Page 81 of The Jealous Girl

I frowned, reached for my pen and added another question to the list.

‘Kirsty,’ Ryan said as he poked his head through the doorway. ‘I’ve got to head out. Looking at a new horse this morning. Might be a while. Don’t wait for me for lunch, okay?’

Disappointment flickered within me, but I smiled and nodded. ‘Okay.’

He turned to go.

‘Hey, Ryan,’ I called quickly. ‘Have you seen Ben this morning?’

A flash of agitation passed across Ryan’s face, but he didn’t respond.

‘He’s usually here by now,’ I added, lifting my notepad with a small laugh. ‘If he doesn’t hurry up, this list is going to double.’

‘He quit,’ Ryan said flatly.

I blinked. ‘What?’

Ryan shrugged. ‘Left yesterday.’

A wave of panic hit me and I glanced back at the computer screen. How was I going to figure all this out without him?

I turned back to Ryan.

‘Did he leave a number? A message? Anything?’

Ryan’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘You don’t have his number already?’

I shook my head. ‘No. Why would I?’

‘We’ll have it in the records,’ he said. ‘But you can’t use it. Data protection.’

‘Right,’ I said quietly. ‘Of course.’

He turned to leave again.

‘Did he say why?’ I asked.

Ryan paused. He looked impatient to get going and I was delaying him.

‘I just thought he loved it here, you know, working with the horses, gaining experience for his course…’

Ryan shrugged. ‘Guess there was nothing keeping him here.’

His gaze dropped to the second cup of coffee cooling on my desk. ‘I didn’t realise you two were so close.’

‘We’re friends,’ I said slowly, wondering how true that was now. ‘He’s been helping me.’

‘And you’re here to help me,’ Ryan said with a hint of bitterness to his tone as he walked out.

‘Hi,’ I called, stepping into the flat and kicking off my shoes. ‘Hope you’re hungry, I picked up⁠—’

I stopped in the doorway.

Ryan sat at the table, fork halfway to his mouth.

‘You’re eating without me.’

He gave a little shrug. ‘Yeah, wasn’t sure what time you’d be home, so…’ He popped the fork into his mouth.