All Chapters of Thirty Days: Chapter 121 - Chapter 130

Why is it that no matter how hard I try to keep moving forward, something keeps holding me back? This thought twists around my mind on a continuous loop, much like an infinity symbol. I am supposed to be meeting Dr Grohl today but for the first time ever I have decided to blow it off. Maybe it is the constant nausea I woke up with, or the headache that is threatening to crush my skull, but all I know is that I cannot face questions about what makes me happy today. I know I should be happy…I have finally given my evidence, though I was warned I might get called back for cross-examination, so really now all I need to start worrying about is the impending arrival of Bean. Yet, at the back of my mind, a shadowy figure still looms. Richard. No one was more surprised than me when he appeared on the Defence’s list of witnesses, but it seems that he will be giving evidence tomorrow, something that is filling us all with dread. Richard is unpredictable at the best of

I open up the first one and let out a soft gasp when I see who wrote it; Hannah. Taylor looks at me curiously, but I just shake my head as I begin to read. At first, it looks like an ordinary love letter but I am a little confused when Hannah talks about how much she is going to miss Richard, making me wonder whether she is talking about her fake suicide but when I glance up and check the date on the letter my hands begin to shake. The letter was dated two weeks before Taylor left for his gap-year travels.How is that possible? Taylor said he met her in Costa Rica, that she never knew he had a brother yet here we have it in her own handwriting that she was in some sort of relationship with Richard well before she ever met Taylor. I glance up at Taylor and see he is engrossed in flicking through files on the computer so turn my attention to Stix who is sitting quietly on the sofa, curled up into Chris’ arms as he whispers softly to her.&ldquo

I am under strict instructions not to worry so of course that is all I can do. When Taylor was finally compos mentis, we drove up to London with the brown envelope clutched firmly in my hands and Stix and Chris in the back seat. I didn’t want to let it out of my sight for a moment, not until we could hand it over to someone who could actually do something with it. When Emelia was finally able to read through the letters, the expression on her face was like all her Christmases had come at once. Even Detective Stanton had a small grin on her face as she finally got the substantial evidence she needed to link Richard and Hannah together. When we finally walked out of the police station where we had all met up, I felt lighter than I had for weeks and wondered if we were finally on the home straight. We had to leave it to all the professionals; apparently getting evidence admitted at such a late stage of the trial would be difficult but Emelia assured us she had some tricks up her sleeve.

“Do you have everything you need, Stix?” I ask poking my head around the door frame to our spare room. “Yeah, I think I am all good, Abs. Thanks again for this,” Stix replies soberly, her expression saying it all. I walk into the room and sit down on the double bed looking around. “This looks really lovely,” I say as I survey the transformation of our guest bedroom.  The plain grey walls now have a vast array of pictures hung up. A string of fairy lights has been wound around the headboard and every surface is littered with books, make-up and electronic gadgets. “Sorry for the mess, Abs. I am not quite finished getting this lot packed away.” Stix looks at me with apprehension, as if I am about to tell her off. “Don’t stress about it Stix. This is your room for as long as you need it. You don’t need to walk on eggshells, please. Make yourself at home. Tell me if there is

Today is the day; Hannah is going to be on the witness stand. My stomach churns every time I think of it. Taylor tried to dissuade me from attending, but I put my foot down this time. I need to look Hannah in the eye when she gets up and lies in court. I was so nervous the first time I walked into the courtroom to testify that I hadn’t taken much notice of my surroundings. But as I find my seat behind the large bench of barristers and solicitors for the Prosecution I take a good look around me. A large coat of arms sits above the judge’s chair which along with the dark wooden panelling gives the room an austere feel. We are still waiting for the judge to arrive, but I guess that it won’t be long as I see the far door open and the jurors are led in. It all feels a little surreal, like I am watching an episode of Law & Order: UK, as the judge enters and then finally Hannah is brought to the witness stand. I watch as she stands and makes her