The Murder at Skellin Cottage by Cross Amy

Author:Cross, Amy [Cross, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Dark Season Books
Published: 2017-02-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Six months ago

“Where the hell can I go?” Deborah whispered, standing in the bedroom at Skellin Cottage and staring down at her half-packed suitcase. “They're always going to find me, they...”

Her voice trailed off for a moment, and she stood in complete silence until finally Merriwig jumped up onto the bed and wandered over, purring as she brushed against Deborah's arm.

“Don't worry,” Deborah continued, stroking the back of the cat's head, “I'll take you wherever I go.”

Sitting on the bed as Merriwig continued to purr, Deborah seemed lost in thought for a moment.

“I've been such an idiot, Merriwig,” she said finally. “I thought I could run forever, or at least long enough to finish the book. I thought I could leave the past behind and start again. I thought no-one would ever find out the truth about me. And then just to really screw things up, I even let Susannah read three chapters of the damn thing.” Putting her head in her hands for a moment, she tried to figure out what to do next. “Every time I make a decision, I make the wrong decision. Every single time. What's wrong with me?”

Merriwig purred as she settled down next to the suitcase for a nap.

“I can't go,” Deborah said suddenly, getting to her feet. “Not yet. As long as Susannah keeps her word and doesn't tell anyone, I can stay to the end of the month, to the end of my agreement with Martin Chesleford.” She turned and looked down at the cat. “This is it, Merriwig. We're getting out of this place at the end of the month, and until then I'm just going to focus on writing my book and nothing else. I've been an idiot again, I let myself get sucked into having a social life and spending time with people, but that was a mistake. I have to finally get that book done, and then...”

She paused as a shudder passed though her chest.

“Nothing matters after that,” she added finally. “It was always about the book. That book is the most important thing in the world.”

She hesitated for a moment, before turning and heading out of the bedroom, leaving Merriwig sleeping peacefully on the bed. Hurrying downstairs, Deborah made her way into the kitchen and began to boil a fresh kettle of water, before walking over to the sofa and reaching down to pick up her laptop.

Suddenly someone knocked at the door and she turned, startled by the sight of Harry Morgan. Before she could even think to say anything, however, Harry turned the handle and tried to get the door open, only to find that it was locked.

“I'm busy!” Deborah stammered.

“Can I come in?” he called out.

“Can't you come back later?”

“I still don't have a new phone,” he replied. “I came all the way out here, Debbie. Can we talk?”

She hesitated for a moment, before heading over to the door and turning the key in the lock.

“I'm working,” she told him as she opened the door, only for him to kiss her on the cheek as he stepped into the cottage.

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