Page 102 of The House Swap

‘Where is she?’ He sounded really pissed off.

‘I thought she was with you?’

‘What?’

‘Keira flew home last week,’ Poppy told him. She struggled to keep her voice from tipping into hysteria. ‘I wasn’t here when she left, but she messaged to say she’d had an emergency.’

‘An emergency?’ he repeated, sounding sceptical.

‘Yes. I haven’t spoken with her since. I thought she was with you.’

There was silence on the line and for a moment she thought the call had ended. But then she heard him clear his throat.

‘Don’t play games with me, Poppy. Where is she?’

‘I promise you, I’m telling you the truth.’

He hissed out a breath. ‘Then why the hell has she told me she needs to stay with you for longer! This isn’t bloody funny. I’ve had her new boss on the phone. He’s not happy that she’s taken more time off without getting it approved.’

So Keira hadn’t gone back to work either? Now Poppy was really worried.

‘I don’t where she is, but I swear she’s not here.’

‘Bollocks. I don’t believe you.’

She wasn’t getting through to him and it seemed he was only growing angrier.

‘I’m not a fool. You tell her that. And she’d better start replying to my messages too or there will be consequences.’

‘Greg! I’m not lying.’ Frustration was making the panic worse now and she drew in a deep breath trying to calm herself. ‘Keira’s not here,’ she insisted. ‘And now I’m really worried about her. If she’s not with you or with me, then where the hell is she?’

‘You tell me!’ There was still bluster in his words, but now she also heard uncertainty.

‘Should we call the police?’

‘What?’ He spoke the word as if she’d just said something really stupid. ‘Enough of this now, Poppy. Put her on the line.’

‘I can’t!’ Hysteria bubbled over now. ‘What part do you not understand? She’s not bloody here!’

There was more silence, then finally it seemed he was taking on board what she was saying. ‘You said she flew home last week?’

‘Yes. I can send you a screenshot of her message if you like.’

‘Fuck! So where do you think she is?’ There was a pause. ‘If that bitch is cheating on me.’

‘She’s not cheating on you!’ Poppy swallowed, needing courage before she voiced her next words. ‘What if something has happened to her?’ she whispered.

Greg laughed, but she heard the edge beneath it. ‘Don’t be stupid. This will be Keira playing games.’

‘She doesn’t play games, Greg. You know she doesn’t. Have you spoken to her parents?’

‘How the hell are they going to help? They’re in bloody Spain.’

‘Well, she might have contacted them or gone to see them,’ Poppy pointed out. ‘You should check.’

‘You know they don’t like me.’

‘Just talk to them. We need to find out if anyone has seen her. If they haven’t, then we have to involve the police.’