Page 245 of Fame & Chaos

I nod, although I am not sure I’m capable of being calm anymore.

The moment the doors open, I am down the stairs before anyone else has even unbuckled their seatbelt. I barely manage a hurried goodbye before sprinting toward the cab stand.

“Thornhill Road,” I tell the driver as I climb into the back seat.

During the drive, I try calling Indi again…

Voicemail.

I leave yet another message. “Baby, I’m back in London. I’m coming to see you. Please… just let me explain.”

The line disconnects.

Twenty minutes later, the cab pulls up outside her house.

Everything looks exactly the way I remember it.

Everything except one thing.

Her car isn’t there.

That’s okay.

She could be at work.

I’ll wait as long as I have to.

I pay the driver, hurry up the path, and knock firmly on the front door. Part of me expects Mrs. Latham to appear from next door, pretending not to be watching while listening to every word, but the curtains remain still.

I knock again.

A few moments later, the door opens.

“Indi, I promise I…” The words die in my throat.

A little girl, no older than five, stares up at me with curious blue eyes.

I blink. “Uh… hi.” I manage an awkward smile. “Is Indi home?”

She shakes her head. “Nope. Just me and Mummy.”

“Mummy?”

Footsteps sound from inside the house before a red-haired woman appears behind her, gently resting a hand on the little girl’s shoulder. “Can I help you?”

“Sorry,” I say quickly. “I’m looking for Indi. She… she lives here.”

Realization crosses the woman’s face. “Oh, right. We moved in about a week ago. The previous tenant moved out.”

The words hit me like a damn punch.

She left.

Again.

I swallow hard. “Did she leave a forwarding address?”

The woman gives me an apologetic smile, then shakes her head. “I’m sorry. No.”