Paparazzi by Jo Fenton (best free e reader .txt) 📕

available if you need me to come in.” I stand up. “And now, Chezz, it’s bedtime. We’ve got a big day tomorrow, so let’s try to get some sleep, okay?”

***

With all the thoughts spinning around my head, it was never going to be a restful night, and I wake from an uneasy doze at half past four, and fail to get any sleep from then onwards. I turn my alarm off before it gets into its stride, and head into the bathroom for a cool shower to try to wake myself up properly.

Cheryl looks slightly more awake than I do, but neither of us says much until two large mugs of coffee have been consumed – each. By the time the caffeine kicks in, it’s time to go. Matt arrives in the kitchen as we’re about to leave, and wishes our daughter good luck.

“You look knackered, Becks. You’d better come home after Cheryl’s finished and get some sleep.”

“Thanks. I will if I can, but I’ve got a lot to do. I’ll come round. I might grab another coffee from Costa or Starbucks if I can’t get back here for a while.”

Cheryl’s quiet in the car. The half-hour battle through the traffic is spent listening to the radio to avoid the silence.

I pull up at the kerb to drop her off. “Good luck. Let me know as soon as you can how it goes. I’ll be waiting at the end of the road. You know it’s impossible to park here for more than thirty seconds.”

“Sure. Thanks, Mum.”

I drive about a hundred yards, and pull in behind Lesley’s big car. She gets out and comes to my window.

“Hi Becky. Sorry for bring everything forward. Did Cheryl fill you in?”

“Yes. It’s fine.” I smile, and inwardly resign myself to not getting any work done just yet.

“Come and sit in my car. I’ve brought cookies and I really don’t want to scoff the lot. Please, help me!”

I laugh, but my conscience tears at me. “Can you just give me five minutes, Lesley? I got back late last night, and there are a couple of calls I need to make to reduce some stress levels. If I make appointments with people later today, they’re less likely to bombard me with frantic calls in the next hour.”

“Sure. Totally get it. Make your calls, but don’t take too long, or all the cookies will be gone.” She chuckles, and heads back to her own car.

I breathe a sigh of relief, mixed with some trepidation, and get my phone out of my handbag. Who to call first? I flick back through my messages. Finn seems pretty chilled, so I send him a quick message.

‘All okay? Delayed at school. Can I call you about 11?’

Two blue ticks appear within seconds, then the app tells me someone’s typing – hopefully Finn.

‘No probs. Make it 12. And I’ll call you when I pop out for a butty. You know what it’s like here.’

I send back a quick Okay, and turn my attention to Troy. Only a phone call will do here. I look around me and the streets are pretty empty, apart from the odd late drop-off further back along the road. No one seems to be paying me any attention. In the car in front, I can just see Lesley looking at her own phone. I locate Troy’s number, and hit the green Connect button.

“Becky?”

“Hi. So sorry about last night.”

“Not your fault; these things happen. Sorry for my stroppy texts. I got into a bit of state.”

“I’m not surprised, Troy. Is anyone looking after you?”

“Yeah, Gaz invited me to stay at his flat. Otherwise…” He doesn’t fill in the gaps. It’s not really necessary. This poor guy has just lost his wife and his parents.

“Where’s your daughter?”

“She’s still with… Linda’s parents. They’re great with her. I’m a fucking wreck. I don’t want her to see me like this. I managed to hold it together for ten minutes yesterday to speak to her and ask her about school.”

“Is the family liaison lady helping at all?”

“She tries.” There’s a brittle laugh. “I just don’t get it. Why would someone want to kill Linda, let alone Mum and Dad? You know, they’ve always been so great with me. Supporting me when school was shit, and when the careers people were saying music wasn’t a real job.” He breaks off.

“Do you want me to come round? I’ve got some things to do this morning, but I could come to you for about two-thirty if that would work?”

“Yeah, I guess. Maybe you can help more than the police. They’re all very official, but I don’t think they give a shit about me. You and your friend have a better… I dunno, maybe a better bedside manner.”

“I’ve got to check Joanna’s free, but assuming she is, we’ll see you this afternoon. Please just drop me a message with Gaz’s address.”

He agrees, and a minute after ringing off, the phone pings as the address is sent through.

I finish with a quick message to Joanna to say I’ll call her later this morning, and to check she’s free this afternoon.

‘Sure. Come round here when you’re free. Maybe we can get some lunch and fill each other in?’

With that sorted, I turn my phone to vibrate, go out in the now torrential rain, and knock on Lesley’s window. She directs me to the passenger side, and I rush round and open the passenger door.

“Get in, sweetie. You’re just in time. Four cookies left. Two each.” She offers the luxury triple-chocolate-chip treats from M&S, and I take one. They look delicious, but I don’t want to seem greedy. I’m also exhausted, as the caffeine rush is beginning to ease off. I nibble at the biscuit, wanting to make it last. “You’re looking a bit tired, Becky. What time did you get back yesterday? Your husband said you were in London.”

I’m a bit surprised Matt gave away my location, but as I’d made it a multi-purpose visit, I don’t suppose it