Lina doesn’t flinch. ‘She recalls you and Natalia arguing while you were docked in Antigua,’ she says, clearly not about to drop it. ‘Beyond that?—’
‘For Christ’s sake!’ Jack drags a hand over his neck. ‘Natalia andIdidn’t argue. Evie’s confused. She?—’
‘Another one who’s confused,’ Lina comments drolly.
‘Okay, that’s it.’ Jack steps towards her. ‘I don’t want Evie involved in any of this. You need to leave.’
Lina stands her ground. Her face, though, grows a shade paler, her small frame shrinking in stature. ‘Andyouneed to be honest with your daughter about how her mother died. It will come out eventually, and she won’t thank you when?—’
‘Now.’ Jack takes another step.
‘Jack, that’senough.’ I place myself bodily between them, my heart banging. I’ve never seen him like this, his face tight, his eyes dark with palpable anger. ‘What’s going on here?’ I study him hard. ‘You said Natalia took her own life.Didshe?’
He stares at me, stunned. ‘Do you really think I would lie about something like that?’ he asks, his tone bewildered. ‘I told you. She jumped?—’
‘She didnotjump. She waspushed,’ Lina says tearfully behind me. ‘Tell this woman about the state of your marriage, why don’t you? See if she’s so willing to believe your lies then.’
I spin around to face her. I have no idea what she’s talking about. Jack loved his wife. He was broken by her disappearance. It was obvious he was. ‘What do you mean?’ I eye her questioningly.
She studies me for a moment. Then, ‘You’re in danger,’ she says ominously. ‘If you value your sanity,yourlife, you need to get away from him.’
TWELVE
Shocked to the core, I watch as the woman turns abruptly and leaves. What the hell did she mean? Shaking myself, I go to follow her.
‘Kara, wait.’ Jack catches my arm. ‘Just let her go. She’s talking rubbish. She and Natalia didn’t even get on. They hadn’t seen each other foryears. She’s clearly confused, inventing things – probably because of her own guilt at not being a good mother. It’s all pure fantasy, I promise you.’
I narrow my eyes, searching his face carefully. His expression is a mixture of desperation and despair, and I have no idea what to believe. I turn to watch Lina head towards the lane, where it appears a taxi is waiting. Her gait is unsteady, I notice, and I’m worried for her. As she reels, swaying dangerously and holding on to the fence for support, my heart leaps into my mouth.
Pulling away from Jack, I go after her, to his clear frustration. ‘She’s imagining things, Kara,’ he calls after me. ‘She’s probably trying to gain sympathy to get access to Evie. Will you please just let her go?’
I ignore him. I have no choice but to. Confused she might be, but she’s also obviously physically ill. Catching up with her,I thread my arm around her shoulders and ask if she’s all right. My alarm escalates as I note her clasping a hand to her chest.
She nods weakly and draws in a shallow breath. ‘It’s my heart,’ she whispers, another laboured breath rattling through her. ‘The stress doesn’t help. It will pass.’
‘I’m sure it will, but you’re coming back inside until it does,’ I say firmly. Her face is now drained of all colour and I’m frightened for her.
‘I’ll be fine,’ she insists. ‘Jack won’t be pleased if I go back in.’
‘Then he’ll have to be displeased,’ I tell her, adamant. ‘I can’t let you go off like this. I won’t rest knowing you’re not well.’
‘Oi,’ someone shouts behind us as I steer her gently back towards the house. The taxi driver, I realise, twisting to look at him. ‘She hasn’t paid her fare,’ he says.
‘Wait there. I need to get her inside,’ I tell him tersely. The man obviously needs paying, but he could be more sympathetic and a little less aggressive.
Leaving him, I help Lina through the front door, to Jack’s evident irritation. ‘Can you pay the taxi, please?’ I ask him, nodding back that way.
‘She’s imagining things, Kara,’ he says again, sighing heavily.
‘Just do it, Jack.’ I shoot him a meaningful glance as I head on with Lina to the lounge.
As I help her down onto the sofa in front of the fire, her pale grey eyes search mine. ‘You’re a kind soul, aren’t you?’ she says.
‘I’m concerned about you, Lina.’ I reach for the throw on the back of the sofa to wrap around her. ‘You’re obviously unwell. Have you seen a doctor?’
‘I have.’ She sighs, a hand fluttering again to her chest. ‘I have some tablets. They don’t help very much.’
‘Where are they?’
