‘Thank you for not mentioning my prison visits yet. I know you will, sooner or later, but at least I can cherish my privacy a while longer.’
She found herself picturing him at the farm, his handsome face creased, perhaps even pale with concern and for a fleeting moment she wished she could be with him. Maybe she should apologize for the way she’d torn into him on Sunday, how ready she’d been to blame him for Nicole’s return to prison. In the end she decided there was nothing to be gained from bringing it up now. So speaking gently, she said, ‘We don’t intend to reveal where you are, only that you and Nicole have remained in touch.’
‘And people will draw their own conclusions from that – as have you, I’m sure.’
‘You told us your reasons when we interviewed you.’
‘It was the truth. I just don’t know how many people will believe it is as simple as that.’
‘Is it?’
He sounded amused as he said, ‘When has love ever been simple?’ Then, in a slightly less melancholy tone, ‘I am going to Switzerland tomorrow, just for a few days, to see my brother.’
Recalling what he’d told her about those visits, she said, ‘Does that mean you’re feeling the need to talk to someone?’
‘Maybe.’ Then, ‘Would you consider joining me there?’
Her heart jolted.
‘We will be at our home in Vevey, an hour’s train ride from Geneva, on the way to Montreux. It is very beautiful. Unfortunately, we no longer own the vineyards, but Julien runs them, and his wife, Rula, does the marketing, so we will be happy to show you around.’
Certain there was more to this than a mere wine tour,she said, ‘Can I give you an answer when I’ve spoken to Connor?’
‘Of course. I don’t leave until tomorrow, and I plan to be there until the weekend. If you do decide to come, you’re most welcome to stay with us, or there is a hotel on the lake we can recommend. I’ll wait to hear from you, and meanwhile, I will contact Lauren again.’
After ringing off, Cristy took a moment to try and work out what might really be going on. Why would he invite them to his hometown when there was no obvious reason to, unless … ?
‘If what I’m thinking is real,’ Clove declared excitedly, as soon as Cristy had reported back, ‘then this could turn out to be major.’
‘Whatareyou thinking?’ Meena urged. ‘What’s in Switzerland that we don’t yet know about?’
Cristy looked at Connor.
‘The twins?’ Clove answered for them.
‘Is that whatyouthink?’ Meena asked Cristy.
‘I’m not sure,’ Cristy replied. ‘I admit it was the first thing that came to my mind, but if they are there … God, it opens up so much …’
‘Such as why he would want you to meet them,’ Jodi put forward incredulously.
‘I’m not sure I’m liking the sound of this,’ Harry stated. ‘He could be luring you into some sort of trap.’
Scoffing, Meena cried, ‘That’s exactly whatyouwould think – although I kind of agree,’ she told Cristy and Connor. ‘I mean, if he’s had them in Switzerland all this time …’
‘Maybe his brother has brought them up as his own?’ Clove suggested.
‘I can tell you right now,’ Jacks said, opening up his research file, ‘that my deep dives have shown his brother, Julien, to be married to Rula, resident in Vevey with their two kids … Yep, here they are. Lance and Jacob, aged twenty-sixand twenty-eight respectively.’ He looked up to check how his news had gone down.
Connor said, ‘Both boys, and too old to be Noah and Abigail anyway.’
‘However,’ Jacks said, ‘now might be a good time for me to share the facial enhancements we’ve had back. It’ll give you an idea of what the twins probably look like now, just in case you do happen to run into someone who could be them while you’re there.’
Clove said, ‘When will you go?’
‘He’s flying tomorrow,’ Cristy replied, ‘so I think we should go on Thursday, back Friday?’ she said to Connor.
With an awkward glance at Jodi, he said, ‘We have something in the diary for Thursday. So how about Friday, back Saturday?’
