Chapter 37
SCARLETT
The heat claws at me. Beads of sweat slide down my spine. I place a finger on my sister’s face. ‘What happened, Daisy? Did you come here?’
If she did or didn’t, one thing’s for sure.
Justin knew her.
Ripping the photo from the board, I shove it in my shorts pocket. I need to take a closer look and get it to the police. But for now, I need to get away. Coming here was a mistake. Or maybe not. Perhaps this is enough to persuade DS Porter that I’m right.
I hurry out, lock the door and rush down the stairs as if someone is chasing me. Outside, the grounds, the house, everything sharpens. My mind is made up.
I must go.
I consider making a run for it. But I’m miles from another house, let alone a village. And in this heat, at this time of day, it would be foolish to try.
But I’m past caring. I’m fit. I’ll run. I have to get back to the police station and show this photo to DS Porter. Surely, it’s the proof he needs to act.
I run back to the house, the sun burning my skin, even across such a short distance.
I step inside. The cool dark hallway is a relief from the heat, but the quiet is unnerving.
Not even Blue has come to say hello. Hattie.
Oh, Hattie. I need to think this through.
I can’t just abandon her. It would be cruel.
Beth will be back from her treatment soon.
I should wait until then to go. I’m not in immediate danger.
Perhaps I put my keys in the wrong pocket of my rucksack without realising.
Justin is going to London straight after the appointment.
Any threat has been removed. And will a single photo really cut it with the police?
Justin no doubt has had hundreds of photos taken with his admirers, thousands. I need more.
I run into my room. The air is oppressive, pressing down on me.
Walking to the window, I open it, but another blast of hot air hits me as hard as a wall.
I take the photo out of my pocket, the waves of heat thickening with unbearable fear.
It looks as if it was taken at an A Meeting of Minds convention.
As I study it, Daisy is smiling at him. He is smiling back.
Or is it vice versa? I can’t tell. To the unsuspecting observer, it’s just an innocent photo. But not to me.