The Girls Who Disappeared(17)

‘… as a favour to Brenda but I don’t know how much I can tell you.’

‘Okay.’ I cup the phone to my ear so I can hear him better. ‘I’m trying to gather as much information as I can at this stage. If you’re free for a coffee at any point it would be great to pick your brains.’

‘I’m having a frantic day but could meet you for a quick drink after work.’

I tell him I’m grateful for any time he can spare and his voice is warmer when he says he’ll meet me at The Raven at 7 p.m.

My spirits are lighter as I put the phone down and head back to Bea’s but then I see Wesley coming towards me. Shit, I was hoping to avoid him.

He stops in front of me, blocking my path. I push my shoulders back. I won’t let him intimidate me. I’ve met enough of his type before.

‘Still hanging around then, like a bad smell,’ he says.

‘It looks that way.’ I fold my arms across my chest.

He sighs but his expression softens. ‘Look, I don’t want Liv upset, okay? She’s been through enough.’

I hesitate, thrown by the change in Wesley. I had pinned him down for a bit of a thug. But, with him standing in front of me, I wonder if he’s just a man who’s worried about his girlfriend. ‘I don’t want to upset her either,’ I say, trying to assure him, ‘but this podcast will shine a light on what happened here twenty years ago. It might even help jog someone’s memory. Wouldn’t you and Olivia and everyone else want to know what happened to Sally, Katie and Tamzin?’

He knits his dark brows together. We’re both getting soaked and a raindrop hangs from his fringe. ‘There’s lots you don’t understand about this town. Strange things happen here.’ He lowers his voice. ‘The forest is haunted and so is the Devil’s Corridor. The standing stones are said to be full of mystic energy. Do you know about ley lines?’

‘No, not really.’ I try not to look sceptical. ‘What are you trying to say? That their disappearance was something … What? Supernatural? Paranormal?’

He runs his hand through his rain-soaked hair. ‘Who knows? Look, I don’t care what you do. If you want to waste your time on this that’s your choice, but leave Liv out of it, okay? She’s been vilified enough by the people around here.’ He doesn’t wait for me to answer and I watch as he strides away, his hands in his pockets and his head bent against the rain.

I continue to the tearoom, thinking over my conversation with Wesley. Vilified? I wonder how. It can’t have been easy for her and I do understand why Wesley is so protective.

I can hear the cacophony of the lunchtime rush as soon as I climb the stairs and the smell of warm coffee and bacon engulfs me. Nearly every table is full and the waitresses are dashing around like magpies in their black-and-white uniforms. My heart sinks. I hesitate in the doorway trying to spot Izzy, and then there she is, crossing the room, her glossy dark brown ponytail swinging as she carries a tray full of empty plates. I wave to get her attention and she comes over.

‘Hello again,’ she says pleasantly. ‘Back so soon? There’s a table over in the corner but I’d grab it quick.’

‘Actually, I was here to speak to you but you look really busy.’

She frowns. ‘Oh, I see. About your podcast? So you know I’m Sally’s sister?’ I nod and she chews her lip, her eyes darting about the room before landing back on me. ‘Give me a card and I’ll ring you.’

I grab one of my business cards from my wallet and leave it on the tray she’s carrying. ‘Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. I’m here until Friday but would love to speak to you as soon as possible.’

She smiles at me again, but more uncertainly this time, then moves away towards the kitchen. I just hope she calls.

I have no choice but to go back to the cabin for now so I head down the high street towards the car park. The rain has seeped through my wool coat and my trousers are wet and heavy from the knee down. I long to change into something more comfortable – I feel cold to the bone. It was a mistake wearing work clothes instead of jeans, wellies and a raincoat. I’d wanted to look professional, to be taken more seriously. Ha, like that happened. I realize I’ve laughed out loud as a woman walking towards me shoots me a strange look. She’s pushing one of those tartan shopping bags on wheels and I recognize her from the tearoom earlier. I smile at her now and as she passes she stops and grabs my arm. Her grip is surprisingly strong. ‘Ain’t you that journalist?’

‘That’s right. My name’s Jenna Halliday.’

She lets go of my arm and blinks at me. Her hair is tobacco-stained yellow and her face is hard, her mouth thin. She doesn’t offer me her name. ‘I lived here when it happened,’ she says. ‘Next door to that Tamzin Cole and her parents. Weird lot. Loud. Common, you know?’

I keep my face impassive.

‘That Tamzin had a string of boyfriends. Wouldn’t surprise me if she’d run off with one of them.’

‘What about Sally and Katie?’

She draws her lips together like she’s taking a drag of an imaginary cigarette. ‘Didn’t know much about those two. But think the lot of them were up to no good. Fancy running away like that and not telling your parents. It ain’t right.’

‘Maybe they didn’t run away.’