Free Someone Like me by Lesley Cheetham Page A

drums again, the rhythm familiar already. The music sounded OK to me; Tess just didn’t want to admit that her brother had talent.
    ‘Time to get back to work,’ said Mark and they both got to their feet. ‘Let’s try out our new number on our groupies.’ He grinned at me and I couldn’t help grinning back. I swilled the remains of my beer. ‘Help yourself to another,’ Khaled called out.
    ‘Don’t mind if I do,’ I smiled, relaxed now and settled back to watch the rehearsal. I had a funny feeling I knew exactly which weekend the Flying Toucans had  been  playing  in London. I love it when the jigsaw pieces that had been muddled up in a huge pile started slowly falling into place. My jigsaw still had plenty of gaps, but I was making good progress.

CHAPTER 15
     
    ‘Yes!’ I threw my fist up and jumped around my bedroom floor. I was right.
The Flying Toucans had played The Roundhouse the weekend of May 26th – the weekend Miriam had been found. I made a tick against my checklist. Khaled and Mark had stayed over with a mate of Mark’s that night. I needed to find out whether Mark had been with Khaled the whole time. As Miriam’s boyfriend he was now high on my list of suspects.  Tess could find out easily enough. 
        My phone flashed at me. A text from Fiona:
     
    Meet tomorrow at 11 by the swings in Carisbrooke Park
     
    I took off my headphones and went downstairs. Mum was passed out on the sofa, wine glass at her side. The television was on low. I watched her chest going up and down, a sheet of paper quivering in her hands. I removed the paper.
    ‘Mum,’ I called. No response. ‘Mum.’ That was loud. She opened her eyes then manoeuvred herself into a sitting position.
    ‘Jas. I must have dropped off. Are you alright?’
    ‘I’m going to the park in the morning with some friends.’
    ‘That’s great. I’m so glad you’re getting out more, but don’t forget your studies.’
    ‘School has finished Mum. Give me a break.’
    ‘Oh yes,’ she said, ‘I forgot.’ Her eyes were starting to droop. I picked up the remote and turned the television off.
    ‘I’m going to bed and I think you should too.’
    A snore spluttered from her mouth; I was wasting my time. I dimmed the lamp and went off upstairs.
     
    The park was busy next morning. Some sort of extreme workout class was taking place and I watched as a man wearing khaki uniform barked orders at a group of middle-aged women who looked like they would be more comfortable in a cake shop. As they lumbered back and forwards between trees I swung my legs until I had a steady rhythm going with the swing. I spotted Fiona and Helen making their way towards me. As they got closer and grew to their proper height, I could see that they were deep in conversation. I waved and Helen waved back.
    ‘Hey,’ I said.
    Fiona nodded at me and Helen smiled shyly.
    ‘Shall we go over to the shelter?’ suggested Fiona. ‘It’s a bit windy out here and I spent ages on my hair this morning.’ Her hair was sleek and straight. I had stuck a beanie on my head and barely noticed the wind.
    ‘OK,’ I said and jumped off the swing, stumbling. Helen caught my arm.  ‘Thanks,’ I said. ‘How long are you here for?’
    ‘Just today – Auntie Lou is picking me up from Fiona’s at six.’
     
    The shelter was a grey concrete building covered in graffiti – big strokes of brightly coloured paint dragged into letters. Teenagers hung out here all the time, puffing on furtive cigarettes and snogging in the corner.
    Today it was empty and the sun shone into the shelter, making it look quite cosy. Fiona and I sat down on the bench, and Helen threw her padded jacket onto the ground and sat on it, cross-legged. She looked much younger than her years; the plaits didn’t help, plus she chewed her nails constantly. Fiona lit a cigarette and blew the smoke in my direction.
    ‘Tell Helen what you told me,’ she said.
    ‘It’s nothing,’ I laughed nervously. ‘I