Running

Why were things going wrong on the film set? Ellie thought she had the answer

- Geraldine Ryan

THE STORY SO FAR

Graduate Ellie cancels a job interview in order to accept a position as a runner on a film set. She doesn't tell her mum, who she knows will be disappointed. On set at a Cambridge college, Ellie recognises one of the extras. Ellie is convinced the girl is Jackie Atkins, someone Ellie knew at school who hung around with popular Maxine Slater. Back then, Jackie was charged with arson. However, Ben, the production assistant, knows the extra as Sienna. As well as bad school memories, Ellie also recalls a moment of kindness. When Ellie was upset and hiding in a toilet cubicle, someone pushed a tissue under the door. Now, Ellie suspects Jackie is responsible for delays that are holding up filming. Ellie also suspects that Jackie recognised her too and punctured her bicycle tyres. When Ellie learns that the movie's director is Richie Slater - Maxine's father she wonders if there is a link to Jackie's presence on set.

It was already getting dark by the time an exhausted Ellie arrived home. She needed food, a shower and her bed. But she knew she'd be unable to rest until she resolved the issue that was taking up so much headspace. Namely, what was the full story behind Jackie Atkins, her arrest for arson and – if she remembered correctly – her imprisonment for the crime?

There was one person she could call who might know the whole story. Her closest friend from school, Laura. But they hadn't spoken in ages. Wouldn't Laura find it odd to get a call from Ellie after such a long silence?

What if she didn't answer when she saw it was Ellie calling? Who could blame her? After all, it was Ellie who had allowed their friendship to fizzle out. After starting uni, she was the one who would forget to reply to Laura's messages.

Only her mum stayed in contact with Laura. These days, it was via Mum that Ellie heard snippets of news – such as Laura's recent engagement to someone she'd met at uni.