TOYL

proof have you got?’
    ‘I haven’t got any proof, as such,’ Guy admitted. ‘But it’s just something Stuart told me once.’
    ‘What?’
    ‘That Will had something to do with you and him splitting up.’
    ‘Stuart told you that?’
    ‘In so many words. And if he split you two up, then maybe he did the same with you and Dan.’
    ‘This is crazy,’ Emma said, ‘and I don’t believe it for a second. Will wouldn’t do that. Why would he want to split me and Dan up, or me and Stuart?’
    Guy shrugged.
    ‘I trust my brother, totally,’ Emma added.
    ‘You shouldn’t ever trust anyone totally,’ Guy countered. ‘We all have secrets, Emma.’
    ‘Will has nothing to do with this.’
    ‘Will was the first to find Stuart,’ Guy said. ‘Why was he at Stuart’s flat?’
    ‘How did you know about that?’
    ‘From the newspaper.’
    ‘Newspaper?’ Emma said. ‘There was a story?’
    ‘In here.’ Guy brought out a newspaper from by the side of the chair and handed it to her. ‘Page ten.’
    Emma flicked to the page.
    ‘He’s somehow involved in all this,’ Guy reiterated. ‘Otherwise why would he have been hanging around Stuart’s flat?’
    ‘How the hell did they get these photos?’ she said, examining the photograph showing Stuart being carried into the ambulance. Another one showed Will sitting outside Stuart’s flat, with his head in his hands.
    ‘Someone must have been following Stuart, or Will,’ Guy suggested. ‘They were waiting for the right photo, and they got it.’
    ‘And I think I know who.’
    ‘I wouldn’t let it worry you. I know it sounds a cliché, but whoever he is, he’s just doing his job. It might be unpleasant, but you’re better off forgetting him and focussing on the more pressing issue – finding your fiancé. And I know you still don’t want to hear it, but I truly believe that your brother holds the key to all this.’

    ***

    Richard stirred from his drug-assisted sleep; it took him a few moments to realise that the phone was ringing. Using all his energy he reached over and wedged the receiver between the pillow and his ear. His arm was aching, as if he had just lifted a ton weight.
    ‘Hello?’ He tried to sit up as far as the equipment would allow; his voice came out croaky, like an old man’s.
    His question was met with silence.
    ‘Hello?’ he said again. ‘Emma, is that you?’
    ‘Richard.’ It was a male voice.
    ‘Yes. Is that you, Will?’
    ‘You still can’t remember, can you?’ the voice said.
    ‘I’m sorry, who is this?’
    ‘I spared your life, Richard. I came to visit you, stood by your bed and could have ended it then – but I didn’t. You should be thankful.’
    ‘It’s you, isn’t it.’ Richard glanced towards the window in the fear that the man would be there, talking to him through the glass. ‘Where’s Dan? What have you done with him?’
    Silence.
    ‘Give yourself up now,’ Richard said. ‘I’m starting to remember what happened. I can nearly see your face – soon I’ll remember everything. And it will be better for you to give yourself up to the police now, before they come looking for you.’
    ‘Not until it’s over,’ the man replied cryptically.
    ‘Please, just stop this,’ Richard pleaded. ‘I don’t know why you’re doing this, but just stop it, now. Let Dan go.’
    ‘It’s too late for your brother.’
    ‘No,’ Richard said, shaking his head, starting to sob. ‘No, please say he’s okay. Tell me you’ve not hurt him, please, tell me.’
    ‘I’m sorry.’
    ‘Why?’ Richard screamed. ‘Why?’
    ‘Because I want you all to understand.’ The man’s voice suddenly cracked with emotion. ‘I want you to understand how much it hurts. I think you are starting to understand, aren’t you, Richard?’

59

    ‘Still no breakthrough?’ Gasnier asked, as DS Davies sat down on the other side of the desk.
    ‘They’ve been through Stuart Harris’s house top to bottom,’ Davies replied, ‘and we’ve had his computer searched thoroughly. Apart from that image, and the letter he sent to Emma Holden pretending to be Dan, there’s nothing else to indicate where Dan is, or what happened to him.’
    Gasnier unfurled his bottom lip, tapping on the desk.
    ‘They have found something which is interesting,’ Davies said, ‘although I can’t see how it’s relevant to the case.’
    ‘Go on,’ Gasnier said.
    Davies brought an envelope out from under the desk and handed it to Gasnier.