The Ghost Writer by Jessica Matthews A Doppler Press Book and eBook Sierra wanted Todd to understand her, inside and out, before letting him write her life story. The transformation took months and in the end, who had Todd become?

‘But why did you choose me?’ Todd asked.

‘I wanted you because you don’t do celebrities, but you do write well for women. I could read the empathy in your heart when I went through your cuttings. It’s better to come with me on the journey through my life. Feel it with me, and get that onto the page.’

‘It’s a tall order.’

‘We can do it together.’ Sierra stood, still holding his hand.

He followed her to the door and they stepped through to the terrace. She turned to him once more. He allowed himself to look at her closely, directly for the first time. Her age showed through the make up, but she was still a beautiful woman.

‘We can do it, Todd.’ She grasped his other hand and stood with excitement showing. He could see her as the ingénue he’d started to research. ‘Just trust me.’

* * * * *

‘How’s our boy doing?’ Adele asked.

‘Not bad,’ Sierra replied. ‘I think he’s getting so used to being here, he’s not left the place for a week.’

‘Did you give him all the contract details?’ She looked up from the printout that Sierra had asked her to read.

‘Yes, he made no comment at all,’ Sierra replied. ‘He’s happy for an indefinite contract with a non-disclosure clause. He argued a bit, but I told him that it was only meant to conceal anything that I specifically excluded from the book. He could talk about the process of writing it and so on.’

‘He seems to be falling into your web so easily.’ Adele looked at her directly.

‘My web.’ She gave a look of mock horror. ‘My dear, I have no idea what you mean.’

‘Of course you don’t,’ she chided gently. ‘Just because he’s living in the most feminine room you could ever have created, and all of it in a suitable size, there’s no plot at all.’

‘I like nice things,’ Sierra said innocently. ‘I had nowhere else to store them.

‘With all the new tags removed carefully,’ Adele reminded her.

‘You think far too much. I’m not at all devious.’

‘Devious you may be, but I know what you’re thinking,’ Adele replied. ‘You want to play out an old idea of yours.’

‘The Girl Who Never Was,’ Sierra said. ‘It was a good story.’

‘And I guess under all this stuff about writing for posterity, you want to create her.’

‘Is it so wrong? I thought it would be amusing.’ Sierra could look so innocent. ‘Please help me, it could be such fun.’

‘I don’t know why I’m agreeing to this.’ Adele frowned and paused. ‘Okay, I’m in. I’ll help you. Just as long as you promise not to do any harm.’

‘That thought never crossed my mind.’

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