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He frowns. ‘Well, I suppose distraction is good.’
‘I’ll go and see him this afternoon. But I need to ask you something.’
Cole beams. ‘Ask away. I’ll do whatever I can to help.’
‘You’re good with computers.’ I pull Max’s laptop from my bag. ‘I’ve got an important document on here that I need to find, and I can’t remember my password. Max and I share it and I hardly ever use it. But I really need to get in.’
‘Hmm.’ Cole studies me, and it’s all I can do not to look away from his intense stare. ‘It won’t be easy. I’m no hacker. Although I can do a bit more than most people.’
‘Great. So you’ll help me, then?’
‘I’ll have a look at it. But I can’t promise anything.’ He smiles. ‘Leave it with me. I’m not doing much tonight. Other than my usual?—’
‘Actually, I was hoping you might look at it now. It’s kind of urgent.’
‘Oh. I see. Um, what about the shop?’
‘I’ll take over. And Katy’s here too. You can go in the office. Take all the time you need. We’ll manage out here.’
His eyes narrow, and again I sense his mistrust. He knows I’m lying. Hiding things. ‘Okay, I suppose. But like I said – I can’t promise anything, Hannah.’
‘All I ask is that you try.’
He holds out his hands and I pass him the laptop. ‘I’ll need coffee,’ he says. ‘It’s hard work hacking into computers.’ He taps his head. ‘Takes a lot of brain power.’
‘Fine. I’ll make some when Katy’s finished cleaning.’
Time seems to stand still while I wait to see if Cole can get into the laptop. The shop’s always quiet on Sunday mornings, but today the silence is ominous. Heavy and suffocating. What will today bring?
By lunchtime, Cole still hasn’t emerged from the office. I’m organising a new window display when the door opens and Taylor Stone walks in.
‘What are you doing here?’ I hiss. There are several customers browsing and I don’t want them overhearing anything.
‘I meant to give you my number last night. In case you need to talk to me. Have you got your phone?’
I take my phone from my pocket and tap in the number he recites.
‘I can’t even imagine how you’re feeling,’ he says. ‘If you really didn’t know about Max’s affair, then this must have been a huge shock. I couldn’t sleep last night worrying about it all.’
‘Why aren’t you online anywhere?’
‘What?’
‘I checked. There’s no sign of you on social media. Twitter. Instagram. Nothing. How do I know you’re who you claim to be?’
He nods. ‘I thought you might google me.’
‘Answer my question.’
‘Because I’m a private person and I don’t want to be out there. Is it so hard to believe that someone of our generation wouldn’t have an online presence? Why do I have to be the same as everyone else? Why does it make me some kind of freak if I’m not plastering every detail of my life all over Facebook?’
He’s right. And I, for one, don’t put anything on social media, especially pictures of Poppy. ‘Then tell me how I can trust you.’ I glance around the shop, relieved that no one is paying us any attention, and Katy’s head is buried in her phone.
‘I work for a law firm called Sampson and Hedges. Call them and ask.’ He pulls out a business card. ‘Here you go. Feel free to check up on me.’
‘I will.’ I make a mental note to check the website.
‘And in the meantime, maybe this will help.’ He scrolls through his phone and hands it to me. ‘Look at those.’
