Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French

Author:Nicci French
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2024-02-28T00:00:00+00:00

FORTY-THREE

On the Wednesday, when Etty was in her office, just finishing a Zoom call with clients, Penny rang her.

‘Is anything wrong?’ Etty asked.

‘Yes, there is.’

‘Is it Dad?’ The word felt nasty in her mouth, too intimate.

‘It’s Lucia. She’s torn a tendon in her foot and can’t work.’

‘Presumably the agency can provide cover?’

‘That’s the thing, they can’t find anyone at this short notice. They say by the weekend they’ll be able to.’

‘Sorry about that.’

‘Is that all?’

‘I don’t see what I can do.’

‘No? So what do you think happens? I’ll tell you what happens, it falls to Niall and me, which is always what it’s been like.’

‘In a week or so, he’ll be in a home.’

‘It’s our wedding anniversary. We’re supposed to be going to Lisbon for four days. We never go away together.’

Etty went to the window of her office and stared out at the blue sky above the office buildings. She couldn’t do this.

‘Well?’ said Penny.

‘You’re not expecting me to look after him?’

‘Niall said you wouldn’t. He said it was useless to call you. But Ollie’s got flu.’

‘I’ve got work.’

‘We’ve all got work.’

Fuck, Etty thought: fuck fuck fuck. She took a deep breath.

‘All right,’ she said.

‘You will?’

‘I said yes, didn’t I?’

‘You have to get here today. We fly early tomorrow morning.’

‘I’ll be there.’ She looked at her watch. ‘By five.’

‘I’m not going to say thank you.’

Etty gave a smile despite herself. ‘Good. You shouldn’t.’

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