Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy Read Free Book Online Page A

on her face because Joshua shook his head and then turned away. It made her feel bad. He’d confided in her and she’d batted it away, made little of it.
    ‘This place. Where is it? What is it?’ she said.
    He kept his back to her.
    ‘Go on, tell me. Whether it’s this second sight or just some deep memory of yours, it might be worth exploring.’
    He shrugged but then he started to talk.
    ‘I had this sense that it was an old cottage, or bungalow. Anyway, it was low and really old, crumbling. And it was always cold and there’s masses of sky. Like the sky is everywhere, huge. And there was this smell of the sea but the sea wasn’t there. It was far away. And I heard seagulls.’
    ‘There’re seagulls on Camden High Street,’ Rose said.
    ‘I know but it seems like they’re meant to be there. Not just some scavenging birds. It’s like their noise is the main thing. There’s no sound of traffic or sirens or anything. Just seagulls.’
    ‘And are you there? With your dad?’
    ‘No, that’s the point. If I was there then it would be a memory of some sort. But it’s a place I’ve never been to. That’s why it seems as though it’s a signal of some sort. A sign?’
    ‘You can’t know you’ve never been there. I don’t remember a lot of stuff from when I was young.’
    ‘I know, I know. I just had this feeling that it was an important place for Dad. It’s not easy to explain.’
    ‘I don’t believe in the supernatural.’
    ‘Neither do I,’ Joshua said miserably.
    Rose went into the kitchen and picked up the key ring. It was solid and the letter ‘B’ was big and heavy. The key that hung off it was a dull brass colour. She held it for a moment and felt the cold metal. From behind she heard footsteps.
    ‘Just forget I ever said anything.’
    He walked over to the kitchen table and collected up the items from the file. She knew she’d hurt his feelings. She took a step towards him but he had his back to her. In any case, what could she say?
    ‘I’d better go,’ she said. ‘I’ll email you later?’
    He nodded his head without saying anything. She picked up her coat and left.
     
    Rose headed straight back to her grandmother’s house. The bus came quickly and she hopped off at her stop feeling odd and ruffled. Joshua’s story had unsettled her. The story itself was weird but she was sure that the answer lay in Joshua’s mind rather than some supernatural phenomenon. He’d trusted her with his private thoughts and she should have been less sceptical.
    She took her keys out but the front door opened before she could reach the lock.
    Her grandmother was standing there. She had a serious expression on her face.
    ‘Rose,’ she said, standing back and holding the door open.
    ‘Hi,’ Rose said.
    ‘Come in.’
    ‘Is something wrong?’
    ‘Rose, I did what you asked . . .’
    Rose took her coat off, draping it over her arm. Her grandmother shut the front door.
    ‘I rang Mary Linton College. Well, I tried and then rang again later today. I only just got through to Martha Harewood an hour so ago.’
    Rose remembered that she had asked her to speak to the housemistress about Rachel Bliss. It had gone out of her mind. For the first time in days she hadn’t thought about those irritating letters and phone calls.
    ‘Was she OK about it? She knows what Rachel is like. Rachel’s had problems a number of times . . .’
    ‘I did speak to her.’
    ‘What did she say?’
    Her grandmother was looking pained. Had Martha been brusque with her? Told her to keep out of it?
    ‘Rose, I don’t know how to tell you this so I’ll just come out with it. This girl, Rachel Bliss, who used to be your friend, well, there’s been a terrible accident. She was found dead this morning.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘They found her in the boating lake. Drowned.’
    Rose didn’t say a word. She stared at her grandmother.
    ‘I’m afraid so. Martha Harewood told me . . .’
    ‘That can’t be right.’
    ‘I can see you’re