Luke’s mobile phone sounded an incoming message. It was a photo of Ava Rose from Sarah. Resting his arm on the desk and holding the phone flat in his palm, he absorbed his daughter’s beauty. Her eyes were particularly striking, shimmering pools of dark-blue filled with adoration, and her cheeks were a silky smooth and adoringly chubby. She was the most gorgeous baby he had ever seen.
He tapped in a brief response for Sarah, thanking her for sending the image, and glanced at the clock on the office wall. It was almost eleven o’clock. Another eight hours and they could be together again. Maybe tonight he could have some alone time with Ava and allow Sarah a little respite. In fact, if she didn’t object, he could take her to see Crystal.
A smile formed on his lips. It was wonderful seeing her again and they had gotten along as well as they had ever done. Her warm and attentive manner had always been one of her most admirable traits, and it was something he had missed in the intervening weeks. She could have, quite easily, been filled with malice and bitterness given that he had kept Sarah’s pregnancy from her, but instead she was welcoming, compassionate, and sympathetic to his needs. Crystal was a remarkable woman and a great friend.
Deciding she was sure to appreciate Ava’s cuteness, Luke forwarded the photo. In the accompanying text, he asked if they could both visit later in the day. He waited for the reply but it did not come. Concluding she was busy, and using it as a motivation to end his daydreaming, he placed the phone in his trouser pocket and returned his attention to his work.
His thoughts relating to Jade Horton would not settle. He glanced up and caught Imogen’s wandering gaze.
‘You look distracted,’ she said. ‘Thinking of Ava?’
‘No.’
‘Must be Crystal then.’
He averted his gaze, looking to the papers on his desk. ‘Why would I be thinking of Crystal? ’
‘You can’t tell me you don’t think about other women.’
‘I never said that.’
She reached in her drawer for a manicure set and started scraping under her nails, and every so often, she wiped away the tiny particles from the tool. It was a curious act. He wondered what she did to attract so much dirt.
‘I like Crystal,’ she said, ‘you could do far worse.’
He looked to her, expressionless.
‘It’s not good being with someone you don’t love.’
Luke tensed. ‘I never said I didn’t love Sarah.’
‘So it’s true,’ she said gleefully. ‘I can hear it in your voice. You sound defensive.’
‘No, I’m not.’ His voice wavered.
‘So say it . . . tell me you love Sarah.’
‘I do.’
‘Is that the best you can do?’
Evidently, Imogen had made up her mind; he could tell from her smug expression. There was no point arguing, as experience told him she would not be swayed. Instead, he turned his attention back to his computer monitor, forcing his concentration onto Jade Horton, but out of his eye corner, he could feel Imogen’s eyes press into him. She didn’t seem so willing to let the matter drop.
‘You wouldn’t like it if told you how you felt about Mark,’ he said.
Imogen recoiled and pressed her arms across her bosom, forcing him to regret his statement. He would never judge her relationships, at least not to her face, it just wasn’t right.
‘Go on then,’ she said, ‘how do I feel about him?’
‘Why do you want my opinion?’
She stared, waiting for his answer.
‘It’s nothing to do with me,’ he continued.
‘Do you like him?’
‘I don’t know him.’
‘That’s very evasive.’ She stood up, headed to the tea and coffee area, and flicked on the kettle. ‘You don’t, I can tell.’
He stared, puzzled.
For a second, Imogen appeared very vulnerable. She had an anxious look in her eye, and opened and shut her mouth in quick succession, as though she was going to say something. Then she turned away and he took his cue to let the matter drop, returning his attention back to his monitor. Within seconds, Imogen’s self-assured manner had returned.
His curiosity was forgotten. They progressed with work.
Just before lunchtime, the doorbell sounded. Imogen scurried away like an excited child. It soon became obvious as to her reason. It was Crystal. Luke hurried into the reception area to greet her.
‘Crystal . . . what are you doing here?’
‘Hi Luke.’ She glanced at Imogen. ‘We’re popping out for lunch.’
‘Oh.’
Noticing his deflation, Imogen stifled a snigger. He turned around and scuttled back into the office.
‘Not so quick,’ Imogen said. ‘We’ve clubbed together and got a present for you.’
‘What?’
‘On becoming a new dad.’
He looked to the carpeted floor. ‘You shouldn’t have.’
Crystal reached into her bag and pulled out a box wrapped in shimmering red paper with tiny silver stars. As his hands touched the package, their eyes locked, and for a moment nothing else mattered. Then she broke the silence.
‘I got the photo you sent,’ she said, ‘sorry, I didn’t reply.’
He nodded.
‘She is very cute.’
‘What’s this I’m missing?’ Imogen said.
‘It’s of Ava,’ he replied. ‘I didn’t think you were interested.’
‘Why?’
‘You don’t seem to like babies.’
‘How did you work that out?’
Luke frowned and placed the package on the reception desk.
‘All women like babies. It’s natural.’ She turned to Crystal and winked. ‘Does Sarah breast-feed?’
‘Yes.’
‘Cool. I should imagine I would too.’
Luke lowered his gaze, his eyes flitting.
‘Does it put you off?’
‘Put me off?’
As soon as he replied and she started to giggle, he regretted it. Dumb response, he thought, shielding his face. Imogen had made the comment for her own amusement, yet he felt it was both intrusive and insensitive. It was only a matter of weeks since his relationship with Crystal had ended, and much had been left unsaid. He didn’t want Crystal thinking him callous in his ability to move on as quickly as he had; he wanted her to like him.
‘Open it up then,’ Imogen said, ‘we haven’t got all day,’
Luke glimpsed at Crystal. She didn’t seem hurt and had a twinkle in her eye. Or was that a hint of sorrow and regret?
With no choice but to withhold his apology, since Imogen was smothering him with her insistence, he removed the wrapping paper. The box had a lid. He pulled it free. Inside was an assortment of items. There were goggles, a facemask, rubber gloves, a plastic raincoat, room deodorisers and smelling salts. It was a nappy changing kit.
Imogen and Crystal burst into laughter.
He shared in their amusement.
Luke spent the entire lunch break mooching over his exclusion from their date. He knew it was petty, and he knew he had no right to insist on accompanying them, yet still his envy would not diminish. He imagined them chattering and giggling in a café; he considered what they ate; he wondered what stories they shared.
The clock ticked by. After what seemed like a long time, the outer door opened and the bell sounded. Resisting his yearning to jump to greet Crystal, he remained at his desk, and kept his movements controlled and his eyes fixed on a report. Imogen appeared in office. He looked to her rear. She was alone and his disappointment rose.
‘She’s gone back to work.’
‘I wasn’t wondering.’
‘You so were. You’re hot for her. It’s so obvious. She likes you too.’
His pulse quickened and numerous questions raced to the tip of his tongue.
‘You need to get yourself sorted out Luke Adams.’ She placed her jacket on a peg. ‘Oh, and she told me to tell you she’s busy tonight. She forgot to tell you.’
He looked to his desk.
‘She said another time would be good.’
Was Crystal being polite, or was she genuinely interested? It was difficult to tell. Women were hard enough to understand at the best of times.
‘I think taking the baby with you is a bad idea. She’s a bit young. Leave Ava with Sarah.’
‘She’ll want to see her.’
‘Ava will be a distraction. It’s you she wants to see . . . alone.’
Did she, really? Luke relived the moment Crystal handed him the gift and his insides danced. There had been love in her eyes and unspoken hopes and desires oozing from her heart. It had been a magical moment.
But then, out of the blue, he thought of Sarah.
‘We can’t be together,’ Luke asserted. ‘It was a bad idea you contacting her. You should never-’
‘Here we go again,’ Imogen said, ‘I suppose it’s my fault.’
He bit his lip.
‘You love Crystal and she loves you. I don’t see the problem.’
Images of Sarah and Ava pounded his mind. He had made his decision. It was what he wanted for months. He had no right to back out now. Scowling, he shuffled down his seat and focused on Jade Horton.
Luke scanned the transcript of the interview, and then opened the précis, searching for clues and anomalies. So far, he had two suspects for the stalking activities. One was William and the other Kath. Potentially, there would be more, but since Jade had been reluctant to share details of her life after the tragedy, he had no choice but to concentrate on family suspects.
He scanned the drawing of the dead body. It was logical to assume that the stalker had believed Jade should have accepted more responsibility for someone’s injury or death. However, was the forgotten part of her life the only time she had been involved with someone else’s suffering? Her decision to keep private the intervening years niggled; he did not like having to rule anything out so early on.
‘I haven’t been able to trace the owner of the phone,’ Imogen said,’ the one the stalker used.’
‘Oh, right.’
‘It was purchased locally, but with cash. And it hasn’t been registered.’
‘I guessed as much. Any leads on where the stalker may have got Jade’s number?’
‘No, afraid not. He could have hacked into an online account, but I just don’t know.’
Luke nodded. The most likely suspect was someone she knew.
‘I wondered if it was someone at the tennis club,’ Imogen continued, ‘so I gave her a ring yesterday. She couldn’t think of anyone who would even consider doing that to her.’
‘What about any close relationships? Anyone who might hold a grudge.’
‘I asked her that as well. She said she has always avoided speaking to people about her past – never has, never will.’
‘Well someone knows something.’ Luke chewed the end of his pencil. ‘I think she’s hiding something.’
‘She told me she was on the streets for a while. I tried to get her to open up, but I couldn’t.’
‘Did she say anything useful at all?’
‘No. She clammed up.’
The phone rang. Imogen picked it up.
Ignoring the caller since Imogen was taking charge, Luke stood up to stretch his back and legs and paced the room. He had two options. The first was to interview William privately, and to see if he knew anything he didn’t want to speak of in front of Jade, and the second was to speak to Kath. She was likely to be the most fruitful, and so far, she seemed to be the most likely suspect.
Kath was family. She wasn’t in the house the night of the fire and she had issues with Jade. In addition, she knew Jade’s mobile number and had been with Jade on the day the drawing was planted in her bag.
But it all seemed a little too easy. Why would she stalk her own sister? If Kath wanted to hurt Jade, wouldn’t she do something more than send a few anonymous text messages? Luke stared at Imogen, who was absorbed in the phone conversation, and craved answers.
After a few more minutes, she hung up the phone. ‘That was Jade. She’s received another drawing. It was delivered to her home this time.’
‘What was it?’
‘A dove fleeing from a burning building. Someone also called out the fire brigade, claiming to be her, and then set the shed alight. It must be him.’
‘Or her.’
Imogen nodded.
Luke returned to his seat. ‘He’s proving to her he knows about her past.’
‘Seems like it. Jade also said Kath blames her for their mother being suicidal.’
‘Did she give a reason?’
‘She didn’t say much. She’s popping in this afternoon with the drawing.’
‘What time?’
‘She’s on her way.’
‘Okay. Then we’ll go see Kath.’