Page 121 of Don't Believe A Word

Unable to argue with that, Cristy had simply listened as Sadiecontinued. ‘I feel so awful about things now, the way I … I shouldn’t have forced her … I didn’t mean to frighten her … I was just so angry and … Well, I think we need to take a breath before making any more big decisions.’

On Friday evening, after the Gabe and Lukas pod had been uploaded, Cristy, Connor and David took themselves off to Le Nautique, overlooking the port, for dinner.

‘What we’re no closer to knowing for certain,’ Cristy remarked, wondering if she’d ever had such good oysters before, ‘is which one of the sisters was actually responsible for Janina’s death. Mia has only denied that it was her who forced the car off the road, not that it didn’t happen, and obviously Lottie isn’t around to speak for herself.’

‘Does it actually matter which of them was responsible?’ Connor asked. ‘If we can’t air it anyway …’

Cristy grimaced. ‘I’m sure it matters to Sadie, and it will to the police if we ever do get it out there.’ For no particular reason she felt a clench of unease as her mind flashed on the anonymous text she’d received earlier:You’re back, but you keep failing to notice me. I hope you know how hurtful that is.

Connor said, ‘I guess we could have a great debate-pod on our hands at some point in the future. Did Lottie twist the tale to make her sister the villain? Or is Mia putting on a good show of being framed for something she didn’t do? The amateur sleuths and armchair psychs will lap it up.’ He seemed to slump. ‘You know, we have to get the crucial parts of the journal past the lawyers or the final episode is going to be all about Sadie reuniting with her father and uncle – and heart-warming as that is, everyone will want to know what really happened to her mother.’

Cristy checked her phone as a new text arrived. Relieved to see it was Lukas she clicked to open it.

We’re in London staying at the Savoy. No pressure, we just wanted to be nearby – or at least in the same time zone – in case Sadie needs us. You don’t even have to tell her we’re here if you think it won’t be helpful. How is she? Can you tell us what’s been happening since you got to Guernsey? Lukas

Sighing, she looked at the others. ‘How do I answer that?’ she asked, after they’d read the message. ‘Do I tell them to give upall hope of Janina being alive? That one of the sisters – we don’t know which – murdered the big love of Gabe’s life in order to hold onto his daughter? That Sadie has very probably beaten her aunt up and is now seriously conflicted over what she wants to do next? I’m just wondering how to spin this so they don’t come jetting over here with their own lawyers in tow.’

David said, tentatively, ‘Would it be such a bad thing for Sadie to see her father right now? Maybe he’s who she really needs even if she doesn’t quite realize it.’

Cristy glanced at Connor as he said, ‘You two have met the guy, so would you say he’s up to it? I mean, this is pretty traumatic stuff that’s going on here and he’s not … Well, you know what I’m saying.’

Cristy was trying to think it through, to figure out how it might work if Gabe and Lukas did come over, but her instincts didn’t seem to be directing her one way or the other. ‘We need to sleep on it,’ she said in the end, ‘and maybe I’ll talk to Evie in the morning so she can help with the decision. For now I’ll just say that Sadie’s still working through a few things, but it’s good that they’re nearby and I’ll let Sadie know they’re ready to come as soon as the time is right.’

*

As it turned out Cristy didn’t get the chance to speak to Evie the next morning. She, David and Connor were in the kitchen with Cynthia and Lawrence and only partway through breakfast when a message arrived from Sadie.

Mia wants to see you. Please call when you get this.

‘Wow,’ Cristy murmured, showing the text to the others. ‘Can’t say I saw that coming,’ and she quickly connected to Sadie’s number. Finding herself pushed to voicemail, she said, ‘Hey, it’s me, Cristy, calling back. What’s happening over there? Are you OK? Tell Mia we’re happy to see her whenever suits.’

‘At least you’ll find out if she’s been injured,’ Cynthia observed, tapping Laurent’s fingers away from the butter.

‘I don’t know where my knife is,’ he complained.

Handing him one, David said, ‘Where’s Rosie?’

‘Putting her make-up on,’ Anna replied. ‘She’s got a new boyfriend, apparently, and he’s going to be at rehearsals today.’

‘What’s happened to change Mia’s mind about seeing us?’ Connor said to Cristy.

‘Maybe the fact that we know either she or her sister committed a murder?’ she suggested ironically.

‘Sure, but why does she want to talk when she obviously knows her lawyers are shutting us down?’

Cristy shrugged as Laurent said, ‘Who’s been murdered?’

‘No one you know,’ David told him, ‘and it was a long time ago. Now, you need to go and clean your teeth … Are you taking him to sailing club?’ he asked his mother, ‘or am I?’

‘I will,’ Cynthia replied. ‘I have errands to run in town and I can drop Rosie off at the rehearsal rooms on my way through.’ To Cristy and Connor, she said, ‘Will you be staying over the weekend? You’re very welcome, of course, I just need to know how many to shop for.’

‘We’re both booked onto a flight later today,’ Connor replied, ‘but now this has come up …’ He stopped as Cristy’s phone rang, waiting to see if it was Sadie.

‘Matthew, I’ll have to call you back,’ Cristy told her ex as soon as she answered the phone, gesturing helplessly at the others.

‘OK,’ Matthew replied, ‘but make sure you do. I have some important news you’ll want to hear.’

‘I spoke to the children first thing,’ she said. ‘Tell me nothing’s happened since.’