Where the Memories Lie

 

 

‘A little bit. With Lucas in agreement, he can’t do much else, really. But he’s not happy about it.’

 

‘No one’s happy about it. This is just stupid,’ she barked.

 

‘No, I didn’t mean . . . oh, never mind.’

 

‘Sorry. I’m just stressed.’

 

I squeezed her hand then. Of course she was, what with the worry of Lucas’s affair and now this – no wonder she was looking ruffled.

 

She picked at the hem of her dress. ‘I can’t believe we’re even doing this.’

 

I jigged my knee up and down as we waited in silence. It seemed like hours before Sergeant Downing came back, but in reality it was probably only forty-five minutes.

 

I tried to read the expression on his face as he sat down, but I couldn’t work it out. I bet there was a lesson on the art of pulling the perfect poker face during their police training. I visualised a whole 58

 

Where the Memories Lie room of officers pulling different expressions in front of the mirror to see which worked best.

 

Oh, God, get a grip, Olivia!

 

I took a deep breath and focused on him. ‘What have you found out?’

 

He took his time looking between Nadia and me. ‘There are no missing persons reports for someone of that name.’

 

I exhaled loudly. ‘Thank goodness for that.’

 

‘I checked the voters’ registers and there is a Georgia Walker listed in Abbotsbury.

 

I leaned forward, heart racing. ‘Oh?’

 

‘Unfortunately, there’s no telephone number listed for her, like you discovered, so I’m going to take a drive over there and see what I can find out.’ He stood up. ‘I’ll call you when I know something.’

 

‘Thank you.’ I stood up.

 

‘You promise you’ll call as soon as you hear something?’

 

Nadia asked.

 

‘Yes.’ He led us back out to the public area by the front desk and we said goodbye.

 

I gulped in a lungful of fresh air outside. The interview room had smelled of cheesy feet. Not pleasant.

 

‘Do you want to go home and wait?’ Nadia asked.

 

‘No. I don’t want to go home with bad news. Ethan’s still blaming me for all this. He mostly ignored me on the drive back, and when I dropped them all off at the house before we came here, he stomped off, which is so unlike him. He’s not normally a moody sulker.’

 

She put a hand on my arm. ‘I’m still sure there’s nothing to it.’

 

I nodded. ‘Shall we get a coffee or something?’

 

‘I fancy a real drink.’

 

‘Yeah. Good idea.’

 

59

 

Sibel Hodge

 

So we drove back to Portesham and parked up at the Kings’

 

Arms, situated on the village green in front of the road that led to Abbotsbury in one direction and Weymouth in the other.

 

I bought a red wine and a gin and tonic and carried them outside to the beer garden where Nadia had bagged us the only table left. At six-thirty on a hot Saturday summer’s evening, the place was already heaving.

 

I took a gulp of red wine, savouring the kick as the alcohol hit the back of my throat. Nadia downed a third of hers in one suck of her straw.

 

I looked at my watch, even though I’d already checked it four times since I sat down. ‘What’s taking Sergeant Downing so long?

 

He must’ve got there by now.’

 

‘Maybe she’s out shopping or something.’

 

I pulled my phone out of my bag and checked the signal. Yes, it was fine. And the battery was fully charged. I placed it on the table and knocked back some more wine.

 

Nadia’s phone rang in her mulberry-coloured Michael Kors bag. She delved inside and pulled it out, looking at the display.

 

‘It’s Lucas.’ She answered it and told him what was going on before hanging up. ‘He’s coming up to wait with us. I’ll get him a pint.’

 

She finished her drink and stood. ‘Want another one?’

 

‘Yes, please.’

 

After she’d disappeared off to the bar, my phone rang, sending my heart pounding again.

 

‘Hello?’

 

‘Hi, is this Olivia Tate?’