The Breakdown(13)

‘Oh,’ I manage, feeling sick. Because in all the turmoil

and worry, I hadn’t thought about the killer still being





46


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out there. And that we can only get a mobile signal if

we’re upstairs, by a window.

‘You don’t have an alarm, do you?’

‘No.’

‘Then promise you’ll lock the door when you’re home

by yourself?’

‘Yes – yes, of course I will,’ I tell her, desperate to

get away, to stop talking about the woman who was

murdered.

‘Sorry, Rachel, I have to go,’ I add hurriedly.

‘Matthew’s calling me.’

I slam the phone down and burst into tears. I don’t

want to believe what Rachel just told me, I don’t want

to believe that the young woman who was murdered in

her car was Jane, my new friend who would, I felt, have

become a great friend. We had met by chance, at the

party I had gone to by chance, as if we’d been destined

to meet. Still sobbing, as clear as if it’s happening before my eyes, I see her edging towards the bar at Bedales.

*

‘Excuse me, are you waiting to be served?’ she asked, smiling at me.

‘No, don’t worry, I’m waiting for my husband to pick me up.’

I moved aside a little to make room for her. ‘You can squeeze in here, if you like.’

‘Thanks. It’s a good job I’m not desperate for a drink,’ she joked, referring to the number of people waiting to be served.

The Breakdown

47

‘I didn’t realise Colin had invited so many people.’ She looked quizzically at me and I noticed how blue her eyes were. ‘I haven’t seen you around before. Are you new to Finchlakers?’

‘I don’t actual y work for Finchlakers,’ I admitted guiltily. ‘I came with a friend. I know it’s a private function but she said there’d be so many people nobody would notice if there was an extra person. My husband’s watching the match with friends tonight and she felt sorry for me being on my own.’

‘She sounds like a good friend.’

‘Yes, Rachel’s great.’

‘Rachel Baretto?’

‘Do you know her?’

‘No, not real y.’ She smiled brightly at me. ‘My husband’s watching the match tonight too. And babysitting our two-year old twins.’

‘How lovely to have twins! What are their names?’

‘Charlotte and Louise, better known as Lottie and Loulou.’

She took her mobile from her pocket and thumbed through photos. ‘Alex – my husband – keeps tel ing me not to do this, at least not to total strangers, but I can’t help it.’ She held the phone for me to see. ‘Here they are.’

‘They’re beautiful,’ I told her truthful y. ‘They look like two little angels in those white dresses. Which is which?’

‘This one is Lottie and that’s Loulou.’

‘Are they identical? They seem it to me.’

‘Not exactly but it’s quite difficult for most people to tell them apart.’

‘I bet. Oh, I think it’s your turn.’





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She turned and saw the barman waiting to take her order.

‘Oh good. A glass of South African red, please.’ And turning back to me, ‘Can I get you something?’

‘Matthew will be here soon but—’ I hesitated a moment ‘—I’m not driving, so why not? Thank you. I’ll have a glass of dry white.’

‘My name’s Jane, by the way.’

‘I’m Cass. But please don’t feel you have to stay here now that you’ve been served. Your friends are probably waiting for you.’

‘I don’t think they’ll miss me for a few more minutes.’ She raised her glass. ‘Here’s to chance meetings. It’s such a treat to be able to drink tonight. I haven’t been out much since the twins were born and when I do, I don’t drink because I have to drive home. But a friend is dropping me home tonight.’

‘Where do you live?’

‘Heston, on the other side of Browbury. Do you know it?’

‘I’ve been to the pub there a couple of times. There’s that lovely little park just across the road from it.’

‘With a wonderful play area for children,’ she agreed, smiling, ‘where I seem to spend quite a lot of my time now. Do you live in Castle Wel s?’

‘No, I live in a little hamlet this side of Browbury. Nook’s Corner.’

‘I drive through it sometimes on my way back from Castle Wel s, if I take that short cut that goes through the woods.

You’re lucky to live there, it’s beautiful.’

The Breakdown

49

‘It is, but our house is a bit more isolated than I’d like. It’s great to be only a few minutes from the motorway though. I teach at the high school in Castle Wel s.’

She smiled at this. ‘You must know John Logan then.’