Keep Your Friends Close: A gripping psychological thriller full of shocking twists you won’t see coming

What?

More important than her dad dying?

Karin was sixteen, nearly seventeen. So perhaps she should have been used to it by then, built up some resilience having been wrenched from the family home at the age of eight and packed off to boarding school. Despite complaining repeatedly of being miserable and homesick, her feelings were never taken into account. She was always out of sight, out of mind. No wonder she lost control.

On those occasions when she was allowed home, Karin began to pick up on a strange atmosphere between her parents, something in the way they interacted. And something that made her keen to know why her mother had remarried so soon after he died. She refused to tell Karin of course. But Karin did get her answer. In many ways she was relieved to be rid of her mother. If Birgitta felt that Karin had ruined her life, then she totally deserved it. In that case they had ruined each other’s. But still, there was a gaping hole where her mother ought to have been. That was the hole that Louie had filled.

If Louie still worked here, she was likely to be in the Rotunda Bar. Karin kept her head bowed, just in case, as they were being led through to the restaurant.

‘Is this okay for you, sir?’ the waitress asked, showing them to a sea-view table.

‘Perfect,’ Aaron replied.

Karin felt the waitress studying her, hovering with the menus as she waited for them to sit down. She looped her bag over the chair, avoiding eye contact even when she was handed the menu.

‘You look familiar,’ said the waitress.

‘Erm. Yes, I used to work here,’ Karin replied, having no option then but to look up. ‘I left about a year and a half ago.’

‘Thought so. Think I’d just started then. You were front of house, weren’t you?’

‘A bit of everything actually. It was only temporary.’

‘So where are you now?’

‘I work for a charity.’

‘Oh. Still round here though?’

‘No. I moved away.’

The waitress nodded, picking up the vibe. She smiled and said she would leave them to decide and someone would be over shortly to get their drinks order.

‘Very enigmatic answers,’ Aaron commented.

It was in those nervous glances which followed – first at Aaron, trying to reassure him all was well, and then at the waitress as she walked away – that Karin caught a glimpse. Her blood ran cold, yet she could feel herself overheating again. If it was Louie then her hair was longer, in a messy topknot, and she was carrying a tray of empty glasses. Karin saw her look back, as if something or someone had caught her eye, and then Karin panicked, shielding her face with the menu.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Aaron asked. ‘Tell me, is this all wrong?’

‘No. No, ’course not.’ She put down the menu and grabbed his hand. ‘I just need a moment, that’s all. We were straight up to the room and now suddenly in the restaurant. There’re a lot of memories here for me.’

One way or the other though, Karin had to be certain. If it was Louie, then yes, this was all wrong. She pushed back her chair and walked round to the back of Aaron’s, resting her hands on his shoulders and massaging gently, the way he liked it, trying to keep her hands steady. Dropping her fingers down his chest she leant over to kiss him. ‘It’s a lovely thing, Aaron,’ she whispered. ‘But do you mind if I go to the Ladies before we order?’

‘Aren’t you feeling well?’ he called as their hands trailed apart.

‘I’m fine. Back in a minute.’

She walked briskly, her eyes scanning every direction, her heart racing.

Passing through the central bar area.

Clear.

Adjusting quickly to the purple lighting and pinky hue of the booths in the Rotunda Bar.

It was bustling. The weekends were always like that.

Some people stared back at her, wondering what she was all about, but Karin was on a mission and she didn’t apologize for her intrusion. Because if it was Louie that she had seen, they needed to get out of here. Fast. Tell Aaron that she really was ill and return to the room immediately. Leave first thing in the morning. Maybe even tonight.

She swallowed. She could not have Louie back in her life.

Maybe it wasn’t her after all. As Karin’s heartbeat slowed to a more regular pace, she told herself that she must have imagined it and quickened her step towards the Ladies. Feeling Louie’s presence around this place was perfectly normal, her memory playing tricks trying to convince her that Louie was still here. Almost at the Ladies, Karin sensed someone rushing her way, and froze, unable to look. She felt someone brush against her. It was the receptionist returning to the desk. Karin let out a sigh of relief and reached for the door.

‘I knew it was you.’

‘My god!’

Louie had stepped into her face. From nowhere.

‘Louie.’

‘I knew you’d come back. Happy birthday.’

‘No. I-I’m just staying here.’ She still tried to open the door, but Louie was blocking her.

‘What, so that’s it? Seriously? You never even said goodbye to me, Karin.’

‘I know and I’m sorry. I thought that would be the best thing for both of us.’

Karin moved her aside, enough to be able to push on the door with her shoulder, but bashing into it so hard a pain shot down her arm to her elbow. In the same instant, Louie was behind her, jostling her inside.

‘Lou, what the hell are you doing?’

She bundled Karin into the toilet cubicle, the one with the ‘Out of Order’ sign.

‘You owe me an explanation at least,’ she said. Her voice was low but forceful. ‘Why did you just disappear like that?’

Louie was staring at her. Sea-blue eyes. Perfectly sculptured cheekbones. Karin wanted to tell her that longer hair suited her. She was thinner. Perhaps. But she had forgotten how tall Louie was, much taller than she was even in her heels. She smelt of paint and the sea. Karin saw the damage in those eyes, along with her own reflecting back at her, and a dangerous wave of nostalgia swept over her again. It was a time of extremes when nothing else mattered. They were two broken bottles washed up on the beach. And they were young.

She reached her hand up to Louie’s cheek.

It happened quickly. Louie’s lips, firm and hot against hers. Their hands were grasping at each other’s clothing with a sense of urgency. She didn’t protest when Louie undid her dress, or when it fell to the floor, enjoying Louie’s touch on her skin, over her breasts. Karin fumbled under Louie’s apron to undo the zip on her trousers and pulled apart the studs on her shirt. They tried not to make too much noise beating against the partition.

It was over in minutes.

Karin pushed Louie away again. Her hands trembled as she tore off a length of toilet paper. ‘Leave me alone, Louie.’

‘Who’re you with?’