TOYL

rang. ‘Hello?’ she said.
    ‘Emma, it’s Sarah here. Sarah Forester – I’m performing with Lizzy in the musical. We met a few weeks ago.’
    ‘What’s wrong?’ Emma asked, automatically thinking the worst.
    ‘It’s probably nothing,’ Sarah replied. ‘But the show is due to start in less than half an hour and Lizzy hasn’t turned up yet. We’ve called her mobile and home number but there’s no answer. I just wondered whether she was with you.’

63

    ‘You’re really worried aren’t you?’ Will said, catching his breath as they ran along the pavement towards Lizzy’s apartment.
    ‘Something’s happened,’ Emma replied, dodging an elderly couple and picking up the pace. ‘Lizzy wouldn’t just disappear like that.’
    They reached the apartments, sprinted up the stairs and got to Lizzy’s door. As Emma banged on the door and struggled for the keys it all seemed horribly familiar.
    ‘Lizzy?’ she shouted as they burst into the flat. ‘Are you okay?’
    They moved around the flat together, room by room.
    The place was deserted.
    ‘Something’s happened,’ Emma said, pacing around the living room. ‘I know it.’
    ‘What are we going to do?’ Will said, looking at his feet.
    ‘I don’t know.’
    Then Emma spotted the open book on top of the television. She moved over and picked it up.
    ‘What is it?’ Will said.
    ‘Stephen Myers’ journal,’ Emma replied, looking in morbid fascination at Stephen's black scrawl. ‘Lizzy told me she was going to throw it away.’
    ‘Looks like she’s been reading it,’ Will said, moving up to her shoulder.
    ‘It does,’ Emma agreed.
    She read the open page, in which Stephen was rambling in his usual style, talking about how much he loved Emma, how much he looked forward to being with her. It was terrifying and sad at the same time.
    ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to read that,’ Will advised.
    ‘You’re right,’ she said.
    She went to close the book, and that’s when the photograph fell out – the photograph she had picked off Stephen’s bedroom wall, proving that Stephen had been to London. She bent down and picked it up, looking at her standing in the street outside Lizzy’s apartment, with the rows of shops in the background.
    Suddenly realisation dawned.
    ‘You okay?’ Will said, as Emma moved quickly towards the front door.
    ‘Follow me.’ She headed for the stairs.
    They emerged onto the street.
    ‘What’s the matter?’ asked Will, as he followed her down the road.
    ‘Look,’ she said, stopping and pointing across the road. ‘That shop there – the coffee shop – it only opened a year ago. It used to be an electrical store. We went there once when our fuse box blew out.’
    ‘So,’ Will said, ‘is that important?’
    ‘Look at the photograph,’ Emma instructed, thrusting the photo into his face and pointing. ‘Look at the background. I’m standing in front of the row of shops, just across the road from here.’
    ‘I don’t understand,’ said Will, staring intently at the photo. ‘What am I looking for?’
    ‘The store in the background. Look at what it is.’
    ‘Yeah, it’s the coffee shop. The one across the road.’
    ‘Stephen died years ago,’ Emma said. ‘But that coffee shop only opened last year – it means that this photograph must have been taken after Stephen Myers died.’

    ***

    ‘Where are you going?’ Miranda asked, as she stood at the doorway, watching Edward loading up the car.
    ‘I just need to do something,’ Edward said.
    ‘But it’s getting late,’ Miranda replied, pulling her dressing gown tighter around her body as a passer-by sneaked a surprised glance. ‘Can’t it wait until the morning?’
    ‘It can’t wait.’ Edward reached across the driver’s side and fiddled with something in the car.
    ‘What’s the matter? You’re worrying me, Edward.’
    ‘It’s nothing. There’s no need to worry.’
    ‘But if it’s nothing, why can’t it wait until morning?’
    ‘It just can’t,’ he stated.
    ‘Don’t go,’ Miranda said, moving out onto the driveway in her bare feet. Small, sharp stones dug into her skin, but she ignored the pain. ‘Please don’t go like this, without any explanation. I worry about you.’
    Edward turned and moved towards her, placing a hand around each shoulder. ‘You know I love you?’ He looked deep into her eyes. ‘I’d never want to do anything to hurt you.’
    ‘You’re not leaving me, are you?’ Miranda asked.