Bella

HIS brOTHER. JAKE'S brOTHER. SEEINGEddie like that has given me a jolt. A new sense of urgency. A reminder of what was lost. What she took.

As I march toward The Manor's gates I become aware of a sound behind me: the low grumble of heavy machinery. I turn and see a yellow JCB and a white van crawling up the road in this direction. They must be here for the construction work on the edge of the woods: the reason I got such a huge discount for my stay.

As I stand and watch them approach, an idea occurs to me. It's at once wildly audacious and so simple it feels like it was meant to be. My heart starts to beat very fast in my chest.

I open the journal. With trembling hands I flick to the biro-drawn map at the back, making sure. Then I turn and walk back toward the JCB, raising a hand to flag them down.

X marks the spot.