Page 114 of Don't Believe A Word

‘Yes and she said I’m right, but I thought I should ask you as well just in case she doesn’t know.’

Stifling a laugh, Cristy said, ‘So I’m guessing it’s all back on with Ludo since he made a scene a couple of weeks ago?’

‘Yes, I forgave him, because he has mental health issues and that’s the kind thing to do. When are you coming home?’

‘Why? Are you missing me?’ her father asked.

‘No!’ Rosie cried, and laughed delightedly. ‘Connor’s staying here,’ she told them. ‘He’s much nicer-looking than Ludo. Shame he’s married or I would ask him to be my boyfriend. I’m going to the doctor today for my regular check-up.’

‘Good girl,’ David told her. ‘Is Grandma taking you?’

‘I think so. Anna’s going somewhere with Connor. Oh, that’s right, they’ve already gone to Sadie’s. I wanted to go, but I have a lot to do here so I’ll see them later. Cristy, are you in love with Dad again?’

As Cristy hesitated, David said, ‘Of course she is. How could she not be?’

‘So areyoumaking babies?’

David’s first answer was lost in a laugh. ‘That’s not a very polite question to ask,’ he scolded gently.

Leaving him to explain why, Cristy got up to take a call from Connor. ‘Hey,’ she said, moving a little further down the beach.

‘Jesus, it’s all kicking off here,’ he told her, sounding tense and hurried.

‘Why? What’s happening? Where are you?’

‘At the lodge. Sadie listened to the interview, spoke not a word,just took off down to the villa to confront her aunt, I’m guessing about Lottie meeting Janina and no one telling her. God knows what’s been said down there, but it obviously got pretty heated because she’s just rung Jasper to let him know she’s locked Mia up.’

‘You’re kidding!’

‘No. She’s locked Mia in a downstairs cupboard and is refusing to let her out until Mia tells her the truth. Jasper’s gone to investigate. Anna and I are waiting here on his advice, but if we don’t hear anything in the next ten minutes we’re going down. Meantime, I’m recording an account of events as they unfold in the hope of using it, because this is pretty dramatic stuff.’

‘You’re telling me,’ Cristy agreed. ‘Keep me updated, and if you think we should come back …’

‘Actually, I do. Sorry, but it seems you’ve got what you went there for and right now this is where it’s happening.’

‘OK. I’ll call again as soon as I’ve got Iz to organize the flights,’ and ringing off Cristy turned back to David, pausing as she realized he was talking to his mother now. In spite of the hour she texted Evie to ask if she and David could come over this morning, probably in about an hour, then she emailed Iz with their flight requirements.

Iz came back so fast Cristy almost blinked.Leave it with me. How many tickets?

Just the two. We need to end up in Guernsey.

All is possible.

With a smile Cristy checked Evie’s message.We’re here. Come whenever suits you. Is everything OK?

Deciding not to answer that for the moment, Cristy made a quick check of her other texts, and felt a surge of distaste as she came across another from the crazy. Very short this time, saying,He doesn’t love you as much as I do.

In spite of it being a Matthew kind of line, she knew instinctively that it wasn’t him, not only because the sender’s ID was withheld, but because her ex, for all his faults, just wasn’t that creepy.

Quickly scrolling back through the thread she saw, to her alarm, that there were even more messages than she’d realized and whoever was behind them appeared to have been following her every move.

You didn’t see me tonight, did you, Cristy? I saw you walking through the rain.

Sorry about the mess at your office. Got frustrated when you weren’t there.

Don’t go back to him. He’s a liar and a cheat.

He – and she presumed it was he – even seemed to know she was in the States.I waved you off at the airport, but you didn’t wave back. How’s Miami?