Each Day I Wake: A gripping psychological thriller: US Edition by Seb Kirby Read Free Book Online

reservation stores.”
    “I wanted to buy one of their pots.”
    “But we couldn’t see how we’d get it back over here without breaking it.”
    She came closer and hugged me. “You see, you do remember.”
    I pointed to the photograph. “And we travelled on towards the Grand Canyon. Stopped to look down, right down, to see white water rafters like specks below us negotiating the Colorado River. And then on to the Canyon itself. Where this photo was taken.”
    “Where you told me you were scared of heights.”
    I smiled for what felt like the first time ever. “And open spaces.”
    “You just told me that to avoid the helicopter tour.”
    “I’ve never liked helicopters. When they go down, they go down.”
    She gave me another hug. “And do you remember what we promised?”
    I surprised myself. “That we’d come back to this wonderful place one day and we’d stay in that big green and white hotel on the edge of the Canyon.”
    She smiled. “We will do that. We’ll return. We’ll stay in that hotel. Once you’re better.”
    It was a small step but one that filled me with real optimism.
    I wouldn’t forever have to learn my past as if I was another. With Janet’s help, and given time, I would remember.
    Remember it all.

CHAPTER 25
    When Evan Hamilton called he couldn’t hide the fact that the time he’d spent traveling up from London and sitting with me here in Lichfield was something a busy newspaper editor just didn’t have.
    “You shouldn’t have come, Evan. I know the deadlines won’t wait.”
    He opened wide his hands. “Screw the deadlines. We’re all concerned, Tom.”
    “They tell me I’m making progress. I want to get back.”
    “But how do you feel? You know I had a visit from the police?”
    “DI Ives?”
    “He wanted to know about missing young women, about what information the paper held on them. I told him that as far as I knew they’d never once been on our radar. He was concerned to find out if we’d done anything to connect the four cases but I told him I was sure we hadn’t and he could find nothing to suggest that we had. So he left it at that. There’s nothing I need to know about this, is there, Tom?”
    I considered telling him about the visions of the four girls being killed but decided he wouldn’t understand. Ives must have told him that I’d come forward with their names. “There’s nothing, Evan.”
    I could tell he suspected there was something I wasn’t telling him and for the first time I understood the real reason for his visit. “Well if anything breaks on this, anything that might affect the newspaper, you need to let me know, as soon as.”
    I nodded. “Evan. You can depend on me.”
    “That’s one thing I’m sure of, Tom. You remain a key man. That’s why I was so keen to see you come on board as part of the team. You’re important to us. But, for the time being, you stay here.”
    “I think I’m strong enough to come back. I’ll be honest, Evan. I need to get back to The Herald . I need to make sense of what’s been happening.”
    He stared back without any sign of changing his mind. “That’s final, Tom. You stay here until you’re well enough. Understand?”
    We talked for another hour, most of it to encourage me to keep making progress with my recovery. But though I was grateful for the help he was giving me, I couldn’t stop asking myself why he was so determined to make sure I stayed in Lichfield.

CHAPTER 26
    Next day, Janet handed me the phone.
    “It’s for you.”
    I listened.
    “Tom, it’s me, Jason. Jason Blair.”
    I was thinking back to the images on Janet’s tablet. My colleague, Jason Blair. The one for whom nothing is safe in a skirt. I tried my hardest to believe that I knew him but I was working from what Janet had told me, little more. I pretended. “Jason, good to hear from you.”
    “I wanted to let you know that we’re all thinking of you. Wishing you well in this tough time.”
    “What have they told