‘But you definitely remember seeing her?’
He undid the top button of his shirt, shifting his black tie slightly. ‘I mean, she’s a really pretty girl. I know that sounds bad and I’m not a perv or anything but I remember her because of that. She was also polite too. Not all our customers use their ps and qs when we serve them etcetera but she called me Lennie and, along with the men she was with both times, left me a big tip. We always remember the big tippers.’
‘Did she seem intimate with either of these men?’ Gina hoped his liking of Amber might have made him take a little more notice.
‘I couldn’t say for sure. Our diners don’t see behind the scenes, but it can be chaos on a busy evening, which is why I probably don’t remember. I can’t remember anything about them except the men were handsome and well built, if you know what I mean. Looked like they went to the gym. One was white and older and I recall one maybe looking like he could be of Asian descent, maybe Indian, that part of Asia. I know Asia is a huge place but that’s the best I can do. Now I remember all that because I envied those men.’ He patted his slight pot belly. ‘I like my food too much. Never going to happen. I’m so sorry that I can’t give you more information but it was a long time ago. She definitely wasn’t here last Friday night.’
‘Thank you for your help. We’ll send someone to take more thorough statements from your staff at a more convenient time, maybe earlier tomorrow morning, before service begins.’ Gina glanced around the room. The woman was still tending to the tables and a young man wearing chef’s whites popped out from the kitchen. He glanced over, catching sight of Amber Slater’s photo.
‘Hey. Excuse me,’ Gina called as he turned to leave. ‘Do you know this woman?’
He shook his head and wiped his sweaty brow with his sleeve. ‘No. I’ve never seen her before. I best get back to prepping the aubergine.’
Whatever he’d come out for he’d swiftly forgotten. Gina glanced through the little circular window that divided bar and kitchen. The chef caught her line of sight and quickly turned away. ‘What’s his name?’
‘The chef?’ Lennie wiped a few crumbs from the bar.
‘Yes.’
Wyre stood poised with her pen.
‘Jake Goodman. Is there a problem?’
Gina smiled. ‘No, and thank you. As I said, someone will be here to take statements from the staff soon.’ She glanced back. A whoosh of steam filled the air as Jake deglazed a pan. Something about his demeanour told Gina that he knew exactly who Amber was but why would he lie about knowing her?
8
New day, new dating profile! Time to become someone else.
I flick through the collection of online photos that I’ve saved and settle on a square-jawed male who claims to be six feet tall. Dark hair and coffee-coloured skin. He’s the epitome of perfection, everything I aspire to be. He’s shiny, sculptured and just the bait I need on the end of my line. This physique was mine a few years ago but life drains a person. I’m not that person any more.
Profile – add. Hmm, what do I put as a job? Doctor or paramedic. Paediatrician – loves children and animals. Vet, maybe?
Ooh, I recognise her but why wouldn’t I? Cleevesford is a small town. Is she the right woman? I’m not sure. She’s helped me to choose a profession though, I’ll go with doctor. I wanted to be a doctor, but then again, I wanted to be a solicitor then an architect and then a writer. I’m a person of many faces.
I can be anything, I always did think that until life presented me with a plan of its own, one that I hadn’t chosen. But I’m free now, free to make my own destiny and it feels like I can breathe again. All my baggage is finally in the past where it belonged. I’ve taken care of it.
Only last week, I thought I’d found what I was looking for, but she wasn’t right. The one I choose has to be perfect.
Today was a new day and it was as if by magic, you’ve returned to me. There’s someone else I can’t get out of my mind, only she would be difficult with her being in the police, but she’s an even closer match.
I’d do anything to feel close to you again and hold you again. I didn’t think that was possible but it is, I know it is.
A shiver of excitement travels through my body as I think of the woman I saw at the lake. What’s life without risk?
Shaking my head, I continue with the doctor profile. I’ll go with sporty. Women like a sporty man. I begin to type.I play squash with my friend Jed every week.I really feel as though my character would have a friend called Jed so I add that detail in. He’d be a handsome high-flyer, like me. Maybe we have drinks at the clubhouse after. I type in squash. I like books too. I know the stories of a few classics from seeing films likeOliverand1984, I can blag that if the conversation takes us there. Of course, that’s if we chat online. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.
I scratch my stubble and flick back to random profiles, then I place my hand inside my track bottoms. ‘Let’s have some you and me time.’ Wait, I have to finish my profile. I hit the smiley icon that tells this woman that I’m interested. I click on a couple of other profiles and hit more smileys. Might as well cast the net widely amongst the women who fitted my criteria.
Tonight I’m going to do me a bit of following, get out there and do my research. So many options and so little time. My fingers itch for a real, breathing version of you.
I glance back at the woman’s profile and frown. This site doesn’t promote love, it promotes lust. Not what I want, but, hey, it’s a start. I’ll quite happily arrange to meet this one for a hook-up.
I just need to get her here with me. Once she’s here, she’ll never want to leave.
‘Why are you looking at her?’You stand above me, a tear running down your face, haunting me.
‘You know why.’
