“You could have come forward, you know. Sold your story.”
“I could have. I didn’t.”
He nodded. She was telling the truth—didn’t seem like the type of person who didn’t.
“How are the others?” she asked. “The people you were with?”
He thought for a moment. He hadn’t seen any of them in a while. Anytime he had, it had been awkward. He’d gone to see Ryan in the hospital a few times, but it was strange. Like their story together was over. They would always be bound by what happened in the Room. But that was done. “They’re okay, as far as I know,” he decided on. “Hughes’s funeral is next week. I don’t know if I’m going to go though.”
“You should go,” she said. “You owe him that.”
What he had been wrestling with. Spoken aloud. He knew he had to go.
“Is he in prison?” she asked. He knew who she was talking about.
“He’s going to trial soon. Amanda—I mean Phillips—” (they were all referred to by their last names in the newspapers) “—has already been sentenced. And Ahearn got sent to Broadmoor. Turns out she’d been skipping out on a lot of medication.”
“The mechants are behind bars. Une fin heureuse?”
“No, I think my fin will not terribly be heureuse.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
He took another sip of water. Nervous, for some reason. He thought maybe it was some kind of PTSD. His doctor said it was a side effect of being normal and sober. He decided to go for it. “Have you eaten? I know a good place.”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“I guess I am.”
She mused for a moment. “Okay. J’adorerais.”
“Good. Great,” he said, and then chuckled. “It occurs to me that I still don’t know your name.”
She laughed, and put out her hand. “I’m Audrey.”
He shook it. “Morgan Sheppard.”
She laughed. “I know.”
* * * * *
Acknowledgements
Firstly, I wouldn’t be a writer without my grandfather who encouraged my love of books and inspired me to start writing my own. Given that this novel was written as my thesis for the MA in Creative Writing (Crime/Thriller) at City University London, the number of people who have been part of it is rather astronomical. Firstly, I would like to thank Claire McGowan, the course leader, who was always there when I needed a helping hand, and my personal “celebrity guest” tutor A.K. Benedict, who believed in me from the very start, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Without the guidance of these two people, this book would not be in your hands today. They were always there to pick me up when I was down (one time, literally). To William Ryan, who offered help in the early stages of the novel’s life. Of course, to all the wonderful people I met throughout the MA course and helped me along the way. I couldn’t have asked for better classmates. To the #SauvLife crew (simply put, we’re a crew and we like sauvignon blanc), Fran Dorricott, Jenny Lewin and Lizzie Curle, some of the most talented and kind people I have ever met. To my wonderful agent Hannah Sheppard, who is incredibly dedicated and didn’t mind having to explain incredibly simple things to me about business. To my amazing editor Francesca Pathak, who was behind this book from the second she read it and sourced a horsehead mask in record time to attempt (and succeed) to wow me. And finally, to all the people at Orion, who have made me feel perfectly at home. An incredible thank you to everyone. I would also love to thank everyone at Hanover Square Press who have supported Guess Who—Peter Joseph, Natalie Hallak and all others, who have made Hanover a real home away from home!
ISBN-13: 9781488098680
Guess Who
Copyright © 2018 by Chris McGeorge
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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