No Turning Back: The can’t-put-it-down thriller of the year

Yes, I thought the subject line would catch your eye, Anna. Tell me, did he look beautiful when he died? Those blue eyes staring up into sheer nothingness, the pallor of his skin, that special silver veil that only comes with death.

The blood, I wouldn’t have liked the blood. But still, one can’t be fussy. Maybe you took a photo? If so, please do send! I’m finding myself rather fascinated with this one, the boy’s potential for murder was rather appealing, wasn’t it? He was a bit naughty for targeting you while you had that pretty daughter of yours with you though…

Take care now. TOK

Anna barely breathed for a few seconds as she stared at the email. The Ophelia Killer had terrorised The Docks over one hot summer, killing seven teenage boys. But then the killings had abruptly stopped. Her father had investigated the murders, spending every spare minute he could looking into them. Then he’d killed himself, throwing himself from the lighthouse. Anna had always blamed his obsession with the killings for that.

Was someone pretending to be the notorious Ophelia Killer? It couldn’t be the real one, surely. Whoever it was, how did they know about Elliot? Was Anna’s name out? She quickly googled her name with trembling fingers. But the same old results came up: her website, her profile page on the Coast to Coast website, her Twitter profile, various articles. Nothing connecting her to Elliot Nunn’s death.

Her eyes slipped to the last line of the email.

…that pretty daughter of yours…

She shoved the laptop off her knees and ran upstairs, relieved to see Joni sleeping soundly.

‘You okay, Anna?’ Florence called up to her.

‘Not really.’ Anna went back downstairs and showed Florence the email.

A frown creased Florence’s head. ‘The Ophelia Killer? I don’t understand.’

‘Me neither. I ought to call the police.’

Anna called the number Detective Morgan had given her. He answered on the first ring.

‘Your name must be getting out,’ he said straight after she told him about the email. ‘It’ll be a nutter.’

‘No, I googled myself, no one’s connecting me to the death yet.’

‘Forward the email to me,’ he said. ‘I’ll get someone to look at it.’

‘Is there any chance we can we get some protection, maybe one officer? When I send the email, you’ll notice the last line mentions Joni, it made me feel uncomfortable.’

‘Of course, we’ll get a car to sit outside. You’re still at your grandmother’s?’

‘Yes. Thank you so much, Detective Morgan.’

‘No problem, Anna. Anything else I can help you with?’

She peered out towards the angry sea. ‘Do you know yet why Elliot might have tried to hurt me and Joni?’

‘All we have at the moment is maybe he heard you on the radio and grew obsessed with you.’

Anna shook her head. ‘No, that just doesn’t add up. I just can’t shake the feeling it was more than that.’

He was quiet and Anna sensed something in the silence. Was he thinking the same as her? ‘Detective Morgan?’ she asked.

‘Try not to worry about it, Anna. We’ll do everything we can to find out why Elliot Nunn did what he did. Do send me that email, won’t you?’ Then he was gone.

Anna sank back in her chair, peering up at the ceiling. Even if it was someone trying to get her attention, as Detective Morgan suggested, is this how it was going to be from now on, emails from people pretending to be serial killers? Would she ever be able to feel secure in Joni’s safety again?

‘Are they sending someone over?’ Florence asked, wrapping her arms around herself as she peered out into the darkness.

Anna felt a stab of guilt. Florence was nearly seventy. Despite how robust she was, she didn’t need to be feeling scared in her own home. She put her hand on her gran’s arm. ‘I’m so sorry, Gran, this is your house. I don’t want you to be scared here.’

‘Oh, poppet, we’ll be fine,’ Florence said, squeezing her granddaughter’s hand. ‘This place is like Fort Knox the amount of locks that double glazing man put in, we’ll be safe here.’ She sighed. ‘I hate you having to go through this though.’

‘Me too.’

They both looked out to sea, watching as the waves clashed into each other beneath darkening skies.

The next evening, Anna saw Guy for the first time since Elliot’s death. He stood on the doorstep of Florence’s house wearing crisp jeans and a casual white shirt, his dark hair and beard longer than they had been the last time she’d seen him, the week before. Her heart lurched at the sight of him. She missed him so much, especially now. How could everything have fallen to pieces in just a matter of weeks? His brown eyes held Anna’s for a moment then he noticed Joni crawling down the hallway towards him. He grabbed her into a hug and swirled her around as she giggled.

‘My gorgeous little girl,’ he said as he cuddled her. Then he held her out in front of him, examining her all over with his eyes.

‘She’s fine,’ Anna said.

He looked at Anna. ‘How are you?’

‘Still trying to wrap my head around what happened.’

‘Yeah, me too,’ he said, jaw flexing. ‘It’s all over the news.’

‘My name isn’t though.’

‘Not yet. I just can’t—’ He stopped talking.

‘What?’

‘I didn’t think you’d be capable of killing someone.’

‘Wouldn’t you, for Joni?’

He thought about it. ‘Before all this, I’d have said hell yeah. But now the reality is in front of me, I don’t know.’

Anna crossed her arms, tears brimming. ‘Well I did and your daughter is alive in your arms right now because of that.’

His face softened. ‘I know, Anna, I’m sorry. It’s just a lot to take in. Do they know why the kid tried to hurt you both?’

‘I have no idea.’

Guy frowned as Joni played with his necklace. ‘Could he have been a stalker? What if there are others out there like him?’

‘No, he wasn’t a stalker, Guy. This is a one-off freak occurrence.’

‘Maybe I should take Joni for a few weeks, until this settles down?’

Panic flooded Anna’s chest. ‘No! She’ll be safe with me, I promise.’