Page 88 of Girl in the Water

“Thought they did, but it didn’t pan out.”

She stared into her soup, guilt filling her eyes. “I hope you find that child.”

“We’ll do our best, ma’am.”

She looked up. “Is Daniela still out?”

“She’s gone to the shops with Pierre.”

Mrs. Frieseke raised a sparse eyebrow. “Heather won’t like it.”

Ian stopped eating. “Why is that?”

“They’re an item, as they used to say in my day. Heather is already plenty jealous of Hannah. Pierre had a fling with Hannah last year. He’s a handsome young man. The women enjoy him.”

And it sounded like he’d enjoyed half the staff.

Andhe was out with Daniela.

A dark mood enveloped Ian and turned him off his food. He didn’t even touch his fish. He waited politely until Mrs. Frieseke finished her lunch, then said good-bye and moved on. He went to see the few neighbors who hadn’t been home the first time he’d checked out the small wooden houses out back.

He went from home to home, asked his questions, got plenty of answers, but nothing that helped. All the while, he kept an eye on the window of the room he shared with Daniela, but he didn’t see any movement. She wasn’t back yet.

Three hours had passed. How could going to the shops to drop off a load of souvenirs take three damned hours?

They were going to have a talk about the French Boy Wonder when she got back.