‘If Lex had walked out, she’d either be home by now or with a friend. Plus, she’d have told me if she was thinking of leaving Otis. A decision this big isnotsomething she would keep to herself.’
‘What about the cash Alexa’s been syphoning?’ I ask, but the way Sonya’s features shift tells me this is news to her. ‘You didn’t know about the money?’
‘I had no idea.’ Sonya’s face crumples even further. ‘How much did she take?’
‘Twelve thousand pounds.’
Sonya gasps. ‘Twelvethousandpounds?’
I nod. ‘Her last withdrawal was the day before she disappeared.’
Sonya’s watery eyes flood with fear. ‘Maybe she was leaving him, then. Maybe Otis found out and stopped her. Janine, I’m more worried than ever now. Where is Lex? What has he done to her?’
‘We’ll find her,’ I reassure Sonya, but she reaches across the table to grab my hand. Her grip is too tight, her bones pressing too hard against mine – but even if I tried to pull away, I know I wouldn’t be able to.
‘Don’t include Otis in that “we”,’ she begs me. ‘If Lex was hiding money, something was wrong. If Lex was building a secret escape fund, he has to be the reason why.’
Sonya’s words send a shiver down my spine, a reaction she leans closer into.
‘I can see it in your eyes, Janine. You don’t trust Otis. Don’t ignore your gut. There’s more to this than meets the eye, I can feel it. Can you?’
Sonya’s question stares at me like a loaded gun, asking if I dare pull the trigger and provide an honest answer.
CHAPTER 25
After promising to keep in touch with Sonya, I leave The Blackwell Arms. In the quiet cocoon of my car, I pause to unwind from the intensity of our conversation, but Sonya’s dark hypotheses embed their claws into me.
Sighing, I check my phone. A missed call from Beth and a message from Natalya to our group chat await me.
Please can we meet?! I need to talk all things literary agent. Maybe at the pub, if that’s okay? Sorry Katherine, I know you don’t drink, but this calls for more than a cup of tea! x
My eyes widen at the wordsliterary agent. I suspect this can only mean good news for Natalya’s writing career. Instantly, my mind goes to Katherine and how she will react, but she’s already replied saying she will be there.
Even though visiting another pub is the last thing I want to do, I confirm my attendance.
By the time I arrive at The Admiral, Bramblethorpe’s most popular (and only) pub, the empty glasses around Natalya indicate she’s on her third gin and tonic.
‘Janine, you made it!’ she cries, throwing her arms around my neck. ‘I’m so glad you’re here. Having the opinion of a real writer is going to make such a difference!’
As Katherine’s cheeks colour, I do my best to gloss over Natalya’s carelessness. ‘I can’t wait to hear what this is about,’ I say, eyeing Natalya’s half-finished G & T and Katherine’s water. ‘Anyone want a drink?’
When Katherine and Natalya shake their heads, I head to the bar and order a gin and tonic for myself. While the barman makes it, I spot a young couple in a corner booth, talking deeply. The man’s hands rest on the woman’s stomach, round and full of life.
‘I remember all that excitement with my first,’ the barman says, spying what I’m looking at as he hands over my drink. ‘Back before I knew the pain of sleepless nights. There’s nothing like that tiredness, is there?’
The question embeds like an axe in my chest, the comment made all the crueller by the barman’s unwitting, friendly smile. I don’t know how to react. Offended that he thinks I look exhausted enough to be caring for a newborn or devastated that he assumes I am a parent.
‘How much is that?’ I reply curtly, paying and walking away before he sees my hurt.
I take a long gulp of my drink to steady myself before joining my friends.
‘So, what have I missed?’ I ask.
‘Nothing. Nothing yet, anyway,’ Natalya says, barely able to contain her excitement. ‘I was waiting until you got here to tell the story. Basically, you know how a few weeks ago, I told you I’d sent a draft of my crime novel to a few literary agents?’
Katherine and I both nod.
‘Well, one messaged back. Sophie Hyatt. She wants to read my full manuscript.’