Page 59 of The Man Who Didn't Call
I signalled to him to wait, holding my hand in the air as if waiting to be counted.
‘I’ve looked at his photo so many times,’ Jenni was saying. ‘There was no mistaking him. He was talking to Carmen at reception, but by the time I went out there, he’d left.’
‘Oh.’
My arm dangled stupidly in the air, all the blood running out.
‘He asked Carmen if you were in, then left without leaving a message.’
‘Oh.’
‘It was him, Sarah. It was definitely him. I looked at a photo right afterwards. And Carmen said he had an English accent.’
‘Jenni, are you sure? Are you one hundred per cent sure?’
‘One hundred per cent.’
‘Right.’
‘Sarah? What the hell’s going on?’ Reuben sounded angry again.
‘I have to go,’ I said heavily. ‘I have to get on a plane.’
Chapter Thirty-Two
Dear Eddie,
I promised you that the last letter I wrote would really be my last.
But the thing is, I’m beginning to wonder who you actually are. My friend Tommy recently asked if I thought you might have had something to do with the accident. I dismissed the idea out of hand, only now I’m not so sure.
Was it you who came to my office today? Was it you I saw at a traffic light last week? And if it was, why? What are you doing?
Eddie, do you know exactly who I am? Why I never came back to England?
Are you the person I’m afraid you might be?
The chances are, you’ll read this and think,What is this girl talking about? Why won’t she leave me alone? Is she out of her mind?
But what if that’s not what you’re thinking? What if you know exactly what I’m talking about?
I just keep wondering, Eddie. I just keep wondering.
Sarah
Chapter Thirty-Three
Extract from theStroud News & Journal, 11 June 1997
Police have arrested a man in connection with the fatal accident on the A419 near Frampton Mansell earlier this month. Senior Investigating Officer PC John Metherell confirmed last night that a nineteen-year-old man from Stroud had been taken into custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
The crash, which has left a local family devastated, has led to calls for better speed control on this remote stretch of road. Frustration has also been expressed at the police’s failure to make any arrests until now.
Since the accident Gloucestershire Constabulary have been searching for a man – described at the time as male, in his late teens or early twenties – who escaped the scene of the crime via fields or local footpaths. New information received by the force on Monday has led to his successful detection and arrest.
TheSNJwas unable to obtain confirmation before going to print that the suspect had been charged.
Chapter Thirty-Four
