Elena got off the bus one stop early and walked the rest of the way. She needed the air. The day had left a dull pressure behind her eyes that didn’t ease with the usual routines. Victoria Vale’s visit sat in her mind like a stone. The woman’s voice hadn’t been loud. It hadn’t needed to be. The warning had been clear enough: people were watching, and Elena had become part of what they were watching.
By the time she reached her flat the sky had gone dark. She dropped her bag by the door, stood in the middle of the small kitchen for a moment, and realised she hadn’t eaten since morning. She made toast she didn’t really want and ate it standing up, staring at the blank wall above the counter.
Her phone buzzed once on the table.
Unknown number.
She almost ignored it. Then she opened the me
