His words implied sexual advance, the look on his face implied threat. We both understood he was stronger than me and if he chose to, he could take whatever he wanted. I wasn’t brave enough to call him out on it though. ‘A tour would’ve been lovely, Jack, but Ethan and all the other guests are probably wondering where I am,’ I said to remind him we weren’t alone.
He stood so still; unease crawled across my skin, leaving little goosebumps in its wake. He reminded me of one of those coiled vipers you see on nature documentaries, right before it strikes, sinking its fangs into the little mouse’s body. I was tempted to ask questions: how did he know David Taylor? Had he disclosed it to the police? Was he in on your fake book deal? But the urge to get away from him prevailed. ‘Anyway,’ I said. ‘I’ll see you downstairs.’
I was desperate to leave the bathroom, but my back was to the door, and I didn’t want to take my eye off him, not even for a second. I backed up a little, reaching behind me for the handle, then I whipped around to open it.
‘Ada.’ I froze as I felt the heat of his body pressed against my back. ‘You forgot your bag.’
I found I could hardly breathe as I took my Chanel from him. I always knew Jack was possessive and confrontational, and though I suspected he was involved in your disappearance, I didn’t view him as dangerous. Not until I was trapped in a small space with him. But he is. I felt it.
As I hurried down the stairs to rejoin the safety of the party, I feared for you.
I messaged Christopher asking him to meet me on the corner of Jack’s street. I didn’t want to ring him in case someone at the party, or Jack himself, overheard. I was so eager to tell Christopher about Jack and David, I couldn’t come up with a feasible excuse for my leaving, so I went without telling anyone. Outside, it was bitter, and I hadn’t thought to grab my coat, so I was grateful when I saw Christopher idling on the corner.
‘Wow, Ada, you look …’ he said as I climbed inside.
‘They know each other,’ I blurted. ‘Jack and David know each other.’ I glanced over my shoulder, paranoid Jack had followed me out. ‘Can you start driving so we can talk about this?’
Christopher pulled away from the curb. ‘Jack told you this – that he knows David?’
‘Of course not. In his study is a photograph of the two of them together.’
He frowned. ‘Jack might be brazen, but displaying a photograph of him and your sister’s captor cosying up together isn’t smart. You sure about this, Ada?’
‘They aren’t cosying up. It’s a team photo of Crosshaven RFC taken when Jack played there ten years ago. In the background David is carrying a toolbox. You said he’s a handyman, well he must’ve worked for the rugby club.’
‘This doesn’t prove—’
‘He lied. Jack said he’d never met David. He’s lying.’
‘Or Jack didn’t come across the club’s handyman,’ he wagered. ‘Can you name or even describe any of the cleaning staff from your secondary school?’
I pressed my lips together. ‘No.’
‘There you go.’
Christopher’s phone rang and he slowed.
‘What’re you doing?’
‘It could be work,’ he said.
‘You’re off duty, it can wait.’ I knew I was being demanding but I finally had some evidence that Jack is a liar. If I’d known then how important that call was, I’d have answered it myself. ‘Jack paid David to follow and abduct my sister. David doesn’t know it was Jack, but it was.’
‘Jack doesn’t strike me as the type to share.’
‘He doesn’t have to. Now David’s single-handedly taken the blame, Jack has Elodie all to himself.’ His phone sounded again. ‘This has all been about Jack getting close to my sister. Mum told me after Elodie realised she was being followed, she stayed with Jack a lot but knowing him, that wasn’t enough, so he took it further. You said if I could prove Jack and David knew each other, you’d take a closer look at Jack.’
He nodded. ‘Where’s the photo?’
‘In his study. I wanted to get a picture of it, but I left my phone in the bathroom and then Jack found me and—’
He glanced sharply in my direction. ‘If you’re right and Jack has something to do with Elodie’s disappearance, he could hurt you, Ada.’
I shifted in my seat because I knew he was right. ‘I’m being careful. Look, drop me back off at the house and I’ll run in and grab the picture.’