‘Your signal went off at Polperro Harbour. When I saw you crawling out of that cave, I grabbed the man with the dog and begged him to help you. I didn’t want you to see me because I knew you’d be angry.’
‘But I saw you in the car park.’
‘I know.’ He shrugged.
My father was there, at the beach. ‘Did you hurt me when I was in that cave?’ I stare into his eyes, determined to spot the lie but all I can see is fear and loss. The memories of Jess are haunting him to.
‘You have no reason to believe me, Katie, but I would never intentionally hurt you. I came to help you and I want to stay and do everything I can.’ He takes his long black coat off and wraps it around my shoulders.
‘How about the scrawl on my car window? Did you do that?’
He looks confused. ‘I don’t know anything about any scrawl on any window.’
I can’t think. This is all too much.
‘Can I stay with you?’
‘No,’ I shout. ‘My children barely know who you are. Where are you staying?’
‘In my car.’ I glance over and see the quilt folded up on the back seat.
‘Jeez. Just go home, Dad.’
‘No, I lost Jess. I won’t lose you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m sorry for all the mistakes I’ve made. This time, I’m going to be right here. Call me if you need me.’
‘I won’t need you. Go home and lose the tracker. I don’t need you spying on me.’
He bows his head and gets back into his car. I watch as he drives past me and takes a bend.
Less than a minute later, I park up in our allocated space and get out of the car. Damien is already at the door, shrugging with his arms folded in front of his chest.
‘I’ve had it. You don’t answer your phone, you vanish for hours. Do you know how worried I’ve been? No you don’t because you don’t answer your phone.’
I lock the car and run across the road. My straggly sea-crisped hair sticks to my face and I know I’m a little beaten, I can feel the sores on my lips and face. My damp jeans cling to my legs and I can’t stop shivering. It’s like the danger I was in has finally hit me. Someone tried to kill me. The strength I had is all gone and my stomach churns like I’m going to be sick with fear. My mum bracelet escapes from my sleeve and I touch it and cry knowing how close I was to never seeing my babies again.
Damien helps me into the house and dumps me onto the settee. I grab the snuggle blanket and pull it over myself, taking a moment to think. Damien has moved to the doorway and picked up a bag. ‘I’ve called a taxi.’
‘Damien, stop.’ I’m up off the settee trying to grab his arm as he opens the door.
He bats my hands away. ‘Be a mother. Spend some time with the girls. We’ll tie up loose ends when you get back. Enjoy your holiday without me in the way. Whoever this man is, he can have you all to himself now.’ With that, he’s gone, slamming the door in my face.
I open it but he’s already striding around the corner. A car pulls up and he gets in. I’ve gone and done it. I’ve blown it with the person I love and he’s gone. I grab my phone and call him but it goes straight to voicemail. Sobs begin to escape as I close the door.
The last thing I want to do is call my dad, but I can’t be alone right now so I touch his number and hold my phone against my ear.
‘Katie?’
I cry like never before.
TWENTY-NINE
KATE
I tell my dad everything from start to end as I sip the sweet tea he made me. He’s worried sick that I put my life in danger by running off to Polperro, alone, when someone is clearly targeting me. I sit on the settee, enjoying the comfort of the blankets and my fluffy bathrobe.
He runs his hand over the grey stubble on his chin. ‘You know, Katie, whoever is sending these messages, they don’t want to help you. They’ve seen that article and now they’ve made you a target, and what’s worse is you’ve played into their hands. They’re like catfishing you or stalking you. I don’t know what it’s called but we have to call the police.’
‘The police never do anything. I’m sick of them taking my statements and never doing anything.’
