But Elea didn’t understand. If the woman in the hotelwasher daughter, why didn’t she hand herself in to the police? She knocked back the last of her coffee, the warm liquid hitting the back of her throat. Swann was right. There was nothing here for her anymore. It was time to return to the UK.
Chapter 65
Elea barely remembered the flight back to England. It was mercifully quiet, with plenty of empty seats. She had fallen asleep not long after her seatbelt clicked into place. Exhaustion—emotional and physical—had caught up with her. She and Swann had eaten in the airport before departing. They had both been ravenous and the food in Nordic Kitchen had never tasted so good.
Swann smiled as she woke from her slumber. “I don’t know how you slept through all that turbulence.”
“It was soothing.” Elea stretched lazily in her seat like a cat. “It felt like I was being rocked to sleep.” She stifled a yawn. “Any updates?”
Swann shook his head. “It’s the middle of the night, love. We’ll get a result in the morning. I’m sure of it.”
Love.He’d used that term of endearment in the old days. A silent exchange passed between them. An acknowledgement of what they once had. Elea cleared her throat and pulled back her jacket sleeve to check her watch. She’d been home for a change of clothes. Her house was just as she had left it, Liisa’s room still as it always had been. She had lingered in the doorway, knowing in her gut that things would be different the next time she was home. After so many false starts, she was ready for it.
Swann was right about his team. They would be tucked up in bed now, ready for a fresh start in the morning. But it didn’t mean that the search had been called off. A night shift of officers was patrolling Lincoln, both on foot and in their cars. There weren’t as many officers as they would have liked. According to Swann, the numbers had been cut and many experienced officers pensioned off. But their younger counterparts would do the best they could.
“Manage to get any sleep?” Elea relaxed as the plane descended, knowing she’d done all she could for now.
He shook his head. “I’ll have a quick nap when I get home. I’ve got to sort things out with Alice.”
“Oh dear.”
“Oh dear indeed,” Swann grumbled. “I’ve really pissed her off this time. She’s sent me hundreds of texts.” He showed Elea his phone.
Elea blinked as she tried to make out the words on the screen. They had descended into profanities well into the early hours.
“I don’t know what to do.” Swann thumbed past each text message.
“If you’re looking for sympathy, then I’m in short supply.” Elea watched Swann put away his phone. “Sorry. But you’ve got to see it from Alice’s perspective. You flew over to Finland to chase me around while she’s at home minding the twins.”
“But I wasn’t gone long.”
“I know you weren’t. But has it occurred to you that she might have been scared that you weren’t coming back?” Elea kept her voice low enough for only Swann to hear.
Swann looked at Elea blankly. “Well...no.”
“Of course it didn’t.” She looked at him in earnest. An unwelcome thought made itself known. “Is that what the flat is about? Are you feathering your nest with me before you make the jump to leave?”
“No!” Swann said, a little too loudly. “God, no.” He lowered his voice. “Not at all. I’ve booked counselling. I’m trying to give our relationship a chance. For the boys. I know what Alice is like. If I leave, she’ll never let me see them again. She barely lets my mum in through the door.”
Elea shook her head in disbelief. Helen was the nicest, sweetest woman. How on earth could Alice take exception to her? She pushed the thought aside. She had to stay firm. “You chose to be with Alice. She gave you what I couldn’t: stability. Focus on your relationship and forget about me. I can take care of myself.” But the words felt sour on Elea’s tongue as Swann stared at her. She would always love him, and she would never like Alice, but those little boys—their soft wavy hair, their small sleeping forms—were so precious, especially at that age. She wouldn’t destroy a family. “But thank you,” she said softly. “For being there.” She knew she was contradicting herself, but couldn’t let it go unsaid. She was grateful to this big, intelligent man who had kept her together over the last twenty-four hours.
“You’ll always be a big part of my life.” Swann gripped the armrests more tightly as the plane jolted, the blood draining from his face.
“I can’t believe you’re still afraid of flying.” Elea chuckled as the plane approached the runway.
“Not afraid,” he managed to say, his knuckles whitening. “I just don’t like it very much.”
Elea smiled as they touched down. She never imagined that she’d be back in the UK so soon, with a heart filled with hope.
It was brightby the time they returned to Lincoln. While Swann went home to Nettleham, Elea went to see Mitch, who had taken over Swann’s old office. It felt strange to see the desk devoid of his things.
“You’re back,” Mitch stated the obvious. “How are you feeling? You must be running on fumes.” His words came in quick succession, his pleasure at seeing her again evident.
“I’m fine. Slept on the plane.” Elea relayed her thoughts to Mitch. She had spent the journey from the airport analysing every new piece of information they had gained in the last twenty-four hours.Ifthe girl pictured was her daughter, then where would she most likely go? The rental house was still under observation, with a police officer posted outside. Sonar equipment was being used to search for bodies in the garden. Officers would finish up at the house by the end of the day. But if Liisahadbeen in the rental house, it wasn’t for very long. She might not have been emotionally invested enough to return. Would she go to Finland? Did she even have a passport? She looked to Mitch for answers. He’d done a good job in Swann’s absence, and the superintendent had never been far away.
“Well—” Mitch began speaking, but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Sorry, boss.” Kelly glanced between Mitch and Elea. “I just spoke to two PCSOs in the hall. There have been complaints about a homeless woman hanging around the horses on West Common.” She hesitated, directing her question at Elea. “Liisa liked horses, didn’t she? It might lead to nothing, but...”
