Forget Me Never

just come in to pick something up. They can’t know I’m here . . .
    ‘Reece,’ came a cool voice, ‘come out, please.’
    Slowly – dropping the photo on the floor – I stood up.
    Cherie faced me, arms folded.
    ‘Lottie asked me to . . . I mean, I was just . . .’ My mind ran dry. I didn’t see what excuse I could make. How had she even known I was here anyway? I stared at her, waiting to see what she would do.
    ‘. . . having a nose about?’ Cherie took a couple of steps towards me. I didn’t back away, though I really wanted to.
    ‘I fancied a look around,’ I said. ‘I was bored with filing.’
    Cherie gestured for me to step out. As I did so she grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly firm.
    ‘Turn out your pockets.’ When I hesitated, she dug her nails into my skin. That really hurt. ‘Do it, else I’ll have to myself, and that would be rather humiliating, wouldn’t it?’
    She seemed like a completely different person from the friendly woman I’d been chatting to all week. There was no way I could refuse. I couldn’t get past her to the door to make a run for it either. I obeyed, thankful that I hadn’t picked up anything from Aiden’s desk.
    ‘This is what happens next,’ Cherie said, very slowly. Her tone was so calm that it sent a shiver up my spine. ‘You are going to go down to the canteen and tell Lottie that you’ve done the filing she supposedly left you with. You will give her back her staff pass. For the rest of the afternoon you’ll do whatever she says. No questions, no snooping. Tomorrow morning you stay home. I’ll let everyone know that you’ve phoned in sick.’ She leaned closer. ‘And you and Sophie will keep away from Vaughan-Bayard. Understood?’
    She knew what we were up to. Somehow, she knew. Perhaps she had all along.
    ‘Are you threatening me?’ I was afraid, but stubborn enough to pretend I wasn’t. Cherie released my arm. She looked at me for a long moment.
    ‘How old is your little sister, Reece?’
    ‘What?’
    ‘Three, I think you said? There’s a picture of you together on your Facebook page, isn’t there? Pretty little girl – looks like you. Your mother must adore her. You live in Muswell Hill, don’t you? I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to find out exactly where.’
    There was a long, significant pause. She knows everything about me, I thought, dazed.
    ‘Leave my family alone,’ I said shakily.
    Cherie gave me a bored look, as though I was a very stupid child who wasn’t worth bothering with. ‘Don’t push me. Now get out.’
    I stepped into the corridor. As it swung shut, I saw Cherie go to Aiden’s desk, no doubt to check what I’d found.
    Well, I might have been caught red-handed, but I had found out a few things – especially about Cherie. The photo that had dropped out of Aiden’s organizer had been of her.

SOPHIE
    ‘They’re totally blagging,’ Reece said for about the fifth time. We were in McDonald’s; Reece had filled me in on everything. The cheeseburger he’d ordered was lying in it’s wrapper, barely nibbled. Despite insisting he was fine, he was clearly rattled – normally nothing got between Reece and stuffing his face. And no wonder. Cherie was scary enough when she was being nice – Cherie in threatening mode must have been something else.
    ‘You say that, but I wouldn’t put it past them to try something,’ I said. ‘Come on, idiot, they broke into your house. Giving your mum or Neve another scare wouldn’t be hard.’
    Reece picked up the burger and stared at it.
    I leaned forward. ‘Reece, talk to me. If you’re scared, I understand.’
    ‘I’m not!’ Reece snapped. ‘I’m mad at myself for not telling her where to stick it! Bossy cow. Creeping around my Facebook page and threatening me and thinking I’m just going to do whatever she says! Got a good mind to turn up tomorrow just to see the look on her face.’
    ‘God, we’re going in circles! OK, you weren’t scared. But I’m not sure Cherie’s threats were empty. You don’t need to go in tomorrow, and it’s much better for us if Cherie thinks you are scared. Might be best to rain-check that barbecue too.’
    ‘Cherie and Aiden . . .’ Reece muttered. ‘What a dream team. We missed something really obvious there, Soph. Cherie ’s Charlotte, isn’t she? Not Lottie. I’m no expert on names, but Cherie could be short for Charlotte, right?’
    Slowly I nodded. ‘Cherie – Charlotte – they even sound similar. That’s got