Anybody But Him by Claire Baxter

then, at least she could do what she’d come into the bathroom to do.
    As she brushed her teeth she wondered how long it would be before anybody would miss her and come looking for her. Would she become a news story – another of those unfortunate people she read about, lying undiscovered in their home for weeks after their demise? No, of course not. Someone would miss her before then. And she had water; it wasn’t as if she was stranded out in the desert. Her parents? Well, they might notice that she hadn’t been to see them after a few days. But there was Lainey, of course. She’d definitely come looking for her if she didn’t show up at work, or she couldn’t make contact by phone.
    If this had happened in Sydney, there’d be no one there at all who’d make the effort to call around to her apartment to see if she was all right. They’d try to reach her by text message or email to see if she was up for a night out, and if they received no response, they’dforget about her and move on with their lives.
    The thought gave her a hollow feeling in her stomach that wasn’t hunger, despite the lack of breakfast. Shouldn’t there be someone in Sydney who cared enough to come looking for her? She’d lived there long enough.
    Okay, now she was getting depressed. Time to stop thinking like this. A shower would be a good distraction, but she was wary of missing the neighbours and she looked in disgust at the only towel in the bathroom– a hand towel, because she hadn’t done the laundry yet. Then she heard a noise outside. She paused, listening, and there it was again. A dog. Yapping. She listened again, and heard footsteps crunching across the gravel in her direction. Human footsteps.
    â€˜ Help! I need help!’ she shouted, clambering onto the edge of the bath. ‘Can you hear me? I’m locked in the bathroom.’
    There was a silence, followed by some very male, and very familiar, laughter. She dug her nails into her palms.
    â€˜Nicki?’
    â€˜It’s Nicola , yes.’
    â€˜You’re really locked in the bathroom? This is priceless.’
    Why him? Why couldn’t somebody else have come to her rescue? Anybody else.
    â€˜Nicki? Are you still there?’
    â€˜Well, I’m not going anywhere, am I? I told you, I’m locked in.’
    â€˜Now, now, be nice or I’ll have to turn around and leave.’
    â€˜All right, all right. I’m nice.’
    He laughed. ‘That I don’t believe.’
    Indignant, she said, ‘Are you going to help me out or what?’
    â€˜Yes, I’m going to help you. Calm down. Okay, I’ll look for a way into the house.’
    â€˜Just don’t break anything.’ She could imagine him being all macho, breaking down the front door, biceps bulging …
    Oh, good lord, probably better not to think about that.
    Before long she heard movement in the house, and then Blair sniffing at the gap beneath the door– well, no, it was probably Dammit who was sniffing. But then Blair’s voice came to her from right outside the door. ‘Nicki? Are you okay?’
    â€˜What do you think could have happened in the five minutes since you spoke to me? Will you just get on with it?’
    â€˜There’s no door handle.’
    â€˜Oh, really? I hadn’t noticed. I was wondering why I couldn’t open the door.’
    â€˜You know, it’s really tempting to leave you in there.’ After a pointed pause, he said, ‘Do you have any tools in the house?’
    â€˜You mean, does Una have any tools? I’ve no idea.’
    â€˜I’ll have a look in the shed.’
    A short time later, the lock rattled and clicked, and the door swung open. Blair filled the space, grinning. Then his smile faded, and the look in his eyes changed.
    Once again, she was wearing sleepwear that barely covered the essentials, while he – because the universe had something