‘Actually,’ I said, ‘I’ve applied for some interior design jobs. I don’t have a degree in it or anything but maybe someone will take me on, let me start from the bottom or …’ I trailed off because Christopher had stopped in the middle of the path, his face cracking into a huge smile. ‘What?’
‘Ada, that’s fantastic.’
I bit my lip. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, absolutely.’
His excitement was contagious and before I could stop myself, I was smiling too. His reaction was what I’d come to expect: Christopher never put me down, never made me feel unworthy or stupid. ‘It feels strange to be doing these things … planning for the future and getting excited when Elodie’s still missing.’
‘It’s going to feel strange, Ada. She’s your sister and she’s missing. There’s no right or wrong way to deal with it.’
‘Thank you.’ We started walking again. ‘You know, you’re one of the only people who believes in me,’ I said, then held up my hand to stop his polite insistence to the contrary. ‘You think I’m bright and capable and tenacious. You make me want to be the woman you see.’
He stopped again. The park was quiet and still. He came close, until there was barely a breath between us. I inhaled him – fresh pine and man. I’d always loved his smell, it brought with it memories of his naked skin against mine. Our eyes locked. Despite the wintery chill, heat rolled through my body. ‘You are that woman.’
His gaze travelled slowly to my lips. His hand went to my waist, then slid to the small of my back. We wanted to kiss. It would be a good kiss. But my heart was still bruised, and Ethan’s side of the bed still lukewarm. Reluctantly, I stepped back. It was like leaving the warmest bed I’d ever known. But my god, I wanted him.
Christopher cleared his throat and looked away. ‘I should take everything you gave me to the station.’
‘Sure,’ I said. ‘Absolutely.’
His eyes lingered on my face a moment longer, trying to work me out. I slammed the door shut on my feelings and stared impassively back. ‘Okay,’ he said eventually, disappointment thick in his voice. ‘I’ll speak to you later.’
Then he turned and I watched him go.
Chapter Fifty
161 Days Missing
Adaline Archer
I woke early, my heart pounding in my chest, gripped by anxiety. I dreamt of you trapped in that cottage, screaming for help and though I could hear you, I couldn’t find you. I stumbled from room to room, pushing doors open, spilling into darkness, yelling your name.
I forced myself to sit and eat breakfast but felt so sick, I threw half of it away. As soon as I was showered and dressed, I called Christopher.
‘Have you got a warrant?’ I asked by way of greeting.
‘I’ve submitted the evidence.’
‘Now what?’
‘We wait.’
‘Can’t. I need to do something. I need to go there.’
He groaned. ‘Ada …’
‘I do,’ I said, marching into the hallway and pulling on my walking boots. ‘Now. Right now.’
‘Do not go to that cottage.’
But I already knew that was exactly what I was going to do. I grabbed my jacket and keys.
‘I mean it,’ he warned.
‘My sister is in that cottage. I know it.’ I took my bag and left the house. ‘I’m going to get her.’
‘Ada, be serious, if Jack is as dangerous as we think he is, going there is the worst idea. It’s—’
I hung up and slid into my car.
Wisteria is only an hour and forty minutes away from Crosshaven but, with ice on the ground, it took closer to two hours before I was climbing the hill towards the house. Then, suddenly fearing Jack might be at the cottage, I slowed and looked for a break in the trees; I couldn’t risk Jack hearing the car then looking out the window and seeing me coming. I swung into the woods, parking only five minutes’ walk from Wisteria. My car would only be seen if you were looking for it.
It was getting dark already, the sky was thick with cloud cover. As I neared the house, I tasted the salty air, heard the roiling sea, the crash of waves tumbling against the cliff face.
The house came into view, seeming to rise from the earth as I crested the hill. Winter had banished the lilac plumes of wisteria, leaving only the skeletal remains of branches clinging to the stonework. When I saw Jack’s car parked on the driveway, my heart raced. He was there because you were there. I made sure to stay close to the treeline in case I was spotted. If Jack did kill Jeffrey, he wouldn’t think twice about throwing me off the side of the cliff.