Chapter 40 Camilla

40 CAMILLA

NOW

The resort is small enough to walk around in half an hour, less at a march, but there are many nooks and crannies that make it possible for two people not to bump into each other, if one or both of them is so inclined. As Camilla leaves Kate’s villa, she decides to walk around the island, hoping to see Antoni. Darcy’s bombshell pushed him from her mind for a few fraught hours, but now she’s determined to make sure he’s OK.

By the pool, she sees Antoni’s nephew, Salvador, and a pretty teenage girl in a red bikini standing close by, and her heart lifts. She scans the bar behind them for Antoni. Then, not finding him, she approaches Salvador and gives a little wave. He is speaking to someone on his mobile phone, and gives her a funny look. She wonders if he doesn’t recognize her.

“Hello again,” she says. He lowers the phone.

“Is your uncle OK?” she asks.

Salvador says something in Spanish, the tone of his voice impassioned and urgent.

Panic shoots into her. Salvador is suddenly pleading with her, saying things she doesn’t understand. The girl looks worried too, pressing a hand to her face as she glances around.

“Where is Antoni?” Camilla says. Quickly she lifts her phone and types the words into Google Translate. She holds it up, and Salvador glances at it, his dark brow furrowed. He gently takes the phone from her to type his response.

I don’t know where he is

Camilla looks up at Salvador, seeing the worry etched on his face. Quickly she types back.

Is Antoni missing?

“Sí,” he says. Then he types again.

Not seen since Saturday night

She gives a start. It’s Monday afternoon. She last saw Antoni at around two or three on Sunday morning, before she fell asleep in a drunken, postcoital fog.

She squeezes Salvador’s arm, turns, and heads quickly to the resort office.

NURA IS SITTING AT HER desk and speaks before Camilla does. “We checked your deck,” she says. “For blood? We found nothing there. We tried to reach you.”

“I’m worried about a guest, actually,” Camilla says. “Antoni Caballé. He was staying with his nephew in villa eighteen. I’ve not seen him all day, and his nephew says he’s missing.”

Nura nods. “Yes, Salvador has reported this. We are making inquiries.”

Camilla notes that Nura doesn’t look very concerned. “He did kayak across to the Emerald Island Resort sometimes,” Camilla says.

Nura writes that down and throws her a smile. “I’ll call them. Please don’t worry.”

Thirty-five hours. Antoni hasn’t been seen by Camilla or his nephew for thirty-five hours.