Silent - Pursued

Two Years Ago, Lucy

No good, Jace mouthed to her.  I'll text you later.

The lad Gavin had calmed down, though not totally. He remained shaky and close to tears. The explosion of sheer emotion had shocked her. She decided to leave and let Jace and Gavin talk among themselves, as she'd already worked out what must have happened: the girl in black, Philippa.  Another witch, from the sounds of it.

Her half-sister.
  
Earlier.

Jace told her about Philippa when they'd met at six-thirty. The facts fitted, as she'd always known that Dad had an affair shortly before her birth.  Her adoptive parents – Mum's brother and his wife – had known about it too and blamed Dad for everything.  

This evening, she and Jace had looked for Philippa on the promenade. Then, they'd come over to Lyme House to confront Philippa.  They'd gone to Philippa's room in the House, but Philippa hadn't been there.  Next, they'd knocked on Gavin's door, but he had been too upset to help them. Now, she would have to wait for Jace to text her with further information.  Or find
another way of speaking to Philippa.

She didn't want Philippa anywhere near her little half-brother Pete Whittaker.  She didn't want anything to do with Philippa.  Nothing whatsoever.  

She was upset with Arthur Harlesden too.  After all, he'd lied about her half-brother Pete Whittaker again and again.  But why had the Harlesden family covered up the affair?  Even the police didn't know about Dad's relationship with Katie Whittaker, Terence Harlesden's ex-wife.  

In any case, Jace had warned her not to ask too many questions, but he wouldn't say why she shouldn't.

Later, he mouthed.  

She tried Philippa's room again. No answer.  She would have to return later or tomorrow.  Slipping away, she left the building and phoned for a taxi. She had another two days to complete her investigation and to decide what further steps to take. On Friday, Maxine and Ash planned to collect her and drive her home to Yorkshire.  She would see Ash again, her boyfriend, but that wasn't enough. It never had been enough. She needed to find out the truth regarding Dad and the fire. She needed to find her half-brother Pete, to catch up on lost time.

Jace had told her about Philippa's stay in Blackpool last week. About Philippa creating problems for the elderly Arthur Harlesden, former Mayor. Attempting to blackmail Arthur, according to Jace. Steve had overheard his mum and Terence having a panicked conversation over the phone and he'd lost it and vowed to punish Philippa.  

Jace told her that Steve had gone over to Lyme House yesterday afternoon, threatening to kill Philippa and torch the place, and that his grandfather Arthur Harlesden had driven there to stop him, as Steve and Arthur shared a close relationship.  Since then, Arthur had sent Steve to stay with family friends in Scotland, to prevent him from getting into serious trouble with the police.  

Steve at Lyme House, threatening to torch the place. Around the time Arthur found her and Gavin in the storage cupboard and invented the unbelievable story of one of Terence's recruits turning up in a highly emotional state having taken drugs.  

Jace hadn't told her much about Veronica, from a neighbouring town.  Only that Veronica and Steve had made out a few times and they liked to team up and go to Blackpool where they caused trouble.  

Finally, the taxi arrived. She got in and glanced one last time at the House, hoping never to see it again. The time was quarter to nine in the evening. The sun had started to set across the fields, red like fire. The promenade. She would go there in search of Philippa.

The taxi pulled up outside the B & B, opposite the shore. After paying the fare, she got out, shivered and looked around.  

Someone was watching her.  

Familiar eyes.    

But no one there.

The taxi drove away, leaving her standing outside the B & B.  She crossed the road and started towards the old fairground, intending to find Philippa.

She stopped.

Again, the sensation, stronger than before.  A person close by but concealed from sight.
No one.  Just groups of kids in hoodies hanging by the main road wall, jumping on and off the railings.

She continued on across the beach path, in search of Philippa.  The stillness thickened, the beginnings of dusk making the path ahead appear darker. The quietness had taken on an oppressive quality of its own, like a shadow lurking nearby, watching.  She felt a shudder and paused to look back.

A man following her, possibly.

This wasn't a good idea. She ought to try again in the morning when there were more people around.

She retraced her steps, back up the path to the main road, and crossed again. Hurrying into the B & B, she went up to her room on the first floor.  

Not here as well!

The stalker had managed to gain entry to her B & B room.

They'd left a printed note on her bed:

GO BACK TO HOME, LUCY.  FINAL CHANCE.

She smelt burning.

Window open.  

Before going to meet Jace, she'd shut the window.  

Outside, a dustbin had caught light, the flames spewing high into the air.      

A flicker of movement caught her attention.  A figure in a hoodie jumped over a wall.  A thin wiry figure like Arthur Harlesden's grandson, Steve.

***
She rang Arthur.  

'Lucy,' he said. 'Steve's in Scotland. I spoke to him on Skype fifteen minutes ago and he's settling in nicely there. He's made a new friend. You couldn't possibly have seen him jumping over the wall, unless he flew back in the last ten minutes. Now, we must do something about your accommodation.  At once.  I shall be there in fifteen minutes.  Stay calm, please.