Justin didn’t react immediately. And then, shaking his head, he emitted a short, scornful laugh. ‘And he’s had the results?’ he asked, his tone flat.
‘I believe so, yes.’ Her throat tight, Alicia looked away. If he looked at her now, if she saw what was in his eyes, she would crumble. ‘He threatened to tell you,’ she whispered, using her sleeve to wipe her eyes, rather than delve into her bag for a tissue. ‘Or at least he hinted he would, so yes, I suppose he must.’
‘Threatened?’ She felt Justin turn to her. ‘To what end?’ He sounded incredulous, confused.
Alicia hesitated. ‘I’m not sure,’ she said, not knowing how to share her suspicions with her husband.
‘Because he wants future contact with her?’ Justin’s voice rose. ‘The daughter he’s had no contact with whatsoever, and who is now missing?’
Feeling sick to her very soul, Alicia pressed a hand to her forehead. She had to talk to him, properly. She couldn’t undo the lie she’d told, but she had to talk to him, try to explain. ‘I don’t think that’s his reason, no,’ she said guardedly.
Justin didn’t say anything – nothing at all – staring straight ahead instead.
Alicia looked towards him. His face was taut and white, a tell-tale twitch tugging at his cheek. ‘Justin,’ she started, ‘I know you won’t want to hear it, but—’
‘I need to go,’ he said tersely, and started the engine. ‘You might want to tell him to have a rethink.’
Forty
SOPHIE
Waking with a jolt, Sophie sat bolt upright, looking frantically around. Seeing Paul coming through the door, she breathed a sigh of relief and then sank groggily back down.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked, walking across to put a glass of Coke on the bedside table.
‘Shitty,’ Sophie answered honestly, blinking up at him. She felt like she had the worst bug ever.
‘Language,’ Paul said, smiling tolerantly as he looked down at her. He wasn’t very impressed though, Sophie guessed, from the slight narrowing of his eyes.
‘Sorry,’ she said, attempting to lever herself up. She’d have to watch her mouth, she realised. The fact was, though, she did feel like shit. It must be the worst superbug ever. ‘Do you think I should maybe go to the doctor’s?’ she asked him, as he reached to help her.
‘I’ve rung them,’ he said. ‘They can’t prescribe antibiotics for flu bugs, unfortunately. You need to drink plenty of fluids though. Don’t worry, it’ll be out of your system soon, I promise. I’ve had it myself.’
Sophie nodded. She supposed he was right. And the fluids made sense. Her throat still felt like the bottom of a birdcage. She reached thirstily for her Coke.
Paul beat her to it. ‘Don’t want to have to strip that bed again, do we?’ He smiled and guided the glass to her mouth. ‘You should think about going without make-up,’ he said, watching as she took a huge glug. ‘Natural is so much nicer, don’t you think?’
Sophie managed a small, indulgent smile. Yeah, right, she thought.
‘You should lose the eyebrow stud, too,’ he said, nodding towards it as he placed the glass back on the table.
‘Why?’ She gawked up at him. She liked her stud. It had taken her ages to pluck up the courage to get it done, and it had hurt like hell, but she was quite proud of it.
‘Just a suggestion,’ Paul said. ‘If you’re hoping to get onto your veterinary course, they’re likely to frown upon it, for hygiene reasons.’
Oh. That gave Sophie pause for thought.
‘Plus, it does look a bit juvenile, to be honest,’ Paul added.
‘Does it?’ Sophie frowned. ‘I thought it looked pretty cool.’
Paul closed one eye and shook his head doubtfully. ‘Childish,’ he said. ‘I’d take it out if I were you, but that’s just my opinion.’
Not entirely convinced, Sophie reached for it, wincing as she pulled it out. He might be right, she supposed. She could always put it back in later.
‘Better,’ he said, nodding approvingly. ‘Much. Trust me. Now, will you be all right for a couple of hours, do you think? I have a seminar I have to head up at the local office. I shouldn’t be too long, though.’
‘I thought you were on leave,’ Sophie said, though she’d already guessed he was off somewhere, since he was wearing a grey business suit, crisp white shirt and red tie. He definitely looked dapper. Not as handsome as Justin though. She quashed an overwhelming sense of homesickness and wondered again where Luke’s little pink elephant had gone. Paul had said he hadn’t seen it but would ask his cleaner. Sophie hadn’t seen a cleaner, but then she’d been pretty zonked out for a while.
‘Seems I’m in big demand.’ Paul rolled his eyes. ‘My overseas investment knowledge is invaluable, apparently. There’s more Coke in the fridge, but drink plenty of water, too. That fizzy stuff’s no good for you. Way too much sugar. Don’t want to get fat, do you? I’ll make sure to get Diet Coke next time. Help yourself to anything else you fancy, obviously.’
‘Cheers,’ Sophie said. She actually was feeling marginally better – possibly well enough to have a potter around. She’d rather watch TV than lie around in here, and she could really use another shower.
‘Shouldn’t be too long,’ Paul said, heading for the door. ‘I’ll bring some Florida brochures back with me. That should be worth getting better for. Oh, and don’t forget to take your vitamins. I’ve left a couple next to your Coke.’
Forty-One
JUSTIN
‘Christ, you look rough,’ Taylor observed, looking Justin over as he came into the station reception area.
‘You need to talk to someone,’ Justin said, dragging his hands up over his face, exhausted and disorientated from endless hours spent searching for Sophie. He’d crawled the streets, checked shop doorways and car parks, trawled shopping precincts, and all the while, he hadn’t been able to shake the thought rattling around in his head: tall and dark. That fitted Radley’s description. He told himself he was being paranoid, counting how many tall, dark men he saw as he walked, but after his conversation with Alicia, he wanted Radley checked out. The man’s interest, which he hadn’t even tried to hide, was obviously more in Alicia than Sophie, but Justin needed to be sure he’d had no contact with her. He wanted the fucker out of his life, which might never happen, unless Justin did something about it. Sophie was his daughter. In his heart, he didn’t need any proof of that. On paper, though… he had to do something about that. Go to the hospital and get the test organised. Today. Whatever the outcome, he would fight to make sure he stayed part of her life. He’d file for custody if he had to. First, though, he had to find her. He would find her.
Justin took a breath, knowing that what he was about to say might give Taylor more reason to class Sophie a low-risk runaway. It was possible that Radley had had no contact with her, but if he had any information regarding her whereabouts whatsoever, then Justin had to take that chance. ‘Paul Radley, the man who was at our house on the day of the break-in, he and Alicia, they…’ He faltered, the words sticking in his throat. ‘They had an affair.’
Taylor’s eyes widened.
‘Years ago,’ Justin went on, awkwardly, ‘around the time Sophie was conceived.’
‘Ah.’ Taylor’s brow furrowed in consternation. ‘You’d better come through.’ He gestured for the PC behind the desk to release the security door. ‘So, am I to assume there’s some doubt around her parentage?’ he asked, leading Justin through to his office and nodding him towards a visitor’s chair before seating himself at his desk.
Justin declined the invitation to take a seat. He was so wound up, he was finding it difficult to stand still, let alone sit. ‘Possibly,’ he said carefully. There was no way he wanted Taylor privy to the information about the test, which might sway his thinking in regard to whatever rights Radley had. ‘Alicia and I haven’t really… Look, I don’t know for sure, okay? For Christ’s sake, do you need the details? Can you not just send someone to his—’