It was impossible to discern from the recording I made all that you were discussing with her aunt and uncle last night, Sebastian. So much noise, chatter and commotion. Despite zooming in, my lip-reading skills still leave a lot to be desired. Having said that, I got the feeling from your friend’s facial expressions – he really doesn’t know the meaning of discreet, does he? – that Dr Adams’s unfortunate passing may have come up in the conversation. I saw the way he looked at you, the way you avoided his gaze after listening to what her aunt and uncle, whose mouths are a little too big, had to say. It clearly made you feel uncomfortable, Sebastian, and I can’t say I blame you, because it’s none of his fucking business. I’m pleased you appeared to have followed my instructions and not told him about my messages. Nor Adriana. You’d be wise to keep this up if you wish to stay alive. I can just about cope with you staying with Adriana for a short while so long as you follow her rules and refrain from asking meddlesome questions. And then, when you do eventually leave, which I’m hoping will be in July when the tenancy ends and a decent amount of time will have passed so as not to make your leaving look suspicious, I’m confident you won’t blab to anyone, simply because I see the way you look at her and feel sure you’ll do anything to keep her safe. Especially when I make the stakes clear to you.
He really is trouble, that friend of yours. Doubtless he believes Adriana to be cursed; finds it suspicious that so many of her loved ones end up dead. He has no idea how clueless she is about the whole thing, that I’m the mastermind behind it all. That I take care of things on her behalf, because if I don’t, she’ll fall to pieces. It’s been that way since we were kids.
And it’s how it’s going to be with Dr Martin. I know she’s agreed to meet with him on Friday. She wrote it down on her calendar. She won’t be there, though. I’ll make sure of it.
I will be, though. My first and last encounter with the good doctor. One that will hopefully be swift.
And close the lid on any possibility of the truth coming out.