Hitched (Delaney and Murphy Book 4) by Jack Adams

Author:Jack Adams [Adams, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atlas Productions
Published: 2024-05-24T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Amber Symonds—now Amber McLeod, 36, mother of two—hadn’t expected a call so quickly when she left her details with the gallery manager at the Missing Holly exhibition. But the phone rang at 9 am, and now, she sat opposite the private investigator in her favourite coffee shop. Her mother, Louise, sat beside her. Amber looked nothing like her fair, once best friend, Holly Castle. Amber's olive skin, dark hair and brown eyes told of her Italian heritage; she was slim, fashionable and attractive.

‘It was a shock walking in and seeing Holly everywhere,’ Amber said, ‘I had forgotten how beautiful she was and how young we were.’

Amber’s mother nodded. ‘How young we all were. I was 38; it seems like a hundred years ago, not twenty.’

The ladies enjoyed a cappuccino and shared a slice of banana bread. Nate stirred sugar into his flat white.

‘It’s a shame you couldn’t come to opening night,’ he said, ‘but Eric left the guest list to the gallery manager.’

Amber shook her head. ‘I’m glad we came when it was quiet so I could remember Holly without champagne and fuss. It was surprisingly emotional, even after twenty years. I thought I had shed all my tears for her.’

‘Eric wasn’t keen on the VIP opening either, but the gallery manager wanted to ensure the exhibition got as much publicity as possible, and she was right.’

‘I remember Eric,’ Amber said. ‘Back then, he was just Holly’s little brother who wanted to hang around when we wanted to share secrets. After Holly left, I saw him around occasionally. He always looked a little lost, an item of curiosity.’

‘That’s how he felt, apparently. I went to the same school,’ Nate said.

‘Really?’ Amber studied him. ‘Were you in Eric’s year?’

‘The year above and four years below you,’ he said with a smile.

‘Ah, no wonder I don’t remember your face.’ Then she clicked her fingers. ‘Yes, I do. Oh, I remember you.’

‘You do?’ Nate asked, worried about what might have brought him to the attention of a senior student.

She nodded and looked at her mother before looking back at Nate. ‘You were the kid whose best friend’s mum was Winsome Keeley.’

Nate relaxed and grimaced.

Louise’s eyes lit up. ‘Oh, that was you? I only ever saw her once going past in the limousine. I love Winsome.’

‘That was me,’ Nate said. ‘Adam is still my closest friend.’

‘I wish I could say the same about Holly,’ Amber said sadly. ‘I really missed her that senior year, and then I was okay for a few years until I went travelling, and it hit me again.’

Nate moved their meeting along. 'I really appreciate you getting in touch. Can you tell me about the days before Holly disappeared and what you discussed? What do you remember?’

Amber nodded and thought for a moment. ‘Where to start… okay, after the play, Holly was determined to go to Sydney and try and get an agent and roles. She didn’t want to be a model, but she would do that kind of work to support herself if needed.

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