‘So why are you both acting as if Otis has done something wrong?’
‘We’re not, but this is the closest we’ve been in days to hearing Alexa’s perspective on things,’ I try to reason, but Gabby’s defensiveness won’t hear it.
‘Otis is worried sick, Janine. You’ve seen him. How could someone who is that worried have been such a bad husband?’
‘Because sometimes, we only see things when it’s too late,’ Simon says, silencing the table in one fell swoop. We all take a moment to breathe, the introspection only broken by Gabby pushing back her chair.
‘I only came here to see if Alexa was having an affair. I’ve got all the answers I need,’ she says, grabbing her handbag once more. ‘Are you coming, Janine?’
I know Gabby wants me to leave with her, but one glance at Simon and I know there’s more he wants to say.
‘I’ll stay and finish my drink,’ I reply, even though my hot chocolate is stone cold now. Gabby knows this as well as I do. The corners of her eyes pinch, but I don’t shy away from her scrutiny.
‘Fine,’ Gabby huffs, throwing her bag over her shoulder. ‘I guess I’ll call you later.’
I watch her leave, her auburn hair billowing behind her. Then, when she is gone, I turn back to Simon, waiting to hear what he could not share before.
CHAPTER 38
With Gabby gone, Simon’s shoulders relax, but only slightly. Every part of him radiates concern, and I know from one glance what he is thinking.
‘You think Otis has something to do with Alexa’s disappearance, don’t you?’ I ask.
‘He’s the only person I can think of that would,’ Simon replies, swallowing hard. ‘And statistically speaking, whenever anything bad happens to someone, the perpetrator is usually someone they know. Someone they’re close to. Alexa doesn’t have many people in her life that she’s close to.’
‘Only you and Otis, by the sound of things.’
Worry creases Simon’s forehead. ‘You can’t seriously think I have anything to do with her disappearing, do you?’
‘I don’t know,’ I reply truthfully. ‘I came here to find out who Alexa was meeting and what they knew. As for other judgements, I’m not sure it’s my place to make them.’
‘I swear to you, Janine, I didn’t hurt Alexa. I never would, but I can’t say the same about her husband. You should know that according to Alexa, Otis is strong-willed, impulsive and under a lotof pressure. Those aren’t ideal traits at the best of times, but after what they’ve both gone through, I can only imagine how those characteristics manifest. Pushed far enough, who knows what he could do?’
I grip my mug, trying not to let my fear show as once again Otis transforms from loving husband to suspect.
‘The first time I met him, I thought he was an arsehole,’ Simon adds.
I blink. ‘You’ve met Otis?’
‘Sure, at Families United. He came with Alexa.’
I can’t hide my surprise at this. ‘Otis attends Families United, too?’
‘God, no,’ Simon says, pulling a face. ‘He came to one meeting, left partway through and refused to entertain the idea of going back. He left Alexa to grieve on her own.’
‘He said as much himself,’ I reply, an answer that surprises Simon.
‘Wow,’ he replies. ‘Alexa was trying for weeks to get him to admit that. Funny how it takes her to disappear for him to see what a shit husband he’s been.’
‘I don’t know if he meant to be shit,’ I say, struggling to find my words. ‘There’s a lot about Otis Clarke that I don’t know, but I saw him a couple of days ago and he was a shell.’
‘Yeah? Well, Alexa said he’s been a shell of her husband for a long time now. She’s been a shell of herself, too.’
My mouth twists in sympathy. ‘I met Alexa once,’ I say. ‘At a fertility appointment. I didn’t know who she was. It was only when I saw a photo of her that I realised who had gone missing. But what she said to me that day helped. There’s a bond between people like us, I think. People who can look at someone and see that they share a connection through something so awful.’
‘Is that why you want to help find her?’
‘It is,’ I admit before locking my eyes on Simon. ‘Simon, you have to go to the police with this.’