Chapter Twenty-Seven
What they needed was for the kidnapper to call again.
Meanwhile, Daniel Neal spent Sunday with his wife’s family: ‘Some kind of normality for Joel,’ he said.
There was nothing they could do except wait, but Roy had a gnawing feeling that they had already waited too long. Time was running out.
***
Gil had exhausted herself working two extra shifts to help cover Joanna’s absence.
Meanwhile, things were getting increasingly complicated as her colleagues at the hospital were getting worried and asking questions.
Some wanted to visit Jo. One had even organised a whip-round and bought Jo a beautiful bouquet.
Gil had placed the flowers in a vase and set them on her kitchen table.
It was becoming harder to hide how she felt. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold it together. Awful as it was, part of her just wanted them to find Jo, even if she was dead. At least it would be over then. This not knowing was killing her.
***
Nicola spent the weekend weeping for Mrs Neal while struggling to control her anger toward Mr Neal, who she felt should have called the police sooner and not lied to her.
She couldn’t even tell her parents about the kidnapping; they’d ask questions when she went for Sunday lunch, and she couldn’t bear the thought of that.
She decided she’d pray hard for Joanna Neal when they went to church. Not that she believed in any of it, but still, it was worth a try. Then she thought of Joel and started crying again.
***
Donald hadn’t slept all night. He knew he’d made enemies on his way to the top; some had even gone bankrupt because of him, but that was business. He was in the game of making money. He hadn’t come this far by being soft.
He thought over the list of people he’d crossed. But surely any offence had to be recent, raw, for someone to go this far. No one came to mind, although he racked his brain until it gave him a headache. Finally, he slipped out of bed and poured himself a whisky.
If it turned out to be someone he knew, he swore he’d kill them. You don’t use family in business matters. That rule is sacred.