TOYL

cups.
    ‘Thanks,’ he said sheepishly, avoiding her gaze. ‘Look, Em, I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to talk to me again. I should have…’
    ‘ Don’t,’ Emma interrupted. ‘We haven’t got time. I’ve been thinking, and the important thing here is to think whether what happened with Stephen helps to explain what happened to Dan, and Lizzy. Do you think it’s connected?’
    ‘I don’t know. But the fact that someone connected with Stephen was still taking photographs of you, even after Stephen had died, makes me think that it may have something to do with it.’
    ‘I agree,’ Emma said. ‘If it wasn’t Stephen though, it probably could have been one of two other people – Stephen’s mum or dad.’
    ‘But what would be their motive? What would they have against Dan?’
    ‘Maybe it’s me they want to hurt.’
    ‘But why?’
    ‘I don’t know. Look, maybe it isn’t them. It’s a bit of a leap to link that photo to Dan’s disappearance – I doubt the police would think that it was worth following up. But I just can’t think of anything else, apart from Guy Roberts, but would he really do all this just for publicity? We’re clutching at straws really, aren’t we? And while we’re standing here, who knows what has happened to Lizzy.’
    ‘I think we should go and see Dad,’ Will announced.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘You’ll just have to trust me. I know I haven’t done anything to deserve it, but I think Dad might be able to help us find whoever is behind this.’

65

    ‘Dad knows about all this, doesn’t he?’ Emma stated, as they neared their father’s house. ‘He knows about what happened with Stephen.’
    ‘I told him, yes,’ Will admitted.
    ‘How long has he known?’
    ‘Since the beginning. I needed someone to talk to about it, and he was the only person I could turn to.’
    ‘And did he help?’
    ‘What do you think?’
    ‘So why do you think he might be able to help now?’
    Will stopped just before they reached the house.
    ‘He called me this morning,’ he explained, ‘and told me to make sure you were okay – to stick with you wherever you went. I think something had happened to make him react like that.’
    ‘He didn’t say anything else?’
    ‘That was it,’ Will said. ‘I know I should have pressed him, but at the time I just had my mind focussed on getting to you as quickly as possible. He did sound worried about you.’
    ‘That doesn’t sound like Dad.’
    ‘Try not to be too hard on him, Em. He tries.’
    ‘You’ve changed your tune.’
    ‘If I can’t try to forgive Dad for everything he’s done to us, then why should I expect you to try and forgive me?’
    ‘You’re right,’ Emma conceded. ‘Time to stop lamenting the past – we’ve all done things we regret.’
    They walked on, reaching the entrance to the house.
    ‘Looks like he’s out,’ Emma noted, looking down the empty drive.
    ‘Miranda must be in,’ Will replied, ‘the bedroom light’s on.’
    They had to knock three times before Miranda came to answer the door. Her face was streaked with make-up, making her look like some kind of sad clown.
    ‘What’s happened?’ Emma asked.
    ‘Edward’s gone,’ Miranda said, breaking into a series of sobs. ‘I think he might have left me.’
    Emma and Will waited impatiently in the lounge while Miranda regained her composure.
    ‘Did Dad say where he was going?’ ventured Emma.
    Miranda shook her head, dabbing her eyes with a tissue provided by Will. ‘He wouldn’t say where he was going. I asked him, but he just told me not to worry. You know how he is, he likes to keep things to himself. He didn’t even take his mobile phone with him.’
    ‘He didn’t say when he’d be back?’ Emma said.
    ‘He said he’d see me tomorrow – he’s staying somewhere overnight.’
    ‘Going on a long journey,’ Emma mused. She looked across at Will, who had obviously heard her mutterings.
    ‘Did he leave suddenly?’ Will asked.
    ‘Very,’ said Miranda. ‘He didn’t give any warning about going out, especially not going somewhere and staying overnight. I’d suggested that we watch a DVD tonight, relax in front of the TV, and he’d said he’d love to. Then the next thing I know he’s on his way out of the door.’
    ‘Something happened,’ Will said, too loudly.
    ‘Is something wrong?’ Miranda’s face lit up with new anxiety. ‘Is your father in trouble? Do you know something? If you do, please tell