Chapter 34
Thirty-Four
Gemma
‘Morgan, go inside. I’ll be up in a minute.’
‘But, Mum.’ She can see that trouble is brewing but she’s been through enough. I need her safely out of the way.
‘Please.’
She sighs and stomps all the way down the drive.
Once she’s passed the bend, I listen for the bang of the main door.
She’s inside. My short, slim neighbour, Ruby, stomps towards me, her shiny black Doc Martens leaving huge prints in the snow.
I try to think of who could have been out there, in the woods.
It wasn’t her. It could have been Ray or Tessa as far as suspects go.
Or could Ruby have arrived back from the woods before me? At least I’ve ruled James out.
I’m thankful that Ruby had the decency to wait for Morgan to go inside before she starts. She pulls out a letter, grabs my hand and slaps the piece of paper into it.
‘What’s this?’ I know it’s a letter but I’m going to force her to explain why she’s given it to me.
She folds her arms. Snowflakes rest on the top of her head. ‘You tell me?’
‘No,’ I reply, not unfolding the piece of paper.
‘You tell me.’ I press it into her chest and let go.
I’ve had it with these people. Someone has been spying on us in our home, sneaking around our house scaring us half to death and here Ruby is, getting ready to accuse me, or us, of sending her a nasty letter. ‘Go on,’ I say.
She opens it and clears her throat. ‘I’ll read it then.
“Neighbour. One day, that gas fire you have in your main living space might just be leaking carbon monoxide. Have you checked to see if your batteries in your detector work? Also, your balcony looks like it needs tending to. It’s a bit rickety and it would be so easy to fall to your death.
I’m just trying to be a helpful neighbour.
Wouldn’t want you to get hurt or wouldn’t want you to go missing, just like poor little Jasmine.
A concerned friend.”’ She folds the letter back up.
‘I don’t know how or when, but you’ve been in our house.
Your aunt was batty and you clearly are too.
I mean, this only started when you moved in, and mentioning the balcony, really?
What’s your game? Seriously, what is it with you people? ’
I can’t hide my shock at the letter and especially the mention of the detector, falling and Jasmine.
It’s all about her. It always has been and me coming here has brought back her memory.
The article flashes through my mind again and then I think of the Welcome to the Neighbourhood app that Quinn had open.
Jasmine is missing. I stare at Ruby, whose brows have now creased.
Is she Jasmine? Is Jasmine here, somewhere, somehow?
She’s come back to get her revenge and yes, I’m terrified.
‘Well, say something.’ Ruby stares at me.
I can barely look at her. When I catch a glimpse of her face, I can’t tell if she’s…
I gasp and feel like choking on my words.
My throat is closing up on me as I try to speak.
Ruby’s hair is heavily dyed black. She’s wearing chunky black, thick-rimmed glasses, again.
Her coat is more gothic than the pretty-in-pink clothing that Jasmine used to wear.
I can’t make out if I know the person behind the glasses. I barely knew Jasmine.
‘Jasmine, is that you?’