TOYL

you two split up? You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. Just tell me to butt out.’
    ‘It’s okay,’ Emma said. ‘Maybe this is the time to tell you everything. It had some effect, but it wasn’t the reason we split up. I don’t think Stuart really settled in London to be honest. When we first moved down we were both really hopeful. We’d put the bad things behind us and we thought that things were going to get better from then on. At first things were going really well. Stuart got a short-term role with the BBC and I picked up a part in a stage play. But then after Stuart’s contract ended he had real trouble getting work that he wanted. He started getting depressed and just seemed to lose interest, really.’
    ‘With you?’
    ‘With everything. He didn’t bother going for auditions and started sleeping in all the time. Then after about three months of that he just said that he thought we should split up. Said it would be for the best. He left straight away.’
    ‘Was it a surprise?’
    ‘Yes,’ Emma said. ‘I knew he hadn’t been happy, and that something had definitely been troubling him, but I didn’t think it was because he was unhappy with our relationship. It was a complete shock.’
    ‘It must have been hard.’
    ‘It was. I thought we’d end up getting married. When he left it felt like I’d never meet anyone again. But shortly afterwards I met you and moved into your place, and that really helped.’
    ‘And then you met Dan.’
    ‘Yeah,’ Emma smiled regretfully. ‘And now he’s gone.’
    ‘I’m sure everything will be all right,’ Lizzy said.
    ‘I keep telling myself that,’ Emma replied, ‘but I’m not that convinced.’

    ***

    ‘We’re only about half an hour away,’ Emma announced. ‘We’ve made good time.’
    ‘Twelve o’clock,’ Lizzy said looking at the in-car clock. ‘No wonder my stomach’s rumbling.’
    ‘Maybe we should have eaten at the last services we passed, but I was just desperate to get up there as soon as possible. That way, we can get back to London at a decent time. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.’
    ‘It all seems so unimportant,’ Lizzy said, ‘under the circumstances. Maybe I should have said no, like you did to your audition.’
    ‘Don’t you dare.’
    ‘I still feel really guilty for leaving you yesterday.’
    ‘Don’t. I was fine, Lizzy.’
    ‘Still,’ Lizzy said, remaining unconvinced, ‘I felt like crap.’
    ‘I wanted you to take the role,’ Emma said. ‘I knew if I didn’t push you out of the apartment you’d never have gone. So don’t feel bad. Let’s just focus on what we’re going to do when we get to Stephen’s parents.’
    ‘Okay. So have you thought about how you’re going to do this? What are you going to say to them?’
    ‘I’m hoping that they might be able to tell us about what Stephen has been doing recently – especially if he’s been to London.’
    ‘Do you think they’ll tell us things like that?’
    ‘Not sure, but it’s worth a try. His dad seemed quite reasonable, and I think if he suspects Stephen might have done something, then he might be willing to speak with us.’
    ‘You’ve met him before?’
    ‘I’ve never met him face-to-face. But he did send me a letter once, saying that he would speak with Stephen and try and convince him to stop following me. His dad seemed like a really nice person.’
    ‘Nothing like his son then.’
    ‘No, thank goodness.’
    ‘So you’re going to tell them why you’re asking the questions? About Richard?’
    ‘I think so.’
    ‘And what if Stephen is there?’
    ‘Then I’ll ask Stephen,’ stated Emma, ‘although I’m praying that it won’t come to that.’
    ‘Surely if he has done it then he’s not going to tell us, is he?’
    ‘Probably not, but as much as I don’t like the idea, in his own deranged way he did care for me, Lizzy. I might be able to get him to tell the truth.’

20

    ‘Still sure you want to do this?’
    ‘Not really,’ Emma said, as they both examined the terraced home of Stephen’s parents. Moss poked through the grey brickwork in places, and the windows were smeared with a layer of grime. With the colourless house, and the dreary weather, the scene was reminiscent of a washed-out oil painting.
    ‘They might not live here anymore,’ Lizzy offered.
    ‘There’s only one way to find out,’ Emma said, as she stepped towards the door. It was wooden, with green paint that was flaking as