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Chapters (62)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. Contents
  4. About the Author
  5. About the Book
  6. Dedication
  7. Your Worst Nightmare
  8. ONE
  9. TWO
  10. THREE
  11. FOUR
  12. FIVE
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. EIGHT
  16. NINE
  17. The Answer to All Your Prayers
  18. TEN
  19. ELEVEN
  20. TWELVE
  21. THIRTEEN
  22. FOURTEEN
  23. FIFTEEN
  24. SIXTEEN
  25. SEVENTEEN
  26. EIGHTEEN
  27. NINETEEN
  28. TWENTY
  29. TWENTY-ONE
  30. TWENTY-TWO
  31. TWENTY-THREE
  32. TWENTY-FOUR
  33. TWENTY-FIVE
  34. TWENTY-SIX
  35. TWENTY-SEVEN
  36. TWENTY-EIGHT
  37. TWENTY-NINE
  38. THIRTY
  39. THIRTY-ONE
  40. Somebody Else’s Child
  41. THIRTY-TWO
  42. THIRTY-THREE
  43. THIRTY-FOUR
  44. THIRTY-FIVE
  45. THIRTY-SIX
  46. THIRTY-SEVEN
  47. THIRTY-EIGHT
  48. THIRTY-NINE
  49. FORTY
  50. FORTY-ONE
  51. FORTY-TWO
  52. FORTY-THREE
  53. FORTY-FOUR
  54. FORTY-FIVE
  55. FORTY-SIX
  56. FORTY-SEVEN
  57. FORTY-EIGHT
  58. FORTY-NINE
  59. Sunlight on Water
  60. July
  61. September
  62. Acknowledgements

‘A Spider, bright red. A beautiful car that was, a pleasure to drive. It’s the only thing about him I miss.’

Hagen’s pulling out his notebook.

‘Can we just get some details from you, Lindsey? What’s your ex’s name?’

‘Gary,’ says Lindsey. ‘Officially Gareth. Last name is Prentice, with a “c”.’

Hagen hasn’t made any connection, and he’s writing down the name without thinking. But Naylor’s memory has thrown up an image: the reconstruction following Evan’s disappearance, and the caretaker standing by the school doors, telling Evan and Stewie to get a move on, as he rattles a bunch of keys.

‘Gary Prentice is your ex?’ she asks.

Picking up something in her tone, Hagen looks at her.

‘Yes,’ says Lindsey. ‘This isn’t about Gary, is it?’

‘Should it be?’ asks Naylor.

Lindsey moves to check the lounge door is still closed.

‘Would you like a coffee?’ she asks. ‘I was just going to have one.’

‘Thanks,’ says Hagen. ‘Milk and two.’

‘Just milk for me,’ says Naylor. ‘Do you know where Gary’s working now?’

Lindsey’s filling the kettle and finding clean mugs.

‘I’ve no idea. Our split wasn’t too friendly and we haven’t kept in touch. This is about him, isn’t it?’

‘I’ll be as honest as I can with you,’ says Naylor. ‘When we knocked on your door, this wasn’t about Gary, but it might be now. How did you two meet?’

Lindsey pours boiling water on to instant coffee and takes milk from the fridge.

‘He was caretaker at the school where I work, Woodrow Primary in Guildford.’

A flicker of understanding crosses Hagen’s face. Lindsey adds sugar to Hagen’s coffee and hands both him and Naylor a mug.

‘How long were you together?’

‘Not long, maybe about six months. Looking back on it, he was a rebound for me. My husband had just left me, and I was feeling pretty low. Gary’s attention was flattering. If I’d been a bit more myself, I don’t think it would ever have got past a one-night stand.’ She takes a sip of her coffee. ‘When we fell out, it was pretty much over anyway. He never wanted to do anything except spend time on his laptop – eBay, Auto Trader. That’s what he told me, anyway.’

‘What did you fall out about?’ asks Hagen.

Lindsey takes a deep breath.