Page 63 of Teacakes & Tangos
We ended the call with Lyndsay telling me she’d phone me once she’d been to the police station after work...
*****
Later that evening, I sat in a state of nerves trying to watch TV – but expecting Lyndsay’s call at any moment and jumping every time I heard the slightest sound.
When the doorbell rang around seven, I shot to my feet to go and answer it.
Lyndsay had obviously decided to call round and tell me in person about her chat with the police – and the anxious way I was feeling, I couldn’t wait to see her...
As I opened the front door, I’d already started telling her to come in and tell me everything.
My heart gave a lurch of shock as I saw who was standing there.
‘Xander?’ I whispered.
*****
‘Anika. Can I come in?’
I swallowed hard and tried to remember where I’d left my phone.
Just in case.
But he looked like his normal self. His eyes were the eyes I’d always known. Kind and gentle and smiling. Not wild and angry like they’d been in the woods.
Still, I hesitated.
‘I’ve been to the police,’ he murmured.
My eyes opened wide in surprise. ‘You have? When was this?’
‘Straight after you showed me the photo in the newspaper.’
‘And... what happened? Did you tell them everything?’
He nodded, looking down. ‘I told them... everything I know.’
‘But... how are you here?’ I asked in confusion.Surely he would be in police custody if he’d admitted to being involved in the robbery?‘I don’t understand. And why were you so horrible to me yesterday when I saw you in the woods? Was that because I’d stumbled upon your hiding place?’
He frowned. ‘Hiding place? In the woods?’
‘Yes.’ I glared at him, my heart beating fast. I couldn’t believe he was going to lie to me.Again!‘Xander, please don’t try to pretend it didn’t happen.’
He’d turned away from me and was staring into the distance, a puzzled frown on his face. Then he gave an odd sort of groan. ‘Of course. The woods,’ he murmured, as if he was talking to himself.
‘What’s that?’ I demanded, and he turned to face me.
‘We used to go there with Gran and pitch a tent sometimes. To the woods. And she’d supervise us while we made a campfire.’
I stared at him. ‘Who’s “we”? Who are you talking about?’
I was getting quite worried now. Was Xander starting to imagine things that weren’t actually happening? Maybe the stress of being a hunted criminal was getting to him...
He seemed to be looking right through me, like he hadn’t heard my question.
‘Sorry? What did you say?’ he asked, focusing on my face at last.
‘I just wanted to know who you were talking about. You said, “Weused to go there.” To the woods. So who’s “we”?’
