The Shadow

Part 1

"You're dead bitch" the letter began. Straight to the point.

"You're gonna pay for what you did. You won't know how, you won't know when, but you will die. I will kill you. I'll start with a few of your friends. How about that one who appears all over your Instagram - Nina Huerez? Or perhaps your sister? They'll all die, knowing you could have saved them, just like you could have saved Patrick. You'll have no idea what's happening until it's too late and it's your neck I'm slitting."

I scrunched up the small piece of paper and tossed it in the bin, smiling. They say only the best journalists can expect multiple death threats a day. Almost all of them were about the same thing - an article I published 2 weeks ago about the DeLaney murder trial. Shortly after that article was released in the papers, Patrick DeLaney was found hanging in his cell; many people have blamed me for "forcing him to suicide" but I don't regret anything I wrote. Even if he hadn't officially been found guilty, that man was a paedophile, a predator who murdered children, and generally a nasty piece of work that I had no doubt would have been found guilty by the end of the month and sentenced to many long years in prison. That's the only reason I'm upset he didn't live for longer.

Suddenly, I spotted the clock. I was late! I grabbed my handbag and sprinted downstairs, where a short, grumpy-looking woman was waiting for me. Before she could start nagging me about almost forgetting to meet her for lunch, I hugged her in greeting and we headed out.

"Hey, Nina" I joked between mouthfuls. "Guess who got a shoutout in this morning's threatening letter?"

She laughed, looking slightly uncomfortable. "What did they say? That they're targeting all the prettiest, smartest women in town, starting with yours truly?"

"Something like that. The letters and emails are getting quite annoying now. I wrote that article 2 weeks ago for god's sake - it was one of my finest, if I do say so myself. Besides, DeLaney's dead already. Writing angry emails and death threats isn't gonna solve anything - all it does is make the idiots who do write to the newspaper waste half an hour of their life."

"I know, right? Who actually has time to sit down and write letters these days?"

Eventually, we had to part ways. I had to return to work and Nina to her hectic family life. "Come on, Liz!" Nina whined. "Please stay out for a bit longer. I need the distraction and I'm sure your boss wouldn't mind if you missed half an hour extra."

"You don't know my boss. He's many things, but lenient is not one of them. Besides I'm sure Sally's exhausted, having to deal with the baby on her own. She'll appreciate you getting back sooner." As soon as I mentioned her girlfriend's name, Nina gave in and walked me back to my office.

I waved at her, before turning to the piles of paperwork which had suddenly appeared on my desk.

On the train back home, I turned my phone back on and was surprised to see a voicemail notification. It read "2 missed calls from Sally Everdale. Call 07563 456029 for voicemail." Strange, Sally never called me. I listened to the familiar robotic voicemail messages.

"You have TWO new messages. First message from 0..7..9..5..2..3..6..4..3..8..4 at 2:16PM" Then Sally's voice. "Hiya Liz. Sorry if I'm being a bit of a worry wart, but is Nina still with you? I thought you were just out for lunch, or maybe your plans changed or something I don't know... Anyway could you please get Nina to call me so I can work out what to do with the baby? Thanks." The robotic voice droned again. "Second message from 0..7..9..5..2..3..6..4..3..8..4 at 4:46PM" Sally sounded much more frantic this time. "Liz seriously, is Nina with you? Why are neither of you picking up your phones!? She promised she'd be back by 4.15 - if she's there  tell her to call me ASAP!"

I jumped as my phone vibrated. Sally was calling again.

"Sally?"

"Liz, finally! What's going on? Nina was meant to be back hours ago - is she there? Can you put her on?"

"What? No. I haven't seen her since lunch - she said she was going straight home so she could deal with the baby and you could get some rest."

"She clearly didn't or I wouldn't be calling you, would I?" She snapped. "Sorry, I'm stressed. This kid is driving me crazy with the constant screaming and crying. I'm sure Nina's probably with someone else and got her phone turned off so she can't hear my calls."

"Probably. She's never been great with her phone, she probably wouldn't think to text you about staying out for longer. I'll let you know if she does call me though."
"Great. Thanks, bye!"

Feeling slightly confused, I got off the train and started to make my way home through the thin alley that leads almost perfectly from the station to my house. It was very convenient but the alley never fails to creep me out late at night, when you can barely see two feet in front of you. I tripped over the object before I could see what it was. The large lump looked like it could be anything from a bin to a sleeping homeless person, so I crouched down closer to check I hadn't hurt anyone. That's when I realised.

Lying in front of me was the grey, lifeless body of Nina Huerez. Her eyes were wide open and a clear fluid was pouring out of her mouth and nose. There was a piece of paper scrunched up in her hand - I prayed it wasn't a suicide note. Nina wouldn't do this. She had everything to live for. Reluctantly I lifted her decaying fingers off the note and read the sentences scribbled in the middle of the sheet:

"I told you I was serious. Nina died quickly, but  the next one might not be so lucky. Guess you'll have to wait and see..."