“I don’t. But Nicole didn’t seem very happy when she came to see me. In fact, I’d say she’s barely holding it together.”
“I’m sorry; you told me to keep her happy.”
He waved her words away. “As long as she doesn’t come undone in the next three days. Now tell me about the article.”
She hesitated. “The printers will deliver tomorrow morning.”
“But you must have something you can show me. The original draft?” He looked at her expectantly.
She had desperately wanted to surprise him…then an idea occurred to her. Of course, she had the proof. A single copy of the printed book that the printers had given her to mark her corrections. “I can show you the proof as long as you don’t mind a few pencil marks in the margins.”
“Stop teasing me, girl. Haven’t you heard? I’m a feeble old man with one foot in my grave. Hurry up.”
She ran from the room and almost collided with someone outside.
It was Adam.
“Have you seen Laura?” he asked, out of breath as if he’d been running.
“She’s at the Casemates, finishing off the wedding gown.”
He shook his head. “No, she ran out. There’s been trouble. I thought she might have left the island, but she’d need to come here first. Could you check her room to see if she’s packed?”
“Why would she leave? What happened?”
He gave her a bleak look. “Nicole happened.”
Just then Mrs B came up the stairs. “Oh Adam, glad I caught you. There’s a phone call for you.”
“Have you seen Laura?” he asked.
“Laura? No. But there’s a gentleman on the phone for you.”
“Please take a message.”
Mrs B shook her head. “He’s rung several times this morning and says it’s urgent.”
“Who is it?”
“A Mr Gerald Sale, says you know him.”
Adam looked even more worried. He glanced up the stairs to the 2ndfloor where Laura’s room was.
“I’ll check her room,” Pierre told him and hurried up.
Pierre ran to Laura’s room, knocked, and when no one answered, she went in. The bed was made but there was a coat and scarf flung on the chair and a pair of boots on the floor. Pierre found the wardrobe and opened it. All Laura’s clothes appeared to be there.
She went downstairs to tell Adam. He was on the phone in her study with the door open but the look on his face stopped her going in. Something was terribly wrong.
Pierre pulled her phone from her pocket and rang Laura.
No answer. Where was she?
She tried Millie next, who answered on the first ring.
“Have you seen Laura?”
“Not since she stormed out. We’re all here at the Casemates waiting for her.”
