‘Yo, man, she’s off ’er ’ead,’ one of the other lads muttered, eyeing her warily. ‘Probs on crack, or escaped from the nuthouse, or summat. Let’s jet.’
‘Yeah, that’s right, jet, before the loony lady really loses her shit,’ Suzie sneered. ‘Go on . . .’ She flapped her hands at them. ‘Toddle off before your mummies send out a search party. It must be well past your bedtimes by now, yo.’
The boy who was fronting up to her narrowed his eyes and Suzie could tell that his pride was killing him and he wanted to kick the shit out of her. But his mates were clearly spooked by her crazy act, so when they edged past her and scuttled away, he reluctantly followed.
Heart pounding, Suzie watched until the boys had disappeared from view and then ran the rest of the way along the alley. Out on the road, she slowed to a stop when she neared her house and noticed a faint glow of light behind the partially closed blinds at the bedroom window. Biting her lip when the light flickered, realizing it was the flame of one of her scented candles – none of which had been lit when Rob had attacked her – she gazed over at the block of flats on the other side of the road. That girl – what was her name again? Heather? Hannah? Holly! That was it. Suzie had spotted her at the window a few times and knew that she lived on the first floor. That window was dark now, but Suzie had asked someone the time on her way home and it had only been 11 p.m., so even if the girl had gone to bed, she might still be awake.
Head down in case Rob was looking out for her, she ran across the road and darted in through the gate at the far end of Holly’s block. Then, bending over, she crept alongside the bushes that lined the footpath below the flats until she reached the communal wheelie bin that was standing outside the bin cupboard to the left of the main door.
She slipped behind the bin and squatted down to wait for someone to go in or come out. Luck was on her side and the door started opening. Seizing the opportunity, she lurched out of her hiding place and, pushing past the man who was coming out, darted into the foyer of the flats.
‘Hey, what’s your game?’ the man said, turning on his heel and glaring at her. ‘You don’t live here.’
‘Sorry, I need to see someone,’ she said, tightening the belt on her dressing gown when he looked her up and down.
His expression changed from anger to concern when he noticed the bruises on her face, and he took a step towards her.
‘Are you all right, love? Is someone after you? Do you want me to call the police?’
‘No, I’m OK,’ she said, backing away. ‘I’m looking for a girl who lives here. I think her name’s Holly and she lives on the first floor with her mum. She’s about my height, skinny, with longish light-brown hair.’
The man thought about it for a few seconds, then nodded. ‘Yeah, I think I know who you mean. Try number sixteen.’
Suzie thanked him and set off up the stairs, tugging the back of her dressing gown down as she went when she felt his eyes following her.
8
Holly had been on the verge of falling asleep when the doorbell rang, and she was alarmed to see that it was just gone 11.30 p.m. when she sat up and checked the time on her phone. Her mum always warned her not to answer the door if anyone called round at night, but this was the first time it had ever actually happened, and she wasn’t sure what to do.
Maybe it’s Gee, the Zayn lookalike from upstairs?
Her stomach fluttered at the memory of her handsome neighbour winking at her that afternoon, and she bit her lip as she wondered if he’d been thinking about her like she’d been thinking about him. Maybe he had and he’d come down to invite her to his party, which was already well under way judging by the music pounding through the ceiling.
Don’t be so stupid, she chided herself. He always had loads of girls his own age at his parties, so why would he be interested in a kid like her who wasn’t even allowed to answer the door, never mind go out?
The bell rang again, and then the letterbox cover flapped open, and a woman’s voice called: ‘Hello . . . is anyone home? Holly, if you’re there, can you open the door, hon? It’s Suzie from across the road. I need your help.’
Intrigued, Holly got up and tiptoed out into the icy hallway. She peeped through the spyhole and quickly unlocked the door when she saw Suzie standing on the other side wearing a short dressing gown and slippers.
‘What’s up?’ she asked, rubbing her eyes as she peered out at her.
‘Thank God you’re still up,’ Suzie said, glancing nervously round at the sound of footsteps on the stairs. ‘Can I come in for a minute?’
‘I’m not really supposed to answer the door,’ Holly said. ‘My mum—’
‘Is she here?’
‘No, she’s at work.’
‘Well, I won’t tell if you don’t,’ Suzie said. Sighing when Holly still didn’t open up, she said ‘Please, hon. I can’t go home till I’m sure Rob’s not there. I don’t know if you saw what happened earlier, but he put me in hospital and I’ve just had to walk back like this.’ She held out her arms and looked down at herself in disgust. ‘Some knob-heads chucked milkshake at me, and then I nearly got mugged in the alley. I wouldn’t have bothered you, but you’re the only friend I’ve got round here.’
Flattered to hear that the woman considered her a friend, given that they had only spoken once, Holly said, ‘What can I do?’
‘I need to use your phone,’
