Page 63 of Coming Home to Hope Street

Turning out of Hope Street, Livvy could see two police cars ahead. They were parked in tandem, an unusual sight in the high street, unless they were waiting for a takeaway breakfast. She didn’t give it a second thought as she went in to Somerley Stores.

‘Morning, Livvy,’ Ellen greeted. She and her husband Gray were stacking the shelves. ‘Have you heard the news?’

‘No.’ Livvy could see that Ellen was ecstatic that she could spread the gossip. She hadn’t even given her time to get a basket before she was over to her.

‘The community centre had a break in last night.’

‘Oh, what a shame.’ Livvy reached a bottle of milk from the fridge, checking the date on it. ‘Was much taken or was it just vandalism?’

‘It was theft,’ Ellen went on. ‘Whoever it was got in around the back. They broke the security camera and went through a side window. No damage apart from that but there’s two thousand pounds missing from the office.’

‘Oh no, that’s terrible!’

‘I can’t believe the cheek of some people. We’ve all been putting in that fund – it was for the Somerley Christmas Celebrations. Some of the residents are going to be heartbroken.’

Livvy paled as her mind went into overdrive with thoughts of Kieran. ‘Did the police say when it happened?’

‘It was some time in the early hours. I took coffee over to the officers this morning. They said the camera outside showed a grainy figure in a balaclava, nothing to go on as such.’ Ellen touched her finger to her nose in a conspiratorial fashion. ‘I wonder if it’s the same person who’s been on the take in Hope Street last week. Bit too much of a coincidence if you ask me.’

Livvy paid for her shopping and rushed back home, trying not to think of what she assumed would become an inevitability.

When she went inside the house, she shouted Kieran’s name but there was no reply. At the bathroom door, she could hear running water, and a soft humming as he sang under his breath. It was now or never.

She raced upstairs into her bedroom. Kieran had stored the suitcase in the space by the side of her wardrobe, but most of his clothes were in a pile on the chair by the window. She picked them up and riffled through them, checking he hadn’t hidden anything in any pockets or a hood. There was nothing.

Then she pulled out the suitcase again, this time looking inside it. She gasped as her fingers fell on its contents. There was a pair of black gloves, a small metal bar, pliers, and a balaclava.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Hannah was in Phoebe’s kitchen having a coffee with her. The sun was streaming through the window, making it hard for her to see, but she relished its warmth after a few overcast days.

It wasn’t often the two of them got a moment to chat in peace. She could hear music thumping from Tilly’s room, and Elliot was out playing football.

Phoebe passed her a packet of ginger biscuits and she ripped them open with glee.

‘What did you think of Kieran on Friday night?’ she asked, dunking a biscuit into her drink.

‘I wasn’t that keen on him, if I’m honest,’ Phoebe admitted, taking a biscuit too. ‘You were right when you said he was full of himself. He kept trying to hog the limelight when I was talking to Robin.’

‘Oh, and that would never do.’ Hannah rolled her eyes in jest. ‘I know how much you enjoy your “Robin” time.’

‘Stop teasing!’ Phoebe threw her a dirty look and then reached for another biscuit.

‘Seriously, what is it going to take to get you two together?’

‘Oh, don’t, Han. I can’t bear the thought of him finding someone else but… I’m scared.’

‘Whatever of?’

‘Of it failing like it did with Travis.’ She held a biscuit in the air. ‘For it not turning out as special as your relationship with Doug.’

‘Ah, that’s just nerves. You’ll be fine.’

‘But what—’

‘Look, how can you fail at something you haven’t tried? I could understand if you’d had a go at it and know that it won’t work, but being afraid to commit just in case? This isn’t like you.’ She paused. ‘You’re not doing a Livvy on me, are you?’

‘What do you mean?’

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