his watch, frowning, but thought better than to say anything.

‘It’s not even ten yet,’ Derek whined. ‘I’ll open another bottle.’

Charlie glanced towards Beth for approval.

‘No thanks. It’s been a lovely night.’

Beth turned round. Anna was standing in the doorway looking sheepish, holding a tea towel. She’d kicked off her high heels and seemed much smaller now. Beth saw a look between Anna and Derek.

Charlie stood up from the red leather chesterfield he was slumped in, smoothing out his trousers.

‘Right. Thanks for having us. It’s been great. Sorry for shooting off so quickly.’ Charlie approached Anna, giving her an awkward hug. ‘Food really was delicious, Anna, thanks.’

The couple showed them to the door.

* * *

As the door closed with a click behind them, Charlie hissed at Beth.

‘What the hell was that? You were so rude.’

Beth turned to Charlie, swaying a little.

‘Me? Why did you tell them about the note? I was mortified when Anna asked me about it. And I notice you conveniently omitted the bit about your office. They think it’s all got something to do with me!’ Beth’s speech was slurred, angry.

‘Don’t be so ridiculous. Of course they don’t think that.’

‘Anna does. She started going on about stalkers, and a friend of hers, and telling me I need to be careful. I need to be careful? It was you that had someone creeping around your gym delivering you a note!’

‘Yeah, about you!’

Beth turned away from Charlie and marched towards the car. ‘You’re an arsehole.’

‘And you’re drunk. Can you keep your voice down, please? They’ll hear you. You’ve embarrassed me enough tonight already.’

‘I don’t understand why you had to tell Derek. Of all people.’

‘He’s my friend, that’s why. We were chatting at lunch and I mentioned it. That’s all. No big drama. A casual conversation. As you do.’

‘And what were you talking about when I came in from the kitchen?’

‘Oh… you know… bloke stuff.’

‘You were talking about me. I heard you!’

‘You’re paranoid, Beth. We were talking about everything. And you’re my wife, so yes, obviously you came up. It would be odd if you didn’t.’

Beth stumbled as she walked towards the car. But as she got closer, she stopped, eyes fixed on the vehicle. Charlie caught up with her and saw what she was staring at. The paintwork had a deep scratch across it, running its entire length.

An envelope was tucked under