relationship is—’ he paused,
looking for the word, ‘—
developing
. I want us to make a home together, a place that’s big enough for the three of us, maybe more if we get cracking. You know
I love Rafi and want to be a father tohim. Sometimes I feel like a lodger – with benefits.’ He sighed. ‘I’m not good at talking about this sort of thing.’
Gemma touched his face gently, then kissed him. ‘Oh Mike,’ she whispered.
When Mike had gone back to work, Gemma thought about his proposal. Why couldn’t she reply immediately? Did she love him enough
to marry him? To live the rest of her life with him? She imagined her life with Mike continuing into the future. Maybe they’d
buy a house together. She stared out the window of her office, while her mind played out scenes from a future with Mike, Rafi
and herself. And maybe even another baby …
Finally she realised she should get back to work so she tried calling Delphine again. This time, the call was successful.
‘Delphine, it’s Gemma Lincoln. What’s your situation? Are you safe?’
‘I’m staying at the Beachside Resort at Coogee,’ said Delphine, giving Gemma the address. ‘I don’t think he knows—’
‘You don’t
think
he knows? Delphine, you have to be sure.’ Gemma wanted to shake the woman. ‘Please, make sure he has no idea where you are.
I discovered today that your husband is already advertising online for another “soul mate”. He’s trawling for another wealthy
woman.’
Delphine’s shocked gasp made Gemma flinch.
‘So, it’s essential that you get out of there if there’s the slightest possibility that he knows your whereabouts. Here are
some names that might help you with security. Give them a ring and get some quotes. And let me know if you move again.’
Gemma rang off, fearful for Delphine Tolmacheff’s safety, her life.
Her phone rang. ‘Angie?’
‘Janet is now an officially listed missing person,’ said Angie. ‘Her car’s been found. Seems you were the last person she
spoke to. I need to talk to you about that conversation.’
‘Come over.’
Half an hour later, Angie arrived just as the coffee brewed. Gemma poured out two mugs.
‘Mike proposed to me,’ Gemma said as soon as Angie perched on the edge of one of the armchairs.
Angie’s eyes widened as she swallowed a mouthful of coffee. ‘What did you say?’
‘That I needed to think about it.’
‘So, what
do
you think about it?’ Angie asked in her direct way. ‘More importantly, how do you feel about it?’ Without waiting for Gemma
to reply, Angie continued, ‘It’s Steve, isn’t it? You’re still emotionally involved with him.’
‘I’m not sure, Angie. I was really touched by Mike’s offer, and I
do
love him …’
‘But not enough?’
Gemma sighed. ‘Let’s talk about this later,’ she said. ‘Janet is missing.’
‘Right,’ said Angie, getting the message and putting down her mug. ‘We’re moving to the “grave fears” stage. She’s just dropped
off the planet. Her car turned up off the road near Stanwell Tops.’
‘I don’t like the sound of that,’ said Gemma. ‘That’s not so far from the quarry where Rachel Starr was found.’
Angie nodded grimly. ‘Tell me about that phone conversation you had with her. Where was she calling from?’
‘She was at Sapphire Springs Spa. She was doing a story on the treatments used there.’
‘What exactly did she say?’
Gemma recounted the conversation about DiNAH therapy.
‘She sounded excited, and anxious. She said something odd. She said, “It’s not what people think.”’
‘What do you think she meant by that?’
Gemma shrugged. ‘No idea. Now I wish I’d pressed her for more details. But she was on her way here to tell me everything,
and her phone was about to die.’
‘But why did she call
you
? Why not call her editor?’
‘That’s what I asked myself,’ said Gemma. ‘She said she was going to drive straight
looking for the word, ‘—
developing
. I want us to make a home together, a place that’s big enough for the three of us, maybe more if we get cracking. You know
I love Rafi and want to be a father tohim. Sometimes I feel like a lodger – with benefits.’ He sighed. ‘I’m not good at talking about this sort of thing.’
Gemma touched his face gently, then kissed him. ‘Oh Mike,’ she whispered.
When Mike had gone back to work, Gemma thought about his proposal. Why couldn’t she reply immediately? Did she love him enough
to marry him? To live the rest of her life with him? She imagined her life with Mike continuing into the future. Maybe they’d
buy a house together. She stared out the window of her office, while her mind played out scenes from a future with Mike, Rafi
and herself. And maybe even another baby …
Finally she realised she should get back to work so she tried calling Delphine again. This time, the call was successful.
‘Delphine, it’s Gemma Lincoln. What’s your situation? Are you safe?’
‘I’m staying at the Beachside Resort at Coogee,’ said Delphine, giving Gemma the address. ‘I don’t think he knows—’
‘You don’t
think
he knows? Delphine, you have to be sure.’ Gemma wanted to shake the woman. ‘Please, make sure he has no idea where you are.
I discovered today that your husband is already advertising online for another “soul mate”. He’s trawling for another wealthy
woman.’
Delphine’s shocked gasp made Gemma flinch.
‘So, it’s essential that you get out of there if there’s the slightest possibility that he knows your whereabouts. Here are
some names that might help you with security. Give them a ring and get some quotes. And let me know if you move again.’
Gemma rang off, fearful for Delphine Tolmacheff’s safety, her life.
Her phone rang. ‘Angie?’
‘Janet is now an officially listed missing person,’ said Angie. ‘Her car’s been found. Seems you were the last person she
spoke to. I need to talk to you about that conversation.’
‘Come over.’
Half an hour later, Angie arrived just as the coffee brewed. Gemma poured out two mugs.
‘Mike proposed to me,’ Gemma said as soon as Angie perched on the edge of one of the armchairs.
Angie’s eyes widened as she swallowed a mouthful of coffee. ‘What did you say?’
‘That I needed to think about it.’
‘So, what
do
you think about it?’ Angie asked in her direct way. ‘More importantly, how do you feel about it?’ Without waiting for Gemma
to reply, Angie continued, ‘It’s Steve, isn’t it? You’re still emotionally involved with him.’
‘I’m not sure, Angie. I was really touched by Mike’s offer, and I
do
love him …’
‘But not enough?’
Gemma sighed. ‘Let’s talk about this later,’ she said. ‘Janet is missing.’
‘Right,’ said Angie, getting the message and putting down her mug. ‘We’re moving to the “grave fears” stage. She’s just dropped
off the planet. Her car turned up off the road near Stanwell Tops.’
‘I don’t like the sound of that,’ said Gemma. ‘That’s not so far from the quarry where Rachel Starr was found.’
Angie nodded grimly. ‘Tell me about that phone conversation you had with her. Where was she calling from?’
‘She was at Sapphire Springs Spa. She was doing a story on the treatments used there.’
‘What exactly did she say?’
Gemma recounted the conversation about DiNAH therapy.
‘She sounded excited, and anxious. She said something odd. She said, “It’s not what people think.”’
‘What do you think she meant by that?’
Gemma shrugged. ‘No idea. Now I wish I’d pressed her for more details. But she was on her way here to tell me everything,
and her phone was about to die.’
‘But why did she call
you
? Why not call her editor?’
‘That’s what I asked myself,’ said Gemma. ‘She said she was going to drive straight
Similar Books
