Page 33 of The Vanished

“The scones are fresh out of the oven, my lady. And I’ll bring you extra clotted cream. I know how you like it.”

“Thank you,” Geneva said again.

Once Mrs. Lynley left, Geneva took out her copy of Vogue and studied the woman on the cover. She thought she could give the model a run for her money, especially if she purchased a similar frock and got some nail varnish.

She had just opened the magazine when a man she had never seen before entered the tearoom. He carried a traveling case and wore a rather dashing fedora that matched his camelhair coat. He smiled when he spotted her, then set down his case and removed his coat and hat. On any other day, Geneva would have looked away. But today she felt modern, and daring, ready for anything. So she shut the magazine and set it aside.

She had something more interesting to look at.

TWENTY-TWO

SEPTEMBER 2023

London

Once again Quinn was jolted out of the vision, and she dropped the earring. She had intentionally left her phone on, afraid to miss a call or text from Logan. It took her a moment to get her bearings but, once she was in the here and now, she lunged for the phone and answered the incoming call without bothering to check the caller ID.

“Mrs. Russell?” a female voice asked.

“Yes. Speaking.”

“Ruth Watley here.” Ruth’s voice was tense and shrill.

“Is Max all right?” Quinn exclaimed, instantly alarmed.

“Max is fine, but there was an incident, and I think it would be best if you came to collect him right away.”

“What sort of incident?”

Ruth inhaled sharply. “Someone tried to take Max. A woman. Naturally, we didn’t hand him over, but I have a mind to call the police.”

“Who was she? What did she say?”

“She said Mr. Wyatt had asked her to get him from the nursery.”

“Did she give a name?” Quinn asked, her own voice tense and shrill now.

“She did, yes. She said her name was Quinn Russell. She even had ID in your name.”

“Oh my God,” Quinn whispered. “Do you have an image of this woman?”

“We don’t take photos of individuals who come to collect the children.”

“But surely you have security cameras.”

A pause. “Yes, we do.”

“Then I will need a screenshot, Ms. Watley. I’m going to the police.”

Ruth sighed. “I will get you that screenshot. Now, please come and get Max. I’m very sorry to do this, but I think it would be best if he didn’t return until this situation is resolved. We cannot afford to endanger the other children or members of staff.”

Quinn experienced a flash of anger but managed to remain calm. Ruth Watley was doing the right thing, the only thing she could do under the circumstances. It was up to Quinn to figure out what was going on, but, before she did anything, she had to have eyes on Max.

“I’ll be right there, Ms. Watley,” she said. “Please, do not let Max out of your sight,” she added when she checked the clock. The children usually played outside for an hour after lunch, and she didn’t want Max to leave the building.

“I will keep him inside and wait with him in my office,” Ruth promised.

“Thank you.”