She started to tremble all over. She was having trouble breathing, and she closed her eyes and concentrated on taking deep, long breaths. It was an awful feeling. Her doctor said the panic attacks came on when she was feeling stressed. Well, of course she was stressed! Her daughter was missing and her grandson was cross with her. Coupled with her husband’s angry shouting, it was inevitable.

She forced back the tears that were threatening and, going to her dressing table, she repaired her make-up carefully. It didn’t make her feel better as it usually did. She sat back down in her chair and wondered if her husband was going to ring her, and put her mind at rest. She poured herself out another large glass of red wine and, as she sipped it, she decided that she would put on one of her favourite DVDs.

Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Four

Chapter One Hundred
and Twenty-Four

‘Look, Lana, I am doing all I can to locate my daughter. If I was you, I’d try and fucking sort out your own daughter – my wife! In case it’s escaped your notice, she hasn’t left her fucking bedroom since the old King died! Now fuck off and stop ringing me. If I have any news, you will be one of the first to hear it.’

Michael slammed down the phone. He was so angry. Who did she think she was? Lana was like Josephine and his mother – they expected him to miraculously sort everything out for them. And he did, most of the time, but the only thing he wanted to concentrate on now was finding Jessie, and chasing down that fucker Golding. The last thing he needed was to spend time on the phone with people he would happily avoid if he wasn’t related to them!

Declan Costello laughed. ‘Well, that fucking told her, anyway!’

Michael looked at Declan; he was such a good friend to him, despite everything that had happened in the past. ‘Fucking Lana! She’s a pain in the arse. Josephine takes after her. She thinks that everything in the world revolves around her and fuck everybody else. Do you know something, Declan? Josephine hasn’t left the house for years. That mad cunt who’s got my Jessie sent her a letter with a number to call, and she didn’t even fucking ring me to tell me! She now can’t even make a phone call apparently! The fucking mad bitch. But she can take a call. You tell me where the logic is in that?’

Declan sighed. ‘I know, Michael, you told me this before, mate. We all know your Josephine is a bit eccentric. But don’t say anything you’ll regret tomorrow, eh?’

Michael had always played down Josephine’s oddities. Personally, Declan thought she was fucking barking. But then he wasn’t married to her, thank fuck.