A. L. Bird

Don’t Say a Word


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       A happy child.

      Every parent knows the world can be scary. Lawyer Jen Sutton knows it better than most. And she’ll go to any length to protect her son from what – and who – lies outside their front door.

       A loving mother.

      Some might say she’s being over-protective. But isn’t it a mother’s duty to protect her child from harm?

       A family built on a lie.

      Jen has kept her secrets safe. Until the postcard arrives, signed by the one person she hoped would never catch up with her… and her new case begins to feel a little too close to home.

      One thing is clear: Jen has been found.

      Now, she faces a choice. Run, and lose everything? Or fight – and risk her son discovering the truth.

       Don’t Say a Word is the electrifying new psychological thriller from AL Bird, perfect for fans of CL Taylor and Sue Fortin.

       Don’t Say a Word

      A. L. Bird

      ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

       Contents

       Cover

       Blurb

       Title Page

       Author Bio

       Acknowledgements

       Chapter 10

       Chapter 11

       Chapter 12

       Chapter 13

       Chapter 14

       Chapter 15

       Chapter 16

       Chapter 17

       Chapter 18

       Chapter 19

       Chapter 20

       Chapter 21

       Chapter 22

       Chapter 23

       Chapter 24

       Chapter 25

       Chapter 26

       Chapter 27

       Chapter 28

       Chapter 29

       Chapter 30

       Chapter 31

       Chapter 32

       Chapter 33

       Chapter 34

       Chapter 35

       Chapter 36

       Chapter 37

       Chapter 38

       Chapter 39

       Chapter 40

       Chapter 41

       Chapter 42

       Epilogue

       Copyright

       A. L. BIRD

      lives in London, where she divides her time between writing and working as a lawyer. In 2016, she released her major psychological thriller The Good Mother, and she returns to the genre with Don’t Say a Word. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London, and is also an alumna of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course. Amy is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association. For updates on her writing follow her on Twitter, @ALBirdwriter.

      I remain hugely grateful to everyone who has helped bring this novel – and those before it – into the world.

      My long-time editor Clio Cornish, whose encouragement, honesty and insight gets those first drafts into shape; my stalwart agent Amanda Preston of LBA for those flashes of creative genius that can really draw a book together; my husband for tolerating all the late-night plot conundrums (and to both him and my son for providing the light outside the dark world of thrillers); to the bloggers and readers who cheered me on – who knew how much the occasional tweet could do for a writer’s day! – your support means so much to me. Thank you.

      I’d also like to mention a couple of the many charities who do valuable and important work in the worlds where Jen finds herself: Centrepoint, who give homeless young people a future; and Refuge, who support women and children against domestic violence. This novel may impact readers’ minds – their work can save people’s lives.

      The doorbell rings. Josh runs towards it.

      ‘No, wait, sweetie, remember!’ I shout after him.

      ‘It’s fine, Mum, it’ll just be the postman!’

      ‘No, Josh, let me!’

      I run up behind him. But he’s already taking off the chain, opening the door. Please let it be the postman.

      Yes, it is. False alarm. I see the retreating uniform of a blue shirt and baseball cap. Stop, beating heart. Not every morning is a drama. I kiss Josh on the forehead.

      ‘OK, Josh, it was the postman. But next time it might not be, all right? So let me open the door.’

      I