Then He Was Gone

by Stephen Edger

  If Caleb could see her now, he’d go berserk. But she didn’t care. She hadn’t eaten all day, so she’d saved enough points to have a blowout. She was about to take another bite, when she thought better of it. She was surprised by her own level of self-control, but proceeded to snap the bar, leaving three rows of chocolate. She wrapped these in what remained of the packet, and pushed it back under her clothes, before closing the drawer. She finished off the misshapen half in two mouthfuls, before spotting the scrunched paper between her legs. It must have fallen from her hand as she’d reached the drawers. She flattened the paper on the floor.

  Was it from Adie? It seemed unlikely that he’d want to meet so soon after their rendezvous at the beach. Plus, he’d gone to extravagant lengths to keep his resurrection a secret, it seemed unlikely that he’d phone the hotel, where anyone could be listening in.

  She hadn’t seen Durand all day, as he’d been busy prepping Julia for her performance. It was possible he wanted to see them to provide an update, but if he had any news, he would have shared it with Julia already.

  She froze.

  Where was Jules?

  Her need to eat had distracted her from the fact that the room was empty, and didn’t look like anyone had been in since they’d left this morning. She crawled over to the bed and pulled her mobile out of her bag. She had no messages or calls from Julia, which was unusual.

  She was about to message her when someone thumped on the door.

  Owen didn’t know she knew Adie was still alive. He didn’t know she knew who he really was. It made perfect sense! The message had to have come from Owen. There was no way she was going to answer the door to him, not now she knew the truth about him.

  FIFTY-THREE

  Becky climbed unsteadily to her feet, and tucked the mobile into her underpants. If she didn’t answer the door, he’d know something was wrong. She had no choice. If he did anything to try and hurt her, she would be ready.

  She gasped as a slightly louder knock came from the door. She glanced around the room for anything she could use as a weapon in an emergency, but saw nothing but Julia’s hair straighteners.

  She opened the door and flinched. ‘Caleb, what are you doing…?’

  He smiled broadly at her. ‘Didn’t you get my message? I phoned here this afternoon to say I was coming round to take you out for dinner.’ He clenched his fist. ‘You wait until I speak to that guy on reception.’

  Becky slapped the side of her head. ‘Oh, that message! It totally slipped my mind. Sorry. Come in, come in.’

  He stepped past her into the room. ‘Are you alright? You’re very pale. You’re not coming down with something are you?’

  ‘Oh no, I’m…I’m fine. I’m good. How are you?’

  He was wearing a black suit, and a white shirt, but the top two buttons weren’t fastened, revealing his dark chest. There was something different about him tonight. He was jumpy, like a giddy child on Christmas Eve. He looked her up and down. ‘Are you not ready to go yet?’

  She glanced down at her jeans and top. ‘I just got back from the shopping centre. I didn’t think you’d be here so soon.’

  ‘I couldn’t wait any longer. I’ve booked us a table at an Italian about five minutes from here. I thought we could walk there. What’s wrong? You look cross.’

  ‘I’m not cross, it’s just…I’m exhausted. It’s been such a busy day, and…don’t be mad…but I just don’t feel like dressing up and going to dinner. I’m sorry. I wish you’d messaged me about it.’

  He turned his back on her and moved towards the window.

  ‘Caleb, I’m sorry. Can we eat here instead? The food’s okay for the type of hotel it is. I’m sorry. Don’t be mad.’

  He didn’t answer, but she could see him clenching the windowsill.

  ‘Okay, okay, look, I’ll get changed. Okay? I’m sorry. I’m being selfish when you’ve made plans for us. Give me two minutes, and I’ll…’ She stopped speaking as he turned around.

  ‘You don’t make things easy, do you?’

  She tilted her head. ‘I’m sorry. It won’t take me long to shower and throw on something fresh.’

  ‘Forget about that for a second. Can you come over here?’

  Her stomach grumbled at the thought of more chocolate, but she ignored it, and walked to the window.

  He took her hands in his, and looked into her eyes. ‘You probably think I’m a fool just showing up like this. I wanted to speak to you about something this morning, but when I saw how much of a hurry you were in, I bottled it. I know you said you didn’t want me at the filming today, but I should have insisted. I know everyone is thinking about what Julia is going through at the moment, but you need support too. It’s easy to forget the impact that all this stress is having on you too.’

  ‘Oh Caleb, I’m -’

  ‘Let me finish. Please?’

  She nodded for him to continue.

  ‘You mean so much to me, Bex. This week has shown me just how much I love you. I know it sounds crazy, given how little time we’ve known one another, but I’ve never felt this way about any girl before. Woman; sorry, I meant I’ve never felt this way about any woman before. In Edinburgh I couldn’t stop thinking about you. That’s why I had to come and be here with you. I know you’re worried about how Julia will react to the two of us, but I don’t think you need to worry about that. I’m sure she wants what’s best for you too. That’s what friends are for.’

  ‘Your hands are shaking, Caleb. Are you sure you’re okay?’

  He sniggered. ‘You’d think I’d be used to speaking my mind given my day job, wouldn’t you. I’ve never felt so nervous before. That’s the effect you have on me, Bex. While I was away in Edinburgh, I was chatting to one of the legal secretaries from the office. She was telling me about how she met her husband. It was back when she was working at a different firm, but she spotted one of the firm’s clients in the office one day, and they got chatting. It turned out he was getting a divorce, and that’s why he was there that day. She said she knew it would be frowned upon, but she agreed to go for a drink with him. She said how they just had this connection, like a spark between them. They married exactly a year to the day after they’d met, and they’ve been happily married for twelve years now, and have two children. Can you believe that? I mean, it’s crazy, right? Even crazier how the two of us got together.’

  ‘Seriously, it will only take me five minutes to wash and change. We can still make the dinner res-’

  He placed a finger on her lips. ‘You don’t need to interrupt me when we’re not in court, you know.’ He smiled. ‘What I was saying is, Vicky’s story got me thinking. It made me think about us, and how we are together, and,’ he reached into his trouser pocket, before lowering himself to one knee. ‘I know we’ve only been dating for four months, and I know that I’m stubborn and opinionated, but I love you, Becky Townsend, and I want to spend every day of the rest of my life, proving to you how much you mean to me.’

  Becky’s hand shot up to her mouth, as he opened his hand and revealed the sparkling diamond.

  ‘Will you marry me, Bex?’

  She squealed in shock, rather than with glee.

  ‘Before you answer, and tell me it’s too soon, and that we hardly know each other, just hear me out. I have a good job, I own my own house, and I don’t have any skeletons in the closet. I know your favourite colour is pink. I know you like white wine and red wine, but can’t stand rosé. I know you have this cute little snore when you’re drunk on wine. I know that you are a kind person, with a good heart, and I know that I am madly in love with you. That’s all I need to know. I can learn the rest as we grow old together.’ He paused, still staring up at her.

  She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to break his heart, but how could she agree to marry him?

  ‘I can’t believe you still haven’t answered. Come on, Bex, the suspense is killing me. Will you marry me?’

  Becky gripped his hand as she lowered hers
elf to her knees, so they were facing each other. She took a deep breath. ‘Caleb, I -’

  He pulled her tightly into a hug. ‘You have made me the happiest man in the world. I love you so much, Bex.’

  He released his grip and wiped his eyes with his trembling fingers. He pushed the ring onto her finger. It slipped on with ease. He kissed her deeply, before helping her to her feet.

  ‘Look at the state of me. I’m crying like a baby. Will you excuse me for a minute?’ He headed to the bathroom and closed the door.

  Becky examined the ring closer. The weight of guilt was almost unbearable.

  FIFTY-FOUR

  DAY EIGHT

  Becky had been lying still for more than an hour already. It had still been dark outside when she’d woken, and she’d desperately wanted to pick up her clothes and head out of the door, but Caleb’s long arm was wrapped snugly around her waist, beneath the sheet. There was no way she could move his arm, roll out of the bed, dress and get out before he woke up. He was a light sleeper at the best of times, and an attempted escape would be more than enough to stir him. So, she’dm continued to wait for him to roll over and release his bear-like grip.

  Daylight was now starting to break through the wooden shutters over the window, as it had done when she’d been lying in the same bed two days ago. Only this time, it wasn’t the guilt of who she’d just slept with which was keeping her awake.

  Caleb’s words echoed around her mind: You have made me the happiest man in the world. I love you so much, Bex.

  She hadn’t accepted his proposal, at least, she hadn’t verbally accepted. She’d been about to tell him that it was too soon when he’d interpreted her hesitation as acceptance. How could she have finished the sentence then? He’d have been devastated, and he didn’t deserve that.

  She lifted her left hand to eyelevel. The diamond glistened ever so slightly. It was a beautiful stone, in a simple golden band. He’d picked well. This was the ring of someone who had money and wasn’t afraid to spend it. She should have been flattered by Caleb’s generosity.

  He loved her. He’d said as much last night, before whisking her off to the Italian restaurant. He’d ordered champagne with the dough balls, and a vintage bottle of white with their mains. He’d ordered veal and had devoured the lot. Even though she hadn’t eaten anything substantial all day, she’d picked at the pea and ham risotto. Caleb had noticed her unusual reserved demeanour, but she’d managed to dismiss his concerns with excuses of fatigue and stress. He’d bought it, too lost in his own feelings of satisfaction.

  ‘This is how you deserve to be treated,’ he’d said, raising his glass. ‘The finest food and the finest drink. I still can’t believe you said yes.’

  ‘I didn’t,’ she’d wanted to scream, but had shrugged her shoulders instead.

  He’d excused himself to use the toilet, and she’d tried to pull the ring off her finger, so that she could tell him it was a mistake when he returned, but the damn thing was stuck. She’d tried rubbing dabs of wine around the rim of the ring, but it wouldn’t budge. She’d pulled and twisted and twirled it, until she saw him returning. He’d sat down, and she was about to tell him he’d made a mistake, when four of the waiters had approached the table and began singing something in Italian. The waiter finished the song by inviting the other diners to join him in a round of applause for the newly engaged couple.

  She’d wanted the ground to swallow her up. She could feel her cheeks reddening as she remembered the scene in the restaurant. She’d finished the wine, and with little in her stomach to soak up the booze, she’d felt tipsy as he’d led her from the restaurant back to his car.

  ‘Where are we going?’ she’d slurred.

  ‘I want tonight to be special. Let’s leave Julia to her own devices tonight, and go to my hotel.’

  Becky had been so relieved when the woman at the small hotel-cum-B&B hadn’t recognised her from Wednesday night. That would have been the perfect way to top the night!

  Sleeping with Caleb was like rubber-stamping the marriage proposal. There was no way she could now break it off. At least, not today. She would wait until they were back in England before letting him down gently. She’d tell him it was too soon, and that they needed to get to know each other better first.

  Caleb stirred beside her, but his arm remained in place.

  Julia would tell her just to settle for Caleb. Her boss, Graham, would tell her she could do a lot worse. But why should she settle? Sure, she no longer had the slim figure she’d once worked so hard to achieve, but she wasn’t a spinster yet.

  ‘Morning,’ Caleb smiled, his eyes yet to open. ‘How is the future Mrs Moorhouse?’

  ‘I’m fine. Did you sleep well?’

  ‘Like a baby. You?’

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘I suppose we should get up and have some breakfast.’

  ‘Do you mind if we don’t? I haven’t seen Jules in more than twelve hours, and I need to check on her. Can you drive me back to my hotel?’

  His smile curled into a grin, as his eyes slowly opened. ‘You just want to get back so you can show her your sparkler. I know what you girls are like. I’ll get dressed, and then we can go.’ He pushed the sheet off and moved across to the bathroom, returning a minute later. ‘I don’t suppose little Caleb can come out and play before we go?’

  She looked over at his naked body, and growing erection. ‘Do you mind if we don’t? I really need to check on Jules.’

  He tried to hide his disappointment, but dressed nonetheless. Becky picked up her discarded clothes from the floor in a pile, and headed into the bathroom. She’d shower once she was back in her own room, and see if shower gel would help twist off the ring.

  Caleb waved goodbye from the car twenty minutes later, on the promise that she would call him later to meet up. The car park was still clear of journalists. It had been a week since Noah had been taken from the hypermarket, and it was old news now.

  She stopped at the desk to ask for messages, but Adie hadn’t been in touch. She grabbed a handful of pastries from the dining room in a napkin and made her way up to their room. She lightly tapped on the door before unlocking it and entering.

  ‘Jules? Are you still asleep?’

  There was no reply, and as she opened the door wider, she was surprised to see both beds made up as they had been when she’d left last night. It was too early for the maid to have been in to make the beds, which meant only one thing: Julia hadn’t slept here last night.

  Becky pulled out her phone, but the battery was dead. She plugged it in to the charger, and when it finally had enough charge to power up, she checked her messages, but Julia hadn’t been in touch, nor had she read the apology message Becky had scribbled before Caleb had taken her to the Italian. It was unlike Julia to just disappear like this without leaving a message. Becky found Julia’s number and called it.

  She jumped at the eruption of noise on the bedside table near the window. Julia didn’t go anywhere without her phone. Becky’s eyes widened as the realisation slowly crept over her: Julia was missing.

  FIFTY-FIVE

  Becky had to fight her way to the front counter in the gendarmerie station. When she made it, she was relieved to see a familiar face, with pen in hand.

  ‘Agent Lemaire, thank God. I need to speak with Durand urgently.’

  Étienne Lemaire was struggling to hear her over the commotion of the two men arguing behind her. Becky couldn’t work out what the two men were shouting about, but the three officers in uniform were struggling to restrain them. Étienne picked up a large book from the corner of the desk and slammed it hard on the counter. The boom echoed around the room, followed by silent stares in his direction.

  He barked orders at his colleagues, before turning back to Becky and asking her to repeat her question. Becky watched the agents drag the two men in separate directions.

  ‘Is Durand here? I need to speak to him urgently.’

  Étienne shook his head wistfully. ‘I am sorr
y, mademoiselle, but Monsieur Durand is…he is, how do you say, uh…he is busy.’

  ‘Please, Agent Lemaire, I know you are all very busy, but it is vital that I speak with him. It’s about Noah.’

  ‘I am sorry, mademoiselle, I have been told not to disturb Monsieur Durand at this time. Is there anything I can do to help you?’

  Durand had told him to keep her away.

  She studied his face for any hint of deceit, but his expression remained sincere. ‘Jules is missing. Madame Saidi? Noah’s mum: she’s missing. I haven’t seen her since yesterday, and I’m worried that someone may have abducted her.’

  He scratched his head. ‘Madame Saidi is -’

  ‘Missing, yes. The last time I saw her was before the press conference yesterday afternoon. Were you at the press conference yesterday?’

  ‘Oui, I was there.’

  ‘Did you see Jules afterwards? I’ve seen the conference on the television, so I know she was there, but I don’t know what happened to her afterwards.’

  ‘Were you not at the press conference? I thought you were there with Madame Saidi?’

  ‘I was, at least I was there until about two o’clock, but then I left.’

  He frowned. ‘Where did you go?’

  ‘That’s not important; it doesn’t matter. What I need to know is where Jules went after the press conference. Did you see if she left with somebody?’

  ‘I was with Madame Saidi before and after the interview.’

  ‘You were? Oh, thank God. Where did she go? She didn’t sleep in our room last night, but I found her phone, so I have no way of contacting her.’

  ‘After the filming stopped, she spoke with some journalists from…I think it was the British media…they were asking her questions.’

  ‘Were they filming her, or just -’

  ‘No, no, they were from the newspapers, not the television.’