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The footage was grainy and dark, but the shooting was clear enough. As were the falling bodies and the bags then being removed from the van.
After a sleepless night reliving the same deadly ambush that I’d watched a million times on TV—but had never fucked with my head in the same way as seeing it in real life—I took a day off.
Merivale could wait until Monday.
Instead, I went for a run up the cliffs, in an attempt at working off dark thoughts. I’d never seen anyone die before, and suddenly, I had a disturbing scene on my phone, like some sick snuff movie.
The run helped because when I returned, I slept all afternoon.
Itwasseveno’clock,and I headed off to the Mariner for a steak sandwich, a pint, and to watch Brooke perform. She’d texted to tell me she was playing a set. I knew her brother from London, and she’d only recently moved to Bridesmere.
Brooke chatted with Olivia, her girlfriend, when I arrived. Just as she hugged me, Manon walked through the door. Manon saw me and pulled a face like I was evil before brushing past me, where she joined Colin, a local solicitor, who was always at the Mariner chatting up women.
For someone who didn’t do jealousy, I felt a tug in my chest.
As Brooke and Olivia chatted with me, I watched Manon, who wore tight jeans and a low-cut blouse. Her sexy tits spilled out as she stood close to Colin, whispering in his ear.
Isn’t she meant to be marrying Crisp?
“I better get up there and play.” Brooke touched my arm.
I ordered another pint and enjoyed listening to Brooke’s song about finding love. Her eyes had settled in our corner, focusing on Olivia. Only Manon kept looking at me with “What the fuck?” written all over her face.
I guessed she thought I was with Brooke.
The set was a blur. All I could do was watch as Colin’s hand remained on Manon’s arm.
Tired of the games, I told Olivia that I was leaving and to pass onto Brooke that she was awesome.
As I stepped outside into the dark, a “Hey” came from behind. I turned and discovered Manon running towards me with a question in her eyes, like I had something to tell her.
“What?” I stretched out my hands.
Chapter 21
Manon
Drakelookedannoyed.Noteven the slightest smile. He gave me nothing, like I was a pest. An interruption.
I’d gone to the Mariner because I’d heard that Drake’s new girlfriend was performing. Masochistic of me, maybe, but curiosity had gotten the better of me.
Mirabel was the only person who knew Brooke, I’d been told. So on the pretext of asking Uncle Ethan advice about investing, I’d visited them, only to discover his wife was away in London. At least Ethan had seemed keen to advise me, which was nice. When he’d given me a hug, my eyes had even misted over. I couldn’t believe how supportive everyone was towards me. Had the situation been reversed, I wouldn’t have been so forgiving.
As soon as I noticed Drake with his new girlfriend at the Mariner, I pounced on Mariner’s number one player, Colin, a hot solicitor, who invited me over for a drink. I couldn’t even find a spark of interest, though. My heart and body had turned to ice.
I missed Drake badly. He was my soulmate. I’d known that from the moment we kissed. I would never feel like that for anyone. Love at first sight. Naïve, maybe. But the heart knew what the heart wanted. And Drake lived in my heart.
Even my throbbing wounds hadn’t masked the ache from not being with him.
I couldn’t just sit back and accept that we were over. That he’d found a girl and I was doomed to marry someone I loathed.
I had to speak to him.
Drake’s gaze was full of hate. Then he turned his back on me and walked away.
I wanted to hit him.
Yell at him.
