Before Another War

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Raf hadn't been home much lately. It was difficult to be alone. Every time he had a spare moment, his mind took him back to that night on the road. That woman was dead. And, for whatever reason, the police hadn't caught up with him. The guilt was so great that he was tempted to stroll up to the station and turn himself in. It hadn't been Raf that was driving, but he did flee the scene and he let Matt drive, knowing he was drunk. After this is all over, he told himself, I will.

Roxy was sat with him, excitable as ever. He leaned back on his old couch which was sagging and sinking from overuse. Having been at a loose end for the last few days, Raf had spent a lot of time thinking about his sister. He didn't even know where she was; Malika could've been dead for all he knew. She still hadn't called him back.

Raf also knew there were other, worse things, that he could be arrested for. However, there were only three people in the world who knew about that, him, Malika and the blackmailer. Raf still couldn't piece together how they'd found out. His sister had been so careful, planning everything out to the second. Which had only served to make it more horrific when he'd stumbled upon her, red-handed.

His phone rang, taking him by surprise. Hoping it was Malika, he checked the screen. Alas, it wasn't. Private number, it said. At once, Raf knew who it was. Breathing deeply and plucking up the courage to answer, he swiped up.

'Hello?'

'I have something to show you.' Came the robotic voice. Obviously, they were using some kind of modifier to hide themselves.

'What?'

'You already know that your friend is lying to you, but I thought I'd best tell you the whole truth, so you're more... co-operative.'

'Go on...' Raf said, standing up and pacing. He was beginning to become frustrated with their riddles.

'You're in danger.'

Raf scoffed, 'I've been in danger this whole week mate, don't try to scare me.'

'Your friend, look up her name, her real name. Then, when you're done, I need you to get me her phone.'

'Her phone? But why-'

The blackmailer hung up. Raf threw his phone against the couch, wanting to let out a scream. Roxy came bounding up to him, thinking it was a game. He exhaled, smiling at the dog before deciding to follow their commands. Right on cue, his phone pinged again. The name had been sent. Sarah Macmillan.

He frowned. Was he supposed to recognise it? He already understood that there was a lot more to Alex than she let on, but Raf couldn't help feeling a wave of guilt as he typed the name into the search bar. And what he found wasn't anything like he was anticipating. It was much, much, worse.

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Alex stood outside the hospital, freezing in the wind. She hadn't seen David in a while, so she already knew this would be uncomfortable. However, although she wouldn't admit it, it was a relief to know he was coming. Hospitals made her uneasy.

For a minute, she began to wonder if David was going to show up. He was late, as usual, but then she saw him, his hair flopping in the wind as he jogged up to her.

'Hey,' he said, catching his breath. At least he tried to be on time.

'Hey,' she replied. Alex looked at him. He hadn't changed much over the past few weeks, but he looked scraggier with stubble dotting his chin and big bags circling his eyes. She wondered if he was sleeping.