BooksBarbecue
Back Gone
Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraph
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. Acknowledgements
  75. Reading Group Questions
  76. Read More
  77. I

He took a breath and tried to think of a way to change the subject.

‘Marcus! Tell me. Do you think these people are trying to hurt you?’

‘Not physically, no.’ He thought about the cyclist who’d knocked him over.

‘What does that mean, “not physically”?’

‘Look, Sarah, I said I don’t want you involved in this. I can’t tell you any more.’

She nodded solemnly. They talked instead about her medical research, something to do with DNA profiling, but neither was concentrating fully.

‘I have an hour or so before my meeting,’ Sarah said after the waitress had cleared their cups. ‘And my hotel is just around the corner.’

An hour and fifteen minutes later, Jameson walked back through the lobby of the Malmaison Hotel feeling pretty damn good. He smiled at the well-dressed businessman still working on his laptop. He’d noticed him when they’d arrived – or rather he’d noticed his Breitling watch. He waved a cheery goodbye to the receptionist and headed to the station. He had three messages from Bloom.

Today 11:15am

I’ve been summoned back to London by the HCPC. My tribunal has been set for tomorrow. They had a cancellation. Bit convenient! Call me when you can. A

Today 11:35am

DS Green called. There’s been an unconfirmed sighting of Jane in Manchester. He wants to know if you can go and help the officers there?

Today 12:00pm

The games are most definitely on, Marcus. I’ve just heard from Libby Goodman. Stuart sent her a text message this morning. CALL ME!

‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘My phone was on silent.’

‘I do not need the details, thank you.’ She sounded annoyed. ‘I’m on the two p.m. train back to London, so I need you to speak to Libby and then go to Manchester. Can you manage that?’

He fought the urge to apologize again; it would only irritate her. He had acted irresponsibly; he knew it and she knew it. All so he could have the enjoyment of Sarah.

‘Of course. Who’s the witness for Jane?’

‘A security guard at Piccadilly station. He tried to speak to her, but apparently she ran away. DS Green will fill you in.’

‘Why would she run? Her message to Claire said she wanted us to come and get her. That doesn’t sound like Jane.’

‘Maybe not. Maybe it wasn’t Jane. But if it was and she really is travelling to Manchester alone, she is doing so for one of two reasons. Either she’s escaped, in which case she’ll be trying to contact you and Claire, or …’

‘She’s out on condition.’

‘Yes. And who knows what they’ve threatened her with if she talks or gets caught.’