Page 72 of Someone in the Water
Gwen shrugs. ‘Maybe check with the sender? They haven’t arrived.’
I think about Anna behind that office door. Has she intercepted Lola’s post? Is there a reason she doesn’t want us to leave? Or one of the others – Raphael, Jack, Patrick even?
I shake my head. This is nonsense; I’m being paranoid. Maybe Lola has already collected them. Or she could have read her email wrong, and the documents are not due until tomorrow.
The office door opens, making me jump. Then I suck in a breath. ‘Dom?’
Dom’s eyes widen. He looks so guilty that instinctively I know he’s done something bad. But what? Pushed notes under my door? Stolen Lola’s travel documents? Killed our friends? My vision blurs and I blink again.
‘Um, hi, Frankie,’ he stutters, weaving his way around the reception desk, his eyes darting in different directions. ‘Yep, here again.’ He laughs, but it sounds forced. He must recognise it too, because he stops abruptly. ‘Harriet wanted to come back for dinner again,’ he says. ‘For old times’ sake.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘It’s costing me a bloody fortune in petrol, all this driving back and forth.’
His fake whimsy doesn’t fool me. But I don’t know what the truth is.
‘So Harriet’s here too?’ I ask.
He nods. ‘In the car. We’re heading back home now, but I needed to have a quick chat with Anna.’
‘Oh?’
‘About Thursday night,’ Anna says smoothly. ‘Salvo’s gathering. Dom has kindly offered to go to the bar early to help set things up.’
‘And I hear you’re coming,’ Dom says. ‘You and Lola. Which is great news.’
‘No, we’re hoping to leave tomorrow,’ I say.
‘Oh really?’ Dom’s face drops, and it’s the first time his expression looks genuine. ‘Are you sure I can’t persuade you? As I said before, I think you’d love Sartène.’
‘Lola wants to be home in time for her birthday,’ I lie.
He stares at me, then leans in slightly and lowers his voice to a whisper. ‘I think you need to come to Sartène.’
I catch my breath. What does he mean by that?
But before I get chance to figure it out, he turns, says a quick goodbye to Anna, and walks outside. I watch him stride towards the car park and open the driver’s door of his car.
It’s dark, but I’m pretty sure there’s no one in the passenger seat.
Lola
30th July
Lola lies in bed and stares at the sun leaking around the edge of the blind.While you’re here, with me, I won’t let anything bad happen to you.That’s what Patrick said to her last night, but does she believe it? At least enough to convince herself that it’s safe to stay until the weekend? She knows it sounds fickle with everything that’s going on, but she’s never taken part in a windsurfing race outside the UK before and the one on Piantarella beach sounds amazing. More than that, Patrick has already paid the entry fee for her.
Patrick. She knows her urge to stay isn’t just about windsurfing.
Who will die first? Mother or daughter?
She should get up. Her mum will be freaking out. She pushes onto her elbows, then twists and reaches for her phone. Sure enough, there are four missed calls and two texts from her mum. She sends a holding text back, then flops back down on the bed.
Last night, lying on the beach with Patrick, everything seemed simple again. Mazzeri dreams are just fantasy, so there’s nothing to worry about there. And Patrick would keep her safe from whoever wrote those notes. But can he really protect her from a killer or is that just fantasy too? And what about her mum? She pushes back the sheet and climbs out of bed. One thing is for sure, she can’t hide from her any longer.
Fifteen minutes later, she’s showered, dressed, and walking along the beach towards the hotel. The sun is in its usual spot, projecting its warmth over guests lying on sun loungers in angled lines down the beach. The sea is producing lazy ripples, and a few kids are splashing around in the shallow water. How can she possibly be scared for her life in a place like this?
She hasn’t eaten since the picnic yesterday and her stomach is full of acid after those Long Island iced teas, but there’s a big chance her mum is waiting for her in the restaurant, and she knows her first question will be whether Lola has picked up her travel documents. If she collects those first, at least she’ll have some good news for her. With her stomach growling in protest, she veers away from the restaurant entrance and heads to the reception desk instead.
She slows a little when she sees who’s behind the desk, then shakes herself down and walks up. ‘Hi, Anna, I think my new travel documents arrived yesterday. Is there some post for me?’
Anna looks agitated. ‘No, Lola. I’m afraid there isn’t. Just as Gwen, who was on duty last night, explained to your mum. More than once, as I understand it.’
