The Moment She Left by Susan Lewis

Author:Susan Lewis
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3, epub
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2016-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Andee had been watching CCTV footage of Jessica exiting Notting Hill Gate station for so long now that her eyes were starting to blur. There was no doubt the girl had been in good spirits as she’d crossed the road towards Holland Park, but with no further footage showing where she’d gone from there it was impossible to say whether she’d entered a house or apartment, gone into a shop, or maybe she’d got into a car.

This video had arrived from London that morning, presumably in answer to Kesterly CID’s request for more information on the transient resident search, which was disingenuous to say the least, since there was nothing new in the footage and not a word had been mentioned about rental agents.

After leaving the tech suite she went to talk to DI Gould about putting more pressure on the Met to give them what they were asking for, and an hour later she was at her flat on the seafront holding her own teenage daughter in her arms – though Jessica of course would be twenty-one by now. Had she been able to celebrate, wherever she was? Or had she never actually reached that glorious age?

‘I know I shouldn’t have,’ Alayna sobbed, ‘but I went to see him.’

‘To see Dad?’ Andee said curiously.

‘No. Him. Graeme Ogilvie.’

Andee’s insides folded as she said, ‘When?’

‘Before I came here. Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything. I didn’t even get to speak to him, because I chickened out and ran away.’

‘Oh Alayna,’ Andee murmured, drawing her back into her arms.

‘I wanted to ask him to leave you alone and let you come home again . . .’

‘But Alayna . . .’

‘I wanted him to know that he had no business breaking up other people’s families, and he ought to give more consideration to others.’

Endlessly thankful that her nerve had failed her, Andee said, ‘Alayna, you need to believe me when I tell you that I’m not having a relationship with Graeme. He’s a friend, that’s all, and I’m seeing a little more of him at the moment because I’m helping Blake Leonard, as you know, and Graeme’s sister, Mrs C, has a few issues that I’m helping with too.’

Alayna’s head came up. ‘Mrs C is his sister?’ she echoed, confused.

Andee nodded.

Apparently not sure what to make of that, Alayna said, ‘What’s wrong with her? Why is she having issues?’

‘It doesn’t matter, what does is that you . . .’

‘So you’re helping everyone except us?’

‘Don’t do this,’ Andee chided. ‘I’m trying to help you now by being honest with you, and by being here so you can tell me how you feel and we can discuss it.’

‘But you’re not listening.’

‘I am. I’m just not willing to be pushed into doing what you want me to.’

With a growl of frustration Alayna fell back against the sofa and pushed her hair from her face. ‘I can remember when I felt like your best friend,’ she said miserably. ‘It’s like you don’t want to be that any more.

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