‘Maybe not now he’s playing the role of a distraught spouse, but you’re not blind to the house, the car, the confidence.’ Sonya’s lipscurl in disgust. ‘From the moment Lex met Otis, she was enthralled, but I never fell under his spell. Lex told me things she told no one else. I know things about that man that would destroy his “good guy” image forever.’
Every hair on my body bristles. ‘Like what?’
‘Like how shitty a husband he is. He doesn’t care about Lex at all. I’m guessing you know she’s miscarried multiple times?’
It hurts to hear that question, never mind respond to it. The best I can muster is a small nod.
‘She struggles, but Otis is never there for her. He hasn’t been since the first one. When she needed him most, he threw himself into work and froze her out. Then, if he’s not freezing her out, he’s arguing with her over every tiny thing. What kind of partner would do that?’
I think of how many nights Kamal has stayed late at the office recently and how I lash out every time he mentions what we’ve been through. How our behaviour around each other is full of pretence because grief seeps into everything and no one gives you a handbook on how to deal with it.
I’m about to say all this when Sonya speaks again. ‘Everything in Otis’s life must be perfect. I don’t think he can cope with the fact that this part of the picture isn’t immaculate. He has everything on his tick list: a beautiful wife, an impressive business, a show home. Now he’s ready for the perfect mini-Otis clones. The problem is, they’ve not arrived.’
‘That’s not Alexa’s fault.’
‘I know that, and you know that, but does Otis? Those miscarriages killed Lex, but he’s never supported her like he should have. The day after they lost their last baby, he went away with work for a week. Theday after, Janine. Can you imagine what that felt like for Lex?’
I bow my head. ‘No, I can’t.’
‘Even if Lex said to go, he should have insisted on staying with her, and he should have been kinder. He once asked her, “What’s wrong with you?” Lex said she couldn’t tell if he meant what’s wrong as in why are you crying, or what’s wrong as in… well, why can’t you carry my children?’
I gasp, wounded as if the cruel comment had been said to me personally.
‘Exactly,’ Sonya nods, triumphant now she has successfully cast doubt on Otis. ‘Lex isn’t happy. She hasn’t been for a long time. She was looking at properties in Denmark, did you know that?’
My eyebrows arch. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, and not for her and Otis to live in, let me assure you!’ Sonya says, shaking her head. ‘The last time I saw Lex, she was so thin I worried she was going to snap. I messaged Otis to say she needed help, but he never replied. Imagine your wife’s best friend saying she’s worried and you don’t reply!’
Even if Sonya’s assessment smacks of over-simplification, something in her words coils around my body. ‘When was the last time you saw Alexa?’
Sonya bristles, a shamed flush reddening her cheeks. ‘Longer ago than I’d like, but that’s because of Otis. I don’t want to be around his ugly house or dirty money, and I definitely don’t want to be around a man who pretends to love my best friend.’
‘Do you really think he doesn’t love Alexa?’
‘Do you think he does? She vanished and he waited days before contacting the police. There are only a few reasons for that, and none of them are good. My bet is that it’s something to do with his business. There have been rumours for the last year that things aren’t going well at Archi-Tech.’
My forehead wrinkles. ‘When I researched Archi-Tech, it seemed to be doing well.’
‘Otis has friends in high places. I’m sure he has the power to pull a few articles that could spell bad press.’
I try not to react to Sonya’s suggestion, even if she sounds like a conspiracy theorist, but I mustn’t do a very good job of it.
‘Don’t believe me, then,’ Sonya says with a shrug. ‘But if it’s not about Otis’s business, then the only other reason not to call the police is because he’s hurt Lex and needed time to hide the evidence.’ Sonya analyses me. ‘You seem shocked, but you don’t know Otis like I do. Trust me, he’s loud, he’s obnoxious, and he has a vile temper. Lex calls him a sulker. I call him an arsehole. He’s never loved Lex like she deserves to be loved. If you ask me, he got rid of her.’
My heart drops, but sense tells me to keep a level head. ‘Does Otis have a history of being violent?’
‘Not that Lex has ever said so, but you never know what goes on behind closed doors. Especially ones as fancy as Otis Clarke’s.’
Despite everything I’ve heard over the last few days, my lips still twist with uncertainty. ‘I know you know him better than I do, but he seems lost without Alexa. Gabby said—’
‘Gabby? Gabby is at the house?’ When I nod, Sonya snorts. ‘Oh, I bet she is loving this! She’s got everything she ever wanted – Lex gone and Otis crying on her shoulder.’ A smirk comes over Sonya’s face. ‘You know there’s something going on between them. You must have picked up on the vibes.’
I shift in my seat. ‘I mean, they seem to know each other well, but from what I saw, I think the attraction is more on Gabby’s side than Otis’s.’
‘That’s what Otis wants you to think. He’s a good liar like that. They say they’re “best friends”,’ Sonya scoffs, air quoting the phrase.‘But Gabby’s always wanted more. Lex knows Gabby is just waiting to sink her claws into Otis. Otis denies it, but secretly I think he likes having the two women in his life fight over him.’
‘And do they fight over him?’