Chapter 35
I walk out of the building in a daze. I was really hoping Teri wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, literally, and now I find out it’s even more serious than I thought.
I stand in the car park for a full minute. I can’t even process what Penny Malik told me. It’s already swirling out of my brain.
I probably should have taken some notes.
After walking to my car, I sit in there for a while, my fingers pressing against my temples. I try to think what to do next, but I draw a complete blank. At least one thing is clear: my bright idea to pre-empt Teri by going to the police and telling them about the accident was a really dumb one.
The afternoon brings no news of Mrs Ashford-Wells. I wish I had her address. See how she likes it if I showed up at her house. Would I strangle her? Probably.
I go through the afternoon on autopilot. After school, I drop by Waitrose since we’re completely out of food, and the last thing Holly needs right now is to starve on top of everything else.
I’m about to walk into Waitrose, and that’s when I see her. Or, rather, the back of her, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair held in place by a black Alice band.
I shouldn’t. I really shouldn’t. After all, I was telling Holly only last night not to draw attention to herself. I’d be stupid to start an argument in the middle of the supermarket, for Christ’s sake.
And yet, that’s exactly what I do.
‘Diana Ashford-Wells!’
She turns around, and it takes her a moment to see me.
‘How dare you,’ I say, walking up to her quickly.
She blinks and looks around for someone to help her.
‘How dare you post about my marriage? How dare you post about my stepdaughter? You don’t know anything! Who the hell do you think you are?’
‘Get away from me!’ she screeches. ‘I haven’t done anything wrong. It’s your fault!’
‘My fault? Why? Because I’m not willing to push Gregory up a grade? Is that it? He’s not ready for the things you want him to do, that’s all. And this is your act of revenge? You post lies about my sixteen-year-old stepdaughter? What on earth is wrong with you?’
‘But you sent it to me!’
‘It was a hoax. Don’t you get it? Somebody pretending to be me, spreading lies about me, and you swallowed it hook, line and sinker.’
I am vaguely aware that people have stopped their shopping to watch us, but I can’t help myself. I am an inch away from her, my finger in her face.
‘And not only that, but you went and posted it on Facebook! For Christ’s sake! What is wrong with you?’
I am fully shouting by now. So much for keeping a low profile. Not drawing attention to ourselves.
‘Get away from me!’ she cries, her handbag raised like a shield.
‘You’re a horrible person. Do you know that? You’re a horrible, horrible person!’ I shout.
‘Mrs Price!’ A hand is pulling my arm back.
‘A horrible person!’
‘Mrs Price!’
‘I am going to sue you,’ I tell Diana, my finger stabbing the air. ‘I am suing you for what you did.’
‘Mrs Price! Stop it!’ the voice says behind me, the one belonging to whoever is still pulling my arm.
‘Not if I sue you first!’ Diana shouts back.
‘Mrs Price!’
This time I’m being hauled away. I yank my arm back and whip my head around, ready to shout at whoever this is, until I realise it’s Scarlett. She’s still pulling me away from the scene, away from the small crowd. She drags me outside and around the side of the supermarket, where the bins are.
‘What are you doing?’ I ask.
‘What are you doing?’ she replies. ‘Can’t you see everybody is filming you?’
‘Are they?’
‘Yes!’
I lean against the wall and put a hand over my eyes. ‘I don’t even know what the hell just happened.’
‘Are you all right, Mrs Price?’
‘No, not really.’ I bend down, my hands on my knees, and take a few breaths. ‘What are you doing here, anyway?’
She looks at me like I’m mad. Which I am, obviously. ‘Shopping?’ she says.
I straighten abruptly. ‘Have you told your parents?’
She recoils. She knows exactly what I’m talking about. ‘God, no way!’
I grab her arm. ‘You can’t tell them. You understand me? You can never, ever tell them. Promise me you will never, ever tell your parents what happened that day. Ever.’
She tries to pull away from my grasp, but I just hold on tighter.
‘Ever,’ I say again, like it’s the only word I know. ‘You can never ever breathe a word of what happened that day. Do you understand me, Scarlett?’
She nods violently. ‘Yes, Mrs Price! I will never tell them! Trust me, I don’t want them to know! Can you let me go, please? You’re hurting me!’
‘Sorry.’ I release her. ‘Sorry. I’m just…upset.’
‘What did she do to upset you so much?’ she asks.
For a second I think she’s talking about Teri, and I’m about to laugh – maniacally – and tell her that she has no idea, but then I realise from the jut of her chin towards the supermarket that she’s talking about Diana Ashford-Wells.
‘She…’ I shake my head. ‘Actually, I don’t want to talk about it right now.’ I push my hair out of my face. ‘Thank you for trying to stop me from making a fool of myself back there. That was good of you.’
‘That’s all right, Mrs Price. I think I was too late, though.’
I give her a small smile, thinking she’s making a joke – a somewhat rude one – but then realise she means it.
I pull the strap of my bag over my shoulder and take a breath. ‘Would you like a lift home?’
‘No. I was just going to get some snacks. There’s no one at home. Mum and Dad are both at work.’
‘What time do they get home?’
She shrugs. ‘About eight?’
‘Wow, that’s late.’ I’m a bit surprised they work such long hours. No wonder she goes out to get snacks.
I stare at her, then glance at my watch. It’s almost five.
‘Could I take another look at your car?’