BooksBarbecue
Back Before You Were Gone
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

On the horizon, the sun was sinking closer to the surface of the water. The sky and sea were streaked with shades of red and burnt orange; the grey and white shingle seemed to glow. Dee soaked it all in, telling herself that whatever else was wrong in her life, she’d got this bit right. Living here, on this deserted beach, was something she’d always be grateful for.

Earlier, she’d had an email from Shay. He’d managed to speak with Lucy’s sister, Maeve, and had arranged to meet her next week. He told Dee he’d also remembered that, at the time Kitty drowned, both her parents had been working for Robert O’Brien.

Ursula was his PA, Shay wrote. Robert didn’t employ Eamon full-time but he gave him odd jobs every now and then. Looking back over my notes, it seems Eamon was doing some decorating work for Robert when Kitty drowned. It’s why Eamon wasn’t on holiday with the rest of the family. Since speaking to you this morning, I’m more convinced than ever there’s a story here. One other thing that may interest you. According to several people I’ve spoken to, Robert is devoted to Ursula. So, whatever else he may or may not have done, I think you can rule out an affair. Let me know how you got on in London today?

So far, she hadn’t got back to him because she didn’t know what to tell him. On the train back to Eastbourne, she’d resisted the urge to go onto the internet and search for information on Annie Holden. She knew it was better to give her mind time to process everything that had happened. She didn’t want her own feelings – frustration, confusion, anger – to blur the facts.

Further along the beach, she could see Ella and Jake with a group of friends. They looked like they were having a picnic. Their voices and laughter travelled along the beach to where Dee sat. She knew she could go and join them if she wanted. She’d met Ella’s friends before and they were a friendly bunch – other young mothers like Ella, with children and families of their own – but Dee had little in common with them. She didn’t think she could face an evening smiling and laughing and acting as if everything was okay, when inside she felt like shit.

One question kept niggling her. Why had Ed been there? The more she thought about it, the more Dee realised his sudden appearance outside Annie’s house wasn’t a coincidence.