Page 58 of The Vanished

“Mum, we went to the spooky island,” Mia exclaimed as soon as Gabe and the children rounded the side of the house and saw Quinn sitting on the deck.

“But Sam and Reggie said it isn’t safe,” Quinn replied, her gaze instantly going to Gabe, who deftly avoided answering as he followed Max, who had to pee, into the house. Alex and Mia went inside too.

“We didn’t go into the ruin,” Emma said. “The fish weren’t biting, and Mia and Max got restless, so Dad rowed over to the island. There’s a tumbledown chapel with a crypt.” She looked excited. “There were still bodies in there until a few years ago. Of the nuns who lived on the island and were murdered by the men who sacked the abbey.”

“How do you know that?”

“Sam told us. And the chapel was used to smuggle drugs.”

“By the nuns?” Quinn asked.

“No, Mum. By a local drug gang. This was like two years ago, during the pandemic.”

“And Sam told you all that?”

“Yeah, when we went to borrow some fishing poles.”

“I didn’t know you liked fishing.”

“What else is there to do?” Emma exclaimed in frustration. “I can’t talk to my friends or go on Insta.”

“I got you that book.”

“I’m done with it,” Emma said.

“You finished it already?”

Emma nodded. “Last night. I needed something to take my mind off things.”

It was only then that Quinn understood how worried Emma really was. She didn’t know how to verbalize her fears, but they were bubbling just beneath the surface, and she needed answers. They all did.

“Where’s my dad?” Max wailed. “I want my dad.”

He’d come outside and was standing before Quinn, his face turned up to hers and his hands balled into fists. She thought he might be gearing up for a tantrum. Gabe appeared in the doorway but didn’t try to reason with Max. Quinn thought he was probably worn out after spending hours with the kids and only wanted a few moments of quiet.

“He’ll be back soon. But Uncle Jude is coming,” Quinn announced brightly.

“He is?”

Some of the anger seemed to go out of Max’s stance, and his hands relaxed. He looked to Emma for confirmation, and she smiled and nodded.

“He’ll be here tomorrow,” Quinn said.

“Will my dad be back by then?”

Quinn and Gabe shared a look over Max’s head. Gabe’s eyes asked if Quinn had learned anything at the police station, and she shook her head a little to let him know that she hadn’t.

“This is such a nightmare!” Emma cried. She had intercepted the looks and had come to her own conclusions. She stomped off, and Quinn heard her slam the bedroom door.

“What’s a nightmare?” Max asked, just as Alex and Mia appeared on either side of Gabe. They were watching their parents, their eyes wide and their faces tight with tension.

“When can we go home?” Alex asked.

“Sunday,” Quinn replied.

“But what are we going to do until then?” Mia wailed. “This place is so boring.”

“Enjoy each other’s company,” Gabe said. “How about we grab an early dinner and then go see a film?”