Shadow Watcher, A Romantic Suspense Novel

by Carolyn Mahony

  ‘No problem at all,’ she said, with a cheeky grin, making up her mind. ‘In fact, that suits me down to the ground.’

  They paused only to put the latch on – protection against an early return from Will and Ellie, before heading up to her room.

  ‘Are you sure about this?’ Nick asked, outside her door.

  ‘As sure as I’m ever likely to be,’ she said, drawing him in after her. ‘But I have to warn you, I’m a bit rusty – if we don’t hurry up and get on with it, I might chicken out.’

  He chuckled, following her into the room and wasting no time in pulling her back into his arms and sliding the zipper on her dress.

  After that, feelings and sensations dominated as his hands and mouth took over – and she revelled in every moment of it. And in those final moments, she clung to him fiercely, gasping as the sensations consumed her. It was a whole new experience – one she wanted to last forever. One she had a horrible feeling she could become addicted to.

  ‘You’re amazing,’ he whispered into her hair, as they lay cocooned in each other’s arms.

  ‘Bet you say that to all the girls,’ she murmured lazily, her finger tracing the line of his spine. She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about the future and how this would pan out, and she resolutely crushed any thoughts of Suzanne. Recriminations could come later and undoubtedly would. For now she was enjoying the moment.

  After a while, she sighed. ‘We ought to get up. The kids–’

  ‘I know – could come back any minute.’

  He teased her mouth with his, tugging at her lower lip before deepening his kiss. ‘If only we had more time…’ His voice was husky, fuelling her desire again.

  ‘Go on,’ she said softly, pushing gently against his chest with her hand. ‘We don’t want them catching us out.’

  He groaned and swung himself off the bed. ‘There’s no point both of us getting dressed. You stay put and I’ll take myself off and drop Ellie home when she’s ready.’

  ‘Are you sure? Don’t let her be too late – they’ve got school tomorrow.’

  When he was dressed, he looked down at her, his expression inscrutable. ‘I’ll call you.’

  ‘You don’t have to,’ she said nonchalantly.

  He leaned down and dropped a kiss on her lips. ‘Thanks for a lovely evening.’

  ‘You too.’

  And he was gone.

  She pulled the bedclothes tightly around her and snuggled back down between the covers, missing the warmth of him already. She couldn’t believe what had happened.

  Whoever would have thought it – her and Nick Brandon? She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face – she certainly hadn’t expected this when she’d been getting ready this evening.

  That made her remember the phone call she’d received, and just for a moment her mood sobered. But even that couldn’t dampen her spirits for long.

  She’d done it. Stepped back into the real world. And it felt bloody amazing.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  What the hell … Keith frowned at the letter in his hand feeling a surge of anger against Amanda so strong, he could barely contain it. Without stopping for thought he furiously dialled her number at work.

  ‘Amanda? What the bloody hell’s going on? You could at least have warned me you were filing for divorce. That’s a great thing to come down to first thing in the morning.’

  ‘I can’t talk now, Keith, I’m on my way into work – but I did warn you if you remember. Just because you went berserk and forbade me to do it, doesn’t stop it from happening.’

  ‘Christ, it’s not as if I’m not trying to get my act together.’

  His tone altered, becoming persuasive, almost desperate. ‘Look … you know what you and the kids mean to me. I know I’ve been a dick, but I’ve changed, I really have. Can’t we try and work things out – for the sake of the kids, if nothing else?’

  ‘And as I keep asking you, how are you intending to work things out? My father saw you coming out of the bookies again only yesterday …’

  ‘It was a one off. I’ve really cut down on the gambling. And there’s a big property deal at work coming off. I’m the only commercial negotiator now; I stand to make a big commission.’

  ‘It would have to be big to clear your debts and I’m sorry but I just don’t believe you. It’s too late. I can’t go on living like that. I’m happy now with Robin. Can’t you just accept that and be pleased for me?’

  ‘No I fucking can’t. And if you think I’m letting that bastard have custody of my children–’

  He slammed the phone down, regretting it almost immediately. That wasn’t the way to solve things. If it wasn’t for the doctor’s appointment he’d go to her office, make her see sense…

  ‘So … how are you doing?’ The GP smiled at him.

  ‘Pretty bloody.’

  ‘Depression takes you like that. It’ll get better but it’s a lengthy process. How are you getting on with the tablets?’

  Keith thought of the unopened pack still sitting in his bathroom cabinet. ‘Fine,’ he lied. He didn’t need pills – he needed his wife and children back.

  ‘Well, carry on taking them. You may not realise it but they will be helping. Here … I’ll give you another month’s supply. Then come back and see me again. Have you thought about what I said about the counselling?’

  Keith’s look was cynical as he rose from his chair. ‘My wife’s got a new boyfriend and has just filed for divorce. I think it’s a bit late for that, don’t you?’

  Inserting her key in the door, Grace entered the house and went through to dump her shopping in the kitchen. She was feeling decidedly delicate – it had been exhausting fitting the shopping in after work, with the remnants of her hangover from last night still plaguing her.

  In the doorway she came to an abrupt halt, her eyes fixing on the beautiful bouquet of roses, carefully arranged in a vase, in the centre of her kitchen table. Where had they come from?

  Her first thought that they must be from Nick was instantly quashed as she realised he couldn’t possibly have got into the house to put them there.

  So who had?

  She put her shopping carefully down on the worktop and walked slowly over to the table to look for a card. There it was, in a small white envelope. She pulled it out and opened it.

  REMEMBER ME

  She stared at the words for a full minute. No signature – it wasn’t even handwritten. It looked like it had been printed using stencils. Her mind darted back with alarming swiftness to similar episodes not that long ago – when Rory had been alive.

  Stop it, she told herself fiercely. It could be anyone. It could be Nick as a little gesture after last night – or Stuart even. He would have known it was her birthday.

  But how had they got onto her kitchen table?

  Her eyes fell on the back door. It would be locked – she was always so particular about their security. But even so she walked over to check it, and when the door swung effortlessly open onto the garden, she stared at it in disbelief.

  It was so unlike her. Had she forgotten to lock it before she’d left for work? Turning the key swiftly, she turned back to the flowers. How long had they been sitting there?

  She looked towards the hall, as the significance of that sank in. Could someone still be in the house?

  There was no other option. She needed to check before Ellie got home.

  Feeling a complete idiot, she opened the front door in case she needed a speedy retreat then, arming herself with the poker from the fireplace, she checked the house room by room. Only when she was sure there was no one there did she relax enough to close the front door again. She went back into the kitchen and took another look at the card. Nothing else was written on it just those two words, Remember Me.

  And as she stared at the bunch of roses sitting harmlessly enough on her kitchen table, the unease she’d been trying so desperately to contain for the past few weeks spilled out in a rush – and she knew
. She couldn’t think how he’d wangled it, how he’d managed to deceive everyone, but Rory was alive.

  And he was out to get them.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  The phone on the desk rang and Grace picked it up. ‘Carter Brandon, how may I help you?’

  ‘Is that Grace?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘It’s Suzanne here, Nick’s friend? Is he there by any chance?’

  ‘Of course. Hold on a moment and I’ll put you through.’

  ‘How’s the job going?’

  ‘Good thanks.’

  ‘Quite opportune for you that they needed someone.’

  ‘It’s certainly an arrangement that suits us all,’ Grace retaliated coolly. ‘But it’s only temporary. I’ll put you through now.’

  She pushed the button on the phone, glad of the disconnect. ‘Nick, Suzanne’s on the line.’

  ‘Thanks. Have you got a copy of that letter we did to the Council about the new superstore site? Could you bring it in do you think?’

  She waited until the call was finished before taking the letter into him. ‘Here you are,’ she said, handing it to him.

  God, it was difficult. They’d barely spoken a dozen words since she’d got in that morning and she hadn’t heard from him at all yesterday. Was he regretting what had happened – trying to put some distance between them? Or, on the other hand, the thought suddenly came to her, if he’d been expecting some sort of thank you for the roses?

  ‘Thanks,’ he said, taking the letter. He looked up at her, amusement in his eyes. ‘How are you feeling? Did you have a hangover yesterday?’

  ‘I’ve felt better.’

  Embarrassment made her tone brusque and he stared at her sharply before saying. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t call you yesterday. I was up to my ears in it and worked late last night.’

  ‘No worries. There’s no need to feel responsible for me. As you yourself said, neither of us are looking for a serious relationship.’

  ‘Right … well, as long as you’re sure you’re fine with that?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  She hesitated, then took a breath and leapt in. ‘By the way … a stupid question probably, but you didn’t by any chance send me flowers yesterday?’

  ‘Er, no.’

  ‘I wasn’t expecting you had, it’s just that–’

  ‘Someone else did?’

  She nodded. ‘The card wasn’t signed, that’s all. It’s not important.’

  But it was. Should she tell him? Share her anxiety with him? Yet hadn’t she just spouted off about how she didn’t need any man feeling responsible for her?

  She walked out of his office, her disquiet growing. She needed to do something. She couldn’t just ignore the fact that someone had gained access to her house to leave flowers and a two-worded anonymous message. Who would do that and why wouldn’t they leave a proper note? It felt wrong.

  Anxiety gnawed at her all day.

  It was him. She knew it. It was the same menacing style … the slow build up of incidents, gradually increasing in scale until she was left in no doubt at all that he’d once again tracked them down. But how would she convince anyone else of that without proof?

  She tried to think it through calmly – but still came up with the same conclusion. Even if she had been stupid enough to leave the back door open, surely any normal person would have left a proper note and not been poking around the back of the house in the first place? And what sort of message was that for someone to leave? Remember Me?

  She waited until Ellie was in bed that night before phoning the only other person she knew she could share this with.

  When she’d finished, Lynette was reassuringly dismissive. ‘Grace, there was a body.’

  Grace’s mouth was dry. ‘I know there was. But I've been thinking. What if it wasn’t his?’

  ‘Oh, come on, they’re not going to get something like that wrong in this day and age. It was probably just someone being nice and bringing you flowers for your birthday. Maybe they wandered round to the back to see if you were in the garden, saw the door was open and left them on the table rather than come back later?’

  ‘Then why the anonymous card, and why haven’t they been in touch since, to tell me?’

  ‘There could be loads of reasons. It was only yesterday. Perhaps they’ll still call. Don’t let it get to you, hun – you don’t want to start going backwards when you’ve been doing so well.’

  ‘I’m not going backwards, but I need to follow my instincts. I can’t just sit around waiting for his next move. I’m going to the police.’

  There was a long pause. ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

  Some of Grace’s tension melted away, just like that. That was what she loved about her sister. She might privately think Grace was loopy, but she was always there for her one hundred percent. She sighed. ‘Thanks for offering, but I’ll be fine. They’ll probably laugh me out of the station – but at least I’ll have recorded it. I learnt the hard way that’s important.’

  ‘Look. Try to keep an open mind okay? These things that have happened might just be coincidences and you and Ellie have been doing so well–’

  ‘Do you think I want to drag all this up again? It’s the last thing I want. But I’ve got a gut instinct and I can’t ignore it. If it is him, he’ll be out for vengeance after what we put him through.’

  ‘Oh, Grace.’ Lynette’s voice was suddenly concerned – whether for her sister’s sanity or safety, Grace wasn’t sure. ‘Let me come and stay with you for a few days. I can take some holiday.’

  ‘I’ll be fine, and you and Leo have done enough for me. I’ll shout if I need you, I promise.’

  She hung up the phone and looked nervously out of the window. People could tell her until she was blue in the face that she was being paranoid, but hadn’t she known all this was too good to be true?

  Tomorrow in her lunch hour, she’d go to the police.

  ‘So let me get this straight. You want to report a break-in – that wasn’t really a break-in because your back door was open – about someone who left roses on your kitchen table?’

  Put like that, it sounded stupid and DC Fuller was looking at her as if she’d got a screw loose.

  ‘I know it doesn’t sound much–’

  ‘Miss Harper, it doesn’t sound like a crime to me at all and I don’t want to sound unsympathetic, but we are very busy.’

  ‘Surely the fact someone entered my property without my permission–?’

  ‘To leave you flowers?’ He smiled. ‘Haven’t you ever done that when you’ve visited a friend? Gone round the back to see if they were in? We’ve all done it.’

  ‘You don’t understand. If you knew my history …’

  The policeman glanced at the clock on the wall and sat back in his chair. ‘Okay, fill me in. I’ve got ten minutes before I’m due in a meeting.’

  Grace took a calming breath and thought about her words before she spoke, trying to keep them clear and concise. ‘I’ve spent a number of years in hiding with my daughter from a previous partner who was stalking us. We thought he was dead, but recently things have been happening that have made me wonder if that’s not the case.’

  ‘What sort of things?’

  ‘Well, it doesn’t sound much but things have gone missing in the house and then suddenly turned up, my diary for instance and my daughter’s calculator.’

  ‘Did you report any of that to us?’

  ‘Yes.’

  She waited while he tapped something into his computer and then looked at her doubtfully. ‘Right, I see you came in the other day and reported a similar break-in.’

  ‘Yes, I did, because again I knew someone had been in the house. I forgot to mention on that occasion that as well as the diary and basket of ironing that was moved, I also found a dead cat on my doorstep recently. Something my ex-boyfriend’s done before.’

  Now she was actually voicing her fears, some of her anxiety eased.

  ‘Wa
sn’t the body formally identified?’

  ‘I assumed it was. There was a funeral and everything but I’m wondering now if some sort of mistake could have been made in the identification process?’

  ‘Unlikely. Who identified him? I’d have thought the first thing you’d do if you were worried is speak to them.’

  It was something she knew she was going to have to do. ‘I don’t know who it was. I wasn’t living here when it happened. But apparently the body was badly burned, so isn’t it possible they could have got it wrong?’

  DC Fuller let out a sigh and took his time replacing the cap on his ballpoint. ‘Look, I’m not being unsympathetic, but maybe you should speak to that person and find out a few more facts. If you still feel there’s cause for concern after that, come back and see me and if there’s a case to investigate, we’ll look into it.’

  ‘But doesn’t the fact that someone entered my house without permission count for anything at all?’

  ‘Not when it could well turn out to be a friend. The last thing you’d want us to do then is prosecute. And the door was unlocked – could even have been wide open for all you know. I’m sorry ...’

  Grace stared at him for a moment, then rose slowly from her chair, her expression hardening. ‘I’d like you to officially record this meeting and what I’ve said. If anything happens to my daughter or me, I want it on record that I was worried. That I warned you.’

  He too scraped his chair back and rose. ‘I’ll certainly make a record of our conversation. Bring me some proof and I’ll look into it. I’m not trying to be awkward, but until we have more to go on I’m afraid there’s very little we can do.’