Still Life by Isobel Hart

Author:Isobel Hart [Hart, Isobel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LSS Ltd
Published: 2018-05-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

The fight seeped out of Elliott as soon as I said I knew what the link was. Instead, we hurried back towards the car park and our respective cars. Frustrated to have to wait to talk to him, now that I’d made the connection, I couldn’t get home fast enough.

Edward stepped out the restaurant behind us, without Serena, but remained in the shadows watching. From the glow of the mobile phone pressed to his ear he was speaking to someone. I shivered.

“I’ll see you back at the apartment,” Elliott said, kissing me before he opened my car door. He waited for me to start the engine and pull slowly away before he moved off and got into his own vehicle.

I put my foot down. It seemed important I speak to someone about what I’d figured out soon – before anything happened to me. I parallel parked with unusual efficiency, slipped out of the car, locked it and fumbled inside my bag for the front door key Elliott had given me. A figure stepped out of the shadows. I screamed and took a step back, clasping the keys like a weapon between my fingers as I prepared to stab any would-be attacker.

“Sam, shut up, it’s me, Malcolm,” Malcolm hissed, stepping into the halo of the streetlight so I could see him properly. “Stop screaming.”

“Fucking hell, Malcolm. You nearly made me wet myself.”

“Where’s Elliott?”

“Just coming. We had both our cars at the restaurant tonight. He came straight from work. Come on, I’ve got a key, I’ll let you in.” I walked towards the front door, feeling jumpy, wanting to get out of the open. Headlights appeared in the street behind us. I hoped it was Elliott, but didn’t want to hang around just in case it wasn’t.

Trembling a little, I opened the front door, flicking on the lights before we stepped into Elliott’s apartment. I hesitated, waiting for the tell-tale sound of Elliott’s key in the street door. When I heard it, I relaxed a little and led Malcolm into the lounge. “Tea?” I offered, knowing it was his tipple of choice.

“No, thank you, I’m fine.”

“Sam?” Elliott called as soon as he walked into the hallway.

“In here, with Malcolm,” I called back from the lounge, hugely relieved we were all home.

“Alright, Malcolm?” Elliott nodded at his friend, heading straight for me. “Jesus, Sam, that was a hell of a first date,” he said with a laugh as he bent to kiss me. “So, tell me,” he dropped down onto the chair beside me, “what have you worked out?” He looked over at Malcolm, on the sofa opposite. “Sam says she’s worked out some sort of a connection,” he explained.

Malcolm looked at me expectantly, as they both waited for me to explain.

“It was something Serena said when we were in the ladies together,” I began, trying to hide the happy smile that wanted to curl the corners of my mouth as soon as Elliott draped his arm around the back of the chair, brushing against the tops of my shoulders.

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