Free Tamsyn Murray-Afterlife 01 My So-Called Afterlife by Tamsyn Murray Page B

so.
    It was a fabulous day and St James’s Park was looking good. I missed being alive most when the sun was shining; I’d have given up soap opera updates from Jeremy for a month to be able to feel the sun on my skin one more time.
    ‘How are you going to know what she looks like?’
    We were strolling along a gravel pathway through the flowerbeds. The scent of the roses reminded me of the memorial garden at school. There would be a plaque there bearing my name by now. I grimaced. Dogs probably weed on it.
    He waved the newspaper he was carrying at me. ‘I told her I’d be sitting on the bench beside the lake, reading yesterday’s
Times
.’
    I rolled my eyes. ‘Don’t tell me. The newspaper bit was your idea.’
    His eyes wouldn’t meet mine. ‘Might have been.’
    ‘What makes you think she’s going to show up?’
    He shrugged. ‘She said she would. If she changes her mind then we’ll have to go back to the drawing board.’
    It was ten to twelve when we reached the lake, and Jeremy had arranged to meet Sarah at midday. I’d never admit it to Jeremy, but I was hoping this Sarah wouldn’t show up. I sat fiddling with my mended necklace, another plug wedged firmly in my jeans pocket. It ruined the lookof my outfit, but since the Kimberly incident I was taking no chances.
    There was a family feeding the ducks not far from us. I watched as their chocolate-encrusted toddler tried to throw a handful of bread towards the water. A few bits of bread landed beside my foot. Without thinking, I kicked out at one of them, taking great satisfaction as it flew over the lake. I was getting really good at touching things.
Maybe I should challenge Hep to a game of footie
, I thought.
    ‘Lucy!’ Jeremy lowered the newspaper and hissed at me, but it was too late. The boy had seen the bread leap up into the air, apparently on its own. He stared at the ground where it had been, then looked at the empty space on the bench beside Jeremy, a deep frown creasing his tiny forehead. He toddled nearer and repeated the process.
    His mother noticed. ‘Harry! Come here, please!’
    Harry showed no sign of giving up his investigation. Instead, he picked up another piece of bread from the ground nearby and studied it suspiciously.
    ‘Your mum’s calling you,’ I mentioned, earning a black look from Jeremy.
    Apparently realising there was nothing special about the bread, Harry dropped it on the floor and glanced around. His eyes came to rest directly on my face.
    ‘Bogies!’ he said, almost conversationally, and wandered away.
    I’m sure I never behaved like that when I was three. Children’s television has a lot to answer for.
    ‘I think this might be her.’ Jeremy had clearly forgotten about the earpiece because he spoke from the side of his mouth. I sighed and thanked my lucky stars the fate of the entire world didn’t rest on his undercover abilities.
    He was probably right. Walking apprehensively around the lake towards us was a young woman, older than me, but way too young to be looking as frail as she did. Beside her was an older man with white hair. The woman was darting anxious glances at the people around her, as though she didn’t trust any of them. Sympathy softened the last of my anger. Perhaps she’d been luckier than me at escaping her attacker, but that didn’t mean she’d got off lightly. She wore a long-sleeved jumper, even though it was a hot day. Did she have scars she needed to cover? Or were the worst ones in her head?
    Her gaze came to rest on Jeremy and her pace quickened. Closing the paper, Jeremy stood up as she approached. ‘Sarah?’
    She nodded. ‘This is my dad.’
    Jeremy shook the man’s hand. ‘Pleased to meet you. Thanks for coming.’ He cleared his throat nervously. ‘Would you like to sit down?’
    Oh nice one,
I thought. If they all sat down it left no room for me. ‘I’ll just sit on the floor then, shall I?’ I said in a loud voice. ‘Don’t mind me.’
    Jeremy ignored my