Kat could read her mind as easily as if a cartoon thought bubble had popped up above Lydia’s head. ‘That’s right, and add something to eat as well if you like. It’s the least I can do underthe circumstances.’ Kat was past the point of worrying about the bottom line. Her dad would have to suck it up.
‘Give them whatever they want, Debs,’ she said, quietly, as she joined the other woman behind the counter.
Debbie nodded as she went through the routine that started the coffee machine going. ‘If you need to head home and check on things I’ll hold the fort.’
‘You sure?’ Leaving Debbie on her own without a supervisor was against the rules, but Kat couldn’t ignore the fear that was mounting inside every minute she heard nothing.
‘Of course, love.’
‘I’ll be quick as I can and I’ve got my phone,’ Kat said, already moving. ‘Call me if you need anything!’
She was out of breath by the time she reached the top of her parents’ road and she could feel her sweatshirt sticking to her back. Kat slowed to a walk and tried to catch her breath as she reached the top of the path outside their house. Her father’s car wasn’t on the drive, but he often parked it in the garage. A horn toot-tooted behind her and she spun around to see Issy’s little blue car pulling up next to her. The moment it stopped, Anya spilled out of the passenger seat and grabbed Kat in a hug. ‘Oh, Kat, are you okay?’
Kat hugged her back and watched in amazement as Chloe clambered out the back seat, an expression like thunder on her face. Issy got out of the driving seat, an apron still covering her jeans and top as if she’d run straight out of the café – which, knowing Issy, she probably had. ‘What are you all doing here?’ Kat asked.
They all started talking at once. ‘Harry called Liam and told him what was going on so he’s looking after the café until Nan can get there to take over,’ Issy said.
‘It’s one of Davy’s days in the office so he’s looking after the hotel,’ Anya added.
‘What do you think we’re doing here, silly goose?’ Chloe said as she grabbed Kat and gave her a fierce hug. She stepped back and glared up at the house. ‘Have you been in yet?’
Kat shook her head. The churning in her stomach had ramped up to a full spin cycle now. ‘I only just got here. God, I hope they’re all right.’
‘I hope they’ve done us all a favour and murdered each other,’ Chloe muttered.
‘Chloe! My God!’ Anya gasped, eyes wide in horror.
‘What?’ Chloe demanded as she held out her hand to Kat for her keys. ‘I’m just saying what we’re all thinking.’
The same thought had flitted through Kat’s mind on the way over, but she’d dismissed it out of hand. Issy rolled her eyes. ‘This isn’t a bloody Netflix documentary, Chloe.’ She reached for Kat’s hand. ‘It’ll be okay.’
Kat squeezed her friend’s hand, grateful as always for her stalwart support. ‘It probably won’t, but I’m glad you’re all here with me.’
The house was empty. No sign of anyone and no sign of disturbance either, much to Kat’s relief. ‘Can you check the garage?’ she asked Anya as she took a slower look around downstairs after their madcap race to check all the rooms.
‘Of course.’
‘I’ll check in the kitchen,’ Issy offered as Chloe came over and handed Kat the couple of envelopes she’d found on the mat.
Kat ripped them open but one was a utility bill and the other a bank statement. Kat shoved them both back in their envelopes and put them on the sideboard. ‘Now what?’ she asked Chloe with a sigh.
Chloe shook her head. ‘I have no idea. They can’t have just vanished. When was the last time you spoke to them?’
‘I saw Dad at work on Thursday. He was taking Mum to that spa place in Port Petroc on Friday and then I was off over the weekend.’
‘Maybe they stayed at the spa?’ Chloe suggested, her voice suddenly hopeful. ‘Like a second honeymoon or something?’
Kat shook her head. ‘They can’t have because someone would’ve told me if the coffee shop didn’t open over the weekend.’
Chloe’s shoulders sagged. ‘No, I suppose not.’
‘There’s no sign of your dad’s car,’ Anya said, returning Kat’s keys to her.
‘And nothing in the kitchen,’ Issy said as she walked back in. ‘And I mean nothing. Not a dirty cup or plate, no crumbs on the board. I even checked the dishwasher but it’s completely empty.’
‘That’s so weird,’ Anya said. ‘Have you tried calling them again?’
Kat pulled out her phone and called her dad. It rang several times before switching to voicemail. ‘It’s Kat. Call me backASAP. I’m getting really worried.’ The message was a variation of the half dozen she’d already left. She tried her mum’s and went through the same process.
