Chapter Seventy-Seven
Joanna
It’s been a long few weeks, but Danny has finally put the house on the market. I was beginning to think he might not, although I’m sure most of the viewers will be time-wasters, people who simply want to see the infamous house where the murders happened.
The hit man has been identified as Stuart King. It feels strange to know his name. Sometimes I lie awake at night imagining the time Danny first contacted him. Was Joel asleep in his room while his father plotted to have me murdered?
Nev has been so kind. If not for him, I would be dead. To my amazement, he’s now among the people I trust most, along with Gil.
Poor Gil. I didn’t mean to shock her so profoundly. But how else could I have done it? Nev suggested I phone first, but I thought that would feel even more ghostly.
When I call the estate agent, in what I suspect is an atrocious American accent, she’s very apologetic.
‘We close at midday,’ she says. ‘Could you make it any earlier?’
‘I’m sorry. Sunday is our only free afternoon. It’s the perfect house for us. We’re happy to pay the full asking price, but we need to see inside before making an offer.’
I can almost hear her brain whirring as she tries to find a way around the dilemma.
‘We fly home tomorrow,’ I add. ‘I can’t make an offer without seeing inside. We’ve driven past and loved it. What about the owner, could they show us around? We wouldn’t take up much of their time.’
She hesitates.
‘It’s just not how things are usually done.’
‘Okay, thanks anyway.’
I’m about to hang up when she says quickly, ‘Let me phone the owner.’
‘Great, thanks,’ I say, trying to hide my relief.
Ten minutes later, I’m on tenterhooks. They’re not going to phone back, I tell myself.
Then my mobile rings.
‘The owner is happy to show you around at three.’
I smile. I’m finally going to see Danny again.