‘Wait, there’s something interesting about two purchases,’ I say.
Otis’s head snaps up. ‘What?’
‘Sunday and Monday, around one o’clock, Alexa bought something at the same place. Variety Food Store on Albion Street.’
Otis snatches the phone, his eyes wide. ‘Why didn’t I notice that?’ he whispers.
‘Maybe you were too busy being relieved she was using her card,’ I reply with a shrug. ‘But if Alexa has used her card at the same time and place twice, it suggests she’ll do it again.’
Otis looks up, his eyes locked on mine. ‘I need to go there,’ he says.
We don’t have to speak for us both to know what we’re going to do next. Readjusting my handbag on my shoulder, I follow Otis out of the house, ready to visit Variety Food Store.
CHAPTER 13
Otis leads me towards the sleek car he had been driving earlier. The vehicle suits him, or the man I imagine he is when he isn’t crippled with worry.
‘It should take about thirty-five minutes to get to Manchester at this time,’ he says, unlocking the door. ‘Then I say we wait outside the store and look out for Lex. What do you think?’
‘Sounds like a plan,’ I reply, but I pause by the passenger door.
‘Janine, we have to go. It’s almost lunchtime already.’
‘I know, I just…’ I trail off. It’s clear at one glance that I haven’t made the most sensible choices today. With all the rumours swirling around about Otis, part of my brain wonders if I should get into a car with him alone.
Otis must be able to read my thoughts because he sighs. ‘Look, you showed up on my doorstep, not the other way around,’ he says. ‘You don’t have to come with me to Manchester if you don’t want to – I’m not forcing you. All I care about is getting there as soon as possible. If it makes you more comfortable, follow me in your own car. I don’t mind. We just need to go. Now.’
Making my choice, I slip into the passenger side of Otis’s car without another word. I’ve barely clipped my seatbelt in place before he powers the vehicle down the driveway, leaving a flurry of gravel in our wake.
Bramblethorpe blurs past us as we fly down a string of country lanes. Part of me debates asking Otis to slow down, but I don’t think he would pay attention to me even if I did.
As we zoom past the ‘Welcome to Bramblethorpe’ sign, a call comes through to Otis’s phone, connecting to the dashboard thanks to Bluetooth. The name Sonya West appears on the screen, but Otis declines it abruptly.
‘So,’ he says before I can ask whose call he was dodging, ‘you said you’re an author?’
‘That’s right.’
Otis takes a left so sharply I need to hold onto the dashboard to stop myself from sliding out of my seat. ‘What’s your last name? I’m not the biggest reader, but maybe I’ve heard of you.’
‘I write under a pen name. I’m published as S. K. Atherton. My parents’ initials and my maiden name.’
Otis shoots me an impressed glance. ‘S. K. Atherton, eh? I took one of your books on holiday last year.’
I hold my hands up. ‘Please don’t tell me you hated it. In fact, don’t tell me anything you thought about it. I’m barely comfortable with people knowing I write, never mind the idea that they’ve read my work.’
Despite the reason for our drive, Otis manages to laugh. ‘Can I tell you I didn’t get around to reading it because I took work on holiday too?’
Now it’s my turn to laugh. ‘Yes. That’s the kind of feedback my fragile ego can take.’
‘Lex is a big fan of yours, though. She’s the one who told me I had to read your book.’
I smile in response because smiling is easier than speaking now another tie between me and Alexa has come to light.
Pressing my lips together, I focus my attention on life outside the window. Bramblethorpe is now far behind us. Otis’s driving makes a mockery of speed limits, but I find myself soothed by the intensity of the motion. Moving this fast, it feels like nothing can catch me, as if all my problems are far away.
Of course, a person can put as much distance as they like between themselves and their problems, but they always catch up. As the grey-skied edges of Manchester come into view, everything I want to outrun does exactly that.
Before being here again breaks me, I look back to Otis. ‘Have you thought about what you’ll say to Alexa when you see her?’