Girl A

by Dan Scottow

  ‘Margot, I–’

  Before she could finish Margot had marched around to her side of the desk and was peeling her out of her black leather swivel chair.

  ‘Come with me right now. We are going to the ladies. You are going to put on some lippy and we are going out.’

  She dragged Beth out of the office.

  ‘Hold on!’ Beth shouted, pulling away. She darted back to her desk, picking up the note, folding it into quarters. She slipped it into her bag and threw the strap over her shoulder before rejoining Margot in the doorway.

  As she stepped out of her office, her eyes flicked around the room.

  And there she was.

  Vicky.

  Leaning on her desk and staring at Beth. That same old smile playing on her lips. She didn’t wave this time. She watched as Margot dragged Beth into the lavatories.

  ‘I’ll have to text Charlie and get him to pick Daisy up from school.’

  ‘I’m sure he can manage to be a father for one evening.’

  ‘That’s not fair. He does a lot. His job keeps him very busy.’

  ‘And yours doesn’t?’

  ‘Of course it does, but it’s easier for me to slip away. They’re much more accommodating here.’

  Margot applied a fresh coat of lip gloss, eyeing Beth in the mirror.

  ‘All I’m saying is it won’t hurt him to look after his children for a few hours while you come out and get shit-faced with me!’

  Beth pulled her phone out of her bag, typing a quick message to Charlie.

  Margot sprayed herself in a mist of floral-scented perfume, handing the bottle to Beth. She glanced at her reflection, then in Margot’s direction.

  ‘Do I look okay? I’m not prepared for a night out.’

  Margot spun Beth around so she could assess her. She eyed Beth’s black dress and matching patent stilettos.

  ‘I’m loving the whole Morticia Addams vibe, darling. Very chic.’ She winked.

  Beth exhaled.

  ‘I’m kidding, sweetie. You look amazing. Black is the new black, haven’t you heard? Nobody would ever guess that you had completely forgotten your boss’s birthday drinks.’

  Margot cocked her head to one side. ‘Hold on.’

  She reached up, unclipping the comb holding Beth’s hair in place, and it fell down around her shoulders. Margo ruffled Beth’s locks energetically with both hands, then smiled.

  ‘Beautiful.’

  * * *

  An hour later they were standing outside a noisy bar on the seafront. Beth stood alone, staring out at the coloured lights of Brighton Pier, as Margot mingled, laughing, working the crowd. She was good at this.

  Beth, on the other hand, was hopeless.

  She didn’t go out much. She never had. She enjoyed a drink behind closed doors, in the comfort of her home, but in this setting she felt vulnerable.

  ‘Beth, hey!’

  Beth turned to see Vicky heading towards her with a brightly coloured cocktail. She had a good-looking guy in tow. Thirties. Messy short brown hair framed an angular jaw. His thick, bushy eyebrows almost met in the middle. Pale skin that was decorated with a dusting of designer stubble.

  Beth imagined that people often warmed to him without him having to try very hard.

  He reminded her a little of Charlie. When he was younger.

  She tried to pretend she hadn’t seen them, but she was too late. Before she could escape, Vicky was in her face. Her companion stood looking shy in the background a few metres away.

  Vicky leaned in and gave her a kiss on each cheek. Beth froze at the close contact with a virtual stranger.

  ‘This is my friend, Mikey,’ Vicky yelled, motioning behind her with her free hand. She placed her lips around a plastic straw protruding from her glass and slurped the fluorescent-green liquid noisily.

  Mikey gave her a wave. Beth didn’t return it.

  ‘So I realised why I thought I know you.’ The sickly-sweet smell of the drink wafted into Beth’s face on Vicky’s warm breath. Beth took a sip of her wine to dispel the aroma. She breathed in deeply, her nose inside the glass, as the cold liquid ran down her throat.

  ‘Is that right?’ Beth replied.

  ‘Yeah. On my media studies course. We looked at loads of famous court cases and stuff, and how the press handled them. How they treated suspects and all that, you know.’

  Beth didn’t know. She didn’t care. Why Vicky thought she would be interested was beyond her. She stared into Vicky’s eyes. Waiting.

  Mikey stood in the background looking at his phone. It rang, and he walked away onto the promenade as he answered the call.

  ‘Anyway, you look just like that girl, Kitty Briscoe.’

  Beth tried to keep any emotion from her face.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘You know… Her and her friend killed that little boy, Billy Noakes. But she was acquitted. That newspaper in Birmingham printed her name and picture. Got fined shitloads of money for it. It basically finished them.’

  Beth raised herself up on her toes, looking over Vicky’s shoulder. She saw Margot was facing the wrong direction. No chance of a rescue there.

  ‘I’m sorry, I don’t remember.’

  Vicky frowned, cocking her head. ‘Even I know about it and I wasn’t born. It was like, a totally huge story. Still is. Most people think she should have gone down for it.’

  Vicky raised her glass and drained the dregs of her drink.

  ‘And you’re telling me all this why?’ Beth asked, her tone clipped.

  ‘You look like her. That’s why I thought I recognised you. You could be her. Like, she disappeared after the media leaked her name and picture, so you could literally be her.’ Vicky laughed.

  Beth reached up and grabbed Vicky’s wrist.

  ‘Ow-ch!’ she cried overdramatically.

  Beth leaned in close, so only Vicky could hear her.

  ‘Let’s get something straight, okay,’ she hissed. ‘We are not friends. We will never be friends. I don’t care about your anecdotes. I don’t care if you think I look like some kid from a case you studied at school. I don’t care about any of that stuff.’

  ‘Let go of my wrist, you’re hurting me!’

  ‘Keep away from me. Stop staring at me. Stop talking to me. Don’t come anywhere near me. If you continue with whatever this is that you are doing, I will destroy you. I know what you’ve been doing. Do you understand?’

  ‘What the hell is wrong with you, you psycho!’

  ‘Do you understand?’

  Vicky nodded frantically. She looked like she might cry.

  Beth let go of Vicky’s wrist.

  Vicky raised her other hand and nursed it gently, looking at Beth with trepidation.

  ‘I think we’re done here,’ Beth whispered.

  Vicky looked indignantly at her.

  ‘If Mikey comes back tell him I’m inside.’ She spun around and disappeared into the noisy bar.

  Beth glanced at her empty glass and was about to put it down on the floor and attempt to slip away unnoticed when Mikey reappeared next to her.

  ‘Hey. Do you know where Vicky went?’

  Beth felt embarrassed. She was glad he hadn’t witnessed their altercation.

  ‘She said she was going home.’

  Mikey frowned, then glanced around the throng of people congregating outside the bar. He looked at the empty glass in Beth’s hand.

  ‘Can I get you another?’ He nodded towards the glass.

  Beth looked down. It took her a moment to realise what he was asking.

  ‘Oh, no thanks. I think I’ve got to go, actually.’

  ‘Go on. The only person I know here seems to have abandoned me. Let me buy you a drink?’

  Beth looked around, trying to get Margot’s attention, but she was deeply engrossed in a story. Huge hand gestures, lots of laughing. The life and soul of the party, eternally.

  ‘Okay, just the one though.’

  ‘White wine?’

  Beth n
odded, and Mikey smiled before heading into the bar.

  He returned a few minutes later with two large glasses of wine in his hands, and two packets of crisps in his mouth. Beth took one of the glasses, and Mikey grabbed the crisps from his lips.

  ‘Salt and vinegar or cheese and onion?’

  ‘Either,’ Beth replied. She took a sip.

  ‘Sorry, I don’t think I got your name.’

  ‘I’m Beth.’ She held out her hand and Mikey shook it.

  ‘Hey, Beth. Nice to meet you. So you work with Vicky?’

  ‘Kind of. I don’t really know her.’

  Mikey took a gulp of his drink.

  ‘Right. So what do you do there?’

  ‘I work in submissions. I basically vet all the manuscripts that get sent in. The good ones get passed on to Chloe for consideration, the others… don’t!’ She smiled guiltily.

  Mikey sucked in air through his teeth.

  ‘Cut-throat!’

  ‘We kind of have to be. We’re in this business to make money primarily. There’s no point in wasting time on stuff we don’t believe in.’

  Mikey screwed up his face.

  ‘Remind me not to get on your bad side.’

  Beth laughed. ‘Hey, I’m a nice person… at least I think I am. It’s my job. I wouldn’t last very long if I passed any old rubbish through to Chloe.’

  ‘That’s okay. I’m winding you up. You definitely seem like a nice person. And I’m an excellent judge of character.’

  Beth wasn’t sure if Mikey was flirting with her. It was such a long time since anyone had tried, she wasn’t even sure how to tell anymore.

  ‘How about you? How do you two know each other?’

  ‘We were at school together.’

  ‘Oh right.’ Beth couldn’t hide the surprise from her voice.

  ‘What?’ Mikey smiled.

  And Beth actually blushed. His eyes bored deep into her. She couldn’t remember the last time anybody looked at her that way.

  ‘It’s only… you seem older than her.’

  ‘Thanks!’ he replied with mock hurt in his voice, then laughed.

  ‘No, I… I didn’t mean you… she just looks quite young.’ Beth smiled as she met his lingering gaze.

  ‘Yeah, Vicky has always been blessed there. Apart from when we were teenagers. She couldn’t get into any pubs.’

  ‘I bet.’

  Beth took a sip of her wine. Noticing that Mikey had emptied his glass, she nodded towards it.

  ‘Fancy another?’ she asked.

  He checked his watch. ‘I’d love to, but I’ve got to go.’ He bent over, placing his empty glass on the floor beside him. ‘Some other time?’

  Beth looked down, then back up at Mikey, holding her hand up, wiggling her ring finger.

  ‘I’m married,’ she said.

  ‘And?’ Mikey held up his hand revealing a thick gold band. ‘So am I! Doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, does it?’

  Beth cringed. She had misread the situation.

  ‘Sorry! No, of course not.’ She felt a wave of heat rush up her neck and face.

  Mikey pulled out his phone, looking at her. She took it from him and typed in her number. He gave her a drop call.

  ‘There’s mine.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘Great to meet you, Beth,’ he said with another deep smile.

  ‘Likewise.’

  He turned and disappeared down the promenade.

  ‘Who the devil is he?’ Margot slurred her words as she appeared in front of Beth.

  ‘Friend of Vicky’s.’

  ‘Was he chatting you up?’

  ‘I don’t think so.’

  ‘So I didn’t see you give him your number then?’ She raised an eyebrow.

  Beth reddened again. ‘Oh God. What the hell am I doing?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You’re right. Why am I giving a young guy I’ve only just met, my number?’

  ‘It’s okay, darling. You’re allowed.’

  ‘No. It’s not okay. Nothing is okay.’

  And at that, Beth burst into tears.

  20

  Margot sat next to Beth on the sea wall with one arm draped loosely over her shoulder.

  Beth dabbed at her eyes with the pile of tissues Margot had grabbed from her designer handbag.

  After Margot had finally got Beth to stop crying, Beth had told her everything.

  About the notes. About the texts. She told her about the newspaper cutting. And she showed her the latest addition that had arrived at work that day. After a seemingly endless pause, Margot clicked her tongue in the roof of her mouth, handing the paper back to Beth. ‘And…?’ she said questioningly.

  ‘And what?’

  ‘Are you her?’

  Beth looked at Margot, slightly hurt that she had asked.

  ‘No. Of course I’m not her.’

  ‘I’m just checking. You never know! First thing in the morning, you must go to the police and tell them what has been happening–’

  ‘No. That’s exactly what Charlie said. But don’t you see, if I do, this will all get out. It might end up in the papers. And if people think I’m that girl, my life here is over.’

  Margot pursed her lips.

  ‘Don’t look at me like that, Margot. It’s true. That bloody weirdo Vicky has already told me tonight that I look like Kitty Briscoe. That’s why she’s so obsessed with me. All it takes is a tiny seed to be planted in people’s minds, and that will be it.’

  ‘Hmmm…’ Margot tapped her foot as she gently stroked Beth’s back. ‘You might have a point. I remember when this all happened. It was terrible. Very sad. And those kids were despised. Even her. She was acquitted, but the public weren’t happy with that. She was seven, for Christ’s sake. She couldn’t have known what she was doing.’

  ‘That’s only a year older than Daisy. I look at her and I think it can’t be possible, you know?’

  ‘Okay. So we don’t go to the police. What is the alternative? Do you have any idea who might be doing this?’

  Beth thought for a moment, shaking her head.

  ‘I’m not so sure about Vicky. This all started happening around the time she showed up. And she clearly has some sort of weird obsession with the story, and with me.’

  ‘Right. Let’s keep an eye on that one. And for now I think you should avoid being alone.’

  ‘You can walk me to my car, then.’

  ‘You’re not driving.’

  ‘I’ve had two glasses of wine. I’ll be fine.’

  ‘Two big glasses of wine.’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  ‘If you say so.’ Margot held both hands up in surrender.

  They walked together to the car park. They didn’t speak, and Beth was fine with that. She felt like she had said too much. She couldn’t remember the last time she had confided in someone like this. She had told Margot things she hadn’t even told Charlie.

  She thought of Charlie. She thought of Mikey, and she felt ashamed. If she found out that Charlie had given his number to a pretty girl at a work night out, she would be mortified.

  As they arrived at her car, she turned to Margot.

  ‘What do I do if he calls me?’

  ‘Who? Your stalker?’

  ‘No! Vicky’s friend, Mikey.’

  ‘Oh, Mr Sexy! I wouldn’t worry. People of that generation don’t call. They communicate solely by text message or Whatsup or whatever they call it.’

  ‘Okay. So what if he texts?’

  ‘Then you text him back. You haven’t done anything wrong, Beth. You are allowed to have male friends.’ She paused. ‘Just don’t sleep with him.’

  Beth slapped Margot on the shoulder.

  ‘It’s not funny!’

  ‘You have nothing to feel guilty about. You’re married. He’s married. He’s clearly interested in your sparkling personality!’ She winked.

  Beth opened the car door, climbing into the driver’s seat.

&nb
sp; ‘Now you are sure you’re okay?’ Margot fixed Beth with a teacher-like stare.

  ‘Positive. Can I give you a lift?’

  ‘No, don’t be silly. It’s in the opposite direction.’

  ‘I don’t mind, really.’

  ‘No, honestly, I’ll get a cab. I’ll see you tomorrow. Text me as soon as you’re home.’

  Beth was about to pull the door to, when Margot leaned into the car.

  ‘Tell Charlie about what’s been going on. About the letter you got today and the text messages. He deserves to know. He’s a good man. You need the support of a partner at times like these.’

  She didn’t wait for a reply. She simply closed the door and waved goodbye as Beth pulled away.

  As Beth drove from town, she felt less embarrassed at having confided in Margot, and a feeling of relief washed over her instead. She had spent her entire life being independent. She had never needed anybody. She never even really needed Charlie. She loved him, but she didn’t need him. She tended to keep her problems to herself and dealt with things on her own. And that’s how it had always been.

  Thinking of her mother briefly, her lip quivered as she blinked away tears, but pushed the memory from her head. Back to where it belonged.

  As she recalled crying outside the bar, she hoped nobody from work had seen.

  She headed out of town. The roads became less populated, and she relaxed. She knew she was likely to be over the limit, but she felt absolutely fine. She also knew that wouldn’t stand up in court if there was an accident. She drove slowly, cautiously.

  Glancing in the rear-view mirror, the headlights of a car behind dazzled her. She checked the clock. It was nine thirty. Probably someone else heading home from the bars. It was rare anyone would be on the road out towards her house at this time of night. She turned left onto the country road which would eventually bring her home and was surprised to see the car behind take the same turn.

  Her heart beat a little faster.

  She told herself it was nothing to worry about and concentrated on the road ahead.

  The last thing she wanted was to strike a deer, or worse.

  She continued along the winding road, pressing her foot down slightly in an attempt to put some distance between her and the car behind.

  But the other vehicle also increased its speed.