and make the call felt unduly prolonged. Anna tapped her
foot on the carpet as Muriel tapped out the number on the
phone.
In the distance, Anna heard music.
‘What’s that?’ She turned, walking into the kitchen. ‘Mum?
375
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 375
23/09/2019 11:31
Leave the phone ringing and come here.’ Muriel did as Anna instructed and came and stood by her side. ‘Listen.’
‘He’s here,’ her mother said. She unlocked the back door.
‘Come on in, Eric.’
Anna’s mouth dried. Tears of sadness, anger and betrayal
erupted as she came face-to-face with her father for the first
time in thirty years.
‘Hello, Anna,’ Eric said. Bloodshot eyes, watery and sad,
searched Anna’s.
‘Why?’ She shook her head. ‘Why did you do it?’
‘It’s not something I can easily explain,’ he said, his voice
thick. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘Sorry? Oh, my God. I literally don’t know what to say to
you,’ Anna said, turning her back and walking into the lounge.
She could hear whispered voices. Even now, she thought, they
were keeping secrets. Hatching a plan. Trying to figure a way
out of this mess without either of them ending up in prison.
Anna wanted to scream, ‘Whatever you’re saying out there you
can say to my face, you know.’
Her mother and father joined Anna in the lounge. It was a
scene she’d never imagined could happen. And, in different
circumstances, she might well have been pleased, taken it as an
opportunity to get to know her dad again. But not now.
Anna’s entire body was trembling. ‘Where is she? Where did
you take Jonie Hayes’ body after you murdered her?’
Eric winced. ‘Your mother’s just told me Billy’s here, in
Mapledon.’
‘Yes, but that’s not answering the question,’ Anna said,
sharply.
‘I will. I’ll tell Billy where to find her.’ His voice was weak,
drenched in defeat.
‘Well, that’s big of you. Only taken thirty fucking years.’ Anger spewed from her. It wasn’t merely anger for him killing Jonie,
but for leaving Anna when she needed him.
376
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 376
23/09/2019 11:31
‘I had to stay away, not have any contact with you. You understand that, don’t you?’
‘Yes, Dad. You had to stay away to ensure you weren’t put in prison for your crime. You allowed an innocent man to be set
up for murder, spend years in a cell, all so you could be free. I think I understand, yeah.’
‘I’ve never been free, Anna,’ he said.
‘Tell that to Billy Cawley. Tell that to Tina. You’re a coward,
plain and simple.’ Anna pushed past them.
‘Where are you going?’ Muriel shouted after her.
‘To make a call,’ Anna said as she left the house.
Anna walked to the end of the road, and once she had a few
service bars, dialled Lizzie.
‘Lizzie. He’s here. Come to Muriel’s . . . and bring Billy.’
377
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 377
23/09/2019 11:31
Chapter One Hundred and Three
2019
Lizzie
Lizzie’s heart leapt.
He’s here. Bring Billy.
Anna’s words echoed in her head.
‘You’ll never believe it,’ she said, turning towards her dad.
Billy gave a small nasal laugh. ‘Eric Fisher has come to
Mapledon,’ he said.
‘Yes. Bloody hell. How did you know he’d come here?’
Billy had already convinced Lizzie to hang around after they’d
locked the bungalow up. He’d asked her to drive towards
Muriel’s and park a street away.
They’d been sitting in the car talking when the call came.
‘Gut feeling,’ he said.
‘Shall we walk from here, then?’ she asked him.
Anna was standing at the open front door when Lizzie approached
the house with Billy by her side.
‘As much as he deserves it, don’t hurt him,’ Anna said as they
walked into the hallway.
Lizzie could feel the tension in the house like an electric
charge. She wanted to tell Anna not to worry; no one was going
to hurt Eric. But she couldn’t make that promise, because she
378
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 378
23/09/2019 11:31
didn’t know. As an adult, she’d met Billy twice before tonight
– she had no idea what he might be planning when he faced
the man who should have served the sentence in his place. Just
because he’d told Lizzie he wasn’t there for revenge and wasn’t going to hurt anyone didn’t mean she one-hundred-per-cent
believed him. She didn’t exactly feel qualified to make that
judgement.
Billy stared at Anna for what felt like minutes – it was as
though someone had pressed a pause button. Lizzie reached out
and touched his elbow, hoping to jolt him from his motionless
state.
‘I won’t,’ he said, finally.
The three of them entered the lounge. Lizzie’s whole body
was taut now as she looked at Eric Fisher and Muriel huddled
on the sofa, their pale, fearful faces looking up as they saw her and Billy. Eric slowly got to his feet.
‘Don’t involve Muriel and Anna in this, please.’ Eric’s eyes
pleaded with Billy. ‘I’ll tell you what you’re here for, then you can do what you like with me. But don’t hurt them.’
‘Oh, Eric, Eric,’ Billy said, moving closer to him. ‘I’ve said
already – I’m not here to hurt you, or them.’
A flash of confusion, or maybe it was disbelief, crossed Eric’s
face. ‘You don’t want revenge? You don’t want me to suffer for
getting away with it all these years?’
‘My hatred for you and your family has lessened since I was
first framed,’ Billy said. ‘I can’t say I don’t resent you, though.
I still think “why me?” – that bothers me now as much as it
did then. Although I think I’ve put all the pieces together, I’d
still like to hear your side. Hear the reason why you and Muriel
chose me. What I’d done that was so wrong you were happy
to watch me go down for something I wasn’t guilty of. But, as
I have explained to your wife, daughter and the others – I’m
not the bad one. Thirty years of self-reflection, deciding what
was important and what wasn’t, made me evaluate things
379
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 379
23/09/2019 11:31
differently. There’s something to be said for being selfless, Eric.
Isn’t there?’
A look passed between them that Lizzie couldn’t read. Eric’s
face flushed, and he became flustered.
‘I’ll take you to her,’ Eric said, jumping to his feet. ‘Do you
want to do it now?’
‘In a while,’ Billy said.
Lizzie exchanged a worried look with Anna. It was clear that
Billy had something more he wanted to say. Lizzie saw Anna
lurch forwards.
‘Look. I know what he did was absolutely heinous,
and you
suffered for that, Billy. But you said you weren’t going to hurt
anyone—’
‘But I still have some unfinished business . . .’ Billy said. His voice was soft, yet managed to sound menacing. Lizzie looked
from him to Eric.
‘Please, Billy, no.’ Eric put his hands together, prayer-like.
‘There’s no need.’
‘God, Billy. Wait!’ Anna shouted. ‘You can’t hurt him, you
promised.’
‘I’m. Not. Going. To,’ Billy said slowly, swinging around to
face Anna. ‘I know he was doing what he felt he had to do.’
‘What do you mean?’ Anna said, her brow creased.
‘If I’d had the opportunity to fight for my daughter, I’d have
done it in the blink of an eye,’ Billy said. ‘I understand why he did it, but I can’t forgive him. Tina knows too. But we’ve made
our peace with the lies.’ He faced Eric. ‘As long as you can give her what she wants – I’ll give you what you want.’
Eric gave a nod of his head.
‘What the hell are you talking about?’ Anna said.
Eric gave a loud, juddering sigh. ‘Sit down, Anna,’ he said.
‘Oh, dear God. This is something I never, ever, wanted to tell you.’
‘No, no, no!’ Muriel surged towards Eric; her fists held high.
380
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 380
23/09/2019 11:31
Lizzie watched in astonishment as Muriel showered punches on Eric’s chest.
‘Enough! Mum, for Christ’s sake,’ Anna said, pulling at
Muriel’s arms, forcing them down to her sides. ‘What is
happening here?’ Anna looked directly at Eric.
‘You didn’t mean to hurt her,’ Eric said, his voice quivering
as tears spilled over his cheeks.
Lizzie’s mouth dropped. She shot Billy a questioning look.
He obviously hadn’t told her everything. Billy Cawley had held
this last piece of the puzzle back from her – back from everyone
who’d been gathered at the bungalow a few hours ago. He’d
been waiting for Eric Fisher to slot it in.
Billy turned so he could see everyone’s faces.
‘ Anna killed Jonie Hayes,’ he said. ‘And Eric took the blame for what little Bella Fisher did.’
Lizzie stood by helplessly as she watched Anna sink to the
floor.
381
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 381
23/09/2019 11:31
Chapter One Hundred and Four
1989
Bella
Wednesday 19th July – the day of
‘Run, Bella, run!’ Jonie screeched as she legged it down Blackstone Close.
Bella heard the cry as she watched Jonie disappear around
the corner, leaving her trailing. With Creepy Cawley behind her,
shouting and waving his arms. Jonie had left her. How could
she do that? Bella dared to look over her shoulder as she
attempted to run on shaking legs. He was going to catch her.
Tears burned her eyes, her throat tightened. This was it. What
her mother had warned her about. ‘ Don’t annoy Billy Cawley’,
‘ Never go to his place’, ‘ It’s not safe’. All her mother’s warnings now screamed inside her skull. As she felt a hand grab her hair,
Bella knew her mum had been right all along.
‘Think it’s funny, do you?’ Creepy Cawley bellowed in her
ear. Bella felt warm liquid run down the insides of her thighs.
Her head hurt where he had hold of her hair. He pulled at it,
causing her body to turn around. Now she was looking directly
at him. His breath was hot on her face; a strong, stale smell
filled her nostrils.
‘Please . . .’ Bella cried. ‘I’m sorry.’
382
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 382
23/09/2019 11:31
‘And you think that covers it, eh? Weeks and weeks of you little shits banging on my door, and all you can say is sorry?’
Bella couldn’t move. Fear made all her muscles freeze. She
was going to die. Creepy Cawley was going to kill her. Suddenly,
her feet were moving. She wasn’t doing it. He was dragging her.
This was it. He was taking her back to his bungalow. She was
never going to see her mum and dad again.
Something snapped. A burst of energy came from inside her
and she pulled at his arms, freeing herself from his grip. She
didn’t stop to look over her shoulder this time, she just ran. As Bella rounded the corner, she noticed Jonie at the end of the
road, slumped against a wall.
‘Oh, there you are. You took your time – I was beginning to
worry he’d got you,’ Jonie said, before bursting into laughter.
A burning-hot sensation shot through Bella’s body, making
her face feel as though it were on fire. She clenched her fists
tightly. ‘I can’t believe you left me,’ she said, her teeth gritted.
‘Well, what did you expect? You need to learn to run faster,’
Jonie said. Then her gaze dropped. ‘Oh, my God! You didn’t!’
Jonie pointed at Bella’s legs. ‘You peed yourself?’ And she
doubled over in laughter again.
‘I hate you.’ Bella pushed Jonie, hard. She heard air leave Jonie’s mouth as she smacked into the wall. Bella didn’t hang
around. She ran down the cut-through, afraid Jonie would really
hurt her in return. She wouldn’t have liked being pushed.
‘Get back here, you wimp!’ Jonie’s voice followed her.
Bella panicked. She realised the cut-through would eventually
lead back to Creepy Cawley’s, to the hedges that lined the end
of his cul-de-sac; the ones they usually hid in before playing
Knock, Knock, Ginger. Maybe if she hid there now, Jonie
wouldn’t find her; she wouldn’t expect Bella to be brave enough
to go near there right after he’d caught her.
Bella had only reached the grassy area, just short of the huge
bushes, when Jonie came hurtling towards her, pushing her to
383
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 383
23/09/2019 11:31
the ground. They rolled around on the grass, Jonie yanking Bella’s hair.
‘How dare you push me!’ Jonie yelled.
‘You can’t get away with leaving me like that, Jonie. You’re
mean and a bully.’
‘Ahh, gonna go cry to Daddy, are you? You’re such a baby,’
Jonie said. She was sitting on Bella now, straddling her belly
and pinning her arms down. Bella struggled beneath her weight,
trying to wriggle free. But it was no good. Jonie was stronger.
‘Get. Off. Me!’ Bella thrashed as much as she could, managing
to drag herself across the grass a few inches, but Jonie grabbed
her again.
‘What’s your problem?’ she shouted.
‘You, Jonie. You are my problem. Always making me do stuff
you want. You’re selfish and I don’t want to be your friend anymore.’ Bella felt a relief saying the words out loud. The words she’d practised inside her head for months. She wanted to be
free of Jonie Hayes.
‘Tough. We’re friends and that’s that. Our mums are best
friends so we have to be.’
‘No, we don’t!’ Bella propelled her body once more, and
finally broke free. She scrabbled on the grass, her feet slipping.
She’d almost made it to the bushes,
to the gap she could squeeze
through, when Jonie’s hand pulled at her ankle, and she collapsed on her tummy back on the grass. Anger flared. Bella reached
her hand out in front of her, her fingers closing around a large
stone. She flipped over on to her back, and as Jonie landed on
her stomach, Bella swung her arm. The stone made a dull thud-
ding noise as it hit Jonie’s forehead.
For a moment, Jonie just looked stunned, but then she seemed
to sway.
Bella watched in quiet horror as a huge lump swelled up on
Jonie’s head. It seemed to grow bigger and bigger while she
stared. Was it going to pop?
384
IDareYou_B_2ndRevise_20190923_849YY.indd 384
23/09/2019 11:31
Jonie sat back onto the grass. She slowly raised her hand, and as she touched the lump, her eyes grew wide.
Bella thought she saw hatred in them. She had to get away
from Jonie. Now. Because it looked like she was about to go
totally ape on Bella.
She quickly threw the stone into the bushes and got up, ready
to make her escape.
‘What have you done?’ Jonie said, both hands now balled into
fists.
She was going to attack again – Bella knew it. While Jonie
was on the ground, she had to make sure she stayed there. Bella
moved forwards, and when she was beside Jonie, she raised her
foot, kicking her in her chest. Jonie again grabbed Bella’s ankle, pulling it to make her fall over. But she didn’t fall, she stayed upright.
‘You’re a bitch, Bella!’ she yelled. ‘And I never liked you,
anyway.’ She let go of Bella’s foot. Which gave Bella the perfect opportunity to deliver another kick. Jonie fell back, her head
slamming on the ground. Bella hesitated. The anger and frus-
tration that had exploded from her came as a shock, but it was
the first time she’d ever got the upper hand on her friend. She
stood over Jonie, deciding in that moment she should make the
most of it.
‘Good,’ Bella said. ‘I never want to see you again.’
Jonie was making a strange gurgling noise. Bella bent down,
close to her head. Over-reacting as usual, she thought, as she
took hold of Jonie’s locket necklace and pulled it. The chain
broke. ‘You won’t be wanting this anymore, then,’ she said,
pocketing the necklace.
Jonie didn’t answer.
‘Hey! I said, you won’t be needing this anymore.’
Jonie didn’t move.
Bella gave her a nudge with her foot. Nothing.
I Dare You (ARC) Page 37