Edging further into the undergrowth, branches scratched at my arms and a mulch of old leaves rustled at my feet. I knelt down behind a fallen tree, getting as low as I could, gathering the fabric of the sarong around my thighs. It was as good a spot as any. From here, I could see right across the clearing to where the trees thinned out and gave way to the cliff edge. I would also get a good view of whoever came along in a few minutes’ time, well before they could see me. My mobile was warm in my hand and already slippery with sweat. I opened the camera mode and selected the ‘burst’ option which would shoot a couple of dozen images in rapid succession, in case there were only a few seconds to get the picture.

For the first time it occurred to me that the woods were beautifully peaceful. A solitary bird sang high up in the canopy of branches above my head and leaves rustled in the faint breeze coming up from the gorge.

I settled back to wait, one hand unconsciously tapping the outline of the condom in the pocket of my shorts.

Who would respond to the message? How would I feel when I knew? Was it better to know?

Or did I still have time to walk away?

No. This had to be played out, all the way. It was better to –

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a small movement to my right, deeper into the woods. A rustling, the snap of a twig. An animal? Or someone whispering in the trees?

I shifted position slightly to get a better look.

Another rustle from my right, closer now, another flash of movement at the edge of my vision. I squinted into the trees. A bird, maybe? Cat?

More silence. Sweat prickled the back of my neck.

I checked my watch again. The fifteen minutes was up.

Maybe she wasn’t coming. Maybe Sean found the message and warned her off.

A sound. Steps, hurrying up the path from the gorge below.

A figure appeared. A petite woman in a wide-brimmed straw hat, black hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, phone in hand.

It was Izzy.

Chapter 45

45

Izzy stopped in the clearing and turned around as if looking for someone, staring through the trees to left and right. She was breathing heavily.

She looked out at the view, hands on her hips, shoulders rising and falling with every breath. Her head moved in a little semi-circle, taking in the rock formations on the far side of the gorge, the fields and forests and hills rising into the distance beyond.

For a few seconds I was too stunned to do anything.

CoralGirl was not supposed to be Izzy. It was supposed to be Jennifer. Or Rowan.