‘Want me to do something, Boss?’ asked Santini, watching carefully.
Baroni looked at Matteo and spoke calmly. ‘You need to remove your hand immediately or I’ll have you arrested for obstructing this investigation.’
Furious, Matteo knew when he was beaten. He took his hand from the car and Baroni pulled the door shut. Within seconds they were away.
SEVENTY-TWO
Ellie lay on the bed, waiting for Abby to come out of the shower. She was alternately buffeted between a sense of liberation at meeting Fredrik and nerves at telling Abby. Wondering how best to phrase it.
The bathroom door opened and her sister came in, towelling off her hair.
‘That felt so good,’ said Abby.
Ellie nodded. Maybe she’d build her up to it slowly.Abby, I think we can afford to take a bit of a breather, don’t you? Just for a couple of hours?
‘What the hell is that?’
Ellie looked up to see her sister stock-still, staring at her bed. Or rather the phone on her bed.
Damn, she’d forgotten to put it away!
‘What’s going on?’ asked Abby.
‘I just spoke to Fredrik,’ said Ellie, smiling. ‘He left me a message and so I just called him back. You’re never going to believe this – he’s really close by! I’m going to meet him for a drink.’
Abby’s jaw dropped. ‘You what?’
‘Oh, come on, Abby. It’ll only be for an hour or so. He’s going back to Norway, so chances are I’ll never see him again.’
‘Have you lost your mind?’
Ellie bit her tongue. It was important she stayed calm. ‘No, Abby, I haven’t lost my mind.’
Abby picked up the phone, held it out. ‘You need to call him right back. Tell him it’s not happening.’
Her sister’s face was set firm, not just in her decision, but in a conviction that, as usual, Ellie would do what Abby wanted.
Well, not this time.
She sat up on the bed. ‘I’m not going to do that, Abby.’
They were locked in a stalemate. Abby glanced down at the phone. Frowned.
‘There’s a voicemail,’ said Abby. ‘Did it ring while I was in the shower?’
Ellie shook her head. She watched as her sister listened, then saw Abby’s face crumple.
‘What is it?’ asked Ellie.
Abby didn’t answer; instead she urgently dialled a number, then swore and threw her phone on the bed in frustration.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Ellie.
‘That message was from Jamie.’ Abby could hardly contain her upset. ‘Jamie tried to call. While you were on the phone to Fredrik.’
‘Oh.’
‘And now he’s unavailable. He’s just got on a plane to Thailand and his phone is switched off.’
