Georgia thinks of home, her mother waiting there for her. I don’t ask her to worry all the time. A wave of claustrophobia carries her energy away. She makes no move to get up.
Her dad frowns. ‘Georgia, come on, love. Have a proper sleep in your own bed and you’ll feel good as new tomorrow. It’s nearly nine. If you’re planning on running, you want to be rested for the race, don’t you?’ He reads the look on her face with unnerving accuracy. ‘I know you think your mum will pressure you not to run. Tell you what, I promise I’ll help keep her at bay for the next twenty-four hours, until after the race. Deal?’
Reluctantly, Georgia nods. She gets up and collects her coat. ‘Maybe see you tomorrow?’ she says to Bethany.
‘Sure,’ Bethany agrees. ‘I’ll try to get up in time to cheer you and Danny on.’
As Bethany sees them both out, a car pulls up on the drive and Bethany’s mother waves before heading inside. Georgia tries to imagine what it would be like if her own mother never got home until after dark. She feels giddy at the thought of so much freedom.
She had been so close to confessing to Bethany. She thought it might have helped her to focus if she could have unburdened herself before the race. Now there’s no longer any choice – it will all have to wait.
For the second time today, the doubts come creeping back. Should she be running at all? She shakes her head to clear them. She wants the sponsorship so badly – she’s dreamed of travelling the country next year with the Addison’s logo on her chest. It’s time to dispel these disquieting thoughts once and for all. Although her arm is sore, she’s physically as fit as she was two days ago, and running has always cleared her head. What had Danny said? I think you’re amazing for running tomorrow. And that’s exactly what she needs to be for the race: amazing. Because everyone will be watching.
She feels the adrenalin kick in. She imagines herself crossing the finish line a champion, all the congratulations and celebrations. There is only one person she wants to share that with, only one person who can help her analyse it all later.
‘Dad,’ she says as they get into the car. ‘If Sophia’s up to it, can we go and see her after the race?’
‘I’m sure we can, honey. I’ll drive you over there.’
‘Thank you.’ She leans back in her seat and tries to relax. Only twenty-four hours and all these plans will be memories. Sophia is awake. Georgia is glad now that she didn’t confide in Bethany, because she can’t wait to talk to her cousin. Sophia is her best friend, after all.
23
ZAC
Zac sits on the sofa, absentmindedly tearing at his nails. In front of him, his mother paces repeatedly across to the window and away again. Each time he catches sight of her frightened expression he feels winded. He’s close enough to look out across the darkened garden, but he keeps his eyes averted. He has watched too many horror films; he can envisage a face appearing without warning at close quarters, distorted and menacing. He wishes they could just close the curtains, but he doesn’t dare move.
‘Should we phone the police?’ he suggests hesitantly.
She stops, puts her hands on her hips, regarding him sternly. ‘Why didn’t you stay at Cooper’s?’
He is surprised at the censure. ‘You dropped the phone mid-conversation, Mum. I heard you talking to someone. You sounded scared. What did you think I would do? I needed to know you were okay.’
He had raced back from Cooper’s in a panic that sent his bike into intermittent wobbles. He had imagined his mother passed out on the floor, injured or worse. He had been so relieved to find she was all right. This implication of wrongdoing seems entirely unfair.
He sees her soften. She comes towards him and hugs him. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be giving you a hard time. I just had a fright. I was so glad you weren’t here when I got home and found that woman waiting – I was so relieved you were safe.’
‘So, who was she?’ he asks again. ‘Why aren’t we phoning the police?’
His mother sits down wearily in front of him, leans back on the sofa. ‘I don’t know who she was, but I want to talk to your dad first of all.’ She grabs her phone and taps quickly on the screen.
‘Who are you calling?’
‘Your father.’ She holds the phone to her ear and sighs. ‘It’s his voicemail again,’ she says. Then she turns her attention back to the phone. ‘Callum, please call me back, and let me know that you have Georgia with you.’ Her words are terse. ‘We need you to come home right now.’
He watches her end the call before he speaks again. ‘So how did that woman get into our house?’
‘Through the unlocked back door. I don’t suppose you know anything about that?’
Zac’s mind rifles through memories and pounces on one in which he let Arthur in and out. He doesn’t recall relocking the door afterwards. He reddens, wondering if he is expected to confess. His mother gives him a long, assessing look, but before he can open his mouth she speaks first.