‘Is that right?’ said Ellie, the laughter infectious. ‘Are bullets made of lead?’
Abby looked at her and lost control, giddy on the post-adrenaline comedown. Soon both girls were wiping away the tears streaming down their cheeks.
FIFTY
The sun was veering into its mid-afternoon furnace, building on the day’s heat to almost unbearable levels. Matteo’s mother-in-law had gone for a lie-down several hours ago and still showed no signs of resurfacing. Kathleen had long since left the house. Staggered at the lack of air conditioning, she had retreated to the comfort of her hotel. Matteo suspected she was going to stick around for a while.
Inactivity didn’t suit him. He wished he were at work, able to take his mind off these latest revelations.
Abby had a brother who had died as a baby. No, not just died. He had been murdered. And Susanna had covered it up.
It rattled him deeply. Up until now he’d been concerned about his wife’s disappearance, yes, but it seemed there would be an explanation. One that would cast his mother-in-law in the less favourable light. At no point had he been fearful. At no point had anyone actually died.
Abby had never mentioned she’d had a baby brother to him. Susanna said she wouldn’t have remembered. She’d been so young when he’d died and Susanna had never mentioned him to either of her daughters. She’d also asked Kathleen not to say anything and Kathleen, not wishing to cause more agony, had complied. Until now.
Matteo needed to get out of the house. He crossed the terrace and took the steps down to the sea. At the platform, a welcoming breeze came off the sea, catching in it the scent of broom from the rocks beside him. He looked at the water rocking gently against the edge; today’s clarity was amongst the best he’d seen. Peering over the edge, he could see down four, five metres. Tiny fish flitted against the rocks, searching for food.
Matteo pulled off his shorts and T-shirt and dived in. He swam out, arms circling over his head as he cruised through the water until his muscles began to tire. Then he stopped and looked back at the shoreline. His home was a tiny doll’s house on the horizon. He kicked his legs, treading water, knowing there was a great depth below him, a dark unknown, and it felt good to be away from other human beings, an outsider in a watery world.
He tried to think in facts. He was a policeman, after all. A baby had died. Of this he had no doubt. Both Kathleen and Susanna had spoken openly about it. The infant had ingested too much salt and this was the cause of death. Again, neither of the women had denied this. He’d heard stories before of parents – usually mothers – who’d harmed their children in order to gain emotional or financial reward. Fabricated or induced illness, it was now called. There had been a case at work once. A mother had shaved her two-year-old’s head and pretended he had cancer. She’d dragged him from doctor to doctor, exaggerating and claiming false symptoms, insisting on tests, manipulating results. She’d been found guilty and the child had been taken away from her.
But Susanna was saying it wasn’t her at fault, it was Abby. A jealous older sister who had refused to accept a new sibling. He knew some children could be monstrous towards a new arrival. He also knew they had no real concept of the finality and tragic consequences of death. Toddlers just wanted immediate gratification, order restored. A toddler would struggle with a sense of remorse, would be unable to grasp the extreme overreaction of causing a death to avenge – what was it? – her Lego model being destroyed.
So did he think it was Abby? With a cold jolt, Matteo realized that he didn’t know. Doubt sat uncomfortably in his stomach and the calm of the sea left him. He started to swim back, more slowly this time. He climbed onto the rocky platform and sat there, looking out at the water, allowing the sun to dry him off. After a few minutes he heard footsteps behind him and stiffened. He wasn’t in the mood to speak to Susanna.
He turned and was surprised to see Lieutenant Colonel Baroni heading towards him, the sun glinting off her shades and her regulation belt buckle. She arrived at the platform, resplendent in her uniform, and looked down at his crotch area. He was suddenly reminded he’d gone swimming in his underwear. He didn’t flinch. Let her disapprove. He held position, reclining back on the flats of his hands. Waiting for her to speak. Just then his phone rang in the pocket of his shorts.
‘You can answer it,’ said Baroni and Matteo bristled. He did not need her permission. Still, he pulled out his phone and saw it was a number he didn’t recognize.
Somehow he knew.
‘If that’s Abby,’ said Baroni quickly, seeing the look on his face, ‘then you need to find out where she is.’
He almost didn’t answer, but the need to speak to his wife was too strong. He swiped right.
‘Pronto.’
‘Hey.’
She sounded subdued, but it was so good to hear her voice he broke into a spontaneous smile. Baroni was looking at him, searching for confirmation. He gave the briefest of nods.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked Abby.
‘Yes, fine. We’re both fine.’
Matteo glanced up to see Baroni finishing off writing something in her notepad and thrusting the page at him.
Where is she?
He turned away, but nevertheless asked the question. ‘Where are you?’
Abby hesitated. ‘Are you on your own?’
His heart stopped. Did he cross over the line?
‘Yes.’
He heard her exhale with relief. An exhausted, dispirited breath. ‘A place called Saint-Jean-de-Luz,’ she said. ‘Almost on the Spanish border.’
