The panel lit up and the arrow signalled the lift was returning from the fourth floor. That must have been where they went.

The doors opened and they got inside. Adrian wasn’t a fan of lifts at the best of times; it was definitely worse in a half-finished building. He didn’t know what the doors were going to reveal when they opened. The lift groaned as it climbed.

Adrian looked over at Imogen, who was staring at the panel and watching the numbers creep up. He had created a chasm between them by pushing her away. Reaching over, he took her fingers in his hand. She turned towards him, surprised.

Adrian didn’t know what was going to happen in the next few minutes, but he knew that this might be the last opportunity he would have to kiss her like this, without her knowing what had happened. Even if she was annoyed at him now, it was better than pity, which was inevitable if she discovered the truth – he wasn’t sure he could handle that.

He leaned towards her and placed his lips on hers, trying not to let his emotions overrun him. Adrian savoured the moment and forgot everything. He wouldn’t let his anxieties put her at risk anymore. He had been selfish. Pulling away, he looked into her eyes for what felt like the last time. The doors opened and the cold air hit them immediately.

‘What was that for?’ Imogen said as she stepped out of the lift.

‘I just wanted you to know, in case you didn’t already, that I love you. I hope you believe me when I say that.’

‘I do believe you.’

‘I’m really sorry if I have been difficult lately. I’m going to try to be better. I don’t know why you have put up with me. I really don’t deserve you.’

‘I won’t argue with you there. Let’s get this bastard and then we can talk about how you’re going to make it up to me.’

She smiled, the first time in a while, he noted. He really had messed everything up.

There was a dim glow at the end of the soon-to-be hallway; it was low, casting a stripe of light across the floor. Adrian supposed it was a torch. They walked towards it. As they got closer, they could hear talking, raised and fast, an argument.

Adrian turned to Imogen and whispered, ‘They don’t know we are here. Let me go and talk to them and you call this in. I think we might need back-up.’

He could see her weighing up what he was suggesting in her mind before nodding in agreement. She pulled out her phone and stayed where she was. Adrian moved forwards, terrified of what he might see when he walked into that room.

Chapter Seventy-Eight