‘Hello?’ I said.
‘Is that Yvonne?’
‘It is.’
‘Hi, it’s Amelia. I live next door to Marianne…’
And in one phone call, that bubble of happiness burst.
46
‘Have you spoken to your sister recently?’ Amelia asked.
I stopped walking, a feeling of dread in my stomach. ‘Not for a while.’ I didn’t add that the last time had been in March. ‘Why?’
‘It’s probably nothing but I haven’t seen her in a while and I’m getting worried. I’m outside her cottage and I’ve been knocking on the door but there’s no answer.’
‘Did she give you a spare key?’ I asked. Amelia was right to worry. Marianne never left the cottage so, if she wasn’t answering the door, something was wrong.
‘No, and I’ve checked under some plant pots but I can’t see one.’
‘I’ve got one but by the time I get home and drive to you… Could you break a window? Maybe the kitchen one. I’ll pay for the damage.’ The windows were still single glazing so should be easy to smash.
‘Okay. I’ll go round the back.’
‘It’s my sister’s neighbour,’ I told Will. ‘She hasn’t seen her for a while and she’s worried.’
I put the phone on speaker to avoid having to repeat the rest of the conversation.
‘There’s a key on the inside of the back door,’ Amelia said. ‘Give me a second.’
I winced at the sound of breaking glass.
‘Just putting my hand through and… I’m in. Urgh!’
Panic stabbed at me. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘The smell. Oh, my God! There’s bin bags and rubbish everywhere.’
I sighed. ‘I know. She has a hoarding problem and she wouldn’t accept my help.’
‘I’m going through to the lounge. Hang on. Urgh, it stinks in here too.’
‘Any sign of Marianne?’
‘No.’
‘Try her bedroom or the bathroom – first two doors at the top of the stairs. Careful on the stairs, though.’
‘It’s such a mess! Is this why you asked me if I’d ever been inside?’
‘I wondered if she’d opened up to you about it.’
‘I had no idea. Bathroom’s empty and so’s her bedroom. I’ll try the others.’
‘It’s our parents’ room next, then what was mine.’
‘Nothing in your parents’ room,’ Amelia said. ‘Just pushing open your door and… oh, God! I’m so sorry, Yvonne.’
