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Before You Were Gone

Sheila Bugler
Chapters (58)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. One
  4. Two
  5. Three
  6. Four
  7. Five
  8. Six
  9. Seven
  10. Eight
  11. Nine
  12. Ten
  13. Eleven
  14. Twelve
  15. Thirteen
  16. Fourteen
  17. Fifteen
  18. Sixteen
  19. Seventeen
  20. Eighteen
  21. Nineteen
  22. Twenty
  23. Twenty-one
  24. Twenty-two
  25. Twenty-three
  26. Twenty-four
  27. Twenty-five
  28. Twenty-six
  29. Twenty-seven
  30. Twenty-eight
  31. Twenty-nine
  32. Thirty
  33. Thirty-one
  34. Thirty-two
  35. Thirty-three
  36. Thirty-four
  37. Thirty-five
  38. Thirty-six
  39. Thirty-seven
  40. Thirty-eight
  41. Thirty-nine
  42. Forty
  43. Forty-one
  44. Forty-two
  45. Forty-three
  46. Forty-four
  47. Forty-five
  48. Forty-six
  49. Forty-seven
  50. Forty-eight
  51. Forty-nine
  52. Fifty
  53. Fifty-one
  54. Acknowledgements
  55. An Eastbourne Murder Mystery
  56. Canelo Crime
  57. About the Author
  58. Also by Sheila Bugler

Cover

Before You Were Gone

Dedication

This book is dedicated to a very special group of women who all live in the same little corner of SE London: Anna Pattenden, Bridget Morrison, Helen Cunningham, Moira Cuthbert and Ursula Gaffney. I love you all and am so lucky to have you in my life. And remember girls, what happens in Brighton, stays in Brighton…

One

It happened on the last day of her trip. Emer was on the London Underground, travelling back to her hotel to pick up her bags before heading to the airport. The Tube was packed, just like every other time she’d travelled on it, and she was squeezed into a corner near the door, trying not to inhale the smell of bodies.

She had her earphones in, listening to her latest music crush, Lana Del Rey. Lana’s haunting voice, singing about big American skies and empty landscapes. Immersed in the music, Emer closed her eyes and tried not to think about her mother, or the row they’d had on the phone earlier.

She should have expected it. If she’d thought about it for more than a few seconds, she’d have realised Ursula was never going to approve of Emer’s plans to move to London. Because if Emer was living in London, how could Ursula continue to control every aspect of her daughter’s life?

Let’s face it, Emer. It’s not as if you’re going to get the job, is it? I’m sure the only reason you got called for an interview is because you’re Robert’s stepdaughter.

Then, when Emer had pointed out that although her stepfather was quite well-known in Ireland, it was unlikely many people in London had ever heard of him:

That’s so typical of you. You’re never able to give Robert the credit he deserves. He has achieved so much, and he works so hard – every single day – to keep you in the manner you’re accustomed to. And what thanks does he get for that? His ungrateful stepdaughter, spending his money on a trip to London for an interview for some job she hasn’t a hope in hell of getting because she hasn’t worked for so long she’s practically unemployable by now.

Besides, we all know the real reason you’ve gone to London. It’s nothing to do with any job. You’ve gone there chasing after her, haven’t you?

The train came out of the tunnel at Barbican, and Emer’s phone beeped with a text.

Despite what you think, I’m not trying to be difficult. I simply want what’s best for you. Is that so hard for you to understand?

Emer deleted the text, without replying.