Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
She watches me punch in the code for the elevator, and I dial John as the doors close. “I can’t believe you used the countdown as the new code,” she mumbles.
I ignore her. She absolutely can believe it. “Anything?” I ask when he answers.
“Not really. I finally got into the system and checked all the footage. Except the ones that still don’t work near the garages. Fucking security company. Whoever got in came over one of the boundary walls.”
I guide Ava out of the elevator when the doors open. “Let’s get Steve Cook on it.” My eyes narrow when I see the new concierge smile from ear to ear. And it’s not because he’s happy to see me.
“Hi, Ava,” he chirps.
“Mrs. Ward,” I correct him.
“Did you call the police?” John asks.
“Yeah,” I say quietly as Ava starts getting into conversation with the concierge. “They want to take statements.”
“But you want Cook involved?”
“He’ll work faster. Plus, I can talk to him while we’re away.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m taking Ava to Cornwall to see her parents.” I tug her on, and she cranes her neck back, not letting me stop her having a nice morning chitchat with the concierge. “We’re flying to Malaga after we’ve been to tell her parents we’re pregnant.” Silence. To be expected, I suppose. I come to a stop outside the doors of Lusso, smiling at the gleaming Aston waiting for me. “I’m taking her to Paradise,” I add, in case he thought he misheard me.
“I think that’s a nice idea,” he says softly. Approvingly.
“Where are you?” It sounds like he’s in his car.
“She’s not answering my calls,” he says flatly. “Just checking on her.”
“For fuck’s sake,” I breathe, biting down on my back teeth, as if I can stop myself saying the forbidden. Like . . . offer Sarah her job back. “Let me know.”
“I will. Enjoy it, okay?”
“Yeah, thanks, big guy.” I swallow and open the boot, putting the cases in.
“What’s this?” Ava asks.
“I think it might be a car.”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, god,” she huffs. “I mean, where has it come from?”
“It came from a garage to replace mine until it’s located.” I lead her to the passenger side and put her in the seat.
“They’ve still not found your car?”
“No.”
“What’s Steve doing?”
“Nothing,” I say quickly, not liking her expectant eyes on me as I fasten her seatbelt. “He’s looking into a few things for me.” I adjust the part across her tummy, making sure she has room.
“Will you just stop?” She brushes me off and pushes me away, shutting the door quickly. I was definitely getting ahead of myself. This woman doesn’t know how to be reasonable. I didn’t give her the information she wanted, so she’s not going to give me compliance. Very mature. I walk slowly around the front of the car, eyes burning a hole through the windscreen as she follows my path.
I get in, my body bunched behind the wheel. “For fuck’s sake,” I grumble, adjusting the seat and steering wheel.
“Why didn’t we just take my car?” Ava asks, making me falter as I recline the back rest.
“You can’t drive too far.”
“No, but you could.”
What’s her point? “Yes, I could, but I have this now.” I slide my hands onto the wheel, smiling as the engine purrs. I press my foot on the gas and get the usual thrill when the engine yells its eagerness to get going. “Listen to that.” Glorious.
“Where are you taking me, then?”
“I told you, your mother’s.”
“Okay,” she says, exasperated, fiddling with her mobile.
“Give me your phone.” There will be no one else on our break with us, including people on phones.
“I need to call Kate.”
“I’ve called everyone who needs to know we’re going away,” I say, plucking it from her grasp. “Including Kate. Unravel your knickers, lady.” I’m more than surprised that she doesn’t argue. I pull out of the gates, shifting in my seat, readjusting the back rest again.
“I’m excited,” she muses.
I huff a sardonic puff of laughter. “To stay with your mother?”
“Stop it. I know you’d never accept separation while I’m pregnant.”
Or separation ever. “Then why threaten it?”
“Because you drive me crazy.”
I reach across and take her hand, squeezing. “How do you feel?”
“Tired.”
“Then go to sleep.”
“Maybe,” she says, and I smile.
She’s a goner before we make it out of the city.
27
The long drive and Ava’s lack of consciousness offers me plenty of time to deal with a few things. I called Cook. He happily took on the case. In fact, he didn’t sound too confident in his colleague when he asked who I’d spoken to. His willingness was received gratefully. I gave him everything he asked for to get the case moving. I just hope he comes up with some answers before I have to take my family back to London. Disturbingly, the more I think about everything, the more I doubt Mikael is responsible. He might be a womanizing slime bag, but a criminal? I hate to admit it, but I think I was barking up the wrong tree. So . . . Sarah? I shouldn’t put anything past her. But, again, she’s many things—devious, hurtful, brazen—but capable of drugging Ava? Running her off the road? But she does know how to access my car.