“How did they find out Dila was here?” Jesse said.
“Or this was where River lives,” Newt pointed out.
Dila put her phone away. “Max says let them take some pictures and if they don’t go away, call the police.”
“They don’t know you’re here,” Newt said. “They didn’t mention you. Only River.” He should have said that to Max. Though that set off another ping in his brain.
Dila tucked her arm into River’s. “Doesn’t matter. We’ll go out together. Max said they can’t reveal this address or they’ll be in serious trouble. Oh and move that bag of leaves, Newt.”
She didn’t look as if she’d just got out of bed. Her makeup was in place along with huge fake eyelashes. She was wearing tight black leather jeans, a fluffy yellow sweater and enormous hoop earrings. Newt was suspicious. Maybeshe’dtold the press. Or Jesse had.
Newt went out through the back door. He ignored the calls of the photographers and dragged the rubble bag around the corner. By the time he was back at the front of the house, he could hear the tone of the voices had changed. They were calling out questions, telling Dila and River to change position, look this way, look that way, look at each other. Newt went the long way round to get back inside.
He was drinking coffee in the kitchen when River and Dila came in. Dila was laughing.
“Breakfast?” Sai asked.
“River and I will have my usual,” Dila said.
Andy walked in. “They’re leaving.”
“Great!” Dila beamed.
Shehadknown. This was a set up.Newt threw the remains of his coffee in the sink and put the mug in the dishwasher.
“Work,” River said to him.
“Not yet,” Dila said. “We’re leaving today. You canwork when we’ve gone.”
Another ping in his head. All that luggage for one night? Though if she was travelling around the UK, she probably had to take everything with her. He was just glad she was going. He went back outside and finished collecting the leaves.
Newt stayed out of everyone’s way for the rest of the morning. There was plenty of tidying to do in the garden and if River needed him, he could text. When he went back inside at lunchtime, all the bags and cases were in the hall. Andy was about to pack the cars.
“Need a hand again?” Newt asked.
“Thanks.”
When they were outside, Newt said, “Did you only plan for one night?”
“I thought we were staying longer. Dila’s anxious to get back to London. We fly to Mexico next week. You’ll have River to yourself again.”
Do not react! No,doreact but…“Oh joy.”Please be fooled.
Andy glanced at him. “Is he hard work? He seems pretty laid back.”
“Now I’ve whipped him into shape. I’m a speech therapist, cleaner, clothes washer, gardener, cook, driver, companion and prison guard. I struggle to find time to go for a pee.”
Andy nodded. “I know the feeling.”
Newt helped with the rest of the bags and when everyone was gathered in the hall, saying goodbye to River, he went to strip the beds. Andy had already taken the sheets off his, but no one else had. The rooms and bathrooms needed cleaning too.
River came up as Newt carried the large pile of washingdownstairs. He lifted it from Newt’s hands and threw it the rest of the way.
“Thank you. That was helpful.”
River smirked. “Go out. Sea. Dym…Hmm…chu…church.”
“Let me just put a load in the machine.”
