‘The only thing I didn’t tell you was that the day before she disappeared, Lex went to the bank and withdrew two thousand pounds in cash,’ he says. ‘She’d withdrawn similar amounts a few times before, too. It looks strange, I know, but there’s got to be a reason she was taking money other than that she was leaving me.’
‘You told the police you didn’t know Alexa had withdrawn money until she was gone. Is that true?’
‘I swear I didn’t know before. I never checked Lex’s bank account. I never felt like I needed to, but once I checked Lex’s statement and saw the withdrawal, I took out all the documents in her office. I told you Lex is a technophobe, right? Well, she likes to have paper copies of everything. I went through all her bank statements, insurance documents, every scrap of paper she’s ever kept. They covered the entire dining table.’
My face itches to react as it remembers the papers littering the table when I first came to Otis’s house, but I force it not to.
‘I found nothing other than that Lex has been withdrawing money every few weeks for the last four months,’ Otis continues. ‘There was nothing to indicate why or who that money was going to, but—’
On the table, Otis’s phone vibrates again.
‘For fuck’s sake,’ he snaps. He silences the call, then pinches the bridge of his nose. ‘Sonya’s going to tell the police I’ve got something to do with Lex vanishing, isn’t she?’
‘You don’t know that,’ Gabby says, but her reply lacks any conviction.
‘I do, and so do you. You know what she’s like.’ Otis presses his face into his hands. ‘The detectives said they’d be back today. I know what they’re going to say. What they’re going to insinuate.’
‘But you haven’t done anything wrong.’
‘So? They don’t care about that. They’ve already decided I’m guilty of something.’
‘Otis, you had reasons for handling this the way you did,’ Gabby says, taking his hand. ‘All you need to do is explain that to them.’
‘But they don’t see them as reasons. Besides, you’ve seen this village – who else are they going to suspect? The lady at the post office? My elderly neighbours?’
Gabby doesn’t try to soothe Otis this time. She lets her hair fall in front of her face, only looking up again when Sonya calls once more. Snatching the phone from the table, Gabby leaps to her feet.
‘Sonya, hi,’ she begins, her voice silky smooth and insincere, the same tone she used on me when we first met. I don’t hear what Sonya says or how Gabby responds, because Gabby leaves the room before I can eavesdrop on the conversation.
When she’s gone, Otis deflates. ‘This is madness. How can Lex still not be home?’
‘You’ve said it yourself, Alexa sometimes leaves,’ I say feebly.
‘I know, but this is different. Something in here tells me so,’ Otis says, tapping his chest. ‘I want her back, Janine. I need her. I love her. I love her so much.’
I comfort Otis as he descends into gut-wrenching sobs, but all the while I watch him through new, wary eyes. After all, loving someone doesn’t mean you don’t hurt them. Sometimes it’s the people who claim to love us the most who hurt us. I just pray that Otis hasn’t hurt Alexa in the worst way possible.
CHAPTER 23
Soon after Gabby returns from speaking to Sonya, I make an excuse to leave. ‘I have an interview with a book club to prepare for,’ I lie.
Gabby leads me out, maintaining her self-appointed role as Otis’s minder when I ask if she’ll keep me posted on any updates with Alexa.
‘If Otis sees it fit, sure,’ she says noncommittally. ‘Let’s just hope Alexa turns up soon. The more this drags on, the more I worry for Otis.’
‘Well, maybe we’re closer to the truth now he’s being honest with us.’
Gabby looks at me, and something passes between us that I don’t quite understand. I’m about to ask her if there’s anything else I should know when she nods curtly and closes the door.
Once again, I find myself on the outside of this impressive house, but when I study its clean lines and sharp angles, any appeal it previously had fades. This house is a symbol of wealth, of making it in a world that does everything to try and make sure you don’t. It’s expensive, it’s beautiful – but is it cherished?
Does the house reflect the lives of the people who live in it?I wonder.
Shuddering, I make my way back to my car, but I don’t leave straight away. Instead, I sit in the driver’s seat, my gaze lingering on the other vehicle on the driveway.
Gabby’s car.
Gabby, whose bond to Otis clearly goes beyond that of friendship.