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‘She’s probably in a car on the way home.’
He shakes his head and looks like he is about to cry. ‘No, this was two hours ago. Shit! I really messed up.’
‘Jasper, Ariella is an adult and I’m expecting a friend to come over shortly, so you’re going to have to stalk her elsewhere. You broke up, probably because of what you’re doing now. Leave your number and I might call you when she gets in…’ I say, whispering,you controlling twatunder my breath.
‘Ariella gets attacks that can trigger her asthma, but she refuses to carry an inhaler around.’
The fury hits me. ‘You knew this and you walked away from her?’ I shove him across the living room, but he doesn’t fight back. The self-contempt that radiates from him hits me as he pinches his eyes. I get my phone out and try to call her, but it goes straight to voicemail. I step away, dial Nicole and hope she isn’t already on her way. There’d be no stopping her then.
‘Nicole, I have to cancel, there’s a bit of an emergency.’
‘Are you dying? No. You aren’t cancelling. I’m coming.’
‘Why don’t you come round tomorrow?’
‘There’s work on Monday. I could bring a bag and we can go to work together?’
‘Yeah, sure, whatever you need.’
‘Great. See you tomorrow.’
I grab my laptop from my room and flip it open on the kitchen counter. I find the company directory.
‘What’s the name of that redhead she hangs around with?’ I ask as he walks over to see what I am doing.
‘Lara. Lara Scott.’
I find her company mobile and I dial. Thankfully, it starts to ring.
‘You better have my fucking stage lights!’
‘Lara?’
‘Yes?’
‘This is Caleb Black from work. Is Ariella with you?’
‘No. What’s wrong?’
‘I’m here with Jasper. She was with him earlier, then she disappeared. He hasn’t seen her for a couple of hours and he’s worried.’
‘Why should I tell that clotpole—’
‘He thinks she may be having a panic attack.’
‘Fuck. Okay. I have her on my Find My Friends app. I’ll text you her location. I’ll let you know if she’s moving.’
Lara hangs up quickly. I put on my trainers and coat while we wait for what seems like for ever to get the pin drop from her. As soon as it comes through, I grab my keys, slam the door shut behind us and jump in the black taxi I’d booked in the meantime. Jasper is on the edge of his seat the whole journey there. He should be. If Dahlia finds out, she’d Tracey Emin his insides and proudly submit it to the Tate.
‘Relax, she’ll be fine,’ I offer.
‘You don’t know that. Oh God.’ He puts his face in his hands, distressed. ‘I shouldn’t have—’
‘There! Stop!’ I call out.
I see her drenched, cold and shivering at a bus stop.
‘Aari!’
