FRY

Chapter Seventeen

“But you didn’t even go to Camp Windylake!”

“No, but I came to visit you often enough, didn’t I?”

“So this is all about you?”

I don’t know why I’m so surprised. Julio has gone out with most of the women I know at one time or another. Why should this girl be any different?

“Oh, what was her name? Josie. No, Jody!”

“Jody,” I repeat. “You’re sure?”

“I think so.”

“Do you recall a last name?”

“Erm…”

“Could it be McBride?”

It’s a stab in the dark. I mean, I don’t even know if that’s really Alicia’s last name, but a flicker of recognition appears on Julio’s face.

“Could be. Definitely Mc something or rather.”

“Honey, I’m home!” Holly calls out, as she walks through the door. Then she sees me.

“Oh, hello Isabel.” She shoots Julio a worried look. I can’t really blame her, after all those endless phone calls.

Quickly, we fill her in on what we’ve just discovered.

“Did you break up with her?” Holly asks him.

“Of course he did,” I snort. As far as I know, Julio’s never been dumped in his life, more’s the pity. And even those girls who know of his reputation don’t seem to be put off by it. Kate was adamant that she was going to be the one to change him, just as Holly is now.

“But do you remember why?” I press. “Was there another girl?”

Julio frowns. “It was a long time ago. I really can’t remember.”

“Do you remember anything about her at all?” I ask. “I mean, what was she like?”

“I don’t know. Kind of… quiet. And serious.”

“What I can’t understand is why she’s going after Isabel,” Holly says. “Why not you? And why now?”

“Search me.”

“We are in the phonebook, after all. You wouldn’t be too hard to find.”

“She is crazy,” I point out. “At least, if she’s anything like Alicia, she is.”

But Holly isn’t satisfied.

“Wait a minute – Julio did you… two-time this girl?”

“What?”

“Oh, don’t look so shocked. “I know what you were like.”

She turns to me. “The question is, if he did two-time her, did you know about it?”

Julio and I look at each other helplessly.

“I honestly can’t remember.”

“Me neither.”

She rolls her eyes. “You’ve both got memories like sieves! Well, let’s say that’s what happened. Julio cheated on her and Isabel knew about it. That will have to be our working assumption for the time being, unless anyone can come up with a better one.”

“It still doesn’t make sense,” Julio says. “Why would she even care about some bloke who dumped her ten years ago?”

Holly says nothing. She doesn’t have to. I know what effect Julio has on women. I’ve seen it too many times before.

“What if she never got over it? What if she hasn’t had another boyfriend since?”

“Oh come on,” Julio laughs. “Give me a break!”

But I’m not so sure and by the looks of it, nor is Holly.

“Do you think we should go to the police?”

“And tell them what exactly? They’d think we were nuts.”

“Yeah, I’ve been getting that a lot lately.” I sigh. “So what should I do in the meantime?”

“Act as if everything’s normal,” Holly says, decisively. “Surround yourself with people. And don’t take the same route to and from work every day. You need to vary your routine. Swap things around a bit. Make some last minute changes. Make it hard for them to figure out where you’re going to be and what you’re going to do next.”

I nod. I don’t tell them that I’ve been off work for the last couple of weeks. I’m too embarrassed to admit how much Alicia and Jody have got to me.

“Meanwhile, I’ll see what I can find out about this Jody person.”

She eyes my bulging bag, sitting by the door.

“Are you staying the night, Isabel? I can make up the spare room.”

“No thanks,” I say, getting to my feet.

“I’ve got work in the morning.”

Now I’ve got them on side again, I don’t feel quite so hopeless. It’s time to take control of my life and it’s definitely time I went back to my job. If I still have one, that is. I mean – Sonya’s been understanding and all, but there’s only so far you can push it. Especially as I haven’t even bothered to return her phone calls for the last few days.

I drive home, ready and alert for Jody’s white Escort to appear in the rear mirror, but to my relief, it doesn’t. Once home, I set my alarm for 6.00AM and get an early night.

Butterflies flutter in my stomach as I march into Robertson’s the next day, ignoring the nosey looks of the checkout girls. Everybody knows about my meltdown. Alicia’s taken care of that.

Sonya is in the office, swearing at the computer.

I knock gently. “Can I come in?”

“Oh, thank heaven! See if you can fix this. I don’t know what the hell I’ve pressed, but it’s coming out sideways!”

“Let me see,” I lean over her shoulder and correct the error with a few strokes of the keys.

“Thanks – ruddy thing’s out to get me.”

“Bastard. Yeah, it’s got a mind of its own.”

“So you’re back?” she asks, seriously.

“Yes.” I meet her gaze.

“You’re sure? Because I can’t really afford to be left in the lurch again. In fact, Human Resources have just sent over a pile of CVs from people who would love to interview for your job.” She drops her gaze. “But you know I’d much rather have you.”

I bite my lip. “I really am sorry, Sonya. I won’t let it happen again.”

“Well, OK then, just as long as I can rely on you from now on.”

“You can. I promise.”

We spend the rest of the morning working through the backlog in the office, which suits me fine, as it means I don’t have to face the gossips on the shop floor. And more importantly, I don’t have to face Alicia.

“Are you coming down to the canteen?” I ask Sonya, as twelve o’clock rolls around.

“Um, not today,” she says, a flush of colour creeping into her cheeks.

I look at her closely. “Why? What’s going on?”

“I’ve, er… I’ve met someone. His name’s Michael and he’s taking me out for lunch.”

“Wow,” I say, a little blown away. Sonya’s been single for as long as I can remember, longer than me, in fact. “How did you meet?”

“I ordered him over the phone,” she says, with a giggle.

“You what?”

“Actually, it was just a pizza I ordered, but I got a bit more than I bargained for. The delivery man was gorgeous!”

“Well, I’m really pleased for you,” I say, as sincerely as I can manage. If I had the energy to worry about such things, I would probably feel just a teensy bit envious. I mean, I want her to be happy – of course I do. It’s just… seeing her radiant, smiling face reminds me of my own non-existent love life.

Holly rings me later.

“I just wanted to give you an update on Jody.”

“What have you found out?”

“Well, she doesn’t have a police record, but she did spend time on a psychiatric ward when she was younger.”

“Really?” My heart jolts. “What for? Pyromania?”

“Haven’t been able to get that info, but she definitely had a drug and alcohol problem in the past.”

“Anything else?”

“I’m still trying to get her current address but she was last seen in Sandford Dunes.”

“Sandford Dunes? That’s not far from me.”

“Which makes it all the more plausible that she’s involved in all this.”

When I log into Facebook, there are developments there too. Someone has replied to my suggestion for a reunion. Soon the wall is buzzing with replies, some from people I vaguely remember, others, I haven’t a clue about, but still no mention of Jody. I only thought of a reunion as a way of getting people to send me information about her, but the idea seems to have sprouted legs. Almost without me having to do anything, a venue is agreed and a date set. I just hope somebody will be able to tell me something about Jody.

In the meantime, I do as Holly advises. I accept invitations, I go out and while I’m about it, I manage to have a little fun. I make sure I’m home as little as possible, staying at Kate’s a few times, even at Sonya’s once, after a few too many glasses of wine. My friends all heave a collective sigh of relief, assuming I’ve recovered from my little meltdown. But I don’t go over to the Beach House anymore, and I tinker with the roster at Robertson’s so that Alicia and I are scheduled to work together as little as possible. Avoiding her is the only way I can keep sane.

But if I thought for one minute that Alicia would just give up and leave me alone, I was very much mistaken. One evening, as I am sitting in front of the TV, I hear something scratching at the door.

“Fluffy!” I cry, rushing to the door. “Fluffy, is that you?”

I throw back the bolts and open the door.

“Fluffy?”

But there’s no one there. I grab my phone from my pocket and use it to shine a light around the garden.

“Fluffy!” I call, a little louder now. “Are you there?”

If I listen intently, I can hear definitely hear something.

There it is again! What is that?

It’s the sound of a bell jingling. A miniature cow bell – just like the one I bought Fluffy for Christmas.

“Fluffy!”

I wait for the sound of padded footsteps, running up the path towards me.

But the only sound that greets me is laughter. Hard, callous laughter. It’s Alicia.

I recoil in horror, jump back inside, slamming and bolting the door as quickly as my shaking hands can manage. I should have known it was her – just as I thought she’d finally left me alone. Just as I thought I’d found Fluffy.

I stand stock still, hope in vain that she’ll go away, but my silence just makes her crazier. She knocks furiously, pummels the door with her delicate fists. I am amazed at how strong she is, amazed to see the whole door shudder and shake.

“Is-abel” she calls out in her singsong voice.

“Is-abel! I know you’re in there!”

I back into the kitchen, where she can’t see me.

But I can still hear her at the front door, calling out my name.

So what’s that scratching at the back door?

“Fluffy? Fluffy?” I hiss, peering out through the kitchen window.

But it is not a cat, but a ghostly figure that greets me.

“Is-abel. Is-abel!”

“Shit!”

How did she get there so quickly? Or… wait a minute. I stare back in horror. Could this be Jody? It’s hard to tell in the darkness, but she seems a little taller, her voice a little huskier.

So I was right – they’re are two of them!

Both of them scratch at the door and call out my name.

“Is-abel! Is-abel.”

They’re just trying to freak me out, I tell myself, as I squat down behind the kitchen cabinets. I cover my ears with my hands, desperate to block out the sound, but all the time I have one eye on the smoke alarm and the other on the phone.

Eventually, they fall silent. I assume they’ve gone away, but you never can tell. I curl up on the sofa and fall asleep with my pocket smoke detector snuggled against my chest.

I’m dog-tired when my alarm goes off in the morning, but I force myself to get up and dressed. I have to get to work. I have to show Alicia that she hasn’t got to me.

Sonya waves me into the office the minute I arrive.

“I need you to do me a big favour.”

“Yes, of course,” I agree, suppressing a massive yawn. “What is it?”

“I need you to cover the night shift tonight. I was going to do it myself, but now I’ve got plans.”

I force a smile. “Are you seeing your new man again?”

“He’s taking me to see Cats.”

Oh, Fluffy!

“That’s great!” I try to swallow my sadness. “What are you going to wear?”

But as she debates between her leopard print halterneck and her little black dress, my mind wanders. I can’t help noticing the calendar sitting on her desk. Today is the 26th February. Isn’t there something significant about this date? I think hard, but my tired mind is as fuzzy as a snow globe. Then I remember.

The reunion! It’s tonight!

“Oh no, Sonya – I’ve just realised. I’ve got something else on tonight.”

“Come on Isabel, I’ve cut you a lot of slack recently. Surely you can do this one thing for me?”

I swallow. She has a point. I do owe her. But what am I going to do about the reunion?

“Don’t worry – I… I’ll work something out.”

“Thank you.”

She walks over to the table, where Alicia has once again laid out doughnuts.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve asked Alicia to stop bringing these in – they’re ruining my diet.”

The temptress!

But she takes one regardless and swallows it in three large bites.

I pull out my mobile.

“Holly, I’ve got a problem.”

“Maybe,” Holly says, when I’ve finished explaining. “Maybe, I could go in your place?”

“But you didn’t even go to Camp Windylake!”

“They don’t have to know that,” she laughs. “It’s been such a long time, I doubt anyone will notice.”

“Do you really think it could work?”

“I don’t see why not. I do this kind of thing all time for work.”

“Well, I suppose,” I say.

But I still feel uneasy.

Sonya sends me home for the afternoon, so I can get some sleep before I come back for the night shift. I arrive back at Robertson’s just as the afternoon shift is streaming out and hide in my car until they are all out the door. According to the roster, Alicia was scheduled to work this afternoon, and I really don’t feel like running into her.

Once I’m sure the coast is clear, I walk inside.

“Oh, there you are!” says Sonya. “I was a bit worried you’d overslept.”

“No, I’m here,” I reassure her. “Let me just go and grab my cardy.”

I head to the staff room and punch in the combination for my locker. The door swings open with a loud creak.

“What on earth?”

I rub my eyes in disbelief, because there, right in front of me, taking up my entire locker, is a huge can of petrol.