Page 133 of The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
I haven’t written the right chapter one yet. Working on the third now. Once I get that killer opening, I’ll be a lot happier.
Amanda Bailey
I mean, I am happy now. Chilled, relaxed. No need to worry about me.
Ellie Cooper
I DO worry about you. I know how hard you work. But you ARE allowed to take it easy.
Amanda Bailey
Someone else is dead. An amateur sleuth who’d been investigating the angels for years. He emailed early on but I was trying to find the baby then and ignored him. When my angle changed, I got back in touch. He had a theory about a cover-up but I didn’t get a chance to speak to him. He died in a house fire on Tuesday.
Ellie Cooper
Did he ever speak to Oliver?
Amanda Bailey
No. If there are dark forces at work, they’re following me, not him
Ellie Cooper
Be careful, Mand. It’s all probably coincidence, but messing with things like that … Do you even have to write this book? At your age you could do whatever you want. Read. Write. Travel. Find someone and settle down. I hate to sound like an elderly relative, but before it’s too late.
Amanda Bailey
Find someone? Not me. I let someone go just before starting this job.
Ellie Cooper
Let them go? It sounds like you fired them
Amanda Bailey
I don’t trust relationships. Only happy when there’s just me to think about. Married to my job – that’s what they say
Amanda Bailey
At MY age? You cheeky fucking millennial How old do you think I am?
Ellie Cooper
Well, you fell out with Aunty Pat 26 years ago. If you were aged 16 to 20 then, you’d be 42 to 46 now.
Amanda Bailey
I’m 38. I was 12 when I put myself into care and fell out with Aunty Pat and the rest of my family.
Ellie Cooper
OMG, Mand. I’m so sorry. That’s tragic.
Amanda Bailey
No. It’s the best thing I ever did.
Third time lucky? First chapter, written 30 July 2021:
