Running Shoes (The Shades of Northwood)

by Wendy Maddocks

“Isn’t it getting a little cold for those?”

  There was an old woman standing by the pick and mix counter and shovelling sweets into a plastic bag enthusiastically. Katie recognised the woman from somewhere and took a minute trying to place her. Of course, it was Bernice from one of Roy’s photos on the desk. The woman was too focused on her sugar rush to notice Katie staring. That was nice. Being anonymous was comforting for about ten seconds and then Katie scraped the Velcro strip of her wallet over her knuckles and shook herself back into the present.

  “I’m an addict.”

  “Looks like rain later. You got something to keep you dry?” The man behind the counter took her money and then tapped numbers into a till. The numbers looked entirely random to her but the register opened. He counted out some change, handed it over and snapped it shut. The cash drawer popped open twice before it decided to stay shut. Katie sucked on her icy drink to keep from laughing, put in mind of the temperamental register in Open All Hours, but only succeeded in thing Bubbleberry Crush was going to escape through her nose.

  “I hope so,” she said and took another suck on her drink. You got me.

  “Got something of a sweet tooth there, miss?”

  Katie had almost answered when she heard Bernice giggle like she was fifty years younger, and realised that the shop assistant had moved on. She grasped her cardboard cp and walked out of the shop. It wasn’t too far too walk to the square of waste ground on the way to Millford – not far at all, but far enough to give Katie chance to wonder if she was doing a smart thing. The answer- hell, no – was so simple and clear that Katie found herself trying to figure out hidden ways it might be a good idea. When she didn’t find any, the waste ground appeared. It seemed much bigger than last time she had come here. Bigger and somehow very far away from the rest of town. This was what she wanted though.

  “Come on then, if you’re coming.”

  Jack evidently didn’t need asking twice. Something sank a tingle into her stomach. She was not ready. Not yet. Katie tensed her muscles and the feeling stopped moving. Was it really that easy to stop him? “That’s close enough. I just wanted to know you’re there.”

  I’m always here, Lady Katie. Whenever you need me, I’ll e here.

  “Okay, fine. Good for you. But I have questions and I want answers.”

  Anythin’. Just don’t leave me out here.

  “And if you try lying to me,” she held up her big slush cup, “I’m freezin’ you out.”

  She felt an invisible hand curl over hers and instinctively moved to twist into it. No. She couldn’t let herself get distracted. “The man who killed you.” Katie sucked in a breath and waited. The air was cool and still around her. It was a horrible thing to have to bring up. “What does he want with me?”

  Katie, why are you so far away? Let me come closer.

  “You’re fine where you are. Answer the question.”

  After a pause came a sigh which ruffled stray wisps of hair around her face. The invisible hand traced one pale vein up her arm and made all those tiny hairs stand on end. It would be so much easier to let go, let Jack come through and take care of her….

  Katie took a long pull on her Bubbleberry Crush and slapped both hands to her head, rocking back with the intense brain freeze that followed. It was numbing and almost on the wrong side of painful but it receded before it quite got there. Effective though. Jack cringed away and Katie relished her thoughts being her own for just a minute or two. Trying to keep another person’s thoughts in your head was hard. No-one ever mentioned that handy little life lesson.

  “What does he what with me?” she repeated, harder this time.

  He wants to hurt you. Or rather he wants to hurt me and you’re the best way to do it. Best? Bad choice of words. He saw you that night, saw me look at you, and… this is all my fault.

  Well, yeah, the angry voice in the front of her mind yelled. Finally, the man gets it. But being angry was a dud emotion once more. Katie wanted nothing more than to let that anger take over. Let that wild fury just rage and run and then she would finish empty and numb and feeling calm or confused or constrained would be a non issue because there would be no feelings left.

  “Here’s where we disagree, Jack. It wasn’t just that one night that man found me. I think he’s been following me for weeks. Maybe longer.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN