Chapter 43
AMBER
The air smells of coffee and sun cream at breakfast the next morning. As usual, Maria’s laid out a spread fit for a king. Bowls of creamy Greek yoghurt and jewel-like berries, baskets of fresh rolls and pastries, tubs of muesli and granola and jugs of fresh orange juice and honey.
‘Would you like a coffee?’ the housekeeper calls from the kitchen. She is slicing cucumbers with a gleaming chef’s knife and I motion her to keep going. I still can’t get used to being waited on hand and foot.
‘That’s so kind, Maria, but you’re busy. I can get it.’
I pour myself a cup and wander out onto the terrace. It’s another stunning day, the sky a fierce cobalt blue, the sun already blisteringly hot. Even though it’s a Sunday, the thrum of cicadas is drowned out by the sound of the digger on the building site below.
Felix will be livid, I think automatically.
They’re probably working just to annoy him.
But a quick head count confirms what I’d suspected last night.
Felix isn’t here. I look around at the rest of them, each glued to their phone, as if they’ve run out of things to say to each other.
Doesn’t anyone think his disappearing act is strange? Doesn’t anyone care?
I bite my tongue. I don’t want to be accused of overreacting.
He’s probably having a lie-in or is in his office catching up on emails.
Instead, I help myself to Greek yoghurt and berries and sit next to Willow, who’s scrolling mindlessly through cat videos on TikTok as she makes a dent in a huge plate of fresh fruit.
‘What’s the plan for today?’ I ask brightly.
Willow shrugs. Barney and Victoria don’t even look up from their phones. Dominic, who crept out of the room just before six to go for a run and is still in his shorts and vest top, looks to Simone for a cue.
‘I thought we’d spend it on the beach. I’ll have Maria make us up a picnic,’ she says.
‘Sounds lovely.’ I push my spoon around my bowl of yoghurt, then force down a couple of mouthfuls for Maria’s sake more than my own, as my appetite has disappeared.
There’s a shout from the building site, and the digger’s engine putters out.
‘Thank Christ for that,’ Victoria says. ‘I hope Felix does lodge a complaint. It’s like nails on a chalkboard.’ She slips her phone into her pocket and stands. ‘I might go and put some things together for the beach.’
Before she’s reached the bifold doors there’s a second shout from below, which is immediately followed by a crash from the kitchen, the unmistakable sound of a plate smashing on the marble floor.
‘For pity’s sake,’ Simone huffs. ‘Can we not have five minutes’ peace?’
‘I’ll see if Maria needs any help,’ I say, glad of an excuse to leave. When I reach the kitchen, the housekeeper is clutching the sink, staring out of the window to the sea, shards of shattered crockery at her feet.
‘Everything OK?’ I ask.
She flinches, as if I’ve just jumped out of a cupboard and yelled ‘boo’ in her ear. Her face is ashen, her pupils huge.
‘Maria? Are you all right?’
Expecting her to nod and send me on my way, I’m shocked when she seizes my arm in a grip so tight I have to stifle a gasp.
‘Body,’ she croaks. ‘They’ve found a body.’