A new email arrived from Sofia; it said she was in Paris. A picture of the Eiffel tower was attached, and it showed a far-off figure whose face wasn’t clear. It could have been Sofia – or not.
Who gets on a plane to Paris when they just spent ten hours on another flight that same day? Simon wondered. And how daft do they think I am? As if Sofia would head straight for the Eiffel Tower the minute she got to Paris. And then have someone take a picture where you couldn’t even see her face. As if selfies were suddenly not a thing!
This had come from someone who didn’t know Sofia. And that certainty made Simon feel sick. Worse than he’d felt since leaving ViaTerra.
It was night-time; he’d just finished eating and was sitting in his easy chair. He had avoided his computer all day, until now. Just to have some space to think. But really, there wasn’t much to think about. The feeling of distaste in his stomach got worse. Oswald had got his claws into Sofia. That was the only explanation, but it was such an unpleasant one that he frantically tried to come up with other reasons. Reasons that didn’t really exist.
His phone rang and Benjamin’s name popped up.
‘I got it too,’ Simon said.
‘What should we do? It’s not her, is it?’
‘Is that other girl with you today?’
‘No, why? Shit, Simon, she’s just a way to pass the time. To get back at Sofia, kind of.’
‘Crappy for the girl, and totally irresponsible. That’s you in a nutshell.’
‘Lay off me! What are we going to do?’
‘I think you should go to the police.’
‘Oh yeah? What am I supposed to say?’
‘Tell them about the emails and tell the truth. That you don’t think they came from Sofia.’
‘Maybe. But we don’t need to get her parents involved yet, do we?’
‘If you don’t want to, okay.’
‘Do you think Oswald’s behind this, Simon? Do you think he’s capable of hurting her?’
‘He’s capable of anything,’ Simon said, but when he heard Benjamin draw a sharp breath, he added, ‘Don’t worry. It’s probably not that bad.’
Day after tomorrow, he thought after he hung up, I’m going to see Jacob. Maybe he will have seen or heard something. Until then, I have to stop worrying.
His phone dinged. It was a text from Anna.
Thanks, Simon! it said, with a dozen hearts, thumbs up, and smileys.