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She opened her eyes again, beginning to feel stability of a kind. The relief at not finding herself in a full-blown attack was cold comfort.

She picked up her phone and called Mark.

“Hey, Hannah, happy Christmas!” He sounded as though he was in a room with other people, and was probably a few drinks in.

“Happy Christmas, Mark. How are you?” she replied, her voice stiffer than intended.

“Yeah, good thanks. Great to be away from the studio for a couple of days. I’ve left Antonia in charge, so I can relax,” he said. The sounds around him lessened. “Just going upstairs so I can hear you properly.”

“Thanks. Well, I wanted you to know, the police have arrested their suspect and they’re pretty sure they’ve got their man.” Hannah reported it as though it was one of her stories. Factual. No nonsense.

“Aw, Hannah, that’s fantastic news. I’m so pleased.” The relief in Mark’s voice was palpable.

“Yeah, me, too,” said Hannah, grateful to be on the phone to her one friend. She was pretty sure he didn’t have a list of all the reasons why spending time with her was a terrible thing to do.

“You must be so relieved,” he said. “You can properly enjoy Christmas with your new woman.”

“I am relieved,” she said. “I should be able to get a train back on Boxing Day.” She decided not to talk about Lottie. What would she say? That she’d had a holiday fling that had changed her life and it would be over the moment she walked out of the castle doors? Hannah looked down at the piece of paper that she had absent-mindedly folded into a tiny rectangle.

“There’s no hurry,” said Mark. “You’re not due back at work for another week or so, are you? Antonia and Wesley have everything under control, and you really do need this break.”

“Mmm.” Hannah was non-committal. She couldn’t stay in McLennon Castle now she knew the truth.

“Seriously, Hannah, you need to put yourself first and have a proper break. You don’t need to worry about all this threat stuff now,” Mark continued.

“No. That is a good thing,” conceded Hannah. “Anyway, you need to get back to your family. Think of me tomorrow morning when you’re having a tipple and hiding from your mother-in-law.”

“Ha ha,” said Mark, “I will. Take it easy, Hannah. And whatever it is that’s holding you back from really letting yourself relax, please do give it up. You need this.”

“OK, Mark, I will.” Hannah’s voice was perfunctory. She had been slowly letting go of all the stresses of the last few months, imagining a different life for herself, maybe even a life with Lottie. But now she felt empty. She wanted to get off the call quickly before she admitted everything to Mark. He didn’t need that. No one did.

The call came to an end and Hannah unfolded the piece of paper once more. She placed it in the centre of the desk, perfectly aligned to the edge of the old wood.

There was a gentle knock on the door and then Lottie popped her head in.

“Everything OK?” she asked.

Chapter Forty-Two

LOTTIE

Hannah’s face was drawn and her eyes dark. She looked like she’d had bad news. Lottie’s instinct was to go to her, and she walked a few steps into the room.

Hannah’s hand came out, signalling to Lottie to stop. “No, it’s fine,” she said.

Lottie paused. Something terrible must have happened to so dramatically change Hannah’s demeanour. “What’s happened? Was it the police on the phone?”

Hannah spoke carefully, as though weighing out each word. “It was the police, yes. They have apprehended the guy who made the threats and arrested him. It’s over.”

“Oh thank God,” said Lottie, feeling every bit of the relief that didn’t seem to be showing in Hannah’s face. “You must be so relieved.”

“Yes,” confirmed Hannah. Her eyes seemed to be questioning Lottie.

“Are you OK?” Lottie asked. Something was wrong here, she could feel it. Hannah had become even stiffer, if that were possible, than she had when she’d arrived at the hotel on the first day.

“No, Lottie, I’m not,” said Hannah, her cheeks sucked in. She stood up from the desk and tucked her phone into her pocket.

“Why? What’s happened?” Lottie was beginning to panic. She took a step closer to Hannah, who glared at her, making Lottie jump back.