“We think Peter Cash is on the island, probably staying in a holiday let in Newborough under the name Matthew Carsons. There’s nothing for you to action, and you should go about whatever you were planning to do as normal but increase your vigilance. The police know and they’re looking at allocating officers to check out the property but we don’t know how long that’ll take.”
“I don’t like the idea of him being close by.” I hated the idea of him being on my island.
“None of us do. We think we’ve cracked who he actually is and it’s not good, Zoey. He’s got a previous record for stalking and assault and is a genius online. We’re trying to get more evidence to link another identity which could give a prosecutor enough to have him sent down for a fucking long time.” Roe sounded more serious than I’d ever heard him. “Do you want us to assign an extra security guard? You won’t even know they’re there.”
“Do you think I need one?”
“Yes.” There was no further explanation.
Cost wasn’t something I had to think about. “Do it. Do you have someone available?”
“We do. Connor McPhail. He’s an Irish lad who grew up knowing about boats, so he’s going to be doing some work for Thane and keeping an eye on you. You won’t even know he’s there.” This was the modus operandi for how Roe’s company worked – stealth-like. Their people blended into the background which stopped the people they were protecting from feeling like they were under house arrest.
“Is there anything else you think I should be doing?”
Silence met me first, which meant Roe wasn’t sure that what he was about to say was going to go down that well. “You’re house hunting, aren’t you? Take a selfie or something of you both looking round and make the location obvious but check out a house in Rhosneigr or somewhere that’s not Puffin Bay and let us know the address, we’ll do the rest. Cash has sent more letters which tell us he’s really pissed that you’re with someone else – and he knows about Caleb going to Antarctica so he’s been researching him too.”
“What do you think he might do?” This was what we’d wanted – to draw him out. There was enough evidence to arrest him after he’d broken into my old London home, and since then Roe’s team had uncovered more, their goal to get him sent down for as long as possible.
“I think he wants to get to you. I can send you over the letters we’ve intercepted - ”
“Just give me the gist.” I didn’t need to subject myself to the details.
“He’s annoyed you’ve betrayed him and that you’ve lied to him when you’ve said you and Caleb – he calls him something else, by the way – are just friends. There are plenty of quotes from you saying this, so he’s calling you a liar. You’ve been cheating on him, apparently.” Roe sighed. “The ramblings of a madman.”
“Do I need to be worried more than I am already?” Which, when I thought about it, was rather a high amount of worry, I just tried not to think about it.
“No. Be vigilant. We’re tracking your phone and Caleb’s. He’s unlikely to get to you if my people are doing their jobs right, and they’ll be doing their jobs right.”
He sounded confident which was a change for Roe who rarely gave much away with his tone of voice.
“Okay. Thank you for the head’s up.” We said goodbyes and I hung up, feeling slightly sick. Caleb pulled me into a hug, holding on with no regard for his father watching us.
“It’ll be over soon.”
“I know. I hope he’s caught before you go away.” I rested my head against his shoulder. “Don’t feel guilty about going away.”
“I won’t. Go away, I mean.”
I pushed away. “That’s not what I meant. I’ll be okay in Puffin Bay, safer than anywhere else, even if I’m still in Mavis’ house.”
That made him smile. “Mavis’ ghost will stop Peter Cash from getting in.” He was back to holding me.
I looked over to where Roman stood, watching us, an unreadable expression on his face.
“Why don’t you just buy somewhere together?” Roman’s words made us freeze. “Save yourselves from both moving again in a few months? I’m heading back home – I’ll leave you to sort yourselves out.”
We didn’t head back to Mavis’s house straight away, instead walking over to Elderwood Sound, Caleb’s hand holding mine, his jaw clenched. I wasn’t sure if he was tense from the news that Peter Cash was on the island, or his dad’s suggestion, but something was on his mind.
The weather was calm, the wind still, and while the Sound was usually smooth, today it was even more so than usual. Waders and sea birds clustered around, the noise almost deafening. No boats were around, probably because there was a promise of a storm later, and I’d never felt so remote before.
“Do you think Cash could follow me out here?”
Caleb shook his head. Someone from your security team will be nearby – there.” He pointed up to a drone. “Eyes are watching. Good job it’s too cold for outdoor sex.”
“Have you ever slept with someone here?”
He stared at me as if he was trying to work out exactly what I was asking.
