Every Little Breath: A Tense Psychological Thriller Full of Twists

Later, when they were sprawled on Casey’s sofa, eating pizza and finishing off the bottle of wine she had earlier opened, Finn updated her on Psycho Steven and his connection to Saffron Pollard.

Casey had preferred to think of her as a random victim; knowing that he had stalked and killed her because of her connection to Steve Noakes was unsettling. First, a juror on Noakes’s trial, then a reporter who had covered the case. It seemed Psycho Steven was intentionally picking off people who had been involved in putting Noakes away. So far he had singled out Casey as his adversary, goading her into trying to save his victims. Was that all he had planned for her?

‘I know you’re not going to like this suggestion, but I don’t want you to be alone until we have figured out who he is.’

‘Okay.’ Casey kept her tone even. ‘So how is that going to work?’

Truth was she was more than a little freaked out, but ‘until we have figured out who he is’ could be a long time. They may possibly never know. Finn’s concern came from a good place, but she couldn’t put her life on hold indefinitely because of Psycho Steven.

‘I don’t know yet, but we’ll figure something out. Daniella is coming to fit your cameras next week, right?’

‘Yeah, on Monday.’

‘We’ll get her to sort an alarm too.’ When Casey opened her mouth to protest, he quickly added, ‘She owes me a couple of favours. Trust me, she won’t mind doing it, especially when she knows the circumstances.’

Finn was quiet for a moment. ‘Are you going back to do your show next week?’

Honestly, Casey wasn’t sure. Part of her wanted to step away from the radio station. After all, where was the fun in going on-air, when she was stressing about getting a call from Psycho Steven. But then, she also hated that the sick freak was dictating how she lived her life, pushing her into giving up the things she had worked hard for. ‘I haven’t made a decision yet. Justin says Jade is happy to carry on for now, but the longer she does my show, the more difficult it is for me to go back.’

Finn frowned at that and she couldn’t quite decide if he thought her going back was a good idea or not. ‘I’m off for the next four days.’

‘Okay, and what’s your plan? You’re going to babysit me the whole time?’ Casey raised her chin a notch. ‘I understand I need to be careful, but I don’t need a twenty-four-seven bodyguard and you don’t need that either. You have other stuff going on.’

‘I do. Tomorrow I am free, though, so how about we hang out? We can see how it goes and make a decision about the rest of the weekend later.’

‘I have work to do.’

‘You can take one day off. We’ll go out and do something.’

‘Like as in a date?’

‘Well I was thinking more as in friends hanging out, but if you want it to be a date.’

‘I never said that. Stop putting words in my mouth.’

‘Unless, of course, you’d rather we spend all day in bed.’ Finn grinned, picking up his wine. He reached down with his free hand, fingers lightly caressing Casey’s leg. ‘I could be talked into that.’

‘Yeah, I bet you could. And no, that won’t be happening.’

‘So we’ll go out, then.’

‘Where?’

‘Just leave the details to me.’

It was sounding suspiciously like a date, but Casey didn’t push it, figuring it would be nice to get out. Yesterday hadn’t quite gone to plan with Zoe and Ricky. Maybe the change of company would be a good thing too. She hadn’t spoken with either of her friends since and she was still annoyed with Ricky, not just for the Zoe thing, but also about how he had been rude to her neighbour.

‘Do you know all of the people who live in this building?’ she asked Finn.

Apart from the Beharries and nosey Mrs Fletcher, who were both on the ground floor, they had never spoken about the other residents.

‘Most of them, at least well enough to say hi to. Why?’

‘Rupert in number seven. What’s the story with him?’

Finn frowned, shaking his head. ‘Don’t know him. I thought it was a woman was in number seven.’

‘No, definitely a bloke. Maybe early fifties. Light sandy-brown hair, starting to recede. Bit of an oddball. I think you’d remember him if you knew him.’

‘He doesn’t ring a bell, but there are a couple of people I haven’t met, and I could be wrong about number seven. Why do you want to know about him anyway? Has he been bothering you?’

‘No, not at all. He just seems to always be loitering around. Very strange guy. Harmless though.’ Casey paused, recalling the door slamming in her face across the hall. ‘What about the people who live opposite me?’

‘It’s a rental. Empty at the moment, I think.’

‘Oh… okay.’

‘Why?’

‘It’s nothing. Just stupid.’

‘Casey? Tell me.’

‘Well, Rupert said there was a couple living there, but that they were away. Then yesterday afternoon when I came upstairs, the door was open. I went to see who was there, thought it would be a good time to introduce myself, but then the door shut in my face.’ She shrugged. ‘See, I told you it was nothing.’

‘Maybe someone new has moved in. I work shifts so I don’t see everyone.’

‘Yeah, you’re probably right.’

‘You don’t seem convinced.’

Casey wasn’t. It all seemed so stupid. She was wary of one of her neighbours, worrying about who lived opposite, and then, of course, there was the paranoia that someone had been in her apartment. The string she left had never been disturbed, but still, she thought she had seen someone at the bedroom window before moving in, then there was that feeling that someone had been touching her stuff. She told all this to Finn. Could see that he was taking her seriously, but also that he was trying to be logical.

‘Do you think all of the stuff with Psycho Steven is fuelling this?’ he asked gently. ‘I’m not saying it’s your imagination, but the whole situation is going to be eating at you, maybe making you a little more jumpy than normal.’

‘Maybe.’ She shrugged again. ‘I just can’t shake the feeling that something is off. Stupid, eh?’

‘Not stupid.’ He put down his wine glass and moved Casey’s legs off his, getting up and holding out his hand. ‘Come on.’

‘Come on where?’

‘Let’s go say hi to the new neighbours.’

‘Finn, it’s late. We really don’t need to do that.’

‘It’s just gone nine. Not that late.’ He caught her hand, gave it a tug.

Casey glanced down at what she was wearing. No way was she leaving the apartment in her pyjamas and especially with no bra. ‘I’m not going out like this.’

‘Go get dressed, then.’

‘No, I don’t want to. Just leave it for tonight. I’ll try them again tomorrow.’

‘Okay, then, you stay here. I’ll go say hi.’

‘Finn!’ He had already dropped her hand, was heading to the door. Casey quickly clambered off the sofa, charging after him as he opened the door, disappearing out onto the landing. ‘Finn!’

She halted by the door, kept it part closed to disguise her lack of clothing, as she watched him stride across the hallway to her neighbour’s and ring the doorbell.

Infuriating bloody man.

When there was no answer, Finn tried again.

‘Just leave it,’ Casey hissed across the landing, her voice not much more than a whisper. ‘They’re obviously out or don’t want to be disturbed.’

When Finn ignored her, she shook her head in irritation, going back inside, leaving him to stubbornly pester the neighbours alone. Her phone was sitting on the side, a message lit up on the screen and she remembered that it had beeped a couple of times shortly after Finn had arrived. At the time she had been so distracted, she had forgotten all about it, but now she picked it up, saw it was a handful of WhatsApps from Ricky in reply to her last message.

I promise you can trust me next time. Xxx

What are you up to? Fancy hanging out over the weekend? Xx

Where are you? Answer me. Xxxxxx

Casey rolled her eyes. Ricky was so bloody needy at times.

She replied to each of his messages, keeping them brief.

I don’t think so. You need a zip on your mouth.

Maybe. I’ll think about it.

Stop being so impatient. I have company. xx

Ricky’s reply came within seconds.

Who’s there. Is it Detective Dishy?

Casey replied, a smile on her face.

Maybe. Now go away. I’m busy. Xxx

As she went to put her phone back down, it pinged again. She quickly glanced at the GIF Ricky had sent of a humping teddy bear and burst out laughing.

‘What’s funny?’

Glancing up, she saw Finn had finally given up trying to get an answer from across the hall.

‘Nothing. Just a friend. So your plan worked, then?’

Finn shrugged. ‘No answer.’

‘I guessed you wouldn’t get one.’

‘Maybe they are out. I’m sure it’s nothing sinister.’

‘Yeah, you’re right,’ Casey agreed, though she wasn’t sure of that at all.