Dark DEEDS

THE STORY SO FAR: It’s January 1974, and the country is plagued by power cuts as Andrea begins university. She is starting a term late after having to care for her dying mother, and supporting her father. But at the halls of residence, no one seems interested in the new girl. Then Andrea overhears people talking about a body being pulled from the river. The police are investigating, but Andrea is shocked by how little the others seem to care about a fellow student’s death. A week later, Andrea meets Kath the cleaner and her son Keith, who is also a student. Keith is dating another student called Amy, but Kath confides in Andrea and tells her that Keith thinks Amy is too good for him. After working late one evening, Andrea takes a shortcut through the park – and becomes aware of someone following her in the dark.

She recognised him the moment he stepped out from the dark. A tall, bulky figure, head down against the wind, hands shoved in pockets. He raised his head and grinned at her, clearly totally oblivious to what he’d put her through. It was Keith. She’d been afraid. Now she was so angry she could have slapped him.

‘You walk really fast, did you know?’ he said.

‘I thought someone was stalking me!’ she snapped. ‘You guys have no idea how it feels to hear footsteps coming up behind you, do you?’

Heart still thumping, she turned and strode on ahead.