Page 61

CHAPTER 61

MATTHEW – D AY F IVE

‘How could you? Is it true? That you went to Dawn Meadows’ house?’ Sally’s voice is wild as she bursts back into the side room from the press conference along the corridor. Tears are still pouring down her face. Lisa, the communications officer, is a step behind her.

‘I’m so sorry.’ It feels as if all the blood in Matthew’s veins is draining downwards. ‘I was just desperate to find her. To find Amelie. ’

Matthew is standing alongside the small livestream screen on its stand with Mel’s voice, still defiant, bleeding from the speaker. She’s trying to field questions but most of the journalists are now standing. Interrupting her. And interrupting each other ...

Lisa darts across the room to turn down the volume on the stream. ‘Sally. Take a seat. I’ll get you some water – I need to get back in there. To support Melanie.’

‘I don’t want water. I don’t want anything .’ Sally puts her hands up to the top of her head and starts casting around, looking this way and that, then marching to and fro. Matthew is distraught watching her. She’s flailing around just as she did in the car park the day Amelie disappeared.

‘I’m so sorry. I should have—’

‘How could you not tell me? I just can’t believe you didn’t tell me. You let me go into that press conference. And you didn’t tell me what you did.’

‘I’m so sorry. I should have. I didn’t know the Meadows would speak to the media. I was waiting for the right time—’

‘The right ... time?’ Sally’s tone is incredulous. Lisa hurries to close the office door as if afraid people will hear. She moves to the corner table to pour a glass of water but Sally won’t take it. She just keeps marching this way and that, her eyes wide and wild, glancing from wall to wall and finally looking straight at Matthew. ‘So is it true that you threatened her? Dawn Meadows? After promising Mel and me that you wouldn’t interfere. Rock the boat. Upset the search for Amelie.’

‘I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought that Amelie was in there, in Dawn’s house, and that I was the one who could find her.’ Matthew’s mind is racing. It’s as if he’s right back in Dawn’s house, dashing from room to room, calling Amelie’s name. No answer.

‘But you didn’t tell me. You let me go in there. You let me walk right in there, into all of that’ – she points at the feed of the press conference – ‘and you didn’t tell me.’

‘I know, I know. I should have. I made a mistake, Sally.’

‘A mistake ?’ The look on Sally’s face is too much for him. Not just anger but a look of real contempt. So that a bomb goes off in Matthew’s head.

‘Yes. A mistake. Like refusing to let her try a dress on. Taking your eye off her. A mistake , Sally.’

Even as the words leave his mouth, Matthew can’t believe he’s said them. Wishes he could rewind. Suck them back in.

‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I absolutely don’t mean that. Sally – come here. Let me—’ He moves forward, his arms outstretched, but Sally recoils. Steps back with her arms up as if to protect herself.

There is a moment of terrible silence in the room. Lisa glances between them, her face shocked.

‘I need someone to take me home,’ Sally says at last.

‘I’ll bring the car round to the front.’ Matthew, head down, is reaching in his pocket for his keys.

‘No. No. Not you. I don’t want to be near you. I can’t be near you.’ Sally’s voice is shaking as she turns to Lisa. ‘Can you arrange a car for me? I need to get out of here. I need to get home. Please. ’