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Land of Ghosts

Page 144

by E.L. James

I was pleased that he was pleased.

“I’m first in to bat. Wish me luck, ladies.”

“Good luck!” Lulu and I called in unison.

Dylan strode over to his teammates and began strapping on large leg pads.

“Do you watch all his games?” I asked Lulu.

“I like cricket, so it’s no hardship for me. Also, I can keep an eye on the crazy ladies he works with at the hospital.”

“Oh?”

Her lovely red mouth pressed into a stubborn line. “Yes,” she said bitterly and nodded toward a group of young women who were sitting on their own picnic blanket, watching Dylan with avid interest.

Oh! Lulu said no more. Most unlike Lulu behavior.

“Are you okay?” I asked quietly.

Lulu turned her brown eyes on me, and for the first time, I saw a vulnerability I’d not recognized before.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about, Emily.” She started to applaud with the other supporters as Dylan and one of his colleagues headed out to bat.

Dylan did well; by the time I decided to take any notice, he had scored forty-two runs. Lulu was effusive; he’d scored several sixes. But he was caught out on the next bowl.

Warm applause greeted him as he walked off the cricket pitch toward us. As he did, his mobile rang. Lulu grabbed it and handed it to him. Dylan took the call. His face went from relaxed to dismayed as he talked on the phone. He looked from me to Lulu.

Oh no. What’s happened?

Dylan radiated tension as he hung up his phone. “That was Lucas Finch from next door. The alarm’s been activated. The police are on their way, as it looks like someone broke in.”

“Broke in?” Lulu asked, her eyes widening.

“We have to go,” he said, all businesslike.

Lulu and I glanced anxiously at each other.

“Okay,” Lulu said. We scrambled up and started to pack away the picnic stuff.

This is what Tristan was talking about in my dream.

The blood drained from my face. I should have said something.

The police were at the house when we arrived. Dylan insisted Lulu and I remain in the car, which he parked across the street rather than in the drive, and he went to unlock the front door. We waited for ages, apprehensive.

Tristan appeared beside me in the back seat, startling me. I gasped and he gave me a sour look.

“What?” said Lulu from the front of the car.

“Nothing,” I said quickly and made a face at Tristan, who put his finger on his lips. He studied me, his green eyes dark and unreadable. Eventually, he said, “You’ve been gone for so long.” His voice was sulky.

I shrugged, unable to speak without outing us both.

Dylan stood at the front door as two police officers filed out, and he shook their hands in turn. I didn’t catch what he said to them, but they climbed into their squad car and drove away.

“It was that bastard, Webster,” Tristan said quietly.

Lulu climbed out of the car.