‘Do you know any of her friends? Have you spoken to them,’ Ben asked as Morgan left the kitchen and headed upstairs.
‘Her best friend Sheila died a couple of months ago. She’s been a bit quiet and down about it. That’s why I thought it was good she had something to do to take her mind off her grief.’
Ben stood up. ‘Should I make us some tea or coffee?’
Cain shrugged. ‘I have a bad feeling, Ben, she’s never not been in contact like this, and it’s been eighteen hours since that message she sent.’
‘How about the friend she was meeting for lunch? Can you ring her and see what time Angela left her and if she told her where she was going?’
Cain’s cheeks began to burn a deep red. ‘I’m not even sure who it was. I only really know Janet. I can phone her and see if she knows.’ He took out his phone and clamped it to his ear with his jaw.
‘Hi, it’s Cain. Did you meet Angela for lunch yesterday at all?’
Ben couldn’t hear the soft voice very clearly that was on the other end, and he motioned for Cain to put her on loudspeaker, which he did.
‘Hello, Cain, I was supposed to, but I felt a little bit under the weather, so I cancelled. Is everything okay?’
Cain screwed his eyes closed. ‘Were the two of you meeting anyone else or did she say that she would still go and maybe invite someone else? And no, she’s missing. I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning.’
Janet gasped.
‘Oh no, I don’t understand. Where is she?’
‘I wish I knew.’
‘She never said anything about meeting anyone else, love, she said she’d see me next week and hoped I felt better. I’m so worried about her, is there anything I can do?’
‘Me too, can you maybe try and get hold of her for me, and if you hear anything ring me back. I’d appreciate that.’
‘Of course I will, and please let me know the moment you hear from her, won’t you?’
‘Absolutely.’ He ended the call and stared at Ben.
‘I hate to ask this, Cain, but how was she mentally? You said that she was grieving her friend, was she depressed about it? Has she been to the doctors lately?’
‘You think she’s taken her own life?’
‘No, I’m not suggesting that. I’m just covering all the bases. Did she leave you a note about who she was meeting that kind of thing?’
‘No, nothing. Oh God, what if she has and I didn’t even realise she needed help?’ Cain let out a sob, and Ben began to pat his back.
‘I don’t think she has, I just needed to ask. When people are intent on taking their life, there often aren’t any outward signs that anything is wrong.’
Neither of them said that he was speaking from the heart. He had borne the consequences of losing his wife that way.
Morgan walked in to see the pair of them sitting in silence. She had a pretty pink journal in her hand. ‘I found this. I feel so awkward, Cain, but is it okay if I have a read through to see if there’s any indication in it of where she could be or who she was meeting? Or do you want to go through it?’
He shook his head. ‘I’d rather not, I’m not the fastest at reading. You will be much quicker and I’m sure Angela would prefer you to read it than me if it’s personal.’
Morgan nodded. It was a thick book, with lots of beautiful handwritten notes inside of it.
‘Where’s her laptop? Have you checked that to see if she’d messaged anyone or emailed them?’
‘I can’t find it. I’ve searched the usual places waiting for you both to arrive. I think she’s taken it with her. What’s going to happen now? I mean I know the procedure, but I don’t know what I should be doing. I’ve never been on this side of it before.’
Ben replied, ‘Hopefully we’ll get a hit on her phone before long, or a sighting of her car. Do you want to wait here in case she turns up?’
‘I suppose so. I’d rather be with you two though at work, so I know straight away.’
