Chapter 52

‘He left Nina three years ago,' Zelda explains. ‘Cleared out their joint account, went to work and never came back. She's moved on now, living with someone, has a toddler and one on the way, doesn't want to get involved.'

‘I can't believe it,' I say, astonished. ‘It's obvious he's done another runner after fleecing you and Diane. Did the police say they'll prosecute him for theft when he shows up?'

‘Nope, there's nothing they can do about the money, as we gave it to him willingly.' So, if they're not after him for his fraudulent activities, they must be concerned about his welfare. Why is Zelda so calm? Maybe it's a delayed reaction. An image of him bleeding to death in a ditch flickers in my mind. I bat it away. ‘Besides, he's potless, spends money like water.'

‘His Patek Philippe watch must be worth a few quid,' I offer, trying to stay positive. ‘Do you think it's real?'

‘I doubt it,' Zelda admits.

‘You can get good fakes for fifty quid from Malaysia,' I confess, and Zelda agrees. ‘I noticed his watch the very first time I saw him wearing it. I think it was that lovely emerald green face and leather strap.' I tap my finger against my cup. ‘I wonder if the police will contact you again.'

‘PC Pernice rang me this morning,' Zelda says, and my eyes widen.

‘And?'

‘They've had an update. Frank finally replied to Louis's text messages. They traced his location from his mobile number.' Relief sluices through me. He's alive. That explains Zelda's calm demeanour. ‘They also checked his bank account. Two cash withdrawals were made. CCTV outside the cash machine matches the description they have of him.'

‘Where is he?'

‘St Ives.' Zelda takes a slurp of tea.

‘He's in Cornwall?' I exclaim.

‘Cambridgeshire,' she clarifies, draining her cup. ‘Louis told the police he's gone to see his parents in Huntingdon. Mum's very poorly, apparently.'

‘Did he tell them he'll be coming back?' Please say no.

‘Not for the foreseeable. Linda thinks he won't show his face around here again after what he's done.'

‘That's true.' A pause and then. ‘Anyway, at least we know he's not dead.'

We sit in silence for a few moments and then Zelda says, ‘Bella?'

‘Yes, love?'

‘Can I ask you a question?'

‘Of course.' I grab both her hands and look her in the eye.

‘I don't know how to say this, really.'

I squeeze her slender fingers. I know what she's going to say. She wants to ask me for a loan to pay her rent because that wanker stole her money, but doesn't know how to style it. ‘You know you can ask me anything, right?' I say, already preparing the bank transfer in my head.

Zelda nods. ‘Why do you smell like a charity shop?'

‘What?' I think I'd have preferred her asking me for money. Tom told me I stank earlier but I thought he was being spiteful. ‘Do I smell?'

‘To put it mildly,' she giggles. I look at my watch, wondering if there's enough time to put on a quick wash. ‘I'm sure Mum won't mind. Drench yourself in some perfume.'

‘I'm not picking Mum up.' I get to my feet and start unbuttoning my shirt while Zelda starts to hum David Rose's Stripper. ‘Oh, be quiet.'

‘Mum's getting a train back?' Zelda asks as I chuck my blouse into the washing machine and set it to a fifteen-minute quick wash. ‘She won't be happy about that.'

‘Daisy's picking her up.' Daisy pounded down the stairs the moment I stepped inside after my brawl with Tom earlier, and threw her arms around me – she'd seen and heard everything from her bedroom window. When she asked if there was anything she could do to help, I suggested, in jest, picking my mother up from Heathrow and, to my astonishment, she agreed.

‘Daisy?' Zelda says incredulously as I slide a hand through Daisy's black hoodie, which she abandoned on one of the chairs. ‘What's she gonna do, stand there with a cardboard name display?'

‘Georgia's going with her. Daisy's found another job near the airport and is viewing two flats in Ruislip this morning, so will be nearby. I've got a lot on and it made sense.'

‘I didn't know she was leaving the garden shed.'

‘Garden office,' I point out, reminding her that it cost forty-five grand, and just then my phone starts ringing on the worktop where it is charging – Linda calling.

‘Going for a wee,' Zelda mimes, as I put Linda on loudspeaker.

‘Morning gorgeous, I…'

‘Do you want the good news or the bad?' Linda interrupts, without any preambles.

‘Oh, the good, please. I can't take much more bad news today.'

‘Well, they're both bad, actually, but one is worse.'

‘Please don't tell me Theo is still reeling about Frank because…'

‘No, it's not that. Everything is fine between us.'

‘What is it then?' The washing machine spins. ‘Linda?'

‘Today's gig's been cancelled. Owner's brother has passed away.'

‘Oh, that's sad.' I open my calendar app and delete the appointment. ‘I'd be a wreck if one of my loved ones died. But what can be worse than news of a death?'

‘The Limes Park guy.'

‘What about him?' I ask. It can't be Frank – he's on the run, texting Louis from Cambridgeshire and withdrawing money from cashpoints.

‘He's been identified.'

‘Is it someone we know?' I gulp. The washing machine chugs.

‘Yes.' A pause. ‘Are you sitting down?'

I flop onto the chair. ‘I am now. Go on, who is it?'

‘Liam.'

The hairs on my arm stand on end. ‘Liam who? It can't be…'

‘Liam Cooper. Your ex.' The machine spins at about the same time as my stomach. ‘He's the Limes Park victim.'