The Apartment - K. L. Slater Page 0,69

out a little. My heart rate has slowed a little and I don’t feel as overheated.

About halfway down the high street, I spot a sign with an arrow indicating a shop down a little snicket off the main street.

I open my bag to fish out the letter I put in there yesterday, so I can check this is the right place, and my hand flies up to my mouth. The little mother rabbit Skye was looking for earlier is in here, tucked behind my purse.

I stand still for a moment. I haven’t touched her little figurines since we moved in, except to tidy them now and again. And yet here it is. If Skye didn’t put it here then I must have!

I’m either losing my mind, or I’m so distracted with everything going on that I slipped it into my bag by mistake without it registering. That must be it. I’ve got to sort myself out; it could’ve been something really important I misplaced.

I push the toy rabbit further down in my bag and take out the letter to double-check.

Crystal Clear Opticians. This is definitely the right one.

I walk down the dim little alleyway, which opens out into a sort of quaint cobbled yard, and there the shop is, in front of me.

I’m relieved to see it looks like a small family-run business, rather than one of the big chains. Hopefully, it will be missing some of the hefty policy documents that force staff to follow a strict data-protection procedure when it comes to giving out information.

‘Morning!’ A lady in her sixties with grey, wiry hair and zany cerise-pink glasses smiles at me as I walk in the shop, activating an old-fashioned bell above the door. ‘I’m afraid Mr Frazer, the optician, is running a little late and isn’t in yet. Are you here for an appointment?’

This is looking more promising by the second.

‘No, I wanted to make an appointment actually, for my sister. She’s not able to get in herself.’

‘Ahh, well we can do that no problem at all.’ She walks over to a desk and sits down, pressing a couple of buttons and peering at a monitor. ‘Has she been here before?’

‘She has.’ I smile, ignoring the thumping in my chest. ‘And she was quite insistent I had to make the appointment here, as Mr Frazer did such a good job a year ago.’

I’m pushing my luck here making some assumptions, but it’s my only chance to get her onside.

‘Well, that’s nice to know. What’s your sister’s name?’

‘Her name is Sophie Taylor,’ I say, pleased she isn’t looking at me.

‘Here we are, I have her right here. 6 Adder House.’ She frowns. ‘I see we’ve just issued her an appointment reminder. How is she getting on with her glasses?’

‘I think she might need them adjusted. I’ve been telling her to come back in for a while.’

‘Tell me about it!’ She takes off her spectacles and pinches the top of her nose. ‘I have three adult children and all of them wear glasses. And can I persuade them to come in to see Mr Frazer without a fight? I cannot!’

We share a smile, but I’m willing her to get a move on before I trip myself up somehow.

‘I’ll just get Mr Frazer’s diary up.’

I make an appointment for a week from now and then I take a breath. Here goes. ‘Could I ask a big favour? Could you possibly print off my sister’s details, so she can check them over?’

She looks blankly at me.

‘It’s just that she’s already moved from Adder House, she got your letter via the mail redirection service. She’s recently changed her phone number, too, and she wants to write her new details down for me to pop back to you.’ The woman’s eyes narrow. She’s not falling for it. ‘It’s fine if not, I just thought it would save time when she comes in next—’

‘Good idea!’ she says as the printer starts whirring. ‘We’re not supposed to give out customer details, of course, but I can see you’re only trying to help, which makes a change from some of the awkward so-and-so’s we have to deal with around here.’

She hands me the sheet and I take it, willing my hand not to shake for just a few more seconds. Outside, I rush back on to the high street and quickly read the details . . . there’s a next of kin on there with an email address and phone number. Also a date of birth