Chapter Fifty-Four
Gil
‘Four days in Vienna? That’s fantastic. Can you sneak me into your suitcase?’ I ask, half joking.
I’m at Danny’s flat, collecting Joel. It is my Sunday off, something I always look forward to.
Things have been strained between Daniel and Donald ever since Jo’s memorial.
I’ve offered to take Joel to his grandparents’ house on my free Sundays.
So, every two weeks, I collect Joel and take him there for Sunday lunch.
Afterwards, we stop off at an ice-cream parlour in Oxford before heading back to mine, where Daniel usually picks him up at around seven.
I feel closest to Jo when I’m with Joel.
‘You’re welcome to join us if you can get the time off. Should be easy to book another room,’ Danny says.
God, no. That would have people talking.
‘Thanks for the offer, but I’m doing double shifts next week. The replacement surgeon was only temporary, and the new one doesn’t start for another week.’
He’s focused on packing the suitcase and doesn’t seem to hear me. Or maybe he doesn’t want to.
‘I spoke to DS Blackford,’ I say casually.
He stops packing abruptly.
‘I know. She came to see me. Why are you pushing this, Gil?’
‘I’m not,’ I say defensively. ‘We just had a chat. I asked if they were still looking for Jo.’
‘The case is closed, Gil,’ he says, pulling a toy from the suitcase and trying again to zip it shut.
‘They’re still following any leads or sightings,’ I add.
He looks annoyed.
‘We’re trying to move on, Gil.’
Why is he always so defensive? Doesn’t he want her body found? Then we could all have closure.
‘Yes, I know, but—’
Frustratingly, his phone rings at that moment, and Joel pulls me into his room to show me what he’s packed in his rucksack for the holiday.
I hear Danny’s voice in the background. ‘Isn’t there anyone else who could go there? I haven’t visited the house since… Well, you know… since my wife was…’
Joel empties his rucksack proudly. It’s stuffed with toys. He pulls them out one by one.
Just then, Danny rushes in, face lit with excitement. He glances at the pile of toys on the floor and sighs.
‘Joel, we just packed those. Now put them all back.’
He turns to me and says quietly, ‘The head teacher at the play school wants to see me. They think he’s acting oddly for a kid who’s lost his mother. Do you think that?’
‘Odd in what way?’
‘Happy.’
I don’t want to admit that I’ve thought the same. ‘No, he seems fine.’
‘I’ve got to see her after the holiday. She thinks he needs professional help to come to terms with…
Anyway, that’s when we return. That was the estate agent on the phone.
It looks like we may have a buyer.’ His face lights up once more.
‘Someone from the States wants to view the house. They know nothing about the—’ He glances at Joel before continuing.
‘The situation, so they’re not time-wasters.
The problem is, they can only view it this afternoon.
They’re flying back to the US tomorrow. The estate agents close at midday, so I’ll have to do it.
The viewers can only make it for three. Unless you… ’
He hesitates.
He must be joking.
‘Oh no,’ I say quickly. ‘Besides, I hardly know the house.’
He looks disappointed and sighs. ‘I haven’t been there since—’
‘It’ll be good to lay some ghosts to rest,’ I say. ‘You should go before it’s sold, or you may never forgive yourself.’
He nods slowly. ‘Yeah,’ he says, sounding resigned.
‘Okay. I’ll take him to Julia and Donald’s for Sunday lunch, as planned.’
He nods but says nothing, eyeing Joel’s overstuffed rucksack.
‘It’s four days, mate, not four years.’
I laugh.
‘This trip will be good for both of you. And maybe you’ll come back to find the house has been sold.’
I think back to my evening with Josie. I can’t accept that Jo was fed to the pigs. That’s what they think, because that greasy bastard was found near the pig farm. But no, she’s out there somewhere. I know it.
‘I can feel her,’ I told Josie. ‘I know her body is close. We have to find it.’
Jo deserves a proper funeral. I need to say goodbye. Josie promised she wasn’t giving up on Jo, and I believe her.
‘Come on, kiddo,’ I say, grabbing Joel’s hand.