“How was she behaving…on the day she disappeared? How did she seem to you?”
A sad smile played on Jayston’s lips. He stood upright and shook his head.
“Well, it really wasn’t a good situation. Fiona, my wife, can be quite demanding and…well, unfortunately, rather suspicious. That day, she was exceptionally hard on Claire. I should have intervened. Put a stop to it. However, my past attempts to mediate only seemed to add fuel to the fire—worsening Claire’s situation. This time, I chose not to say anything. In retrospect, I deeply regret not stepping in.”
“So, if Claire was upset,” Nikki said, “do you think it’s possible she did run away—that she felt bullied and trapped and decided to take the jewelry and leave?”
“It is possible, of course,” he said. “But I doubt it. It would be so unnecessary. There are formal ways to deal with this. She could have told me she wanted to leave—or told Henry, or the agency. We could have arranged to fly her back to London. There are clauses for termination we could have managed. No, it really doesn’t make any sense at all. Which is why I keep returning to some hidden influence. Someone must have swayed her.”
“Do you have any idea who this could have been?”
“I really can’t say. Perhaps a friend. Perhaps someone she’d just met.”
They were quiet for several beats. Then he glanced at Nikki with an evaluative expression.
“Audrey seems quite taken with you. You wouldn’t by any chance be interested in a nanny position, would you?”
“Oh god, no!” The words were out before she could stop them. With a hot rush of embarrassment, she tried to explain. “I’m happy with my job. And I’m terrible with children.”
Jayston didn’t seem offended. He chuckled. Then the chuckle grew until he threw back his head and laughed.
He finished off his serving and poured another. He glanced up at Nikki, who raised the glass to her lips.
She didn’t have a chance to taste the whisky, though, because a loud voice interrupted: “How perfectly precious!”
Fiona Lake strode towards them. She wore a long blue silk robe. This was open, revealing a matching lingerie set that barely concealed her breasts. Her face was flushed, eyes glistening.
“The liar and the bitch, having a laugh together,” slurred Fiona. “Pour me some of that, won’t you, darling? I need to phone the authorities and lodge a complaint about this…incompetent policewoman.”
“Fiona.” Jayston’s voice was a warning growl. “Don’t start. This investigator—Nikki—found Audrey, and brought her back to us. We’re in her debt.”
“Oh, that’s rich,” she laughed bitterly. “Masquerade as the doting father now, won’t you? Suits you.”
Seeming not to pay attention to Nikki, she crossed behind the bar and began opening and slamming cabinets.
Nikki stood.
“I’ll get going,” she said. “Thank you for the drink.”
“Allow me to escort you,” said Jayston.
—
He was silent as they moved through the boat, but unlike the relaxed silence of their conversation, Nikki sensed the tension in his body.
He stepped onto the pier with her. Nikki was about to extend a hand, and wish him a good night. But he seemed to come to a decision.
“I’d ask that you not judge Fiona too harshly,” he said. “I’m aware she can be…somewhat challenging. But she’s endured quite a bit. Perhaps it’s best…well, you might as well know. Last year, we lost our son, Matthew. He was only four. It was a profound tragedy. I don’t believe one ever fully recovers from losing a child. Fiona hasn’t been the same. None of us have. And Audrey…it affected her deeply. She stopped speaking. Which is why Claire’s kindness was so vital to our family. Under her care, Audrey really flourished. The thought of how Claire’s disappearance might impact her is unbearable for me.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Nikki.
Jayston stared, a sudden pain in his eyes. Nikki didn’t know what to say.
“Of course, we want to help the police,” he continued. “But we’d like to get underway as soon as possible. I hope you can understand.”
“Of course.”
—
