‘To be honest, though,’ Edie went on, ‘I’m properly anxious now. I know Jessica’s very independent but as far as I can tell, she hasn’t opened any of my messages. We’re going to have to call the police.’
Mac’s eye twitched. ‘That’s a bit over the top, don’t you think? I mean, she’s only been officially missing one night.’
He wrapped his arms round his chest, as if he was giving himself a hug. ‘Have you tried her again this morning?’
Edie nodded. ‘No answer.’
‘But the phone was working OK? It rang normally?’
‘Yes.’
‘Well then, she’s probably just decided to have a break from it. Some people do that, you know. A friend of mine turns his off completely every Sunday. He says it helps him relax and it’s good for the family as well as his mental health.’
He sounded so utterly convinced by his own argument, Edie didn’t bother to dispute it. He’d failed to calm her nerves, however.
When Hannah joined them in the garden half an hour or so later, she and Edie agreed they couldn’t possibly go to Sweetwater Beach or anywhere, in fact, until they knew Jessica was safe.
It was hard just trying to sit still. Both women kept getting up and pacing round the patio, until Mac told them to stop, as they were putting him more on edge, too.
Edie was relieved when Ralph finally made it downstairs at around 10a.m. His calm, steady manner helped to settle her mind a little, but he could tell she and Hannah were in a mess.
‘Pass the coffee, will you?’ he asked Edie, before pouring himself a large cup.
He took a swig then sat back with his legs apart, one ankle resting on the other knee.
‘Right,’ he said purposefully, reaching in his pocket for his mobile. ‘I’ve had enough of this.’
Edie swallowed. ‘What are you going to do?’ Her voice sounded oddly high-pitched.
‘Ring her,’ Ralph replied. ‘What’s her number?’
Edie read it out to him and he pressed the digits. When there was no reply yet again, his eyes darkened and his sandy brows moved so close together, they almost met in the middle.
Swiftly, he tapped out a WhatsApp message, which Edie asked to see.
We’re all very worried about you. Please get in touch immediately. Ralph.
Edie looked over her husband’s shoulder while he checked if the message had been delivered, which it had. But the two ticks, which went blue if it had been read, failed to light up. ‘I think she’s playing games with us,’ Mac said suddenly, and they all turned to look at him. He was fiddling with the teaspoon he’d used to stir his coffee.
‘What do you mean?’ Edie wanted to know.
‘I mean, I believe she’s extremely manipulative. She’s used to getting her own way and she can’t stand it when she doesn’t. She’s really put out and this is her way of getting revenge.’
Edie placed her elbows on the table and rested her chin in her hands. She was staring at Mac, struggling to read him, as if he was a book written in a foreign language.
‘So, are you saying you think she’s gone into hiding and this is all deliberate? She wants us to be worried sick. She’s trying to get even? But why would she be put out? We haven’t done anything wrong. Also, that’s very dark. You make her sound like a pantomime villain. She might be selfish, but she’s notthatbad.’
‘It’s ridiculous,’ Hannah added, fixing on her husband, too. ‘Just because you’ve taken against her doesn’t mean she’s evil. I think you’re jealous because she’s cleverer than you – and she and I get on really well.’ She jabbed a finger at him, making him recoil. ‘You hate that, don’t you?’
Edie shivered, wishing Hannah would stop now, but she was only just getting into her stride.
‘You’re threatened by it,’ Hannah went on. ‘You tried to stop me being friends with her from the word go. In fact, you’d love it if I had no friends at all, maybe just Edie because she’s your friend, too. You want me all on my own, isolated and miserable.’
Edie swallowed and she noticed Ralph was shaking slightly. She scarcely breathed, waiting on tenterhooks for Mac to retaliate. Instead, though, he rose abruptly and stalked towards the villa without uttering a word.
There was silence for a moment while they all digested what had happened.
‘Does he really try and stop you having friends?’ Edie asked at last in a small voice.
