S is for Stranger: the gripping psychological thriller you don’t want to miss!. Louise Stone

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СКАЧАТЬ edge of the armchair and waited for me to talk.

      ‘I’m sorry I called,’ I stated flatly. ‘I know this is all a bit out of the blue.’

      ‘My god, Sophie. Don’t ever apologise. I’m glad you called. You shouldn’t be alone right now.’ He gazed on me softly. ‘Really.’

      I sat on the sofa staring vacantly ahead. Fiona’s cup of tea was quickly going cold.

      ‘Why do we British think tea will solve everything?’

      ‘Fiona was just trying to make you feel better. Anyway, it might warm you up.’ He looked at me concerned. ‘You haven’t stopped shaking. I’ve put the heating on and you should eat something soon too.’

      I mimicked the situation, ‘Officer, my daughter’s gone missing. Oh dear. Would you like a cup of tea?’ A small giggle escaped my lips and no sooner had it made its way into the world, another one followed, until I was laughing hysterically. Only, when I held my hand up to my face, I realised I wasn’t laughing any more, I was crying.

      I wanted to tell Oliver to stop fussing, that he wasn’t my mother. But, on the other hand, I wanted him to take me in his arms and tell me what to do. Because it felt as if my own mind had shut down, I had forgotten how to do the most mundane tasks. Forgotten, or perhaps, couldn’t be bothered. I mean, what was the point in eating, drinking, sleeping when your child was missing? Amy gave me a reason to get up every morning; she made me want to be a better person. Now, she was gone.

      ‘Do you want to lie down for a bit? Get your energy back?’ He got up; put a hand on my shoulder. ‘You look exhausted.’

      ‘My daughter is missing. Why would I want a lie down?’ I asked dully.

      ‘Because you’ve been through a lot today.’

      ‘I wouldn’t be able to sleep.’ I leant back into the cushions. ‘Oli, where do you think she might be?’

      ‘I’m not sure, Soph. But we’ll find her.’ Oliver dragged his hand through his hair. ‘I just don’t understand why Paul would lie.’

      ‘You and me both.’

      ‘Can you think of any reason? Anything?’ He looked as desperate for answers as I was.

      I put my hands over my face. ‘I don’t know,’ I said, tears pricking the back of my eyes. ‘Paul doesn’t want me to get custody but would he go this far? I mean it’s one thing to get at me but another to use our daughter, surely?’ I sniffed. ‘He started telling the detectives about the drinking, which is ridiculous because it’s under control now.’ I looked up. ‘It is.’ I gave a firm nod. ‘Also, he told them that I’m not fit to be a mother. When he said that, Oli, honest to god, I was this close to …’ I trailed off. Oliver sat down on the sofa, putting his arm around me. ‘If he can make out I’m incapable of looking after Amy then he wins. Only, he can’t go on lying forever?’ Panic clamoured in my throat: was he planning to run away with our little girl? ‘Can he?’

      ‘But,’ Oliver started tentatively, ‘this is ridiculous. It’s not human.’ He tightened his hold on me. ‘What kind of parent would put their own child at risk?’

      ‘I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.’ My throat was tight and dry. ‘I don’t know what he’s capable of any more.’

      ‘From what you’ve told me, Paul certainly sounds like he’d do anything to ensure he has sole custody of Amy,’ Oliver agreed, ‘but he loves her, doesn’t he?’

      ‘I can’t imagine he would do anything to her because, as much as he hates me, he does love Amy. I know he would die if anything happened to her.’

      ‘Has anything else happened?’

      I told him about the woman outside the burger place, the same woman I thought I had seen talking to Amy.

      ‘Who is she? A stalker?’

      I shook my head. ‘I don’t recognise her, but her voice was so familiar. Made me think of Bethany right away.’ I looked at him. ‘The detective wants me to have therapy sessions, try and jog my memory as to why I know her. I told her about Bethany and the night she was murdered.’ I shrugged. ‘Not sure what she was thinking. Their records state Bethany committed suicide. Which is a lie.’

      He studied my face. Oli had never believed me. He had agreed with the Priory doctors; I was suffering from post-traumatic stress.

      ‘I might go and take a shower,’ I said quietly.

      ‘Good idea.’ He smiled brightly, almost too brightly. ‘It’ll make you feel better.’

      I walked slowly up the stairs and, not able to make it as far as my bedroom, I sat down on the middle stair, with a thud. I heard Oliver pad along the hall and watched him lift an envelope off the mat.

      ‘Sophie?’ he hollered and bounded up the stairs. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. I thought you were in your room. You’ve got a letter here. Strange there’s no stamp.’ He touched the top of my head tenderly. ‘I’ll be downstairs, OK? I’m going to make you something to eat.’

      ‘There’s nothing in the fridge.’

      ‘There will be.’ He smiled and caressed my cheek between his forefinger and thumb. ‘I’ll go out and get something. See you in a bit.’

      ‘Thank you.’ I grabbed his hand as he turned. ‘And Oli?’

      ‘Yeah?’ He looked back.

      ‘Thank you.’ I leant my forehead against his hand. ‘I just want to start looking for her, you know? But I don’t know where to start.’

      ‘What did the detective say about searching?’

      ‘She said to stay at home. There was no point in looking unless we had some idea where she could be. Also, just in case she turns up or calls the landline, I should be here.’

      ‘You’ve tried her friends?’

      ‘Paul rang around.’ I sighed heavily. ‘She’s never had many friends. Sometimes I wonder if her not having many friends is down to the divorce, down to me and Paul.’

      ‘No,’ he said simply. ‘You are a good mother and I know that you will not only have Amy back very soon but that the court will see that she really is best off living with you.’ He withdrew his hand and smoothed the top of my hair. ‘Just be strong. For Amy.’

      He bounded down the stairs, grabbed his coat off the banister and smiled at me. ‘See you in a bit.’ He opened the door. ‘Have that shower.’

      The door shut and for the first time that day I was truly alone. I couldn’t remember the last time the house had felt so empty. Strange, when I thought about it, because I lived by myself – surely, I should be used to the silence? But it was different now. The silence was filled with uncertainty, palpable fear and worry: was Amy OK? Had she come to any harm? Would I see her again?

      I flipped the package over. The writing looked familiar and yet I couldn’t place it. It had been hand delivered. Sliding my forefinger along the flap, I tore the end open. Inside I СКАЧАТЬ