I’ve been following him for weeks, hoping to catch him in the act. I know he’s the guy the police are after, I just need the proof before I call him in.

I’ve learnt so much about him, seen him do some disturbing stuff. Favourite colour? No idea. But his darkest secrets? Those I know well, oh, so well!

I’ve seen him litter, cuss out waiters, be just a generally horrible person. But I know there’s more to it than that.

I followed him into the woods this afternoon hoping to catch him in the act, hoping to maybe stop the crime before it happens, but I’ve been waiting here for hours and… nothing. He’s just sitting there looking out at the lake. Resting.

I wait until the early hours and he gets up and leaves and then I head home exhausted from a night of no sleep.

The radio blares into my ears, my husband has turned it on before he sets out for work. And it says that another body was found last night on the other side of town in the junkyard.

It can’t have been him, I watched him all night.

“Morning darling,” my husband approaches me with a kiss on the cheek, placing his arms gently around my waist.

“How was your night?” He asks and I tell him I was wrong. It wasn’t the guy I was convinced it was. He seems taken aback, but smiles warmly letting me go.

“You’ll catch the person responsible sweetie, I know you will.”

He trots back into the kitchen and I follow him in to find breakfast waiting for me. I take a seat at the table and he passes me a mug of coffee.

I thank him and then I catch something sticking out under his nails.

It’s gravel.