Having sat and waited nervously at the window, Franny finally saw Alfie driving up the street. Part of her didn’t want to go and speak to him, terrified of what he might’ve found out, but she supposed it was better to face what she needed to. Not bothering to put on her shoes, Franny dashed out into the street, running through the puddles to greet Alfie.
Out of breath, she sprinted to where he was parking, and although she knew it might be her paranoia, her fear, Alfie’s face looked strained. Breathlessly she said, ‘Alf? Alf?’
Stepping out of the car, Alfie’s expression was pained. ‘Franny.’
Concern coated Franny’s words. ‘Alf, is everything all right? I mean, whatever it is, I can explain. I can explain everything.’
‘What?’
She spoke rapidly. ‘I know I don’t know him, but I do know you can’t trust what Barry said. He’ll be telling you anything to get himself out of trouble. He’ll be saying stuff that you can’t take seriously.’
Slightly confused, Alfie said, ‘I never saw him.’
Huge relief immediately passed over Franny. She let out a long sigh. ‘Really? How come?’
Alfie, emotionally drained, shrugged, unable to tell Franny the story yet.
‘So, where’ve you been? I was worried. I tried calling you. Like I say, I thought, maybe Barry, you know, had said some stuff to you.’
Exhausted from the evening, Alfie gazed at Franny, noticing the strain in her eyes. ‘Like what?’
On edge, Franny chewed on her lip. ‘I … I don’t know, but I understand how difficult it would’ve been. Look, I just want to be here for you.’
Alfie smiled, feeling his own relief at seeing Franny. It was exactly what he needed. He kissed her on her head before bringing her in to his chest, holding her close. ‘I didn’t see Barry, but I’ll explain everything later. You know the other guy we’d arranged to meet, Alan? Well he was there. Piece of scum. But I think we’ve got a lead.’
Franny drew away from Alfie’s embrace. ‘About Mia?’
He shook his head, and spoke sadly. ‘No, not yet anyway, but I’m sure once we go and speak to this woman, we can get some proper answers.’
Breaking down, something she hated to do in front of Alfie, Franny sobbed. ‘Where is she, Alf? Where’s she gone? I’m so scared I’ll never see her again … I mean, my friend’s scared she’ll never see her baby again, and of course, I feel responsible.’
‘Maybe I should meet this friend of yours. Speak to her, let her know that we’re doing all that we can. Perhaps she has some ideas herself. Maybe it would take the strain off you if I did.’
Alarmed, Franny shot down the suggestion quickly and firmly. ‘No!’ She took a breath and, composing herself, lowered her voice. ‘No, thank you, but no. Like I’ve said before, it’s hard enough already for her. We’ll sort it ourselves. It’ll just make it worse for her.’
Although Alfie wasn’t sure why, a strange feeling came over him again, which he couldn’t quite understand. It wasn’t doubt, it wasn’t suspicion, but something just didn’t feel right. Then as he had done so many times lately, he pushed it away to the back of his mind, then he smiled warmly and noticing Franny standing shivering, he spoke gently.
‘You’re going to catch your death. Come on. I picked up something to eat. I know we have to go and see this person tomorrow, but I need you to eat. I’ve got to start looking after you because you’re clearly not doing that yourself.’
Alfie walked to the back of the Porsche, pressing the key button as Franny came around.
Franny immediately froze, staring in horror at the back of the boot. She glanced at Alfie then back at the boot before saying in a tiny whisper, ‘Where are they? Alfie, where did you put them?’
‘What are you talking about, put what?’
Walking even nearer to the boot, Franny continued to stare, realising that somehow Bree’s belongings as well as her own bloodstained clothes she’d worn that day had gone. ‘In the back. There was … there was a black bag full of clothes and a suitcase. Remember, when I was having a shower, I told you I was doing some clothes sorting?’
Alfie shook his head as he lifted the food bags out. ‘I dunno, darlin’, I never saw them in there.’ He shrugged and turned away, heading for the house, but Franny, beginning to panic, grabbed hold of his arm, her eyes full of terror as once more her voice cracked into hysteria. ‘You must’ve seen them, Alf. Where did you put them?’
‘Fran, baby, stop! Stop. Just take a deep breath. What are you getting yourself worked up about? Come on, it’s cold, come on in.’
‘But you must have moved them. Think, Alf, think! Yesterday? Maybe you moved them yesterday?’
Not understanding why Franny was becoming so hysterical, Alfie spoke soothingly. ‘This is the first time I’ve used your car in a while, Fran. Look, you must’ve made a mistake, they’re probably still in the house. And anyway, I thought you said that it was old stuff, so who cares if you don’t know where you put them.’
As Alfie walked away, Franny stood, cold and barefoot in the rain, whispering to herself as she began to tremble violently. ‘I care, Alf. You have no idea how much I care they’ve gone.’