Page 78 of On the Edge

Nel nodded.‘Okay, thanks.’

‘Oh, I nearly forgot.’Viv passed her an envelope.‘Sophie Warner dropped this in for you.’

Nel frowned.‘What is it?’The nondescript envelope gave no clues about its contents.

‘No idea.She just asked me to pass it on to you.I told her you’d be here in a jiffy if she wanted to wait, but she said she was double-parked.’

There was a sudden piercing wail.Suzie Hart stood and started jiggling, trying to settle the baby.

‘Suzie, let’s take a look at your little one,’ Nel said, putting the letter in her bag.

Curiosity gnawed at Nel all morning as she saw one patient after another.Why would Sophie write to her?She counted the minutes until her lunch break, then she closed the door, took the envelope from her bag and ripped it open.

It was a single page, handwritten in blue biro.

Nel,

I’m saying goodbye.I’ve stayed too long already.

Thanks for being a friend to me, even just briefly.

Somehow knowing you has given me the strength to leave.

Sophie

Nel felt a smile unfold on her face.

PS There’s a ring hidden in Ryan’s things.I stumbled across it a while back.

It might be the one that went missing all those years ago.

Nel’s heart raced.She reached for her phone.Her hands shook as she typed a message to Jimmy.

I need to talk to you asap.I’m coming to the station.See you in 5.

Chapter 50

Nel’s heart thumped in her chest as she dinged the bell on the unattended counter at Carrinya Police Station.A young female officer appeared.

‘I need to speak to Jimmy,’ Nel said, breathless.‘Is he here?’

‘Sure, one moment.’The officer disappeared.Moments later, the door swung open.

‘What’s happened?’Jimmy said.‘Are you okay?’

Nel unfolded the letter and placed it on the counter between them.When he reached the PS at the bottom, his eyes widened.

‘If he has the ring, it proves he lied,’ Nel said, still breathless.

Jimmy nodded slowly.‘Between the ring and the DNA we would definitely have enough to question him again.If we find the ring, that is.’

‘Can you search his place?’

‘I’ll need to get a warrant, but it should be relatively straightforward.’He held up the letter.‘Can I keep this?’

She nodded.‘Of course.’

‘Do you remember what the ring looks like?’