The Hike(19)

Pigalle takes a step closer to the pair.

‘Just to let you know, madame . . . I have called with my colleague. He will be joining us soon. In the meantime, may I assist?’ He leans in towards the man. ‘This is looking very nasty, non?’

The woman shakes her head. ‘It’s fine. I can sort it.’

The man snorts. ‘I knew your addiction to 24 Hours in A&E would come in useful one day.’

The woman ignores him, but she rubs the wipe harder across his chest and he lets out a little yelp of pain.

Pigalle looks from one to the other. Shrugs. If they want to play this little game with themselves, then so be it. ‘Very well,’ he says. ‘In that case, I will make another call to the embassy in Bern. Hopefully someone will be in the office now and, soon, they can join us.’

‘Thank you,’ she says, taking another alcohol wipe from the box. Rips it open. She turns to Pigalle. ‘Like I said before, we’re not talking to you until we get embassy assistance. However long that takes.’

Pigalle nods. It might take a while. But he’s determined to get to the bottom of what has happened – with or without their help.





Thirteen

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

The path ahead was narrow and winding, and, as they climbed higher out of the valley, the drop to the left became steeper. Ginny was feeling buoyed by the rest and her little bombshell at the end of the meal. Cat’s face when she returned from the bar had been a picture. She hadn’t really meant to tell the story, but something about being in the little Swiss-French bar had reminded her of it. Not that she’d been there, of course. She’d asked Cat if she could visit her while she was studying in France, but Cat had said she was too busy and she needed to spend her time with the other students.

As if. French Frank hadn’t been a student, had he? Although, saying that, Ginny can’t remember if she ever knew how her sister had actually met him. No, just like always, Cat thought she was too clever to hang around with her stupid little sister. She’d only told her about the nightclub encounter one night in Soho because they’d ended up both being invited on the same night out, and Cat had drunk too many tequila slammers and decided to spill all. She’d quite liked this Frank, apparently, but he’d turned out to be a bit of a shit.

‘You had to bring that up, didn’t you, Gins?’

Cat had moved away from Paul’s side and held back a bit, sidling up to Ginny. The path was barely wide enough for two, and Ginny didn’t feel particularly comfortable being doubled-up like that, so she moved ahead leaving Cat close behind. The two men were a good bit further ahead, out of earshot.

‘Oh, come on. Why are you so bothered? It’s not even scandalous, really. It’s a funny story. It was ten years ago. You were young, free and single once, you know. Everyone’s got a dodgy sex tale to tell.’

‘Yeah, and usually they’re reserved for the participants to tell, are they not? Anyway, you don’t even know the full story and I’m glad now that I didn’t tell you anything else about it. Would you like it if I told Tristan the stuff you used to get up to before you met?’

Ginny huffed. ‘I’m not sure he would care. I don’t think he would even care if I started a few new tales now.’

‘So you’re still convinced there’s someone else?’

Ginny could hear Cat’s breath coming out in short puffs behind her. ‘I told you. Just suspicions at this stage.’ More than suspicions, but it wasn’t time to divulge details just yet. Not until she was sure.

‘Why don’t you just ask him, Ginny.’

Ginny stopped walking, and Cat slammed into the back of her. Ginny turned to face her sister, their faces almost touching. ‘I will ask him when I’m ready to ask him, OK? What’s it to you, anyway. You didn’t even like him until . . . until he became your BFF for planning this stupid trip.’

Cat took a step back. ‘Christ, Ginny. That’s a bit harsh. I was only asking because you brought it up. You’re the one who mentioned it last night, and then again today. You clearly want to talk about it.’ Her voice softens. ‘You can talk to me, you know?’

Ginny rolled her eyes. ‘You’re so full of it, Cat. Your holier-than-thou attitude is becoming a bit wearing.’ She wanted to say more, but she wasn’t sure why. She wasn’t even sure why she was so intent on picking a fight this weekend. Cat hadn’t actually done anything wrong. She hadn’t done anything different to usual. She’d actually been nice. Ginny was starting to think that maybe her suspicions were wrong. She knew she’d been spiky. She was about to apologise, but, before she got a chance, Cat shoved past her and marched off ahead. Ginny wasn’t having this.

She took off after her sister, grabbing Cat by the arm and pulling her back. ‘Just what the hell is wrong with you?’

Then she noticed Tristan was in front of them, his face registering alarm. ‘Ladies, ladies . . . what exactly is going on here? We thought you’d got lost.’ He had made his way back down the hill, Paul following close behind. ‘Sorry if we’re going a bit too fast.’ He looked from Ginny to Cat and back again, frowning. ‘Maybe you two should set the pace for a bit?’

Ginny looked at Cat. Shrugged.

‘Go on then!’ Cat snapped.