It’s only when I get outside and see the time on my phone that I realise the evening has flown by. It’s one thirty a.m. I apologise to the sitter and tell her we’ll be back soon and will make it up to her. Fortunately, she’s fine about it. I decide to leave the coffee and find Danny.
The clatter of roulette wheels spinning, followed by the bouncing of the ball as it finds its place, coupled with the screams of excitement, are giving me a headache. I’m about to phone Danny when I see him walking towards me.
‘Where have you been?’ I ask. ‘I was about to phone you.’
‘I’ve been trying to talk her into having a coffee, but she won’t have any of it,’ says Rupert.
‘It’s late, Danny,’ I say. ‘We should get home.’
We thank Rupert for his generosity, say goodnight, and make our exit.
‘I’ll be in touch,’ he says.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Josie. Following the kidnap.
‘Twenty minutes on your iPads, then homework,’ I say.
The boys groan in unison.
‘Yes, yes, I’m a terrible mother,’ I mutter.
Geoff’s gone to the pub for another darts match. I’m half-tempted to go down there myself, to see if thereisan actual match, but that would mean asking Marg next door to babysit, and anyway, I’m not in the mood for a public row with Geoff. More importantly, I don’t want to risk seeingher. His bit on the side. God forbid she’s slimmer or prettier than me.
I pour a glass of wine and collapse onto the couch with my book. I’ve barely made it through one chapter when the doorbell rings.
For some reason, I’m not surprised to see Gil on the doorstep. I have a sense that I’ve been expecting her. I don't recognise the woman beside her, but they both look dreadful. Eyes red and raw from crying.
‘Come in. You both look frozen,’ I say, stepping aside. ‘I’ve just opened a bottle of wine. Want some?’
‘This is Nicola,’ Gil says, nodding towards the other woman.
‘Hi,’ I say. ‘Make yourself at home. I’ll get the glasses.’
When I return, they’re both sitting rigidly, hands clenched. The nerves are practically bouncing off them. I hand each woman a glass of wine. Gil takes a long gulp.
‘You two okay? You look like you’ve had a shock.’
They glance at each other. Gil speaks first.
‘We, well… we’re unsure if we should go to the police. So we thought we’d ask your advice.’
I raise my eyebrows.
‘But youhavecome to the police, Gil. Iamthe police.’
Nicola sets her glass carefully onto the coffee table. ‘I’m the nanny for the Neal family. Joanna Neal, the surgeon,’ she says, her voice trembling. ‘She didn’t come home the other night and…’
She’s been kidnapped,’ says Gil, finishing the sentence for her.
I wasn’t expecting that. ‘Wait, how do you know this?’ I ask.
‘They contacted her husband, Daniel.’
This only confuses me more. ‘Then why hasn’thecalled us?’
Gil exhales heavily. ‘He thinks the police will come in all guns blazing.’
