Save Her, Abigail Osborne [ebook reader for surface pro txt] 📗

magic tea, she managed to stop shaking, grateful that she had come in early to prepare. She had not been in a fit state to teach when she arrived. As she sat on one of the small seats, the calming atmosphere seeped into her and she managed to untense slightly. Her nerves were so frayed that she panicked easily now but considering all the strange things that had happened to her that was not surprising. She was running on constant adrenaline, waiting for the next thing to happen.

Could it just have been an accident. Maybe she was just overreacting? What was the saying? Was she seeing a zebra when really it was just a horse?

Charlotte sat down opposite Flora. ‘I need to tell you something. It’s about Sam. He was here. He… he startled me.’

Flora let out a gasp. Whilst Charlotte had been talking, she had realised that she hadn’t told Sophie and began searching her bag for her phone. As she pulled it out, a folded piece of paper flapped heavily to the floor.

Unfolding it, she almost dropped it again. Her blood turned to ice as she read the message that had been created for her from cut-out newspaper letters.

THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE WORMS IT WILL BE IN YOUR GRAVE

Sam was there ten minutes after she called him. Sophie arrived minutes after him and took charge. She called the parents to cancel the sessions that day, informing them of a family emergency, whilst Sam called the police. Charlotte had been sat next to Flora since she had got the note, she had pulled her chair close to Flora’s and refused to leave her side. It took Sam a while to convince her to go home. Charlotte gave Flora a desperate look before finally being led out of the room by Sam. But Flora couldn’t even bring herself to say goodbye to Charlotte. She felt if she moved or tried to speak she would break into a thousand pieces and not even Sophie could put her back together.

Sophie had seemed reluctant to involve the police initially but had quickly seen sense when she had read the note. The cut-out letters were much more sinister than a typed or handwritten note. Someone had spent time on this, carefully cutting out letters and sticking them onto the paper. Yes, a lot of effort had gone into crafting this threat to Flora, it had the personal touch.

The two police constables were extremely kind considering Flora was a blubbering wreck. They sat at a table in the centre, uncomfortable in small chairs designed for small children. PC Wilson, a six-foot-tall handsome young man was struggling the most. Each time he moved in his chair it creaked ominously. He tried to hide his discomfort as he sat sideways, unable to fit his legs under the table.

Tears kept welling up in Flora’s throat cutting off her words. Slowly, she haltingly told them about the strange things that had been happening to her. All the things that had happened before the note sounded ludicrous, but now it seemed it was stepping up.

The police officers took her statement and also one from Sophie as she had been there when the worms were discovered.

The female police constable, PC Valerie, put on gloves and took the note from the table in front of them. She pulled out a clear evidence bag and placed the note into it. ‘It’s unlikely we will pull any prints from it, but it is always worth trying.’ She placed the note back on the table and shifted her gaze to Flora. ‘Now, do you have any idea who could be doing this to you, Mrs Cavendish? Does anyone at all have a grudge against you?’

Flora shook her head hopelessly. More tears escaped and tracked down her face.

‘What about Linda?’ interjected Sophie. Her grip on Flora’s hands was bordering on painful. Flora pulled a hand free to wipe her face. She took the tissue proffered by Sam, sat on her other side. He too had to sit sideways to avoid banging his knees on the table. In any other circumstance it would have been comical.

‘Linda?’ enquired PC Valerie.

‘Linda has a little boy with autism. She came to one of my open days. She wanted to send her son to my classes but said she couldn’t afford them. I said I’d see what I could do but, in the end, Sophie dealt with her for me. Explained the situation.’ Flora felt her face flush in embarrassment. How pathetic she sounded. ‘She’s followed me a few times. Stood outside the centre watching me. But I don’t think it’s her.’

‘Why is that?’

‘I think she is just a desperate woman who is trying to do what she can for her son. Plus, there is no way she could have got into my house.’

‘Do you have any way we can get in touch with Linda?’ PC Valerie took out a small notebook and pen and looked expectantly at Flora.

‘Yes, I have her number. Her name is Linda Tugwell.’ Flora got up unsteadily, wincing in pain. Sophie pushed her back down and went into the office to fetch her bag. She pulled out Flora’s phone and unlocked it, searched for Linda’s number and then held it out to the police officer.

‘Right. I think we have enough information for now. I can appreciate this is a really upsetting time for you. We will be in touch if we need any more information or with the results of our investigation.’

They all stood up and Sophie showed the police officers to the door.

Sam turned and enveloped Flora in his arms. ‘Oh, Flora. I’m so sorry this is happening to you.’ She could feel his warm breath in her hair. His arm tightened around her. ‘I feel so helpless.’

Sophie coughed behind them. ‘Flo, should we get you home? You must be tired.’

She felt Sam lift his head from her hair to look at Sophie. She went to turn herself, but his arms gripped