TOYL by Paul Pilkington Read Free Book Online

the parallels?’
    ‘Dan is different to Stuart,’ Emma replied. ‘I know what you mean – the fact that Stuart and I were going out for a long time and then he just upped and left. But it’s such a different situation, Lizzy. When Stuart left me, it wasn’t a surprise. It was more of a relief really. I could see it coming for months – ever since we moved down to London. Dan is different. He never showed any signs of wanting to end our relationship.’
    ‘Who do you think it was that saw Dan running away?’ Lizzy asked.
    ‘Could have been anyone. Maybe it was someone passing by on the street, someone who lives in the apartment, a visitor?’
    ‘It would be good to know who the witness was, and exactly what they saw, wouldn’t it?’
    ‘It would,’ Emma said. ‘It would be good to know anything that could help to explain all this. Maybe then I’d be able to start thinking straight. Lizzy, will you come over there with me?’
    ‘Pardon?’
    ‘Will you come over to the apartment with me? I think I need to go over there. We might find something to explain what happened.’
    ‘But haven’t the police already searched the place?’
    ‘They have, but they might have missed something. There might be something personal that only I know is important.’
    ‘You sure you’re ready to go back there?’
    ‘I can’t say I’m looking forward to it,’ Emma admitted, ‘but if it helps to find Dan, and hopefully clear his name, then it’s worth it.’

    ***

    ‘This might be harder than I thought,’ Emma said, as they arrived at the apartment. It seemed much longer than two days since they had been standing on the pavement, wondering where Dan was.
    ‘We don’t have to do this,’ Lizzy said, standing by her side. ‘We can still leave and come back when you feel ready.’
    Emma mustered up some courage. ‘No, it’s okay. If I don’t go in there now I’ll regret it later.’ She looked up at her window, and noticed the curtains twitch on the floor below, which was Mr Henderson’s flat.
    ‘Looks like we’re being watched,’ said Lizzy, who had also noticed.
    ‘Looks like it,’ Emma agreed, steeling herself for the journey inside.
    They made their way up the stairs, memories still fresh in Emma’s mind of how they had run up there two days previously, with music blaring out in the background and adrenalin flowing more than it had ever done in any of her karate competitions. She was so lost in reminiscence that the sight of Mr Henderson waiting on the landing, just like last time, was a real shock.
    ‘Hello,’ he said, looking noticeably sheepish. He looked down at his battered brown shoes, a small hole visible in the front, before meeting Emma’s gaze. ‘I want to apologise about the other night,’ he continued, clearing his throat nervously, ‘about what I said. It’s just that I was upset, about Edna. I’m not usually so forthright, but it had been a long day – we’d just got some bad news from the specialist, you see. He says that she hasn’t got long left – I don’t really understand everything he told me, but that was the sum of it. She’ll be gone in months, maybe weeks.’
    ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Emma said. ‘It must be really difficult.’
    Mr Henderson just stood there, biting his lip. For a moment Emma thought he was going to break down, but he seemed to steel himself.
    ‘I should have done something,’ he said. ‘I jumped to conclusions the other night.’
    ‘It’s okay,’ Emma said, ‘really.’
    ‘If I’d thought that something was wrong,’ he lamented, ‘I would have tried to help. I should have known something was wrong. I know it’s not like you to play such loud music. I should have done something when he didn’t answer the door. I just keep wondering if I’d done something sooner, whether it might have made a difference.’
    ‘Really,’ Emma said, trying to think how to reassure him, ‘I don’t think there was anything anyone could have