Part of me wants to ditch this wild goose chase, turn tail and head back to the air-conditioned safety of the villa, to the steadying presence of Maria and the armed officer on the door.But the other part – the bloody-minded part that refuses to take being a murder suspect lying down – keeps me putting one foot in front of the other.
Bring it on.
I’m breathing heavily when the lighthouse looms into sight, so I slow my pace until it’s back under control. But my heart’s still banging in my chest, like it’s trying to make a break for freedom, adrenaline zipping through my veins like an electric current.
‘Hello?’ I call. My voice comes out reedy and uncertain, betraying my nerves.
No one answers.
After a quick glance behind me, I walk around the back of the lighthouse. The sound of the waves is louder here as they crash into the rocks below. I peer over the edge of the cliffs, experiencing the same wave of dizziness at the vertiginous drop as I did last time. There’s not a goat in sight today. I am completely alone.
I tramp back round to the front, stand in the sliver of shade offered by the flight of stone steps that leads to the main door of the lighthouse, kicking myself for my stupidity as I realise not only did the note make no mention of time, I’ve no clue when it was stuffed under my door.
I have no idea what time I’m meant to be here.
All I can do is wait.
And then, from somewhere behind me, I hear the scrape of a shoe against the baked earth.
I freeze.
I’m not alone after all.
65
AMBER
The sound comes again and I twist round, squinting into the dazzling glare of the sun.
For a moment, all I can see is the white wall of the lighthouse and the heat shimmering above the path.
Then a figure steps into view.
Simone.
Her hair is loose around her shoulders, and sunglasses hide her eyes. The last time I saw Simone, she was admitting to Dominic that she was framing me for her husband’s murder. Now she’s claiming she wants to help me. It makes no sense…
‘You got my note,’ she says, her voice clipped.
I nod.
‘What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?’
‘No.’ I drag the word out.
‘The police didn’t see you leave the villa?’
‘No. I went out the back and climbed down to Villa Olympus from the terrace.’
‘Good.’ She nods.
‘Why are we here, Simone? You said you could help me. How?’
‘When I said I could help, I might not have been telling thewholetruth.’ Her lips curve, and dread twists inside me.
‘What d’you mean?’
‘Dominic saw you on the balcony last night. I don’t know what you think you heard, but I’m here to tell you you’re wrong.’
