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‘We need to find him. Whoever he is. He’s the only person who can help us.’
‘Why would he help us? He’s been following you. Probably sent by your husband. I don’t think helping you is on his agenda. That’s not how people like that operate.’
‘Maybe not, but anyone can change their mind about something if the price is high enough.’
Taylor stares at me, blinking. ‘What are you suggesting?’
Perhaps the plan only occurred to me moments ago, but now the seed has planted itself, I’m convinced it’s what we have to do. ‘If Max did want to harm me and had hired someone to do it, that person knows the truth. And if I offer to pay him more than Max did, then I’m sure that will convince him to talk. It has to.’
Taylor’s eyes widen and he shakes his head. ‘You can’t mess with people like that. Do you know how dangerous it would be? These people are found on the dark web, they don’t play games.’
Through the window, I scan the street outside, wondering if I’ve been followed here. But there’s no sign of a silver Golf. ‘I don’t have a choice,’ I say. I turn away from the window and sit back on the sofa. ‘I’ve got some savings. Fifteen grand. I’ll use that. It’s more than Max withdrew.’
‘No! You can’t do that. It’s too much money. You’re not thinking straight. I think we should just go to the police. I can’t do this any more, Hannah. We’re not getting anywhere.’
I force myself to remain calm, so that I can persuade Taylor I know what I’m doing. ‘We can’t go to the police. We’ve said all along we need evidence, haven’t we? There’s no key card. No photo. Nothing at all that links Max to Alice. This is the only way, Taylor.’
An urgent silence falls around us. ‘Please, just let me try,’ I say softly.
‘I don’t like this. I really don’t think you should put yourself at risk.’ Taylor sits beside me and takes my hand.
The shock of his gesture sends a frisson of electricity though my body. I pull away, unsure what I’ve just felt. What it means. ‘I’m doing this,’ I repeat, pulling on my coat.
The house is silent when I get home. I know Poppy will be in bed, and Sarah will have needed to get Ivy home long before now.
‘Hello?’ I call.
‘In the kitchen,’ Max says.
I make my way through the hall, stopping in the kitchen doorway when I find Max sitting in the dark, only the faint glow from the solar lights in the garden. ‘When did Sarah leave?’
‘Ages ago. I told her I don’t need her or anyone else here.’
‘I’m trying my best, Max.’
‘You’ve been a long time. I thought the book club was only an hour.’
‘I had to clear up after. And there were a few things I had to do before I came home.’ I smile, confident in the truth of my answer.
‘Okay,’ he says, scanning my face.
‘Any problems getting Poppy to sleep?’
‘She’s not here.’
I freeze. ‘What?’
‘I asked Sarah if she’d have her tonight. So we could be alone. We never get the chance, do we? Life always gets in the way.’
‘It’s late,’ I say. ‘I’m tired. And you need to rest.’
‘Then we’ll go up together for a change. Talk until we fall asleep. Do you remember when we used to do that? Before we had Poppy.’
His words are sentimental, delivered gently. Yet they fill me with horror.
‘Let’s stay down here,’ I suggest. Being in the bedroom would only make me feel vulnerable.
‘Good idea.’ He smiles. ‘Why don’t you pour us some wine?’
