Page 94 of Hard Heart

Best-case scenario, the poor woman was found unharmed. Worst case? I didn’t want to think about it.

But I had to.

Because how did this impact our case? The whole time, Levi had been assuming Justin killed Ruby for money, not because he got a kick out of it. But now another woman connected to Justin was missing, and that couldn’t be a coincidence, could it? And if he’d bumped off a second acquaintance, then maybe, just maybe, it would be easier to convince a judge that he’d also been responsible for the first.

There were still pieces that didn’t fit—the spy device, for example—but this felt like a breakthrough.

“Hello, my darling.” Levi spoke in a fake English accent, his tone playful. Like me, he’d dropped any pretence of professionalism, but he still sounded tired. Worn around the edges. Now that my exam was done, he’d promised to call me every evening, even if it was only for a few minutes. He had to spend all that art commission money on something, didn’t he?

“Boy, do I have news for you.”

“There’s movement on the petition? But Raelene said it would take months.”

“Not the petition, but it might be related.” I took a deep breath and blurted it out. “Justin’s PA has disappeared.”

“Smart lady.”

“No, disappeared, disappeared. The police are searching the forest near his house for a body.”

“Are you serious?”

“Unfortunately. He hasn’t been arrested yet.”

“Fuck.” Levi fell silent, and I knew what he was thinking. We were too late. He’d spent a decade trapped in a hell of someone else’s making, and now another woman was most likely dead. “There’s no way she just upped and left town?”

“Anything’s possible, but she’s been gone for over a week. The police found her handbag stuffed into a bush outside the office, and Justin was the last person to see her. Detectives were at his home.”

“So they think he did it?”

“They definitely have him down as a suspect.” Raelene knew several reporters, and apparently, an off-the-record source had confirmed they were looking at Justin. “There doesn’t seem to be any actual evidence so far, though, and he’s keeping a low profile.”

As in, he was hiding inside his house, and he hadn’t left since the media took an interest. A neighbour had been seen taking food to the front door. There was a crowd of influencers live-streaming from the property line, but Justin had hastily installed a fence to block their view—one of the benefits of owning a construction company, no doubt. They’d begun using selfie sticks, but the curtains were closed, so the footage was pretty boring. And it seemed the neighbours didn’t take too kindly to their village being invaded because a member of the local seniors’ walking group had told a podcaster to “go ahead, make my day” when they found the guy lurking in a bush, plus there was an alleged fracas involving pepper spray, but nobody got that on video.

I’d kept half an eye on BuzzHub while I was at work, but I needn’t have bothered because Heidi had said “screw sleep,” and she’d been texting me updates all day. Now she was sleepwalking around Jackson’s in a jewelled bikini and stilettos while I took over Justin-watch.

“Shit. I don’t even know what to say. I hope they find the woman. What’s her name?”

“Amie Carlson. She’s worked at Norquist Construction for seven years, and nobody understands why he would suddenly do this now.”

“Least of all me.” Levi paused. “So, what happens next? Will this have any impact on my case?”

“If he gets charged? Hell yes. Raelene’s already working with our PR person to draft a press release, and it’ll put a spotlight on Blackstone House. Obviously, the time for a regular appeal has passed, but if there’s new evidence, we can use the court of public opinion to push for your conviction to be overturned.”

“You’re talking another media circus.”

“It might be the only way.”

“Some people won’t be happy about that.”

“Does that matter?”

“Not to me. I’m stuck in here. But last time, the reporters were relentless, and I hate the idea of you being hounded.”

“If it gets us closer to you being free, then I’ll cope. You just need to keep your head down while we work out what’s going on.”

“I have seventeen paintings in the order book. The only thing I’m in danger of is getting Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.”

“Speaking of paintings, I got the chance to look in your studio, and your work should be hanging in a gallery, not an empty house.”