Page 54 of The Vanished

“Illegal substances, or the more likely possibility is that they hoped to destroy any traces of DNA. Now, don’t go jumping to any unfounded conclusions,” he warned. “The police did not find human remains in the car, which is reason to hope that Logan is still alive.”

“I haven’t heard from him in several days.”

“He either can’t or won’t make contact because he believes he’s in danger.”

“But why would someone want to hurt Logan? What could he be involved in that would make him a target?”

“I can’t answer that just now, but I will have something to share with you tomorrow,” Drew promised. “But I do need you to answer a few questions. It will save time.”

He took down Max’s date of birth, the name of the hospital where he was born, Rafe’s details, and the address where Quinn and Gabe would be until Sunday.

“I’ll be in touch. If you hear anything or if something gives you cause for concern, ring me straight away.”

“I will,” Quinn promised. “And thank you, Drew.”

“Thank me when I find your brother.”

Quinn felt infinitely better by the time they ended the call. She stopped at the supermarket, picked up some groceries and bought ice cream for the kids, and set off for the boathouse. When she got back, Gabe and the kids were gone. Quinn felt sick with apprehension but ordered herself to remain calm. There was no reason to suspect that anything was wrong. She tried phoning Gabe but heard his mobile ring in the bedroom, where it was plugged in to charge. Emma’s mobile was on her bed, still attached to her headphones. Quinn looked around frantically for anything that might tell her where they had all gone. She let out a hysterical giggle when she finally went to put away the melting ice cream. There was a scrap of paper pinned to the fridge, the note scribbled in Gabe’s hand.

Gone fishing

She supposed the kids had become restless and Gabe had decided that this was a safe way to keep them occupied. Letting out a sigh of immense relief, Quinn put away the groceries, then took out the earring and settled in a deckchair. She’d go fishing too. For information.

THIRTY-THREE

DECEMBER 1923

Ravenglass

They chose a brisk, sunny day to go into town. Douglas had insisted on coming downstairs and was comfortably settled in the drawing room by the time they were ready to leave. He sat before a roaring fire, a cup of tea in his hand and his favorite record playing softly on the gramophone. Nurse Jeffries, who although a pleasant woman had the demeanor of a drill sergeant, sat by the window, her melancholy gaze on the wintry parkland beyond. Geneva felt reassured by her presence and knew that she wouldn’t take any guff from her father if she felt he needed to rest or was due for his medication. He was in capable hands, and the nurse had reassured them there was no call to rush back.

Geneva got behind the wheel, and, once Jesse cranked the motor, he called out, “I’m riding shotgun.”

“What does that mean?” Honor asked.

“It means I’m riding in the front.”

“What does a shotgun have to do with it?”

“A person armed with a shotgun used to ride next to the driver of a stagecoach, in case it was ambushed.”

“Who by?” Honor asked.

“Hostiles.”

“And are you expecting to get ambushed?” Geneva asked.

“You never know. You Brits are an unpredictable lot,” Jess quipped and got in next to her.

Honor had no choice but to ride in the back seat, but she didn’t seem to mind. She was so excited to go on an outing, she’d have ridden on the bonnet if the situation had called for it.

“Have you ever shot anyone?” she asked Jesse as they drove through the gates and started down the lane.

“I have,” he replied but did not elaborate, and Geneva realized that he was referring to his military service. Honor seemed to get that too because she didn’t ask any more questions and turned to gaze out at the passing landscape.

It was too windy to maintain a conversation, so the three of them sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Uncertain as she felt about everything at the moment, Geneva decided that she would permit herself to have a nice time and take a break from endless worrying. She wasn’t going to solve anything today, least of all her feelings about Rory. But as the car barreled along, she couldn’t help but replay their final conversation in her mind, her memories illuminated by the unforgiving light of day. And the lightness she had felt for a few short moments began to dissipate, her heart once again heavy with foreboding.

Rory had come to the house last night and had asked her to walk with him. It would have been churlish to refuse, especially after the way they had parted earlier, so she’d put on her coat and hat, and the two of them had gone outside and had turned onto the path that wasn’t clearly visible from the house.