Every Little Breath: A Tense Psychological Thriller Full of Twists
Every Little Breath: Now – Chapter 29

Julie was still wondering if moving back to Norwich had been a mistake. It had been fifteen years since the trial, thirteen years since her first husband, Steve, had been jailed for murdering five women.

Back then, Julie’s life had slowly unravelled. She had always considered herself lucky. Married to a man she thought to be good, kind and gentle, an enviable house in the countryside, on a large plot of land, two perfect sons. She had a wide circle of friends, wanted for nothing, and she had been happy.

How quickly things could change.

She thought back to that day, arriving home to replace the street cordoned off, her home swarming with police. Learning about the terrible accusations they were making against Steve.

Her life had changed overnight and over the coming months she lost everything. Her husband, her beautiful home, her friends. Yes, she had learnt how fickle they could be. Initially they had been shocked, believing it had to be a mistake, but then the rumour mill had started and gradually she was frozen out. Oh, one or two of them had stuck by her, but even they began to distance themselves after the trial.

How could she not have known?

Julie knew that was the question they were all asking each other.

She was aware of the whispers, calling her another Rose West. It was one of the reasons she had agreed with Dennis to move away.

Steve’s half-brother had been her rock after the arrest, trying to shield her from everything. Dennis was nothing like Steve and the attraction wasn’t there, but he had put a roof over her head and he had taken in her sons. He had been widowed young and Julie and Steve had always looked out for him, aware of how lonely he was. She knew Dennis would look after her and he proved her right. He stood by her throughout Steve’s trial and was there for her when her beloved Gareth killed himself.

For years she had clung to the hope that the police were wrong. They had never found his body. Maybe Gareth had staged his death, wanting a fresh start. She didn’t begrudge him that. Knew things were tough on him too. He had idolised his dad and didn’t have the easiest relationship with Dennis.

One day Gareth would come forward and seek her out, but it never happened that way and as the years passed, she finally accepted he was definitely dead. Now she threw herself into being the perfect mother to her youngest son, Ethan.

It had been Ethan’s idea to move back to Norwich. Julie was widowed now, Dennis having died after falling down the stairs. Kelvin and Rod had both left home long ago and there was nothing for either Julie or Ethan in Sizewell. Besides, Dennis’s will had split everything three ways between his second wife and his sons. The house would have to go as Julie couldn’t afford to buy Kelvin and Rod out. If they had to move, Ethan rationalised, they might as well move home to Norwich.

Now she was back here, though, she wondered if she had made a huge mistake.

It had been years and she had foolishly hoped that no one would recognise her now she had a different surname. How wrong she had been.

Yes, okay, so initially most people didn’t realise who she was, but it didn’t take long for the rumours to spread and then their stance towards her changed. She had already received hate mail, her neighbour, who had been quite welcoming, now gave her a wide berth, and of the friends she had bumped into, one had been coolly polite, while another had ignored her completely.

Then, of course, there had been the worst encounter, when she had run into Casey Fallon. The girl who had destroyed her entire family.

Ironically, Casey had been the friendliest to her, but Julie knew that was probably out of shock and guilt. Julie hadn’t been able to speak to her, barely able to look at her. There was so much she wanted to say to the girl and she had practised her speech many times over the years, but when it actually came down to it, when the encounter had finally happened, she couldn’t replace the words.

Casey was on her mind now as Julie watched the two detectives walk down the driveway heading back to their car. Apparently, she had pointed the finger at Julie again and the detectives had been asking questions about her move back to Norwich, showing her pictures of two women who had recently been murdered. She knew they were also on their way to speak with Ethan.

What was wrong with Casey Fallon? Had she not done enough to Julie’s family already? Would she not be content until she had destroyed every single one of them?

Julie feared for Ethan. He was such a kind and sensitive soul and what had happened to Steve and Gareth had affected him deeply. He had been just a teenager when Steve was arrested, still at school, and he had become the target of cruel bullies. As a result he had suffered both mentally and academically. He still carried the scars, had been unable to go to college, as he had hoped, after failing all of his exams, and for a while he had battled with panic attacks. He was now twenty-seven and still living with Julie, and to her knowledge he had never had a girlfriend and showed little interest in socialising outside of the family circle.

He had managed to secure a job working for a local skip hire company, but if the police started showing up at his workplace and giving him grief, then there was no telling how he would react or what view his bosses might take.

What if he lost his job? Julie had some savings, but it wouldn’t keep them forever, and her part-time work at the local Tesco Metro paid a pittance. If they couldn’t afford to pay the rent, where would they live? Julie’s parents were dead and she had no siblings. No one to turn to for help.

Kelvin and Rod wouldn’t be interested either. Kelvin had his own family, while Rod was in the army. And they had never really accepted her marrying their father. How different to the days before Steve’s incarceration, when they had all been one big family unit. Now, Julie was quite convinced Kelvin and Rod wouldn’t care less if her and Ethan ended up on the street. All they were interested in was getting their share of the money and moving on.

It wasn’t their fault, she guessed. They had lost their mum at a young age, then watched everything happen with Steve. They hadn’t understood Julie marrying their dad as soon as her divorce came through.

And now they had their own lives to lead. She wasn’t their problem.

It was Casey Fallon who had ruined everything for the Noakes family, but it seemed it still wasn’t enough and she wanted to dig the knife in further.

Julie thought back to the first time Gareth had brought the girl home. She had seemed so sweet and innocent. Such a pretty girl with her wide dark eyes and genuine smile. Back then, she had believed Gareth had landed on his feet, was so pleased he had met such a lovely girl.

But of course, that was before Casey had set out to destroy them all.

Now Julie wished that Casey Fallon was dead.