Chapter 59
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
The following morning, Juliette received a message from Sarah.
The box is hidden in the hedge, a third of the way down, by the second rhododendron bush.
She texted back her thanks, got out of bed and took a quick shower. Then she rushed out to the garden, walking along to where Sarah had mentioned. She stooped down and there was the box. She pulled it out and, tucking it under her arm, went inside again.
She made coffee and then sat at the island. She had more room here and would be able to spread out what was inside the box. Carefully, she lifted the lid and placed it down beside her.
Inside were mementos of Louisa’s life. Her passport, still in date by two years. Louisa Banks. Juliette frowned – why wouldn’t she have taken that with her if she’d gone? Then again, Daisy wasn’t on it, and it was in her maiden name, so perhaps it was out of use now.
In a round tin, she found the first lock of Daisy’s hair. It made her tears well up as she thought of Emily. Juliette had a keepsake tin too.
There was a card with a tiny footprint on it, from a hospital no doubt. She ran a finger over the image.
There were several photos of Daisy from when she’d been born, laid out in a cot at the hospital, wrapped up in a blanket with her arms either side of her face.
Juliette’s heart sank. These items were personal, things that shouldn’t be left behind.
She picked up the first photo of who she assumed to be Louisa. Then she stared at the young girl next to her, her familiarity uncanny. It couldn’t be. She took a closer look and then turned it over. Written on the back was:
Louisa and Sarah at home, Derrington Estate.
Juliette gasped. Her thoughts had been right. It was Sarah. If she wasn’t mistaken, she and Louisa were relatives. So why was she showing her this rather than telling her? Why did she want her to find out now? She sent Sarah a message.
Why didn’t you tell me that you were related to Louisa?
She waited for a few minutes and a message came back.
Because you might think I was in on her disappearance. She’s my sister. It’s the reason I don’t feel safe here too. I know too much.
Juliette sat with her thoughts for a moment. She didn’t understand the logic behind Sarah sharing this now. But she did realise that Richard was more dangerous than she’d imagined. She wasn’t sure she wanted to face him again, not now she had this knowledge.
She couldn’t let herself believe that anything had happened to Louisa.
She had to think that she was alive and well, and perhaps not wanting to be found.
She had to think that she might put Louisa in danger if she kept on looking for information.
But Sarah was Louisa’s sister, and that meant she wanted what was best for her sister too.
Sarah was telling her for good reasons. She just hadn’t worked out what they were yet.
She sent another message.
Everything is going to be okay. Trust me.
Sarah replied to Juliette’s message with a thank you, then looked at the two mobile phones that were in front of her. They’d been inside the box she’d found hidden in the annexe a few months ago. Richard must have put them there and forgotten about them.
She’d charged them up and looked over the messages that were stored. He’d tricked both her and Louisa. All those months she’d tried to get in touch with her sister when she’d first left, Richard must have pretended to be her on the phone. He’d wanted to isolate Louisa away from everyone she knew.
She recalled Louisa mentioning she had lost her phone and Richard had given her a new one, saying he couldn’t retrieve the previous contacts.
Sarah had known that was suspicious and had thought Louisa was making it up through embarrassment.
Most people stored their information via cloud so that they could get a new phone or gadget and everything would be transferred over.
There were messages from lots of people, always excuses from Louisa.
And in the end, even those had dried up.
It had made Sarah angry and more determined than ever to go through with her plan.
Richard really was a piece of work. Had she known that before the fateful night, things could have been very different.
She almost wanted to be angry with herself too, for letting him trick her, but also for poisoning her mind.
Richard was more cunning than she’d given him credit for. But he had met his match with her. He wouldn’t be allowed to get away with this.
And at least Juliette now knew that she and Louisa were sisters. It must heighten things dramatically, she suspected. Juliette would want to know all the whys, but she wasn’t willing to tell her yet.
She sent another message to Juliette.
I realise now that Richard must have had Louisa’s phone and sent me messages making me think they were from her.
She waited a moment for a message to come back.
That’s so cruel. And heartless. I think we need to meet again to discuss what you know. I can understand why you didn’t tell me that Louisa was your sister, but I wish I’d known earlier.
Sorry, I was scared you wouldn’t believe me.
Of course I believe you! I have been researching some places where you and Daisy could go. I could even take you to Derby, somewhere safe where Richard can’t get to you. I want to help.
Thanks.
I need Danny to see Daisy though. Do you think you can get Richard to invite us around for a meal?
She typed back.
I’ll try.
Sarah sighed as she put down the phone. It was good of Juliette to offer to take her to Derby and look for alternative places for her and Daisy to stay. But Sarah couldn’t go anywhere. She couldn’t leave her sister behind.
Not without doing what she’d set out to do to Richard.