Chapter Thirty-Seven
With Nicole’s return to prison – not to mention Hindsight’s own involvement in it – being such a big story in the main news, there was a very small window available for them to re-edit the next episode in time for upload.
However, it was quickly decided that this week’s focus needed to be more on the effect the sudden turn in events might be having on Nicole’s mental health, rather than on the licence revocation itself.
So, the psychologist who’d advised Cristy prior to their first meeting with Nicole was called in to give an account of others she’d treated in similar circumstances.
She was good – concise, descriptive, certainly knowledgeable and someone they’d keep on record to use again if the need arose.
Of course, the irony of Meier’s expertise in this very field was lost on none of them.
However, he was clearly the wrong person to speak to now.
Eventually, with some deft intercutting and useful sound overlays between the historic search for the twins and the speculative analysis of what could be happening to Nicole now, they hit the deadline on Tuesday evening, popped open the champagne and sat back to listen.
In spite of having poured herself into the series this past week, David had never been far from Cristy’s mind, always there, playing havoc with her emotions and tormenting her with fears and indecision.
Ten days was a long time, far too long for her to expect anything good to come of this break, so should she just accept it was over and try to get on with her life – good luck with that – or should she try messaging him again?
By the time the episode ended, thirty-five minutes later, she was no closer to making a decision, could only force herself back to her surroundings as all the usual credits and promos played.
Just thank God no one knew how conflicted, how wretchedly torn apart she was inside.
She didn’t want anyone’s pity, or advice, she only wanted this hellish separation to be over in a way that saw them back together again.
If only she could see it happening.
Her eyes went to Connor as he faded out the sound and declared them all geniuses for having got so much high value storytelling into so little airtime.
‘You did brilliantly!’ Meena agreed, raising her glass. ‘But of course, everyone knows now that you have an exclusive with Nicole herself, so they’ll have been hoping to hear at least one or two extracts from that.’
Thinking of the Terrier, who she was studiously ignoring, Cristy said, ‘Honey’s asked us not to use anything yet, so we’re honouring the request and hoping Nicole or Maeve will give us the go-ahead to run at least something once the shock of everything has started to pass.
Besides, we’re keen to combine it with some of Meier’s interview to get a feel for what they’re saying about one another and their relationship, and there just hasn’t been time these last few days to pull it together. ’
‘Which reminds me,’ Connor said, shifting his sleeping daughter from one shoulder to the other, ‘we need to send you two, Clove and Jacks, back to Wales to get Johan and Maggi on record.’
‘Maggi claims Nicole is guilty as charged,’ Cristy reminded them, ‘but she offered me nothing to back it up, so when you go, try getting her on her own without Meier. Speak of the devil.’ And, opening up a text from him, she read it aloud: ‘When would be a good time to call?’
After sending a quick message back suggesting right now, she picked up her glass to wait.
‘Probably a bit soon for him to be responding to the pod,’ she decided, ‘so I’m hoping it’ll be about the email I sent on Sunday asking …
Ah, here he is. Actually, you guys carry on – I’m going to take it over in the meeting room. ’
Leaving them all startled by her decision, Cristy quickly crossed the hall and clicked onto the line. ‘Do you have some news for me?’ she asked, closing the door behind her.
‘I have requested a visit with Nicole,’ he told her.
‘Do you think she’ll accept?’
‘I hope so. I’m guessing you’ve also put in for one?’
‘We have, but no idea how kindly she’ll look on us, all things considered. What about Lauren? Have you spoken to her yet?’
There was a moment before he said, ‘She tells me she will call you some time in the next few days, but only on the condition that you do not record anything she says.’
Disappointed, although not surprised, Cristy said, ‘Please give her my word that whatever she tells us will not be attributed to her as a source. Do you think she’ll be OK with that?’
‘I will put it to her.’ Then, after another pause, ‘We listened to your latest podcast just now.’
Feeling suddenly and inexplicably nervous, Cristy said, ‘You sound concerned. Did we get something wrong?’
‘No, I don’t think so. It was simply that …’ He took a breath. ‘It brought a lot back: the search for the twins, the fear we all had at the time … It was hard hearing it.’
‘I’m sorry, but you understand why—’
‘Yes, of course. You’re doing your job, but I’m sure you realize that for us it’s much more than a story or a podcast. You are talking about our lives, our experiences, the suspicions and heartache that have never gone away, and the many questions that remain unanswered.’
‘Yes, I do realize that, and I—’
‘Thank you for not mentioning my prison visits yet. I know you will, sooner or later, but at least I can cherish my privacy a while longer.’
She found herself picturing him at the farm, his handsome face creased, perhaps even pale with concern and for a fleeting moment she wished she could be with him.
Maybe she should apologize for the way she’d torn into him on Sunday, how ready she’d been to blame him for Nicole’s return to prison.
In the end she decided there was nothing to be gained from bringing it up now.
So speaking gently, she said, ‘We don’t intend to reveal where you are, only that you and Nicole have remained in touch. ’
‘And people will draw their own conclusions from that – as have you, I’m sure.’
‘You told us your reasons when we interviewed you.’
‘It was the truth. I just don’t know how many people will believe it is as simple as that.’
‘Is it?’
He sounded amused as he said, ‘When has love ever been simple?’ Then, in a slightly less melancholy tone, ‘I am going to Switzerland tomorrow, just for a few days, to see my brother.’
Recalling what he’d told her about those visits, she said, ‘Does that mean you’re feeling the need to talk to someone?’
‘Maybe.’ Then, ‘Would you consider joining me there?’
Her heart jolted.
‘We will be at our home in Vevey, an hour’s train ride from Geneva, on the way to Montreux. It is very beautiful. Unfortunately, we no longer own the vineyards, but Julien runs them, and his wife, Rula, does the marketing, so we will be happy to show you around.’
Certain there was more to this than a mere wine tour, she said, ‘Can I give you an answer when I’ve spoken to Connor?’
‘Of course. I don’t leave until tomorrow, and I plan to be there until the weekend. If you do decide to come, you’re most welcome to stay with us, or there is a hotel on the lake we can recommend. I’ll wait to hear from you, and meanwhile, I will contact Lauren again.’
After ringing off, Cristy took a moment to try and work out what might really be going on. Why would he invite them to his hometown when there was no obvious reason to, unless … ?
‘If what I’m thinking is real,’ Clove declared excitedly, as soon as Cristy had reported back, ‘then this could turn out to be major.’
‘What are you thinking?’ Meena urged. ‘What’s in Switzerland that we don’t yet know about?’
Cristy looked at Connor.
‘The twins?’ Clove answered for them.
‘Is that what you think?’ Meena asked Cristy.
‘I’m not sure,’ Cristy replied. ‘I admit it was the first thing that came to my mind, but if they are there … God, it opens up so much …’
‘Such as why he would want you to meet them,’ Jodi put forward incredulously.
‘I’m not sure I’m liking the sound of this,’ Harry stated. ‘He could be luring you into some sort of trap.’
Scoffing, Meena cried, ‘That’s exactly what you would think – although I kind of agree,’ she told Cristy and Connor. ‘I mean, if he’s had them in Switzerland all this time …’
‘Maybe his brother has brought them up as his own?’ Clove suggested.
‘I can tell you right now,’ Jacks said, opening up his research file, ‘that my deep dives have shown his brother, Julien, to be married to Rula, resident in Vevey with their two kids … Yep, here they are. Lance and Jacob, aged twenty-six and twenty-eight respectively.’ He looked up to check how his news had gone down.
Connor said, ‘Both boys, and too old to be Noah and Abigail anyway.’
‘However,’ Jacks said, ‘now might be a good time for me to share the facial enhancements we’ve had back. It’ll give you an idea of what the twins probably look like now, just in case you do happen to run into someone who could be them while you’re there.’
Clove said, ‘When will you go?’
‘He’s flying tomorrow,’ Cristy replied, ‘so I think we should go on Thursday, back Friday?’ she said to Connor.
With an awkward glance at Jodi, he said, ‘We have something in the diary for Thursday. So how about Friday, back Saturday?’
Deciding not to ask why Thursday was an issue – if her immediate suspicion of an early pregnancy scan was correct, they probably didn’t want to share that with everyone yet – Cristy said, ‘I’ll check with Meier to see if it works.
I think he’s planning to come back himself on Saturday, so it might. ’
‘If not, I can come with,’ Clove offered.
Cristy smiled, but she was immediately distracted by the images Jacks had now sent to her phone: two vibrant, super healthy-looking young people with a remarkable resemblance to one another and to their mother, Nicole.
She scrutinized the faces for any signs of Meier – the colour of their eyes, shapes of their faces or mouths – but there was nothing to mark them out as being related to him.
Or to Johan Bauer, come to that, although she wasn’t as familiar with his features.
Anyway, some children didn’t resemble their parents at all, so there was no more to be drawn from this than the bewildering and even heartwarming fantasy of Noah and Abigail still being alive.