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I’m not religious, but I felt so peaceful, and I had no control over my body.
I was going to my dad’s. I wanted to talk to him.
Everything made sense now. I could be calm, happy. It was all coming to an end. The suffering was almost over.
But when I got there, I found a big black Porsche Cayenne that I’d never seen before parked outside. Just who might own such a very nice car, and what were they doing here?
The feeling of elation began to thin, but luckily God had put a penknife in the glove box for me to find, and set me by the Porsche with its very inviting tyres.
There was a dull thud, but nothing moved. I must’ve imagined it.
I let myself into Dad’s. And there was Tristan’s assistant, wiping the kitchen counter.
I froze.
I had seen that car before. Jenna had climbed into it after school once or twice.
He turned and smiled. ‘Well, this is lucky,’ he said, sea-blue eyes sparkling.
I backed away and he raised a finger. ‘Nuh-uh-uh,’ he said, wagging it from side to side. ‘I need your phone. I need any copies you might have made.’ He was just a child. Late twenties, early thirties maybe.
‘Where are the girls?’
He smiled. ‘Which girls?’
I held his gaze. ‘Copies of what?’
He giggled.
I frowned. ‘Please leave. I’m not just going to hand over my phone.’
He nodded. ‘Yes, I can see that.’ He turned slightly and lifted up the back of his shirt. Something smooth, black, rectangular poked out of his trousers. My ears started to ring before I understood: it was the grip of a handgun.
95
NOW
‘I did this. I sent the police the tape and told them we were here after locking the annexe door. I’m sorry,’ says Lydia. ‘I… You made me lie. Do you know what that did to me? To be responsible for Miss Smith’s death? To hear all the rumours about Tristan and knowing all those women – it was all my fault? That night, my whole future… I was meant to be a doctor. I was meant to leave this place. Anything I’ve allowed myself… Rose’s father didn’t want me, no one… My husband left me. My job – I can’t do anything, Frances. The guilt is always there.’
I don’t know where to begin. ‘You did this? You kidnapped your own daughter? What rumours about Tristan? You did this because you felt guilty?’
‘I didn’t kidnap anyone. You… Jenna tried to kill herself because you don’t see her. You don’t protect her from?—’
‘Tried to? Is she alive? You know she’s alive?’
Bevan steps up to us. ‘Where are Jenna and Rose?’
By the window, I feel Ash, Ava and Mina watching us as Croft approaches them. Ava’s hands pull at her cheeks, steeple over her nose, rub her eyes.
Lydia starts to cry and I grab her arm and shake her. ‘Where are they?’ I ask, knowing that wherever she thought they were, they aren’t there any more – not since Theo found them.
Lydia shakes her head. ‘They were fine when I last saw them.’ She squeezes her eyes shut and her lips wobble. ‘Jenna cut herself, but not too deep. She?—’
‘Where?’ repeats Bevan.
‘They were at Georgia’s father’s place, Oakridge. It’s a retirement home in… I can’t remember the name. But?—’
‘Tristan said his assistant has them,’ I said, looking at Bevan. ‘Theo Darlington. He drives a black Porsche Cayenne. He’s blond-haired, blue-eyed. Thirty-one. He’s been grooming my daughter for years.’
