Stalked by Chris Smith

Author:Chris Smith
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Stalked
ISBN: 9781741105278
Publisher: New Holland Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
Published: 2009-08-25T16:00:00+00:00

That night, Libby paced the house, ideas buzzing around in her head. It was nearing 8pm and close to sunset. Her parents had left for the week on a trip out of town they’d been planning and looking forward to for sometime. Being on her own was a real test of her resolve. Nights out with her friends were easier to get through, even allowing for the chance Hopkins might turn up, but being home alone was never a time to cherish. Motivated, however, by Simone’s call, Libby had gone down to Manly straight after work to do a bit of shopping and was planning to cook up a tasty meal.

Before her parents had left, her father had spoken about employing a lighting contractor to attach a few additional sensor lights to the rear of the house. While Libby didn’t think for a second that the lights would ward off her deranged stalker, the sole sensor they had didn’t do much good. Perhaps a few more might put him off his routine. What would be the point of stalking at night when night turned to day as he entered the yard? But the installation was yet to be booked, so for now it would remain dark out there, whether he showed up or not.

As night fell Libby stood up from the couch and locked the sliding doors. She returned to the kitchen to wash up and as she ran the hot water, she looked up at the hall clock. It was ten-thirty and a strong wind had blown up. She wanted to clear up and then get as much sleep as possible. Libby could never tell whether it was going to be one of those nights. And on blustery nights like this one, every sound, all the thuds, creaks and clangs, were construed as one thing: Hopkins in the dark yard outside.

As she turned the hot water tap off, she was startled by an almighty crash outside the the bathroom. She realised she’d left the single bathroom window open and ran out of the kitchen down the corridor. She held her breath, listening. It had to be him. Had he fallen, trying to get inside? As she slowed down at the end of the hallway to turn the corner into the open space in front of the bathroom, she could hear a scratching noise directly outside. She grabbed an umbrella from the stand and approached slowly.

‘Time to scare me again, is it Phillip? You are so gutless.’

There was no reply. She walked into the bathroom and slammed the open window shut, before bolting it closed. Libby leaned against the sink and wondered for one frightening second whether she was really alone in the house. Had Hopkins actually got in? Was the noise she heard not a fall on the outside, but him falling into the house?

‘I’m calling the police!’ Libby said loudly.

As soon as she said it, she heard a noise under the house. She froze, listening for the sound. She shuffled slowly down the hallway, past all the darkened bedrooms, on her way to the telephone.

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