Mark makes a noise: a dissatisfied grunt. “This is a massive overreaction,” he says. “Even assuming one of Jill’s Facebook friends is awake at this time and alerts the police, it’s not like they’re going to be leaping into their cars, all blues and twos, and rushing over here, is it? This isn’t an international manhunt, or even a national dog-hunt. It’s not a hunt at all. No one’s looking for us, as far as we know. I’m not convinced anyone official is even aware Champ isn’t at home.”
“Not the point,” Sally tells him. “Our security’s been compromised. Leaving as soon as we could was our only option.” Something is niggling at the back of her mind, but she can’t put her finger on what it is.
“By now Niall will have booked us rooms at the Langley Hotel in Iver, Buckinghamshire,” Corinne says. “It’s a wonderful five-star hotel, and there’s a whole separate building where dogs are allowed in all the bedrooms. It’s right on the edge of a massive park, too—perfect for Champ walking. Great spa, too.”
“What a stroke of luck,” Mark mutters sarcastically. “I’m sure Champ’s dying to have his nails done. How’s your plan B coming along, Corinne?”
“Really well, thanks,” she replies brightly. “Someone’s coming to talk to us about it tomorrow morning.”
“At the hotel?” Sally asks.
“Yup.”
“Who? How do they know we’ll be there?”
“You should try and get some sleep while I drive,” says Corinne. “I’ll explain everything first thing tomorrow.”
“Everything’s going to be fine,” Ree says decisively. “Mum, you know how I told you Tess Gavey was a massive bully at her last school, before she made the mistake of trying to bully me? Like, she drove three girls to leave, she bullied them so hard? They literally made their families leave town to get away from her?”
“Vaguely,” says Sally. Mainly, she remembers the clench of pain in her chest when she heard how unpleasantly Tess had been treating Ree.
“Well, that knowledge is all over social media now. And I mean…allover. Tess is losing support by the minute.”
“You mean among your schoolmates?” Sally asks.
“Well…in general,” says Corinne ambiguously.
“Yeah, just generally.” Ree laughs.
“And…what’s Tess saying? Has she said any more since the last thing you told me, about a neighbor’s dog biting her?” asks Sally.
There’s a pause. Why does it feel as if everyone in the car knows something Sally doesn’t?
Corinne says, “Tess is saying all kinds of untrue, horrible things because she’s the same old despicable Tess Gavey she’s always been. It doesn’t matter, though. It’s all grist to our mill. Let people see her being vile.”
Sally is aware that she should ask more questions, but she’s exhausted and soon falls asleep. When she wakes up, there’s a large waterfall next to her and a huge white Palladian-style mansion ahead that looks like a royal palace. “Wow,” she breathes.
“Don’t get too excited,” says Corinne. “You’re not staying in the main hotel. You’re in the building over there, also very nice.” She opens the car door and points. “The Brew House. That’s the bit of the hotel that takes dogs. I’ve booked you all in under false names—you’re a branch of the Sullivan family for now, okay?”
The other Lamberts all look at Mark, waiting for him to protest. He gives a small nod.
“So, you’re super unlikely to be asked Champ’s name, but if you are? I’d maybe use his middle name, Cuthbert. How do you feel about that, Sal?”
“Fine,” Sally says. It’s temporary, and Cuthbert is legitimately part of Champ’s name.
Her phone pings. Vicky again. Another romantic crisis, no doubt. Sally becomes even more determined not to look, not until at least tomorrow, maybe longer. Just this once, she will allow her own preoccupations to be all she cares about. She’s been ateveryone else’s beck and call for fifty-three years, answering every message sent by her mum, dad (while alive), and sister within seconds, even when at work, even when woken from a deep sleep. That has to change.
“You all head over to the Brew House and I’ll meet you there in a second,” says Corinne. “I’ll just nip over and check us all in. There’s no need for them to clap eyes on a family of four with a dog, is there? I was even thinking… Well, it might not be necessary if my plan B works as well as I think it’s going to, but if not, it’s worth thinking about making some alterations to how you all look.”
“Ooh, yeah!” says Ree. “You mean like, dyeing our hair?”
“Or ballying up?” Tobes yawns.
“What’s that?” Corinne asks him.
“Balaclavas. You know, like… ‘Opp block bally on me.’” He chants, doing a funny gesture with his arms and hands. Sally assumes he’s mimicking someone famous she’s never heard of.
“Ideally not balaclavas, no.” Corinne smiles. “That’d draw attention. But cutting and shaving hair, dyeing hair.”
