was physically shaking from head to toe, with the cold and with fear. But when you are in such a desperate situation it’s almost like a greater self takes over. I could have sat there and shivered all night but I knew I had to take control.
I ran a bath and got out of my clothes. Once the water roused me and returned my body temperature back to something approaching normal I made a sugary tea. Then I wrapped myself up in the duvet and lay on the bed. Of course, it could have been a drunk teenager or local lout who had pushed me into the pond as a prank – but it could also have been someone connected to Cutt. And who was it who had held on to my leg?
Thank God for Rebecca, I thought. ‘If she hadn’t come then …’ I didn’t complete the thought. Instead I was caught up in hysterical laughter. Was I thanking the lord above for the intervention of a ghost? Was I really that far gone?
‘Oh dear, Ms Asquith,’ I whispered to myself. ‘What are you doing?’
Finding no answer to my question, and in the absence of anyone else, I hugged myself.
Never before had I so desperately yearned for my mother’s embrace.
When I came round in the morning I was foggy. I ordered breakfast in bed and despite lack of appetite, made sure I ate everything. I had to be strong, to have my wits about me. The revelations of last night and the consequent dunking had left me in a state of intense alarm, but, at the same time, I found my resolve had hardened. If I was going to stick my beak into people’s business I had to be careful. There were some out there prepared to go to extreme lengths to keep their secrets safe. That was now as clear as day.
‘How much do I owe you?’
Bob wrote out a docket and passed it over. I handed over the money, thanked him and told him I’d be off.
‘Hope you weren’t woken up by all the commotion this morning?’ he asked, fiddling with the cash drawer.
‘What was that?’ I rotated my body round to the till. Bob wore an amused grin.
‘Had a prowler in the backyard near the guest rooms. Early. About sixish. The wife heard it. Reckons something fell over by the back door. So she goes to the window and sees a man there. Scarpers as soon as the light comes on.’
‘Did you catch him?’
‘No. Glenys called the police. They weren’t too fussed. Said to call if it happened again.’
‘Oh dear,’ I said earnestly and turned back to the room.
‘Not a boyfriend of yours?’ Bob called after me.
‘Chance’d be a fine thing,’ I called back, heart thumping as I scurried down the hallway. They were ramping it up. What was I meant to do?
The only way I could see to protect myself was to write this down and get Maggie to publish as soon as possible. Maybe she could go to print early? There was always the Mercurial website too.
In the room, I sat on the bed, plugged in my mobile and charged it up. Three text messages and two missed calls. I had no time to listen to them now though. There were more pressing things – the prowler. It was such an old-fashioned word, laced with misplaced sexual undertone, but I doubted very much that last night’s mysterious intruder was after knickers on the washing line. It was obvious now that one of Cutt’s people was onto me. Not only that, but inadvertently I may have led them straight back to the Phelps.
If they were reckless enough to start fires, break into my flat, or even attempt to drown me (if last night’s bath in the duck pond was their handiwork), who knew what they’d do to the Phelps?
I had to warn Harry and Anne. I started dialling their number, then stopped and threw the phone on the bed. Was I being paranoid or could they have a trace on my phone?
Was that ridiculous?
I stared at the mobile for a moment, then decided
whatever was happening, I should err on the side of caution.
Within seconds I was back in the bar, asking Bob if I could use the pub landline. He pointed me in the direction of a call box by the door.
It was Harry who picked up.
‘Hi,’ I said breathily. ‘It’s me, Sadie. I think Cutt’s people may have been here last night.’ I avoided