Page 74 of Don't Believe A Word

Giving that a moment, she said, ‘OK, thanks. I guess you’re not going to tell me whether or not it will change things.’

‘I’ll let you make up your mind about that once Sadie’s given you an answer.’

There was a pause, an awkward silence that they suddenly tried to fill at the same time.

‘You first,’ he said.

‘No, you. I was just going to thank you for the call.’

‘You’re welcome. And I was about to ask if you’ve made an arrangement to come to Guernsey yet?’

‘We’ll probably be there at the end of the week. I’m not sure at this stage how long we might stay.’

‘We being you and Connor?’

‘Yes. Oh, and thanks for offering to let us stay atPapillon. It’s really kind of you, but it’s probably best if we check into the Cobo Bay Hotel.’

‘I think you’ll find it’s closed at this time of year.’

‘Oh, well, there are other hotels, obviously. I don’t want to offend your mother, or Rosie, I’d love to see them, but under thecircumstances it wouldn’t feel right for me to stay at the house. I’m sure your mum understands that.’

‘OK, if that’s your decision. Will you consider seeing me while you’re here, just the two of us?’

‘I …’ What was the best way to answer that? ‘Can I think about it?’ she said. ‘I just feel that we’ve …’ What was she trying to say? Why weren’t the words coming?

‘Let me know when you’re ready to talk,’ he said, and the line went dead.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CRISTY: ‘It’s two days after our last drop, and while Clover and Jackson are back at the office digging through the boxes Sadie brought with her from Guernsey, Connor and I are in the car on our way to Malmesbury in Wiltshire to have a chat with Mia Winters’ ex-husband, Edwin Prosser.’

CONNOR: ‘Interestingly, when Mr Prosser’s son first made contact with us, it was to say that his father wanted nothing to do with the pod. However, we got a message last night saying that Edwin was prepared to be interviewed after all.’

CRISTY: ‘It could be you’ll never hear any of what we’re recording now if the interview turns out to be a waste of time, but if Mr Prosser is willing to discuss his marriage to Mia Winters, and what Lottie’s written about him, we’ll certainly be interested to hear it.’

Connor hit the stop button and said, ‘What sort of a link was that?’

Cristy sighed. ‘Not a very good one. Sorry. Shall we try it again?’

With a quick check of the satnav he said, ‘Maybe let’s wait until we know what the guy has to say. We’re nearly there now.’

He indicated to leave the M4 at junction 17, and slowed at the exit roundabout to turn north towards Malmesbury. ‘Is it the looming trip to Guernsey that’s getting to you?’ he asked, coming straight to the point.

She glanced at him, sighed again and said, ‘Yes, but not entirely for the reasons you’re thinking. I’m concerned that we haven’theard from Sadie since yesterday morning when she messaged to say she’d received the picture of Symmonds-Browne.’

‘Were you expecting her to say something in particular about it?’

‘I’m not sure, but I emailed our flight details last night and asked her to confirm she had things set up with Corny, but no reply to that either. You don’t think Mia’s locked her up again, do you?’

‘Why not give Anna a quick call and ask if she knows what’s going on over there?’

‘I’ve already sent a text. She can’t get hold of Sadie either, so she’s calling back as soon as she’s been to the villa. That was just before we started out so …’ Cristy checked the time, ‘about forty minutes ago. Too soon to chase her. I’ll do it when we’ve finished with Prosser.’

They drove on in silence for a while, each with their own thoughts about the series and its many tangled threads, where they were going to lead, how they should be unravelled – until Cristy found herself reflecting on the message she’d received from Robert Brinkley.

Listened to the latest pod last night. I hope our interviews have helped move things on a way for you, and Sadie, maybe too soon to tell. Wish there was more Mum and I could do, but I fear our roles in the past were more incidental than informative. Still, at least we were able to provide names and share a few memories with Sadie. I think they mattered to her.

Returning from Geneva late tomorrow. There’s a fundraiser for MSF at Merchant’s House on Saturday evening, yours truly one of the speakers. Wondered if you’d consider being my guest?