‘Yes. For the last month or so. She was staying with a friend, apparently, trying to escape this obsessive boyfriend.’
‘And you picked her up on Friday from St Albans. What time did you get home?’
‘Late evening. I called you when I got back, remember? Must have been around midnight?’
I can’t ask him if he was in the Morgans’ house on Friday night without giving away that I was there. I’m going to have to trust that he’s telling the truth about when he returned home.
He grimaces. ‘She should have told me she’d moved from Reading. She was never sacked, though, she told me that much. So I don’t know why Henry lied. Maybe he was confusing her with someone else. She said she didn’t know him that well and that he left before she did. He retired to a place in Salisbury, apparently. At least, that’s what he told the clinic.’
‘Salisbury?’
‘Yes. That’s what SJ said anyway.’ He twirls his glass and pours the rest of the water into his mouth. He puts the glass down. ‘I still think Henry is odd. His reaction when I came to his house to ask about her was way over the top.’
I picture the article pinned on the Morgans’ wall from theSalisbury Journal. The photo of the female electrician who could be Simone.
‘Like, why act like that when he must have known he’d had nothing to do with SJ’s disappearance?’ He shrugs. ‘Anyway, whatever. She’s home now. Safe. That’s all that matters.’
The sound of screaming emanates from the living room and Drew’s eyes widen in alarm.
‘Oh, it’s just the TV. My son’s watching a thriller. Homework for college, apparently.’
He laughs. ‘Phew.’
I shift on my chair. ‘Um, Drew, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but … did you tell Susi, my boss, that I came to your house?’
His brows arch in surprise. ‘No. Of course not. I would never do anything to get you into trouble. Why do you ask?’
‘It’s just … she gave me a verbal warning for doing it. And she probably wouldn’t like the fact you’re here now.’
‘Hey. I’m here as a friend. Not a client. If it helps, I won’t come into the office again. Although …’ a flush creeps up his neck ‘… you must have guessed that I came in as often as I did just to see you.’
My body flashes hot. ‘Oh … I …’ I don’t know what to say.
‘If you ever fancy going for a drink or … on a date, maybe?’
‘Thanks, Drew.’ I smile kindly at him, flattered. ‘I’m actually not ready to get into anything new right now. Relationship-wise. Charlie, you know? It’s still quite raw.’
‘I understand. I felt the same after my marriage collapsed.’
‘But I’d like to be friends.’
He smiles at me and it softens his face. ‘I’d like that too.’ After a few beats he adds, ‘I hope you know I’d never have told Susi about you helping me.’
I nod. ‘I do now, thanks, Drew.’
His eyes cloud. ‘Maybe it was Henry. I really don’t like the guy.’
‘Me neither,’ I say in relief. ‘There’s just something about him, isn’t there?’ I find myself confiding in him about Henry’s threat.
He looks appalled when I’ve finished. ‘That’s exactly the way he spoke to me. I know he might have been offended that I’d accused him of following her so I can understand if he was a bit snippy. But he was so cold. And threatening.’
Henry’s words flash in my mind.
You don’t know who you’re dealing with.
Well, maybe it’s time I found out.
38
