through the double doors and down the stairs. I don’t want to think about Lewis but thoughts of him follow me as I leave the office. It’s normally a ten-minute walk home along the Strand but I turn away from the bright lights and the city centre hotels, and head for the waterfront. There’s a sharp breeze that tastes of sea salt as I follow the promenade along the curve of the river, past the Albert Dock and the Echo Arena. My path is dimly lit but I prefer the shadows. Ruth was right. We do have his attention and her interview has set a spotlight on us all.
Jen
‘Did you get the sour cream?’
‘The what?’ Charlie’s question startles me as I stagger into the apartment after assailing the stairs to the seventh floor.
My jacket hangs off my shoulders and I let it drop to the floor with my bag. The gulp of air I take is spiced with cumin and makes me want to heave.
‘You forgot it, didn’t you?’ he asks as curls of steam rise up from the pan he’s stirring, wrapping around his face so I can’t read his expression.
‘Sorry, it went straight out my head.’
‘Too busy checking Facebook, by any chance?’
‘What?’ I ask, glancing longingly at the bedroom door which is where I’d been heading. I want to change into my pyjamas and crawl beneath the bedcovers until the storm in my head passes, but from the way Charlie tilts his head to one side, I see the clouds are still gathering.
‘I had a message from Jay. He’s asking if he should accept your friend request.’
I curse Jay under my breath as I take a step closer to the bedroom door. I should have known this would happen. The tight group of friends we formed at school might have disbanded, but some of those old loyalties managed to survive. Jay thinks he’s watching Charlie’s back.
‘Is there a reason why we shouldn’t be friends?’ I ask casually.
‘Yes there is, and I quote, “Jay’s an embarrassment and I don’t want any of my friends knowing I associate with morons.”’
I ignore the annoying way he mimics my voice, and keep my head held high. ‘People change.’
‘Last time I said that, you bit my head off,’ he reminds me.
‘That was different, Charlie.’
‘Of course it was. And I’m sure it’s pure coincidence that you’ve decided to contact the one person you know who’s in touch with Lewis again. Correction, two people. I hear Meathead had a similar request.’
The apartment is silent except for the gentle rattle of a bubbling pot. ‘I’m not going to do anything,’ I say at last. ‘I just wanted to know what Lewis was up to so I can stay one step ahead.’
‘I’d rather you didn’t steer yourself onto the same path at all.’
‘He’s the one who came back to Liverpool.’
‘It’s a big city.’
‘But it’s a small world,’ I tell him as my thoughts turn from Lewis to my last call.
‘Don’t get involved,’ Charlie warns. ‘Please, Jen.’
‘Fine!’ I snap before retreating to the bedroom. I shut the door firmly but Charlie opens it again as I’m unbuttoning my shirt.
‘I don’t want you doing something stupid, that’s all.’
‘I’m not going to do anything stupid,’ I reply, my tone abrasive to his soothing words.
Charlie moves closer. ‘You look tired.’
‘I feel it,’ I reply as the last of my strength is carried away with trembling words.
‘Need some help?’ he asks with warmth in his eyes as he takes over undoing my buttons.
My arms drop to my sides. ‘We can live without the sour cream, can’t we?’
‘It’s not a deal breaker.’
His fingers stroke the curve of my breast as he takes hold of my shirt to slip it off my shoulders. When he kisses my neck, he feels my body stiffen and slides his hands to rest comfortably around my back instead.
‘Bad day?’
Rather than answer immediately, I rest my hand on Charlie’s shoulder and step out of my skirt. ‘I feel so helpless sometimes,’ I tell him. ‘We have no way of knowing who’s at the end of the line or what’s going to happen to them once they’ve hung up.’
Charlie sits down on the bed. He’s watching me closely as I begin slipping into my Minnie Mouse pyjamas. ‘A difficult caller?’
‘More like a difficult call,’ I correct him. ‘And I’m still not sure what to think of the caller herself.’
Charlie purses his lips. He knows I can’t talk about the calls we receive so he doesn’t ask. He waits for me to straighten my vest top before pulling me into his arms. I straddle him and cup his face, grateful that I have someone I love and trust.
‘Ruth said something the other day that’s been bugging me,’ I tell him. ‘What happens if we get a call from someone who’s being manipulated the way Meg was?’
‘I thought that was the whole point of the helpline?’
I lower my head until our foreheads touch. ‘It is, but …’ I take a breath. Assuming my leap of faith is correct and Ellie is who I think she is, she could be being abused by Lewis, if not now, then in the future. She asked me not to tell anyone and I won’t, but I can still theorise without breaking that trust. ‘What if one of our calls was from Lewis’s girlfriend?’
Charlie draws back so he can look me in the eye. ‘For a start, I’d say it would be one huge coincidence.’
‘Would it?’ I ask. ‘What if she saw Ruth’s interview? Lewis won’t be the only one who worked out she was talking about him. Why wouldn’t she phone us?’
‘Are you trying to say she has phoned?’
‘No, I’m talking hypothetically,’ I insist. ‘But he does have a girlfriend. I saw a picture of her on Facebook. Did you know?’
‘So that’s what this is about,’ he says with a sigh. ‘Yes, I had heard. Lewis told Jay he met her a few months back when he was buying a present for his sick mum.’
Our eyes lock as he presses the point home. ‘Oh, I see. How stupid of me. Lewis can’t possibly be a threat to women any more because he buys presents for his poorly mum.’
‘I’m not saying that.’
‘Then what are you saying?’ I ask. ‘You think
