I wait, irritation mounting, as she swallows her tea and places the cup carefully back on its saucer. ‘But they’re blind, you see.’
‘Blind?’
‘To what’s going on in this town.’
I move forwards in my seat expectantly. ‘And what is going on, exactly?’
‘There are forces at work. Unseen forces. Those stones were built on ley lines and they evoke a very powerful energy. Bad things throughout history have taken place at those stones. Sacrifices, rituals.’
I swallow my disappointment. I thought she was going to tell me something factual, not a load of mumbo-jumbo about ley lines and bad energy.
‘Drink up, dear,’ she says, waving her arms in my direction, her bracelets clinking.
For a wild moment I wonder if she’s drugged my tea, then tell myself not to be so ridiculous. This isn’t a TV drama and she’s not some badly disguised villain. I take a sip. It tastes of aniseed and isn’t entirely unpleasant.
‘So what did you tell the police back then?’ I ask, trying to get her back on track. ‘What exactly was in the cards?’
‘A man with a scar.’
I sit up, adrenalin pumping. ‘What about a man with a scar?’ Had Olivia told this woman about him or had Madame Tovey really ‘seen it’ in the cards?
‘He’s still here. I can feel his presence.’ She touches a ruby brooch on her chest. ‘He’s the key to why those girls went missing.’
‘And this is what you told the police?’
‘Yes. Just after the accident.’
‘Do you know his name?’
‘Sadly not.’
‘And did you ever see him yourself, around town?’
She shakes her head. A tendril comes away from her bun and hangs over her high cheekbone.
‘And … the girls,’ I say dreading the answer. ‘Do you know what happened to them?’
‘Only that they are here. They are still here.’ She tucks the loose hair behind her ear.
I inhale sharply. ‘Are you sure?’
‘It’s what the cards have told me.’
‘Do you mean they’re still here on this earth? Or here in Stafferbury?’
‘Why, in Stafferbury, of course. They’ve always been here.’
She sips her tea. Is she mad? Or a fantasist? Or a bit of both? Or – the tea is hot at the back of my throat – does she mean they’re dead and buried here? ‘And what about the man with the scar?’
‘He’s still here too, like I said. And, as I’ve said before, everyone just needs to open their eyes.’ She places the teacup back in its saucer. ‘Do you understand what I’m saying?’
‘Not really. The man with the scar was apparently following Olivia before the accident.’
‘Yes, he was. She wasn’t lying about that.’
I feel a thud of disappointment. So she has spoken to Olivia. Have they concocted this tale between them? Did Olivia hope that if she told Madame Tovey she was being followed and asked her to back it up to the police she might be believed? How well did they know each other back then?
I ask this question. ‘Oh, not very well. Not then. Obviously now I see her a lot because her boyfriend lives above this place. Not that he’s there much.’
I remember what Olivia told me last night about the shoebox. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Aye, it’s none of my business. Just that he comes and goes at all hours.’
‘Do you live here, then? In the shop?’
‘In the back there,’ she says. ‘Nice little studio. Suits me perfectly. Here,’ she reaches over and takes my hand, ‘let me read your cards. I’ll do it for free.’
My heart sinks. I don’t want to be rude so I go along with it. She drops my hand, picks up the stack of tarot cards and deals them out in front of her. The Death card comes up first. Of course it does. She sees me looking at it. ‘It’s not what you think it is,’ she says, smiling widely and showing all her teeth. ‘The Death card isn’t a bad thing. It means new beginnings. Renewal.’ I think of Gavin and the end of our marriage, and a lump forms in my throat. ‘You’re going through something painful right now but it will be okay, my dear. You’ll come out the other end and things will be better.’ She pats my hand before pulling out another card. The Lovers. ‘Ooh, this is interesting,’ she says. ‘New relationships. You have a choice to make.’
I swallow. I don’t know if I want to be doing this any more. I push back my chair and get up. ‘Thanks,’ I say, gathering up my bag. ‘It’s really kind of you but I need to be going now.’
‘You’re afraid,’ she says calmly. ‘And that’s fine, Jenna. But you need to face your fears. You mustn’t be scared of change.’
‘I’m not here to talk about myself,’ I say, backing away from her. ‘I’m here to find out about the man with the scar and the missing girls …’
‘The Lovers,’ she says, with a sigh. ‘This card isn’t just about you.’
I frown. Now this is interesting. ‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s how it all started. It’s the crux of the whole thing.’
A swell of frustration rolls through me. I don’t want to hear riddles. If she knows something why doesn’t she just tell me? ‘And what is that?’
‘I’m just the vessel, my dear. I don’t know what it all means. I’m just telling you what’s in the cards. That’s all.’
I stare at her, feeling more confused than when I came in. ‘Okay, so let’s get this right. You’re saying the man with the scar is back in Stafferbury and he has something to do with the three missing girls.’
‘He has everything to do with the missing three.’
‘And the Lovers card. It’s important because?’
‘They started the whole thing off. But, again, I know nothing more than that. I just know they are intrinsic to this whole sorry affair.’
‘Right. Fine. Thanks, you’ve been very helpful.’
She raises an eyebrow at me. ‘Open your mind, Jenna. Allow yourself to believe that there are some things that are just inexplicable.’
I fold my arms across my chest. ‘And what about Ralph Middleton? Is his death linked as well?’
‘Oh, yes, I should say so.’
As I’m packing up she adds, so quietly I can hardly hear her, ‘Don’t trust anyone. That’s what the cards are warning you, Jenna. Everyone is lying.’
40
Olivia
The horses are still in the field. Olivia frowns. There is a lesson at 11 a.m. and three of the horses need to be brought in. Her mother should have done it ages ago. She feels a tug of guilt. She should have been here to help. Her mother isn’t getting any younger.
She swallows her anxiety. She needs to face whatever her mother will tell her about her father.
Olivia checks the little shed they use for the office but it’s empty so she goes to the tack room at the other end of the yard to see if her mother is there. When that’s empty too she begins to worry. Her mother’s Land Rover is in the driveway. She must be in the house. As she’s making her way through the gate her mobile buzzes. She reaches for it, thinking it will be her mum, but Wesley’s name flashes up. He never usually calls her from work.