Before I could answer, she turned and left, and after I finished my water, I walked to my room, head spinning. Who were Celine and Kate? Why had Fiona’s brother been happy to see Ash leave? What the hell had happened here? I sank onto the bed, grabbed my phone and ran more searches. There was nothing about a Celine, but a little over two years ago, a young woman called Kate Jansen had accidentally fallen off some local cliffs while out running and had died. I wanted to go back to reception, demand Fiona tell me if this was the Kate she’d mentioned, but I didn’t have the nerve in case she said yes.

Still, I needed someone to talk to, someone who could help me figure stuff out. I flicked through my contacts and dialed Sam’s number, hoping he’d forgiven me for swearing at him.

“Lily,” he said, answering right away. “How are things?”

“I found him,” I said, still unable to believe what I was saying. My words tumbled out as I told him everything. The library book, locating Maya and my trip to Maine.

Sam couldn’t believe it, and after asking a million times if I was sure this man called Ash really was Jack, he let out a long whistle. “This is unbelievable. You’ve called Heron, right?” I hesitated a beat too long. “Lily? What’s going on?”

“Before I left Brookmount they told me they thought Jack, I mean, Ash, might have been involved with some shady guy. Something to do with illegal gambling.”

“What? That’s impossible.”

“That’s what I told them. I mean, we both know he liked playing cards and was super competitive at it. But gambling? It’s nuts.”

“I agree, he’s not the type,” Sam said. “He’s always been timely with his rent, never asked for an extension of any kind. Maybe they were mistaken?”

“I’m sure,” I replied, trying to believe it as I pictured the cookie-tin cash tucked away in my duffel. “But I’m not calling them. Not before I see Ash again. Don’t mention any of this to them, please. If he did owe someone money, or stole from them, they can’t know he’s alive and living in Maine.”

Sam went quiet for a while, before saying, “All right, but be careful, please?”

“There’s nothing to worry about,” I said, ignoring the whispers in my head saying Sam had a point, I had to be wary, not because of the guy who’d been at the apartment, or the break-in, but because, although he was alive, the Jack Smith I knew and loved might no longer exist.

20

MAYA