Annie opened the café door and hurried off to find scissors. Gemma scooped up John’s and Alfred’s belongings, and they headed into the café, Sally and the paramedics filing in after them.

Gemma sat herself down at the long window bench, and Sally pulled up beside her, taking her hand in both of hers and rubbing it. The paramedics—Georgina and Mark, as they introduced themselves—made small talk as they made tea and kept up a positive but idle commentary on the café and location. Annie guessed they must be expert at filling empty air with friendly noise to soothe people, and she was grateful for their presence. Maeve stood waiting at the door.

“Here.” Annie slapped a large pair of scissors into Maeve’s outstretched palm. “I had to secure the locks with cable ties. You’ll have to snip them. I’ve got more ties in my pocket if you think the cabin hooks will need extra securing.”

“Got it,” said Maeve, and the two women went back out into the storm and began to undo all the work Annie had done earlier. The lifeboat had broadened its search; Annie got outside in time to see it heading around the other side of the peninsula. Without the lifeboat’s powerful beams to cut holes in the darkness, the night swallowed the cliff and the meager light from the car headlamps only dimly lit the beach and the ever-encroaching tide.

The wind was so strong that Annie and Maeve had to work together on each window, taking a shutter each and securing it back with the cabin hooks and cable ties to be safe. As they opened the last set—Alfred’s window—they were greeted by the forlorn faces of Gemma and Sally staring past them.

“Better turn the headlamps off,” said Maeve grimly. “They’ll be draining the batteries.”

Maeve went to her car and Annie to John’s. As she pulled open the door, the smell of John’s aftershave washed over her and for a second she was winded by her fear for him, but she swallowed it down and leaned in to switch the headlamps off, thrusting the beach into a darkness that felt oppressive and hopeless.

Chapter 82

Hot sweet tea!” Sally announced as Annie and Maeve blustered back into the café. Several large cups of strong, dark tea were laid out on the middle table.

“Thanks,” said Annie.

Maeve picked up two cups and went over to sit beside Gemma. She pushed one of the cups toward her friend.

“Come on, old girl,” she said affectionately. “Drink up.”

Gemma looked at Maeve, her eyes brimming with tears.

“It’s just so awful, Maeve,” she said quietly. “I can’t believe it.”

“I know,” said Maeve, patting her friend’s hand. “I know.”