‘I can’t promise. But I’ll ask Selina and Karim if I can shift some timings around. They’re self-employed, so it should be okay.’
‘Amazing! Now all we need is a tutor.’
‘Leave that to my mum. She’ll be on the case.’
I nod, yawning. ‘I just need to run over some figures before bed.’
‘You look exhausted.’ Robert comes round the table and starts massaging my shoulders.
‘That feels amazing.’
He bends down and kisses my neck. ‘Leave work for tonight and come to bed.’
I yawn again. ‘I’d love to, but I really have to do this. After tomorrow, things shouldn’t be so hectic.’ Then again, if I end up winning this pitch, my workload will probably double. I don’t mention that to Robert. I’ll deal with that if and when it happens.
My husband’s hands stop kneading my muscles. He pats both my shoulders and moves away. ‘Right, well if you’re not coming, I’m off to bed. I’m out at six a.m. tomorrow so I’ll say good luck now.’
We kiss, and for a brief moment I’m tempted to blow off work. But eventually I pull away.
‘Night,’ he says.
‘Goodnight.’
I watch my husband as he walks out of the door, wishing I could go up with him, but knowing that I have to get this pitch done. Although I’m not sure how I’m supposed to concentrate on work with so many other worries flying around my head. Ever since Katie went missing, I’ve had this anxious, crawling sensation in my belly. Like something terrible is about to happen. It’s ridiculous, I know. I’ve never been one for believing in superstitious feelings or worrying over nothing, but too many odd things keep happening for me to keep ignoring them. The ‘Bad Mother’ graffiti wasn’t random, I’m sure of it. And the swapped key – I can’t make any sense of it. It must have been deliberate. And the thought of someone out there with a grudge or a vendetta against me and my family makes my skin go cold. I usually approach problems logically, working my way through them until I reach a solution. But there’s absolutely nothing logical about any of this. The only explanation is that someone is targeting me. But who? Andwhy?
Twelve
Out for my evening run, I am able to shift the past from my mind. Instead, I allow myself to daydream about the future. About how much better things are going to be. I need this to be the last time I’ll check into a cheap hotel, or rent a crappy one-bed flat on the seedy side of town. I need this to work out.
My feet slap the green-grey pavement and my breaths come regular and heavy. Slap, slap. In, out. Slap, slap. In, out. Like a machine. I have to think of myself as an automaton getting the job done. No room for sentimentality or compassion. Just the steady rhythm of the job.
I’ll plan it with military precision.
And then I’ll execute it.
Thirteen
Marco’s is buzzing and this time I make sure to arrive fifteen minutes early, so there’s no chance of keeping Mick Cosgrove waiting a second time. The waiter shows me to a table by the window overlooking the beach and sparkling sea beyond. This place is pricey, but it’s worth splashing out to keep Mick sweet. The table is large and circular with plenty of space to work and eat.
With the lunchtime autumn sunshine blazing in, I’m now wondering if I should have reserved a table further away from the window. I remove my suit jacket and hang it over the back of my chair and decide that the view is worth it. Mick shows up five minutes early, and I let out a breath, relieved that I arrived before him this time. He’s dressed more casually today, in chinos and a short-sleeved shirt. I feel a little overdressed by comparison in my cream suit. Getting to my feet, I hold out my hand to shake his, but – like last time – he leans in to kiss my cheek, and I get a waft of expensive cologne.
‘Gemma, good to see you again. I’m impressed you managed to get a table here at such short notice.’
‘Marco, the owner, is one of my husband’s clients,’ I reply.
‘What does your husband do?’
‘Robert’s a personal trainer.’
‘That’s handy.’
‘Very. Marco says he relies on Robert to help him burn off the calories from all the sample menu tastings.’
‘I meant, it’s handy having a personal trainer in the family. I noticed you look very… fit.’
Mick’s eyes travel lazily over my body and to my irritation I feel my face flush. I’m not sure if he’s flirting or not so I just give a quick smile and change the subject. ‘Hope you got parked okay? As soon as the sun comes out, everyone seems to flock down here.’
‘No worries, I got a cab.’ He rubs his hands together. ‘Looking forward to a glass of wine.’ He holds up a hand and a waiter scurries over. ‘Shall I get us a bottle? Red or white?’