Bad Girl Read Online Free Page A

gone to bed, his mouth pressed close against her ear, his voice barely a whisper. She remembered all those afternoons spent in the flat, the evenings up West, the pubs and clubs, the bright lights of Soho and Mayfair. She remembered the parties where they’d danced together, their bodies so close they could feel each other’s heartbeat. And then there was that time when—
    ‘What number was it, love?’ the cabbie asked, interrupting her reverie.
    ‘Drop me here,’ she said, assailed by a fresh burst of panic. She wasn’t ready yet. She needed more time to get her head together. ‘This is fine.’
    The taxi drew up and Lynsey stared out at the row of large semi-detached houses. It was close to midnight and most of them were in darkness. The people who lived here clearly didn’t keep late hours. Reluctantly, she passed the fare over, not bothering with a tip. It had cost more than she’d expected, and anyway, he didn’t deserve the extra after the way he’d looked at her in Kellston. She got out of the cab and slammed the door behind her.
    Once the taxi had gone, she began to walk along the road, searching through the soft glow of the street lamps for a number on one of the houses. When she located number fifteen, she crossed over and shortly found herself outside Alan’s place. She stood at the gate and peered along the drive. From what she could see, the house looked much the same as all the others, a Victorian semi with a porch, a large bay window and a garden filled with shrubs. There was no light on in the front, but she could see a glimmer coming from a back room. Good, someone was still up.
    Lynsey took a deep breath, pushed open the gate and walked up the path towards the front door. There was a knot in her stomach like a big fat snake coiled around her guts. Preparing for the worst, she let her finger hover by the bell for a few seconds before she made contact and heard it ring inside. Almost immediately a light went on in the hall. Through the opaque glass panes she could see a figure approaching.
    ‘Who is it?’ asked a female voice.
    ‘My name’s Lynsey. I’m a friend of Alan’s.’
    ‘He’s in bed.’
    ‘Yes, I’m sorry it’s so late, but it’s important. I really need to talk to him.’
    There was a short pause before a bolt was pulled back and the door was opened. A young woman in her early twenties appeared. She had a long, horsy-looking face with a wide mouth and slightly prominent teeth. Her auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail. Lynsey’s gaze slipped down to the girl’s left hand, searching for a wedding ring, but the finger was bare. His sister, perhaps? She had a vague idea that he had mentioned a sister.
    ‘I’m so sorry to disturb you. I know it’s late, but I have to see him.’
    The girl’s eyebrows shifted up a notch.
    Another female voice, this one older, came from the rear of the house. ‘Who is it, Janet?’
    ‘A friend of Alan’s.’
    ‘He’s in bed.’
    ‘I’ve already told her that.’
    ‘Tell her to come back in the morning.’
    Lynsey’s eyes widened. She hadn’t come all this way to be turned away at the door. And where would she go? The chances of finding another cab were slight, and anyway, she didn’t have money to burn. Tommy’s cash wouldn’t last for ever. ‘No,’ she insisted firmly. ‘I have to see him now.’
    The girl gave her a cool look and then glanced over her shoulder. ‘Mum, she says she has to see him now.’
    Lynsey was soaking wet and starting to shiver. ‘Please, just tell him it’s Lynsey Quinn. He’ll want to see me, I know he will.’
    An older woman emerged, perhaps from the kitchen, and walked along the hallway towards the door. She was wearing a plaid dressing gown and slippers. Her face, with features similar to her daughter’s, had been stripped bare of any make-up and carried the greasy sheen of night cream. She looked Lynsey up and down, and frowned.
    ‘My son’s in bed. Is this some kind of police