Page 109 of The Jealous Girl

Too quickly.

‘He came to see me last night. He was shaken up by what had happened. And⁠—’

I hesitated.

Was I telling them too much?

‘And…?’ PC Day said.

‘He said he missed me.’ I shrugged helplessly.

Even now it felt strange.

The way he’d left me.

The way he’d shut me out.

And then the way he’d come back.

‘And how did you feel about that?’

I let out a deep breath. ‘It was unexpected. And to be honest, confusing.’

‘But you didn’t seem confused when we entered the stables. The two of you looked very close.’

‘I came to talk to him, to figure out what was going on, if this is really something he wants. Something I want. I wasn’t expecting him to…’ I stared at my hand, flexing my fingers, recalling the feel of his touch.

‘But with Charlotte gone, there’s no reason for the two of you not to be together any more.’

‘It wasn’t just Charlotte that came between us,’ I said flatly. ‘Her death doesn’t miraculously solve all of our problems.’

‘But it solves some of them?’

I shifted uncomfortably. ‘I don’t understand why you are asking me these questions.’

‘We’re building a timeline,’ PC Grove said. ‘Trying to understand Charlotte’s movements. Her state of mind.’

‘Her state of mind?’ I blinked. ‘What would that have to do with an accident?’

‘Do you have any idea why Charlotte would have been riding at Ballard Down?’

‘Ballard Down?’ I repeated. ‘I thought she rode closer to the stables.’

‘Yes, that did seem to be her usual pattern. It’s intriguing why she would suddenly vary her route.’

I nodded.

It was.

It was also intriguing that Ryan hadn’t mentioned it last night.

No wonder they’d had difficulty finding her when she hadn’t returned. She wasn’t riding where anyone would expect her to be.

But why?

‘We’ll be in touch if we have any further questions,’ PC Grove said. ‘It’s just procedure,’ he added, when I looked surprised.

But something about the way his gaze lingered on me a little too long told me this was more than just procedure.