Chapter 38

Armed with a fresh cup of tea, and with her mother and Rhys eager to hear what she had to say, Stella retrieved her phone from her bag and opened the text from Pim. She read the contents out loud.

Hi Stella, don't let Johan in your apartment!!! Just heard from my mum she says he's been stealing from people back in The Netherlands!! He's also lying about his illness! Sorry this is so short but it's very busy here. I'll give you more details later. Much love Pim x

‘Goodness, that was punchy and to the point,' said Alice.

‘It's good of Pim to warn you,' said Rhys, his expression grave.

‘Seems Johan de Groote is leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.' Stella set her phone down on the table and looked between them. A thought suddenly struck her. ‘He didn't take anything from here, did he, Mum?'

‘I haven't noticed anything… actually, now you come to mention it…' Alice glanced over to the worktop by the door. ‘I'd left my purse on—' She gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. ‘It's not there.' She got to her feet and started looking around the kitchen, colour draining from her face. ‘I could've sworn I'd left it there.'

Rhys joined the hunt around the room. ‘I don't recall seeing it, Alice.'

‘Maybe you put it back in your handbag, Mum.' Despite her suggestion, Stella had a bad feeling about this.

‘I'll check, but I'm sure I didn't. I was putting some raffle tickets away and can just remember thinking I'd put it back in my…' She stopped her search and turned to face them. ‘I put it down when I caught sight of Johan in the garden, didn't cross my mind that he'd end up in the house.'

‘You think he's taken it?' asked Rhys, clearly shocked.

‘After hearing what Pim said in his text, I'd say there was a pretty good chance he's lifted it, yes. He used to take money out of my purse when we were students.' Her voice tailed off.

‘Was there much cash in it?' asked Stella, taking in her mum's wan expression.

‘I think there was about fifty pounds, plus all my bank cards.'

Anger blazed inside Stella. How dare he come back and disrupt her mother's life again? To think, she'd been desperate to find him, desperate to know who he was. Now she wished she'd never set eyes on him. The only saving grace was that he wasn't here because she'd tracked him down and brought him to Micklewick Bay. That would have been too much to bear. The sooner he left town, the better. But first, her mum needed to get her purse back.

Stella drove into town, slowly scanning the streets for any sign of Johan de Groote, the windscreen wipers swishing back and forth as the rain teemed down. He'd be easy to spot; being so tall meant he stood out, as did his slightly bohemian style. It also helped that the inclement weather meant there weren't many people kicking about for him to melt into.

She'd left her mum's house determined to track her father down and get the missing purse back. She was going to give him a piece of her mind too. She'd take great pleasure in wiping that arrogant smile off his face. The man clearly had no conscience.

As her car nosed its way down Victoria Square, the rain thrumming ever harder against its roof, her heart jolted as her eyes landed on a familiar figure. Alex! Her pulse took off at a gallop. He appeared to be taking shelter in the station buildings along with a young woman she recognised as his twin sister Zara. There was a soggy-looking Fred sitting beside them, watching the world go by with interest.

Stella looked around frantically, searching for a parking space, the urge to speak to Alex setting nerves wriggling in her stomach. Spotting one, she quickly parked up and ran towards the station, head bowed against the driving rain that was slicing at her cheeks. Water splashed up from the puddles, soaking her plimsolls as she raced over the pavement.

‘Alex!' she called as she drew closer, fearful he'd walk away. He turned, his smiles morphing into a look of surprise.

‘Stella?'

Fred leapt to his feet and pulled on his lead to get to her, his tail wagging so hard it was making his whole body wiggle.

‘This is Stella?' Zara said, her eyebrows hitched in interest, an amused smile on her lips.

‘Alex, I'm so glad I've seen you,' Stella said, panting, rain dripping down her face, her hair plastered to her head. She bent, absently giving Fred an ear tickle.

‘You are?' Alex said. The look in his eyes telling her he wasn't convinced.

‘Yes, I am,' she said, trying to catch her breath. ‘I've been calling you. I need to talk to you. Need to apologise.' She wiped the rain from her face, not caring that she would look like a drowned rat; she had to tell him. ‘I know you didn't take my underwear. I'm really sorry I accused you.'

A snort of stifled laughter came from Zara's direction, earning her a stern look from her brother. ‘Sorry,' she said, pressing her fingers to her lips and looking anything but.

‘That's what I was trying to tell you when you threw it at me.'

More sniggers from Zara, earning her another reprimanding look and a frustrated huff.

‘I know that now, and I…' Her words tailed off, her eyes growing wide as her gaze was drawn to a tall figure with a now-familiar swagger who was making his way to the ticket office behind.

‘What's the matter?' Alex asked, turning and following her line of sight.

‘It's Johan de Groote. I need to stop him,' she said urgently. ‘I think he's stolen my mum's purse.'

‘He's what?'

‘Sorry, I have to go, but I still need to speak to you, Alex,' Stella called over her shoulder as she ran towards the ticket office.

Inside, she looked around frantically, but there was no sign of her father.

‘Arghh!' Frustrated, Stella pushed her fingers into her saturated hair. A second later, gripped by a feeling of urgency, she rushed out of the ticket office and checked the waiting room. Finding no trace of him there, she headed out onto the platform which was empty but for a handful of youths on bikes apparently oblivious to the weather. Turning on her heel, she sprinted to the subway that led to the second platform, her feet echoing around her as she raced on, calling out apologies as she barged her way through.

She'd just alighted on the platform when she heard the low rumble of a train as it snaked its way down the track towards the station. Glancing through the crowd of people, her attention was taken by raised voices over by the small waiting room. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Alex and Zara blocking the doorway to an enraged Johan de Groote.