Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

*************

I rub my eyes and sip my coffee. Dinner last night filters through into my mind; Rebecca chatting away about a customer she’d served earlier in the day; Paul listening to her intently, and me, just staring at my plate, playing with my food, my thoughts entirely on the letter I’d received.

‘So you up to much today, then?’ Paul asks, pulling on his jacket, once he’s finished his coffee.

‘Oh, um . . .  I was thinking of doing a bit of shopping in Chelmsford. It’s been ages since I’ve been up to Bond Street, I might have a browse around John Lewis.’ I try to keep my voice steady, but I’m worried my fear is dripping through.

At least what I’m telling him is partly the truth. There’s no way I’m going to say I’m meeting Michelle. I’m still waiting for her to get in touch. The waiting’s killing me, especially now I know William knows where I live. I picture him standing outside, waiting for me to emerge. I squeeze the charms on my bracelet tight.

‘Well, just don’t go spending too much.’ He grins. He kisses me on the cheek. ‘I’ll see you tonight, amigo. Why don’t we arrange to go out this weekend? We could have one of those rare date nights when it’s just the two of us.’ He gives me a mischievous grin, the kind of grin I haven’t seen in ages.

‘Yes, that’ll be lovely. Perhaps we should go mad and go somewhere off the beaten track. I’ll see you later.’ I watch him stride down the hall. I still can’t shake away the idea he’s working with William, that they’re in on this together. Does Paul believe I’m a killer? The thought makes my heart ache.

He’s looking at his phone. Did he even hear me? Is William the person he’s texting right now? Is Paul telling him I’m going to be alone? A cold breeze stings my cheeks and the front door clicks shut.

The moment I know he’s well and truly out of the house, I pull out my phone. Rebecca left half an hour ago, running out of the front door with a piece of dry toast in her hand. There’s still nothing from Michelle. I squeeze my fist.

She told me she would meet me at eleven. That’s only three hours away. It’ll take her an hour or so to drive to Chelmsford, if she’s still living in Ilford.

I get down from the stool. I can’t sit here all morning and wait for Michelle to get in contact. I need to do something.

*

I make a point to avoid the area where Rebecca works and park the other end of the main town, once I’m in Chelmsford. At least Rebecca isn’t anywhere near Bond Street, so there’s no risk of bumping into her.

It’s ten am by the time I pull into the underground car park. Once I step out of the car I check my phone, exhaling a sigh of relief. Michelle’s telling me where to meet; she’s found some place off a side road.

I bring the café Michelle’s chosen up on my maps on my phone. It’s a ten minute walk from where I am now.

I spend half an hour walking around the shops, not really paying much attention to anything, before I leave to meet Michelle. I’m going to be early. Every muscle in my body is tight.

After walking through Chelmsford, I find the street where the café is. It’s away from the main high street. It’s on its own. I grimace at the state of it inside. There’s only one other person sitting there, an elderly woman in a thick grey duffle coat, sitting in front of the window, a newspaper open in front of her, one cup sitting on her table. Is it my imagination, or does the floor look dirty? If I’d passed it on my own, and I wasn’t meeting Michelle here, I would’ve run a mile.

I step into the shop, grasping the inside of my coat to make sure the photograph is still there in my pocket.

There’s one person standing behind the till, he must be in his late teens. He’s leaning over the till, his phone in one hand, the screen lighting up his face. He doesn’t pay me any attention. The lady sitting by the window murmurs something, which makes me look round at her, but it must’ve been because of something she’s read. Surely this isn’t the place where Michelle’s asked me to me.

I’m about to get my phone out again to check, when the back of my neck prickles with cold.

I turn around. Michelle’s standing there. Her eyes are fixed on mine.

‘Hello, Angela,’ she says.

****************

Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend