The Changeling (36 page)

‘You’re welcome, pet, I have free calls and texts, but it won’t be any good to you – ’tis one of those new ones, my daughter insisted on getting it for me – it’s impossible to . . .’

Aoife was already texting.

Hi Carla

Almost immediately, a text came back:

Who this?

A friend

I don’t have this number

Cos not my phone

Who IS this?

Aoife showed Shay the screen. He shook his head. She hesitated, then texted:

Carla I need to tell u something very weird

After a few seconds Carla replied:

About what

About Aoife

A bare second later:

i don’t know who this is but if u say one wrong word about my best friend who died i will find out who u r and u will be very really really incredibly sorry u exist on the same planet as me

Warmth flooded Aoife’s heart, and tears her eyes.

Carla I love u

Is this Killian

Aoife laughed, and wiped away the tears:

No sorry someone else who loves you

WHO IS THIS TELL ME NOW OR I WILL STOP ANSWERING YOU

There didn’t seem to be any easy way to do it. Biting her lip, she texted:

This is Aoife