THE OTHER VICTIM a gripping crime thriller full of twists by Helen H. Durrant

Author:Helen H. Durrant [DURRANT, HELEN H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books
Published: 2018-08-20T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Karen Fletcher kicked at the front door. She had lost her key. She was cold, her teeth chattered, and her skinny arms were wrapped tight around her body for warmth. Her eyes had dark circles beneath them. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.

Finally her mother appeared at the door. “At last!” Kaz said. “Where the hell have you been? I’ve been standing here for ages.”

“Kaz! You’re back!” Christine Fletcher exclaimed. “I’ve been so worried. I was thinking all sorts. I even thought you might be dead.”

Brushing aside her mother’s open arms, Karen hurried inside. “I will be if you don’t help me.” She limped into the kitchen and flicked the switch on the kettle. “Anything to eat? I’m starving. The last food I had was ages ago.”

“What were you thinking, taking off like that?” her mother said. “I’ve had the police here, looking for you.”

“Keep them out of my hair. I mean it, Mum.” Her eyes were steely. “I can’t talk to them.”

“I have to tell them you’ve turned up, Kaz.”

“No! Not yet. I’ll stay here, under the radar. Folk ask, you tell them I’m still missing.” The last thing Karen wanted was her mother shooting her mouth off. “No one must know. Do you understand?” Her face was set hard. She meant it.

Christine Fletcher shook her head. “You haven’t asked about Kian.”

Karen heaved a weary sigh. “Go on then, tell me.”

“He cries all the time. He’s more than I can handle. I’m too old to be looking after an infant. You might be in hiding, our Kaz, but now you’re here you can do your share. He’s your son, not mine, and I’m exhausted.”

Karen wasn’t listening. She’d buttered several slices of bread and spread them thickly with jam. “I’m having this, a bath then getting some sleep. You can manage till I wake up?” She eyed her mother suspiciously. “What did you tell the police? You didn’t tell them about me working at the club, did you?”

“I told them I didn’t know. But they found one of those anklet things and showed me a photo. I was worried sick. I said you’d had one too.”

“Stupid cow! You’ll get me done. If Lomax finds out you dobbed him in, I’m toast.”

“I had the police and that social worker on my back. I had no idea where you were, and they’ve found a body. What was I supposed to do?” She paused. “I can’t pretend you’re still missing for long. You should speak to the police yourself.”

“No! I daren’t. Do you know what they do to folk who grass?”

Her mother sighed resignedly. “What have you got mixed up in, our Kaz?”

“Better you don’t know.”

“Where have you been these last few days anyway?”

“Hiding at a mate’s house. I got into a bit of bother with some hard types.” She shook her head. “I had no choice but to stay out of sight. It’s over now.”

“What hard types? Have you been messing with drugs again?”

“No, nowt like that. I overheard something at that club.

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