The Hidden Palace by Dinah Jefferies

Author:Dinah Jefferies [Jefferies, Dinah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2022-06-06T12:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 30

After Bobby’s mother had departed, and on a day when Riva had the night off, they were driving to Mdina to see Bobby’s uncle for the second time. She felt delighted to be seeing Addison and his beautiful hidden palace again and was looking forward to a night with Bobby too. She began to happily sing something she’d recently heard on the wireless.

Bobby reached across and brushed a stray curl from her cheek. She turned to smile at him, took his hand, and kissed it.

‘Careful,’ he said. ‘I’m driving.’

It was a beautiful day although a bit windy and she leant back to enjoy the feeling of sun on her face.

‘By the way, I have information,’ Bobby said, ‘about your Russian girl. At least I think I do.’ His eyes were focused straight ahead.

‘Good news?’ she said and looked at him hopefully.

But as he shook his head, she drew in her breath.

‘What then?’

‘I’m so sorry. It’s pretty awful, but the remains of a young girl turned up on one of the beaches.’ He turned briefly to her, his eyes grave.

Riva gasped. ‘Oh no!’

‘I have a friend at the Times of Malta. I happened to mention what you’d said about a missing girl, and he told me about it. The authorities tend to hush these things up.’

‘When was she found?’

‘About two weeks ago. She’d been in the sea for a little while.’

‘Oh God. That’s awful. But why do you think it was her?’

‘Someone from Strait Street identified her as a Russian girl who’d only been here a couple of days before she didn’t turn up for work. They didn’t worry because people come and go so frequently.’

‘It could have been another Russian girl.’

‘They called her Anya.’

Tears welled up in Riva’s eyes. She dashed them away but felt terribly sad for the girl. If only she could have done something to help her while she’d had the chance. She shook her head feeling awful, knowing she’d chosen not to stay with Anya that day and now it was too late and there wasn’t anything she could do for her.

He sighed. ‘Look, darling, there have been rumblings about goings on in Strait Street. It’s likely the police may toughen up. I wish you would leave.’

‘Toughen up in what way?’

‘I don’t know exactly but my friend at the paper wants to talk to you.’

‘Me? Why me?’

‘He’s a journalist with a nose for ferreting out trouble. But he’s a good guy, one to have on your side. He suggested you might like to meet him for tea.’

‘And you think that’s a good idea?’

‘Maybe. You needn’t say anything about what happened in France or tell him your real name. I just think, well … I just think he’d be a friend if you ever needed one.’

She stared at him, wondering if it had been a mistake to tell Bobby the truth about herself. ‘You’re my friend.’

‘More than a friend, I hope. But if I’m not here …’

He glanced over, gave her a peculiar look that she didn’t understand, then turned back to keep his eyes fixed on the road.

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