Free Behind Shadows: A Psychological Mystery Thriller (The Adam Stanley Series Book 1) by Netta Newbound

direction. Her arm flew up smacking the old man in his large, bulbous nose.
    Sprawled out, face down on the sticky, booze-soaked carpet, she felt herself being yanked backwards. Here we go again, she thought.
    Several of the locals had jumped forward to assist Joe in evicting the screaming, stinking drunk out of the bar. They carried her through the double swing doors and dumped her on a seat in front of the old stone wall.
    The cold night air hit her like a sack of spuds. She lay quietly for a moment or two.
    "What ya shtaring at, shupid bitch?" she shouted to a girl standing at the bus stop. Annie was used to people looking down their nose at her and she normally ignored them, but she was too angry tonight and she needed to lash out at somebody.
    The girl said nothing. She continued eating from a paper parcel, not attempting to turn away.
    "Cat got ya tongue?"
    "Erm, no, not really. I was going to ask you if you want a chip." She stepped forward, holding out the delicious smelling package.
    Annie's stomach growled. She realised she hadn't eaten anything all day, and couldn't remember if she'd had anything yesterday either. She hesitated, before putting her hand in and pulling out several fat, juicy looking chips.
    "Fanks. Do-a know ya?" Annie looked her up and down, one eye closed, the other squinting. The girl's long, blond hair shone in the moonlight.
    "I don't think so. Here, you may as well finish these off," she said, handing over the rest of the chips.
    Annie knew the reason the girl had had enough all of a sudden. She was aware of the offensive smell that emanated from her—she often turned people off their food. Snatching the parcel greedily, she began stuffing chips into her mouth.
    Once finished, she licked the salt and vinegar off the greaseproof paper and licked each grubby finger in turn. She rolled the paper into a ball then dropped it to the ground.
    Annie stood up, taking a couple of seconds to get her balance while holding on to the wall. Hunched over, she staggered up the street towards town.
    "Fanks for the chipsh," she called to the girl who was once again standing at the bus stop.
    "You're welcome. Goodnight."
    After a few steps, Annie felt an odd slapping feeling coming from her left foot. She stopped and bent forward to investigate. As she lifted her foot up she noticed the sole of her old boot had come loose. Before having the chance to right herself, she lost her balance and found herself face first in the gutter.
    With neither the energy nor the inclination to get up, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift off into a booze-addled slumber.
    Moments later she felt a hand on her shoulder. Annie shrugged it off, a scowl on her face.
    "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
    The gentle voice was close to her ear. Annie struggled to open her heavy eyelids.
    "Leave me 'lone!" Once again, she shrugged at the hand that was back on her shoulder.
    "Let me help you. Where do you live?" the girl persisted.
    "Not goin' 'ome—need a drink firsht." Annie's eyes were now open and she tried to sit up.
    "Gosh, don't you think you've had enough? Come on, let me help you get home." The girl assisted her into a sitting position.
    "Told ya, need a drink."
    "What if I buy you one to take home? Will you let me help you then?"
    "S'pose," Annie said looking at the girl and waiting for the catch.
    "Right, sit there—I'll be back in two ticks," the girl said as she grabbed her large grey handbag off the road beside Annie and ran in the direction of the off-license. She returned a few minutes later with a plastic bag at her side.
    "What did ya get?" Annie was now sitting on the kerb, her feet in the road.
    "Vodka, but you're not having it till I get you home," the girl said as she put her arm under Annie's elbow and lifted her to her feet. "Right—lead the way?"
    Annie's flat was the last in a row of run-down, single-storey flats. They walked around the back of the building, through the overgrown garden that resembled a