TOYL

admitted. ‘He never did anything physical like that – but I always had the feeling that he might be capable of doing something. In his letters he certainly threatened to do things. But who knows how he might have changed in the time since I saw him last, or what mental state he’s in?’
    ‘That’s true. But why would he suddenly reappear now, after four years?’
    ‘The wedding – maybe he found out about it and wanted to wreck things.’
    ‘He could have done. But how would he have found out?’
    ‘Who knows? Maybe he never really did stop following me. What if he’s been watching me for all these years, Lizzy?’
    ‘You really think so? Wouldn’t you have noticed something?’
    ‘Maybe. I thought I saw him outside the apartment before.’
    ‘Really?’ Lizzy looked shocked.
    ‘It’s okay, it wasn’t him,’ Emma reassured her. ‘I just imagined it. But look around this place here.’ She gestured at the packed coffee house. ‘And look outside – all those people. In London you can blend in, hide, watch people. He might be following me and I’d never notice.’
    ‘This is really freaky,’ Lizzy said. ‘How much do you know about him?’
    ‘You mean his character, his age, things like that?’
    Lizzy nodded.
    ‘Quite a bit. Mostly from what he told me in the letters he sent. I know that he’s four years younger than me, and that he was still living with his parents in a town near Manchester. I even know his parents’ address, because he always put it on the letters he sent me – probably hoping that I would reply. I never did, of course.’
    ‘What about any mental illness?’
    ‘That I don’t know. But the police told me that he was supposed to be taking medication for some kind of mental disorder. And just by talking to him you could tell that something wasn’t quite right. Some of the things he used to say didn’t really make sense.’
    ‘So you’re going to tell the police?’
    ‘I already have done. I called Inspector Gasnier straight after I’d spoken with Mrs Henderson.’
    ‘And they’re going to check him out?’
    ‘They said they would look into it.’
    ‘Well, that’s good. So I guess we’ll have to wait until they speak with Stephen then.’
    ‘I’m not sure they are going to bother. The way that Gasnier sounded on the phone, I think he was just humouring me. They’re sure Dan did it, Lizzy, and they’ve got me pegged as the delusional fiancée who’s desperate to clear her future husband’s name.’
    ‘You’re a lot of things,’ Lizzy said, ‘but I don’t think you’re delusional.’
    ‘Thanks,’ Emma replied, looking down into her now empty coffee mug.
    ‘What is it?’ Lizzy asked. ‘You’re thinking of something.’
    Emma looked up. ‘Lizzy, what are you doing tomorrow?’
    ‘Why?’ Lizzy said suspiciously. ‘Emma Holden, I know that look. What are you up to?’
    ‘I want you to come with me,’ Emma said, ‘to see Stephen Myers.’
    ‘You serious?’
    ‘Totally. If I’m right about this, Dan’s life could depend on it.’

19

    ‘Emma, I’m not sure this is such a good idea.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Emma said, glancing across at Lizzy, who was in the front passenger seat. They had been travelling up the motorway for an hour or so now, about a quarter of the way to their destination: Stephen’s parents’ house. Lizzy had taken a great deal of persuading, believing that they should let the police get on with it, but Emma had insisted she would go alone if necessary, so finally Lizzy had agreed to accompany her.
    ‘Are you sure about seeing Stephen Myers again?’ she said now. ‘I mean, from the way you were talking about it all yesterday, about moving to London just to get away from him…’
    ‘I’ll be okay,’ said Emma, passing a slow-moving lorry before drifting back into the slow lane. Early morning wasn’t the best time for travelling halfway across the country, but so far the traffic had been okay.
    ‘It’s just… I don’t know, have you thought it through? Have you actually wondered how you’ll react if you come face to face with him after all this time? If he does have something to do with what happened, confronting him could be really dangerous. And even if he doesn’t, then you risk re-igniting his interest in you. He might start following you again.’
    ‘I’ve thought about it a lot.’ Emma kept her focus on the road ahead. ‘But I’m trying not to think about it now, in case I change my