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‘We need to talk to Max,’ Sarah says. ‘We need to find him. Tell him everything we know.’
Then it hits me. ‘The last time I saw Max, he was threatening me with a knife. If he’s innocent – why was he doing that? And that man in the silver Golf. Was he working for Max or Taylor?’
Sarah doesn’t reply for a moment, sighing heavily instead. ‘I don’t know. But somehow this Taylor’s got you thinking that Max wanted you dead.’ She shuffles closer to me and places her hand on my arm. ‘YouknowMax. He would never want you dead. It’s ludicrous. You and Poppy mean everything to him.’She pauses. ‘Even if he did have an affair. That’s a completely different story to wanting your wife dead. And killing a woman you’ve been having an affair with.’ She stands up, begins pacing the room just as I did moments ago. ‘None of this adds up, Hannah.’ She narrows her eyes. ‘Well, I can’t explain the photos Alice had of you. Or why Max had that flat in Wimbledon. Are you sure you’ve told me everything?’
‘Yes. Everything I can remember. Wait, no, there’s something else. Max texted me. Days ago. At least I think it was Max. With everything that’s been happening, I didn’t get to ask him for his new number. He said I’ll never be free.’
Sarah frowns. ‘Can I see it?’
I hand her my phone and sit beside her as she reads the message. ‘That’s the same number I’ve got for him. Did you reply?’
‘No.’
‘Then you need to, now. Tell him everything. You need to ask him to come home.’
I consider what she’s saying; it does seem to be my only option. I start typing, telling Max that he needs to come home. It’s about Shane Roberts. And that Poppy isn’t safe.
The minute it’s sent, I bury my head in my hands. I’ve held it together for all these weeks and now it feels as though I’m disintegrating. Sarah grabs my hand. ‘You can do this,’ she says.
It’s all I need to hear.
‘I’m going to the police,’ I say, pulling away. ‘To tell them that Taylor has wormed his way into my life, pretending to be someone else. Using a fake name. And that I think he’s been trying to get to Max.’ And as I say those words, everything is clear. ‘I’ll tell them it must have been him who attacked Max. They’ll have to pay attention to that, won’t they? Paula can verify that he’s threatened Max before.’
‘I’ll come with you,’ Sarah says.
‘No, you can’t. It’s too late to call your mum to come and be with Ivy. I’ll be fine on my own.’
‘I can get Dean to come back and stay with her. Isn’t it about time he started being a dad to her?’
‘No, don’t. Ivy doesn’t even know him yet. I just don’t trust anyone. I’ll be fine on my own.’
She nods. ‘Tell the police everything you’ve told me tonight. Max isn’t guilty, so there’s nothing to worry about.’
‘I don’t think I can tell them all of that. Not yet. I need them to focus on getting Taylor, not suspecting Max of anything, even if he’s eventually cleared. Not without speaking to him first.’ I check my phone, but there’s no reply from him.
‘Once you tell Max everything, he’ll have an alibi for that night,’ Sarah says. ‘I’m sure of it. It can’t be Max.’
‘I hope you’re right. He’s Poppy’s dad. I need to fight for my family. Even if there’s nothing left of our marriage – this is about Poppy.’
Sarah nods. ‘Now do you understand why I messaged Dean? And why I’m fighting to have him in Ivy’s life?’
‘I’m sorry if it felt like I wasn’t supporting you.’
She shakes her head. ‘Hannah, you never, ever have to apologise to me about anything.’
Sarah sees me to the door and I step out into the cold, small flurries of snow floating around me like confetti.
And as I drive, the strangest thing is that I feel Taylor’s absence more strongly than anything else.
For hours I sit in the police station – on autopilot as I wait to be seen and make my statement – and it’s nearly one a.m. by the time I get home. I message Mum to tell her I’m okay.
Being alone here should terrify me more than before, but for some reason I feel calm. I’m ready to confront whoever turns up,because I know someone will. Taylor’s bound to know by now why Poppy and I disappeared, and why I’m avoiding his calls. He might have even seen Paula.
There are still too many unanswered questions: Who is the man in the Golf? Was it really Max who sent him? Or Taylor? And what happened to Alice?
Painful hunger pangs assault my stomach, so I make myself a hot chocolate to keep them at bay. My plan is to sleep downstairs again tonight; somehow, it feels safer.
I’m taking my mug through to the living room when I see him. Sitting in the chair by the window. Waiting for me.
