Roses Are Red - Miranda Rijks Page 0,83

lack of resources it’s unlikely anyone from the police will visit me tonight. I’m not surprised.

After Mia and Oliver have gone to their rooms, I call Patrick. His phone goes straight to voicemail. That pisses me off. He knows I’m on edge, and that I’m not feeling well. I leave him a curt message, asking him to call me back as soon as possible.

I call Cassie instead.

‘I’m coming over,’ she says, when I explain what’s happened.

‘No, hon, don’t. We’re fine.’

‘No arguments. I’m coming.’

And twenty minutes later, there she is. My best friend, who scoops me up whenever I have any problems.

‘I’ve got something for you,’ she says.

She hands me a strange-looking black can.

‘What’s this?’

‘It’s pepper spray.’ She lowers her voice. ‘It’s illegal in the UK, so keep it hidden, but I want you to have it in your bag all the time, just in case.’

‘God, Cassie. Where did you get it?’ I hold the can as if it is dynamite about to explode.

‘You don’t need to know that. And better not tell Fiona! She might have me locked up!’

We laugh. ‘Talking of Fiona, she mentioned that you’re going on holiday together.’ I’m shivering again, so I take a throw off the back of the sofa and wrap it around myself.

‘Probably not. She suggested it; two single saddos off to some sunny resort, but I don’t think the finances will be up to it. I can’t see Fiona slumming it, can you?’

I’m relieved. I know it’s not kind to say that I am jealous of Fiona’s friendship with Cassie, but I am. Just a little bit.

‘Would you like me to stay the night?’ Cassie asks. ‘I’ve bunged some overnight things in the car just in case.’

‘You’re a sweetheart, but it’s really not necessary. I appreciate the offer, though. No, go home and make sure you don’t pick up my germs.’

When Cassie has left, and I have checked that every door and window in the house is locked and bolted, wearily, I make my way to bed. It isn’t until I’m slipping under the duvet that Patrick calls me. I’m angry with him. He promised he would leave his phone on.

‘I’m sorry I couldn’t call earlier. I was having dinner with colleagues and I had to have my phone off. Are you all right?’ He sounds rather breathless.

‘Ajay was here, creeping around the outside of the house!’ I say curtly.

‘What the hell! The bastard needs to stay away from us. Have you spoken to the police?’

‘Yes, they’ve logged it. I’ve told them that he’s stalking me.’

‘And did you tell them about the silent calls?’

‘Oh shit, no, I forgot about them.’

‘Lydia!’ he groans. ‘I’m really worried about you. It’s obvious that Ajay is unhinged, and I hate to think what he has got planned. You need to get the police onside.’

‘I’m trying, Patrick. Really, I’m trying. I was given a police reference number, so I’ll call them back in the morning.’

‘Ok, darling. But if he scares you, call me, day or night. I’ll leave my mobile on all night, and if necessary I’ll come back from Manchester early. I’ve been giving some thought to security, and I think we should install a better security system with night-vision cameras.’

‘That’s an expensive thing to do when we’re about to sell the house.’

‘The kids and your safety is worth all the money in the world. Look into it. Promise me? And try not to worry too much. I doubt he’ll be back tonight after you caught him creeping around the house earlier. Take a sleeping pill.’

But I won’t. If something happens, I want to be alert and able to deal with it. My priority is to make sure Mia and Oliver are safe. It makes me realise that Patrick will never truly understand me, because he doesn’t have children, and he can’t comprehend that I would lay my life down to save theirs.

‘Sleep tight,’ he says before hanging up.

But I don’t sleep tight.

I think about Ajay and the business and why he is trying to scare me. What is Ajay’s motive? It’s evident he wants to acquire the business at a silly price, but is he really a bully? Is he really a violent man? A murderer even? If circumstances were different, I would reach out to Marianne. Perhaps she could give me an insight into her husband, an understanding of him that I currently don’t have. But I am not going to get in touch with Marianne. I can’t forgive her for her duplicity.

And then