TOYL

initially.’
    ‘But when you found out Dan had gone missing, you thought Stuart might have something to do with it?’
    ‘I had suspicions, yes,’ Guy said. ‘I knew how much Stuart loved you. I did wonder what lengths he might go to get you back.’
    ‘So you asked him outright if he had anything to do with it?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And what did he say?’
    ‘He swore to me that he didn’t do anything.’
    ‘He must have been lying,’ Emma said. ‘The police found evidence at his flat – a photo of Dan.’
    ‘I can’t explain that,’ Guy said. ‘I can only say what I believe. And I believe that Stuart didn’t have anything to do with your fiancé’s disappearance.’
    ‘Then why did he kill himself?’
    ‘Because he had given up hope of getting you back. You told him that there was no chance, and it pushed him over the edge.’
    ‘You’re blaming me?’
    ‘No, I’m not. I’m just saying that the hope Stuart had – that you two would get back together – was the only thing keeping him going. I’m just trying to explain.’
    ‘I still don’t understand how you can be so sure that Stuart wasn’t involved,’ Emma said. ‘Just because he told you he didn’t do it – he might have been afraid that you’d go to the police if he told you the truth.’
    ‘He called me just before he died,’ Guy revealed. ‘And even then he still denied it – he had no reason to lie to me then.’
    ‘He wrote a letter to me, pretending to be Dan. The police found it on his computer.’
    ‘He did admit to that. He wanted you to think Dan didn’t want you anymore. But at that time, he still believed Dan had just run away.’
    ‘But why say that Lizzy was involved? He said they had an affair.’
    ‘To push you two apart. He wanted to be the shoulder to cry on – he saw Lizzy as competition for your attention.’
    ‘Okay, just say you’re right and Stuart had nothing to do with what’s happened to Dan,’ Emma said, humouring him. ‘Have you got any idea of who did?’
    ‘I have a theory. But you’re not going to like it.’

58

    Edward spent some time sitting at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, trying desperately to think who the man was. But it was no good – he couldn’t remember ever meeting him before, despite the man’s insistence that he had somehow ruined his life. Half an hour later, he moved to the lounge, and that’s when he saw the brown envelope on top of the coffee table. It hadn’t been there before, which meant only one thing.
    Even though Miranda was still out, he still retreated to the study to open it. Carrying it through to the study, he felt a strange sense of foreboding. Carefully opening the envelope, he peered inside and pulled out a photocopied newspaper cutting. He only needed to read the headline to understand who the man was. He took a deep breath. There was something else in the envelope – a small piece of paper on which was written five words.
    I know what really happened.
    Edward closed his eyes.
    Suddenly everything was making sense.
    Soon you’ll know what it’s like to really hurt…to lose the one you love.
    He had to do something, and quickly. He picked up the phone and dialled Will’s number.
    ‘Hello?’
    ‘Will,’ he said, trying to calm down, ‘thank God you’re okay. Where are you?’
    ‘In my flat, why?’
    ‘You’re not with Emma?’
    ‘No. She was here a couple of hours ago, but then she went to the hospital to see Richard.’
    ‘So you don’t know where she is now then?’
    ‘No, I don’t. I guess she might be at her flat, or maybe at Lizzy’s. Hey, are you okay? You sound out of breath.’
    ‘Call her,’ Edward said. ‘Find out where she is. Then stay with her; make sure she’s all right. Don’t let her out of your sight.’
    ‘What’s the matter? You think she’s in trouble?’
    ‘Just go and make sure your sister is all right.’
    ‘But I don’t understand,’ Will said. ‘Stuart’s dead. I thought you said this was all over now.’
    ‘Just do what I say,’ Edward demanded. ‘And hurry.’

    ***

    ‘You think this all has something to do with Will?’ Emma said.
    ‘Yes,’ Guy said. ‘I know it’s a shock, but I really do believe that your brother is involved. How, I don’t know.’
    ‘You’re just saying that to protect Stuart’s memory,’ Emma accused. ‘Why would Will be involved?’
    ‘I’m not sure. And no, I’m not just saying that to protect Stuart. I wouldn’t do that, Emma.’
    ‘What