The Disappearing Act(52)

I head over to the open laptop and skim through the messages.

Marla left Emily at a New Year’s Eve party and didn’t hear from her properly for the next two days.

I pick up where I left off.


Sun Jan 3, 8:04am


Can you meet me at the coffee shop?


I can be there in 30 minutes?


Thank you x



Then nothing until that night.


Sun Jan 3, 7:21pm


For the record I say do what your heart tells you. This is your life, your choices.

But please be careful & call me straight after. I’m here if you need to vent. Anytime!


Thanks. You’re a good friend, so, thank you. God, I wish we’d met in high school! I know this is the right way to do it…at least for me. It’s their mess, they can fucking fix it.


Mon Jan 4, 2:15pm


I’m here. Nervous.


Shit, okay. Don’t be nervous! You’ve got this. You know what to say, you’ve covered everything.


Em, you know you don’t have to do this right?


I do.


I want to do this.


Mon Jan 4, 2:45pm


Done. It’s an offer. And I have everything they just said on my phone.



My eyes snap to Emily’s mobile phone on the table beside me but there’s no way I can open it.

I read on.


Okay. Is that admissible?


Let me know when you are safe home.


Home. Wow. Holy shit. I don’t know if it’s admissible but it’s enough, if you know what I mean. I actually feel better! I was scared I wouldn’t but I do. I think this is going to work.


Fucking hell you’ve got balls!

How were they?


They were weirdly businesslike. They listened, then they had a discussion, and then they made an offer.


What did they offer?


They gave me three options. I’ll tell you this evening. But they’re good. If it works then in a way it’ll all have been worth it.


Worth it?


Well…not for nothing.


Tues Jan 5, 10:08am


Just got a call. They’re pulling out.


Do they know you have the last meeting on your phone?


No.


Tell them


Tues Jan 5, 10:22am


It worked. They’re consulting legal.


Tues Jan 5, 12:09pm


It’s back on. They want me to go in again tomorrow and sign an NDA, then they’ll sign the contract.


What time tomorrow? Should I come with you?


I’ll be fine. It’s at the studio. 9am.


You’re keeping the recordings until the deal’s done, right?


Of course.


Weds Jan 6, 8:42am


I hope you don’t think the worse of me for any of this. I know I should be doing this differently. I know it’s not the right way but, as messed up as it is, this might be my only chance. I know I’m good enough and if something can come of all this then why not take it with both hands? Life’s hard enough you’ve got to catch breaks wherever you find them, right? xxx


I’m behind you whatever. Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks. Just look after yourself, Em. At the end of the day, if no one else is paying your rent no one else gets a say!


And be careful today—they’re clearly capable of anything. Call me after.


Weds Jan 6, 10:05am


How did it go?


Weds Jan 6, 11:01am


Em? How did it go?


Weds Jan 6, 11:46am


Let me know you’re okay.


Weds Jan 6, 12:07pm


Right, I’m coming over


Weds Jan 6, 12:42pm


Where are you?


Weds Jan 6, 1:39pm


Em, where are you? I need you to call me asap. Just let me know you’re okay? xx


Thurs Jan 7, 5:04pm


Got your Airbnb woman to let me in. I know where you are now. Just stay there. I’m coming. Wait for me. Please don’t do anything xx



I try to scroll down but that’s where the messages end. There have been no more messages to or from Marla since the seventh of January.

I stare at Marla’s final message to Emily. God knows how she worked out where Emily went. But it occurs to me there’s a chance that Emily may have gone back to wherever it was now.

I suddenly have the overwhelming desire to dial Marla’s number and ask her if she found Emily. I take her number from Emily’s screen and add it into my phone.

And at the risk of her thinking I’m completely insane, I tap out a message and press send before I change my mind.


Today, 11:15pm


Hi Marla, my name is Mia, you don’t know me but I got your number from Emily. I know this is a weird question but do you know where she is? She went missing on Wednesday. I’m pretty concerned.



I reread the words I’ve just sent out into the ether and wonder if I’ve made a terrible mistake. Because they haven’t messaged each other since January, I’m guessing that Marla will have no idea Emily is missing again. I find myself asking why they have stopped talking to each other but then I realize there’s no way to know if Marla didn’t disappear that day as well. The fact that I can’t open up Emily’s phone and check if the two called each other is beyond infuriating.