Page 106 of Midnight

‘I’ve lived most of my life without him looking out for me. It wasn’t until I developed this aptitude for business that he showed any interest at all. I just hope Ingrid and the boys will be OK. What happened to you?’

‘Janine. She’d followed me and Aaron here to kill us.’

‘Jesus! Does Pierre have her locked up somewhere?’

Olivia shook her head. ‘She went overboard with me. But they didn’t find her.’

Melissa reached out to the centre of the table, and poured a generous dram of Scotch into three of Pierre’s heavy-bottomed fancy crystal tumblers. They caught the light like chips of pure ice off a glacier. She passed one to Annalise, and one to Olivia.

‘Drink,’ she said. And Olivia was glad for the smoky warmth of the whisky’s burn.

52

Olivia watched from the bow as theClarissa IIpulled into the port of Ushuaia. Her wrist still throbbed where the knife had sliced her. She’d been neatly patched up by Pierre’s doctor, but she’d need the stitches looked at in the local hospital.

She would have company there. Cutler had woken up, but he needed proper medical aid. They’d kept him on theClarissa IIas well, the yacht faster and more nimble than theVigil. He was down below, preparing to be rushed into intensive care.

The crossing had been so different. Subdued, peaceful, the Drake Lake this time, showing just how calm the waters could be when they wanted to.

She raised her binoculars, training them on the harbour entrance. There were police cars and an ambulance on the road nearby – waiting for Cutler – but there was someone else there too. Her breath hitched. Someone she recognized on shore was waiting for her.

The person raised their hand, tentative at first.

Olivia lowered her binoculars, then waved back.

Tricia. Her best friend had come for her.

Olivia rushed inside, wanting to be at the gangway the moment that they docked. She bumped into Annalise, who hadn’t left her dad’s side.

‘How is he doing?’

‘He’ll survive,’ she said. ‘And the word is that theVigilshould be docking a few hours after us. I’m sure Ingrid and the boys are anxiously awaiting an update.’

Olivia patted Annalise’s arm. ‘You’re doing the right thing.’

‘I hope so. For Patty’s sake.’

TheVigil– led by Melissa – had sent out search parties for Patty and brought Liam’s body on board. They hadn’t found her.

Annalise had been distraught – almost inconsolable. But when she recovered, she spent hours negotiating with Pierre, trying to come up with a plan to save the life of the Pioneer business. She offered to lead the expansion of a new LUJO adventure travel arm, so that hundreds of people wouldn’t have to lose their jobs.

She wasn’t the only one to be offered a new career. Pierre had spoken to Olivia too. ‘Are you certain you don’t want a job with me?’ he’d asked. ‘There’s plenty of room in my company for a talented actuary. You wouldn’t have any more financial issues.’

But Olivia shook her head. ‘I think I have to find my own path.’

‘Are you sure? It didn’t seem like you were happy at Pendle …’

She’d shaken her head. ‘No, I won’t go back there either,’ she said. ‘But I have another plan that you could help me with.’ Despite everything that had happened between her and Janine, she hadn’t been able to get away from what she’d said. How there might be a better way to preserve Kostas Yennin’s legacy, which honoured his art and the environment he loved so much. The Hunt Advisory could be part of that. A foundation in Yennin’s name. She could make it happen.

‘I’m all ears,’ Pierre had said.

The yacht pulled up to the dock.

‘You’ll take care of yourself?’ Annalise asked.

‘I’ll try. You as well, I hope.’

The two women – the survivors of cabin twelve – embraced.

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