She nodded slowly. “So Jeremy? Where is he?” She frowned.
“I don’t know. That’s the definition of missing.” I pushed a lock of hair over her ear. “You want me to try and find him?”
“No.” She shook her head, the strand of hair escaping once again. “He won’t want to be found, the way I don’t want to be.”
I thought for a moment. “His mental health went downhill after you left. You not being there affected him a great deal.”
“Maybe he grew a conscience. Realized that he’d been about to let his sister get gang raped in full public viewing and then screw her himself all because Nigel told him to.”
A familiar rush of anger heated a trail up my spine. “That could be the case.”
Her jaw suddenly tensed, and her eyes narrowed. “I don’t want to see him.”
“You told me he helped you escape. He was the only one you could trust that night.”
“That doesn’t make up for what he would have witnessed, done, been an accomplice to, if I hadn’t escaped.”
“Okay.” I could see where she was coming from. “Well, if you change your mind—”
“I won’t.” She turned and snatched up her wine, emptied the glass.
“I’m here for you.” I kissed the crown of her head. “Always remember that.”
She blew out a shaky breath then reached for two bowls. “Is dinner ready?”
“Yeah, I expect so.” I turned and served.
I’d already started the ball rolling with finding Jeremy. Bristol had been a good starting point, and with the police database and access, hopefully something would come up soon.
And then, if she ever changed her mind, I’d have the information for her.
* * * *
Later that evening, my phone pinged. I checked my emails and smiled. Good, my delivery was almost here.
“What is it?” Amy asked.
I stood. “Something is arriving.”
“Oh.”
I tipped her chin with the crook of my finger and kissed her. “Wait here.”
The intercom buzzed, and I went down to the apartment’s front door and took the brown parcel from the driver. “Thanks, mate.”
Once I was back upstairs, Amy had drawn the curtains on the dark sky.
I shut the door. “Come to Daddy.”
She smiled and clasped her hands beneath her chin. “What have you got?”
“A present, for you.”
“For me?” Her eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“I think you deserve it, you’ve been such a good girl.” I set it on the table. “Go ahead, open it.”
She dropped to her knees, folding them beneath her, and opened the box. “There are two things in here.”
