by Lown, Anne
Jason took her hand and led her to the door. The cold air outside was a shock after the warmth from all the bodies. Jenny humped her shoulders to keep it from seeping in through her collar. Her stomach groaned. “We didn’t get anything to eat.”
“Come back to mine. I’ve got chips in the freezer.”
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. They walked slowly, not wanting to trip over each other’s feet. She followed his lead and slipped her arm around his waist, the other hand keeping her collar closed. Jenny felt like a teenager again, when boys were new and hanging on to each other was what they did.
The neglected house came into view when they strolled along his street. With no lights left on, it appeared lonely and quiet. Jason let go of her, so he could fish the key from his trouser pocket. She readied herself to hear the door hinges squeal, but all was silent. Her jangled nerves needn’t have worried.
She followed him into the kitchen, huddled in her jacket until the heating warmed her through. He put the oven on and shook a large portion of frozen chips onto a baking tray. She hadn’t seen him eat a thing all day, not even the meal in the café. Maybe the shock was leaving him, too.
Jenny leant against the doorframe, her hands slipped into her jacket pockets. Her eyes mimicked his movements as he went back and forth collecting the things they’d need and placing them on the table.
“I’ve only got tomato sauce, hope that’s okay?”
“Fine,” she said.
His face looked as though he was mildly unsettled, maybe thinking his offering wasn’t enough, but right that minute chips were the comfort food she needed the most.
She peeled herself from the doorway. A chair had been pulled out for her, so she slid onto it, resting her hands on the table. The growing aroma from the warm oven reminded her how ravenous she was.
If Jason thinks he’s going to get most of the chips he’s mistaken.
Copying her lead, he sat opposite, shadowing her body language. Concern creased his brow. “What do you want to do?”
Jenny sat back, leaning against the rising spindles of the chair. “This whole thing frightens me,” she said. “I can’t tell the police I was followed because I was supposed to be with you.”
Jason’s gaze dipped to watch the fingers of one hand picking at the thumbnail on the other. She guessed he felt bad about putting her in that position, but it was done now. Watching him sitting in the run-down kitchen of his dead uncle’s house, it occurred to her how hard it must’ve been for him to come back to the village. It seemed every fear he’d had was coming to life. There’d been no welcome return, just more of the suspicion that had driven him away in the first place. Jenny could’ve kicked herself. This wasn’t just about her, it was about Jason, too, and they needed to stick together.
She reached across the table, sliding her fingers around his. “What do you say to us asking questions?”
This time her touching him unannounced didn’t have the effect it’d had earlier. He didn’t pull back wildly but turned his hands over and wrapped them around hers. A slight smile danced momentarily across his lips, and his brow relaxed for the first time that day. “I’d like that.”
THE CHIPS HIT THE SPOT, warming her up from the inside. On top of the alcohol they made her feel sleepy. Jenny lifted her arms over the back of her head and curved her spine in a stretch. She yawned, wishing she could lie down.
“Come in the living room.”
Leaving the plates on the table, she followed him through. The room looked exactly like it had the night before. The light from the side lamp gave a cosy glow, just the right atmosphere for an intimate conversation. She lowered herself into the comfort of the sofa, satisfied when he sat and slipped his arm around her. At that point, all worries drifted from her mind. It felt like their romance was blossoming again.
“Tell me about you,” he said.
Jenny held her breath, her heartbeat fluttering. She gazed into his eyes, her desire for him overwhelming. “What would you like to know?”
He studied her face, then leaned in for a kiss, pressing his lips against hers. Jenny sighed, her body melting into him. As their lips moved in unison, he guided her backwards. She shuffled down the sofa, lying along the cushions, his body on top. With their arms wrapped around each other, the moment they were in seemed like it would last forever.
Gently, Jason slid his hand along her thigh. This time a tender groan parted from her mouth to his. Her muscles trembled, and she closed her eyes, longing for what was coming next. With the heat between them rising, Jenny was bewildered when he pulled away from her to stare at his hand.
“You’ve got cat hair on you.”
“What?” Shuffling upright on the sofa, Jenny got to her feet. She twisted her body to look at the back of her right leg in the gentle glow of the lamp. Sure enough, blue-grey cat hair was caught on the fabric of her trousers. “I don’t believe it,” she said.
“Neither do I—you changed your jeans.”
“But how?”
“Did you sit on the sofa again before we left your house?”
It was a simple explanation, but Jason would know she hadn’t. They’d left the house when she’d come down the stairs. She hadn’t even entered the living room again.
“No,” she said. “That could only mean I picked it up somewhere else.” She widened her eyes with realization. “The pub.”
Jason nodded. He was already rubbing his hands over his face, a sign she believed was his reaction to stress. He was concerned, and not without good reason.
Jenny rubbed at her leg to remove the fur. She then turned to the other side to see if it had caught there, too, but it hadn’t. “I must’ve brushed past someone.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
She shook her head, struggling to work out how the hair had got there. Sure, it could’ve been someone in the pub with cat hair on them, an innocent transfer. After all, many people were cat lovers and had them for pets. Jenny felt light-headed.
But how many have cats with blue-grey fur?
“You don’t think...?” The room swam.
“Yes, I do. We could’ve been in the pub with the intruder, and you might’ve brushed alongside them.”
Tears escaped, staining her cheeks.
“Shush, come here.” Jason stood. He wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently.
She trembled against him, wondering if he was as frightened and in need of the cuddle, too?
Chapter Sixteen
Jenny didn’t want to go home, not when she knew the intruder had been with them in the pub. Jason rocked her until they drifted up to his bedroom. It seemed natural they’d spend the night together at his house. Rain pattered at the window, the cold, damp night encouraging her to stay in his arms.
She hadn’t intended to sleep with him so soon. She barely knew him, and the false starts had her wondering if there was anything between them at all. But now Jason could see she believed him, it seemed he was more comfortable letting her come closer. It must have taken a lot for him to do so, and she was determined not to muck it up.
Lying beneath the covers, Jenny didn’t want the night to end. The morning rays peeked through the gap in the curtains, inching across the far wall and bringing an end to a magical night. She stretched, pointing her toes to the end of the bed, her arms above her head, pressing her hands against the headboard. As they straightened, she slid farther away from it.
Jason was asleep, his rhythmic breathing a comfort after the distress of the evening before. She lay listening, studying the rise and fall of his chest with each contented breath. His hair was in tatters, spikes misaligned and a fringe across his forehead. Jenny stifled a giggle. She remembered his heroic attempt to save her from Scott and how upset he’d been about his hair. He wouldn’t be pleased when he woke to find it’d happened again.
She slid from under the covers and wrapped herself with one of his discarded shirts. The hem hung down almost to knee level, an
d the sleeves needed rolling multiple times to find her hands. The shirt smelled of him. She held it to her face and inhaled. When she’d finished fussing, she saw he was awake and watching her. A crooked smile played across his lips, matched by the glint in his eyes. Jenny was relieved to see him happy.
“Good morning, handsome,” she said. She sat on the bed beside him, the smile on her face surely mirroring his.
The shirt rode up, revealing a portion of thigh. He stroked it with his fingers. A tingle emerged, radiating upwards, and she found herself parting her legs slightly in response.
His smile widened, and he lifted himself up on one arm to embrace her with a kiss. Gently, he pulled her down onto the bed, and a repeat of the connection they’d made the night before began again.
“Do you really have to go to work?”
Jenny sighed. She couldn’t imagine a place she’d rather not be at that moment in time.
“Stay,” he said, “and I’ll tell them you can’t come in cos you’ve got a fat, hairy wart on your chin.”
Jenny laughed. The idea sounded good, but she couldn’t afford to use up her sick leave. He’d have to be patient and wait for her to return. Anyway, she was off in a couple of weeks, and they could spend more time together then.
“I finish at three. I’ll see you this evening, if you want. That is if you haven’t gone off me by then?” A slight tease in her voice was matched by her mischievous smile.
“I’ll have to see if my wife will let me,” Jason countered, camaraderie growing between them.
Kissing him on the lips, she then tore herself away. Turning up at work was going to be one of the hardest things she’d done.
Don’t be daft, it’s only a few hours.
Even still, she knew she wouldn’t be able to think of anything else for the rest of the day.
She closed the front door behind her and stepped into the chill morning air. The promise of warm spring weather had yet to arrive, and it couldn’t come soon enough. The only saving grace was the glorious sunshine that Wednesday morning. Only a couple more weeks, and she’d have some time off to herself. What was going to be a dull few days at home of getting the house sorted had taken on a new lease of life. The thought of spending it with Jason gave her a spring in her step she’d not had for quite some time.
At this hour of the day, nothing looked sinister about her home. It wasn’t until she went inside that the break-in became a reality again. Jenny turned her face away from the writing on the wall. She tried to pretend it didn’t exist and hurried upstairs to put on her uniform. Her clothes were strewn across the floor. She hadn’t picked them up the evening before, her distress forcing her from the house. She gathered up the pieces she needed and dressed quickly. The only thing missing was her security pass. It’d slid under the bed. Jenny stretched her arm out to grab it, hooking the lanyard over her head and rushing for the door.
Outside, she blew out a breath, not having realised she’d been holding it for a while. The ordeal of getting dressed had been harder than she’d imagined. Even in the bright daylight, the house had an eerie atmosphere. Jenny’s body shuddered—she felt like she needed to shake something off. The thought of returning gave her a sour taste in her mouth. Her gaze crept back to the blank windows, and she shuddered again. She turned away, determined not to think about it for the rest of the day.
The drive to work took longer than she’d hoped. A broken-down car on the lanes held up traffic, and as time went on, her patience wavered. Finding a car parking space had been a stroke of luck—a customer had parked in the staff area and was just getting in when she pulled up.
Jenny ran to the security door, her pass at the ready to place against the magnetic strip reader. In two smooth movements, she held up the pass and yanked at the door with her other hand. A muscle wrenched in her shoulder—the door didn’t budge. She tried the pass again, but nothing changed. “Damn it.”
She stood at the door, waiting for a colleague to let her in. Jenny tapped on the glass. “Hello,” she shouted, hoping someone would hear her. Eventually, a driver came to her rescue on his way for a sneaky cigarette. She charged through and dashed along the walkways to the deliveries side of the building.
Adam stood by his sorting frame, bundling up the post. Stress lined his face; she hoped he hadn’t received bad news.
“Sorry I’m a bit late,” she blurted, “accident on the lane.”
Adam looked up, and a smile spread across his face, ironing out the wrinkles and taking years off him. “I thought you weren’t coming in. They told me I’d have to do it by myself.”
“Well, I’m here now, so what do you still need to do?”
“Nothing, we’re good to go. Take the bags out to the van, and I’ll see you there in a minute.”
Jenny finished loading the van and waited in the passenger seat. The covered car park for company vehicles echoed with the slamming of van doors. Jenny didn’t hear Adam approach until he opened the driver’s side door and got in.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, sure,” he said, but strain was evident in his tired expression.
She didn’t know him well enough to push him, so she let the matter drop.
Driving back from Bishop was easier than when she’d come in, the accident now moved off the road into a farmer’s field. Traffic flowed freely, and they were back in Chapel End in minutes. It felt strange coming home to do her walk, but comforting, too. The morning passed without incident, and before she knew it, Jenny was back in the high street and outside the charity shop.
She stared through the window. Carmie stood behind the counter. Emma strode into the office before Jenny pushed open the door, missing her arrival.
Carmie raised her head, deep lines grooved into her face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” At the counter, Jenny placed her mailbag on the floor and took hold of Carmie’s hand. “Tell me all about it.”
Carmie sniffed. “I’ve been thinking, why did that voodoo doll get sent to me?” A tear escaped from her eye and trickled down her cheek. She rubbed at it with the other hand, trying to stem the flow of more.
Jenny was surprised. Did her friend think it was meant for her?
“I can see it in your face,” Carmie said, “you don’t believe me.”
“It’s not that. I thought the doll was meant for Paul.”
Carmie raised her voice. “But it came here!”
Jenny tried to work out what her friend was saying. “Why would anyone send it to you?”
“Maybe because I know what it means.” Carmie tried to pull her hand free, but Jenny wasn’t about to let go.
“How many people know about you and what you believe in?” Jenny had a hunch. Her friend was quick to tell anyone who’d listen about her beliefs.
She swung her free hand wide, her eyes bulging to emphasis her point. “Everyone knows. I’ve been here a long time.”
“So you’re saying anyone could’ve sent that voodoo doll to you because you’d take it seriously.”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
A chill gripped Jenny. She shuddered to think someone was playing people because of what they saw to be their strengths. What about the writing on her wall at home? Did the intruder think she had a strength, too, and were they eager to make use of it? Carmie knew what the voodoo doll meant and had driven the message home to the victim. Jenny lived at the house Annalise had called home before she’d died. Was Jenny being used the same way? The only person she could think of was Jason, but how did they know he’d see it unless they were keeping an eye on her?
Jenny struggled to swallow. “I think you’re right. Someone’s playing to our strengths.”
“That’s what I’ve been saying, but Emma doesn’t believe me.”
“Well, I do.” Jenny picked up her mailbag and slung it onto her shoulder. “Come and see me later. We can talk about it. Right now, I’d better get back to work.”
Jenny stepped back into the str
eet. She still had part of the walk to do, and it led her past Jason’s house. She’d knock even if he hadn’t any post, so she could arrange to meet him later. As for Carmie, the poor woman had been right all along. Jenny decided to pay attention to her in future.
She looked around her, now aware someone could be watching. Had Scott saved her the other night? Now she wished she hadn’t turned him away. Her mind was made up. She’d call on him on her way home—that was if he let her in.
Chapter Seventeen
Jenny wiped sweaty palms on her trouser legs. Knocking on Scott’s door was going to be harder than she thought it would be. Her stomach fluttered, and she was beginning to feel sick.
What if he sends me away?
It was possible he would. Hadn’t she done the same to him in the last two weeks?
Sitting in her car, she leant her head back on the rest and sighed. Scenarios ran through her mind, each one defeated by his rage and gloating. Now he had the upper hand. Whatever happened, she wasn’t getting back with him. Jenny spat out a laugh. So much for her independence and getting to know herself. All she’d thought about all day was Jason. Sometimes she despaired at her lack of willpower.
She’d parked her car along the street to sit and watch his front door. Memories of happier times nudged the tears from her eyes. She’d thought he was the one, her knight in shining armour, but as the years had gone by, she’d grown up and Scott hadn’t.
Ten minutes passed. She either bit the bullet and knocked on the door or left it to another day. Either way, she needed to speak to him. Jenny thought about why she’d come. The fear she’d felt being chased along the streets sent a shudder through her. In one swift motion, she pulled the lever on the car door and got out.
It didn’t look like anyone was home, but Jenny knew better. The front garden was a tatty makeshift driveway, but there wasn’t a car on it. She’d been the driver in their relationship, so he hadn’t bothered to learn. The scattered patchy gravel crunched underfoot. At the windows, curtains were drawn—he might still be asleep. She rang the doorbell and turned away; already her nerve buckled.