going inside, Isobel finally left Alex’s building and crossed the road to where Ben waited for her. This was her life now, not the one she’d just said goodbye to. It was time she found out where she fitted into this world. Ben sat with his back against an alley wall. He jumped to his feet when she approached, adjusting her head scarf. She could sense he had questions, but she didn’t feel up to reliving what had just happened.
He stood at the entrance to the alley. ‘I’m guessing he was the right Alex Sinclair? I mean, you were gone a long time.’
Isobel didn’t answer him. Instead, she pulled her scarf down over her face to hide her damp eyes.
‘What happened? What did he say?’
Isobel waved her hand. ‘It wasn’t him.’
‘What do you mean, it wasn’t him? You were in there for almost an hour.’ Ben looked at his watch and sighed. ‘We need to head back now. But don’t worry, we can try again tomorrow. There’s another name on the list not too far from here. I’ll ask Sal to cover—’
Isobel had to tell him. ‘Fine. It was him. Okay?’
‘But you said—’
‘I know what I said.’ Isobel looked back at the apartment block and swiped at her eyes before turning back around.
‘So what did he say?’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Look, Isobel, I risked a lot to bring you out here. The least you can do is tell me this wasn’t a wasted journey.’
‘I didn’t ask you to come,’ she said through clenched teeth. But she apologised when she sensed Ben’s irritation.
‘Was he at least happy to see you? Tell me that much.’
Isobel lifted her eyes to meet his. ‘He’s not the man I married. And there were other things...’
‘Like what?’
She shook her head. ‘Doesn’t matter. It wouldn’t work, anyway.’ She pulled her scarf down and ran a hand over her slight re-growth of hair. ‘To them, I’m devolved and I’ll be nothing more than that. That man is not my husband. That man wants nothing to do with me. The feeling is mutual.’
What she refused to tell Ben was that Alex could have nothing to do with her, not only because he’d guaranteed her alteration, but because of his condition. Alex Sinclair no longer lived. But she didn’t need to bury him deeper. It was time to let him go.
An angry Ben refused to let it go. ‘Let me talk to him. I’ll explain to him about my experiences with Stephen. Then he’ll have to listen—’
Isobel grabbed his arm to stop him from going anywhere. She fixed the scarf on her head. ‘In his eyes, I’m no longer human. And in some ways, I’m no longer the person I was before my alteration. But a part of me will always be connected to my human self. We have grown apart, and that’s all there is to it.’ She glanced around. ‘I think we should head back to Waverley.’
‘I’m sorry for bringing you out here.’
‘Don’t be. I needed to face this part of my past. I know who I am now and who he is. We are done with each other. It’s time for me to find my own path in this world.’
They walked back to the area where the last vehicle had dropped them off, keeping to the dark shadows of the buildings where possible. Isobel waited down a side street while Ben scoured the streets for the next yellow-marked vehicle to come along.
She used the time to think about what she would do next.
But first, she had to understand this new Earth.
The time had come to take back control from people like Marcus. Maybe her new life would begin when she found Jenny Waterson.
Ben pointed to an approaching vehicle. They stalked behind it for a moment, then Isobel grabbed Ben by the waist and she landed them both on the back ledge.
The car hit a bump and Isobel held on tighter. She looked back at Long Island, a place she would never visit again.
My husband is dead, and so is Isobel Sinclair.