_OceanofPDF.com_The_Girl_on_the_Train_-_Paula_Hawkins

ANNA
• • •
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2013
MORNING
I was with the National Childbirth Trust girls at Starbucks when it
happened. We were sitting in our usual spot by the window, the kids
were spreading Lego all over the floor, Beth was trying (yet again) to
persuade me to join her book club, and then Diane showed up. She had
this look on her face, the self-importance of someone who is about to
deliver a piece of particularly juicy gossip. She could barely contain
herself as she struggled to get her double buggy through the door.
“Anna,” she said, her face grave, “have you seen this?” She held up a
newspaper with the headline WAS MEGAN A CHILD KILLER? I was
speechless. I just stared at it and, ridiculously, burst into tears. Evie was
horrified. She howled. It was awful.
I went to the loos to clean myself (and Evie) up, and when I got back
they were all speaking in hushed tones. Diane glanced slyly up at me and
asked, “Are you all right, sweetie?” She was enjoying it, I could tell.
I had to leave then, I couldn’t stay. They were all being terribly
concerned, saying how awful it must be for me, but I could see it on their
faces: thinly disguised disapproval. How could you entrust your child to
that monster? You must be the worst mother in the world.
I tried to call Tom on the way home, but his phone just went straight
to voice mail. I left him a message to ring me back as soon as possible—
I tried to keep my voice light and even, but I was trembling and my legs
felt shaky, unsteady.
I didn’t buy the paper, but I couldn’t resist reading the story online. It
all sounds rather vague. “Sources close to the Hipwell investigation”
claim an allegation has been made that Megan “may have been involved
in the unlawful killing of her own child” ten years ago. The “sources”
also speculate that this could be a motive for her murder. The detective in