The Hollows(90)

Instinctively, Darlene reaches for the knife, then grips the wheel with both hands and looks for Reverse. She’ll back out of the little road, put her foot down, chase them, run them off the road.

She stops herself.

Think.

It’s more important to get away, find somewhere safe. Somewhere she can get food and something to drink. Maybe find some sucker who’ll take her in, look after her. She bets there are plenty of guys out there who’d do that.

Because what’s the rush? She’s been through that girl’s phone. She knows where she lives, where she goes to school. She knows who her friends are. She’s seen photos of her house and her back garden. The hutch where she keeps her pet rabbit. She knows everything.

Darlene looks over to the passenger seat and finds Buddy there, smiling. Proud of her for not acting on impulse, for thinking about the future.

Then she starts the engine and drives away from the Hollows, towards the rest of her life.





Acknowledgments

I very much hope you enjoyed The Hollows. If you want to get in touch and let me know what you thought, my email address is [email protected]. Or you can contact me via Facebook (@markedwardsauthor), Instagram (also @markedwardsauthor) or Twitter (@mredwards). A review on Amazon or Goodreads is always very welcome.

You can also download a collection of four short stories by going to www.markedwardsauthor.com/free and joining my Readers Club.

This book was written during the pandemic of 2020. Fortunately, for me, I had already decided to set it during the summer of 2019, so I didn’t have to worry about my characters social-distancing or being obsessed with hand sanitiser, although I wonder whether the important role played by masks in this book was some kind of subconscious reaction to what was going on beyond my study. I’m writing this letter at the start of December 2020, seven months before publication, and I am keeping everything crossed that the world will be in a better place by the time you read these words. I know that reading has been a solace for many people, including myself, and wonder how much of an appetite there will be for reading novels set during the pandemic. That’s a question I will have to face when it comes to writing my next book . . .

I have a few people to thank:

David Downing, Jack Butler, Gemma Wain, Madeleine Milburn and everyone at the agency. Sarah Lotz, for pointing me in the direction of dark tourism. Lisa Harrison, whose hard work and organisational skills allow me to concentrate on writing. My crime-writer friends for all the title brainstorming and for helping to keep me sane this year. I miss you all. Lucie Whitehouse, who came up with the town name, Penance. Matthew Farrell, for baseball advice. And, of course, my family: Sara, Poppy, Ellie, Archie and Harry – and Peggy the Maine Coon, who is always there when I’m working, keeping me company, though it’s not helpful when she lies on the keyboard or steals my chair . . .

Glen Troiano won the ‘honour’ of having a character named after him in this book. Hope you enjoyed seeing your name in print, Glen!

This book contains several Easter eggs, with references to The Magpies, The Lucky Ones, The Retreat and The House Guest. Did you spot them all? If not, send me an email and I’ll tell you where to look.

Thanks for reading.

Mark Edwards