The Sister(192)

‘What are you looking at me like that for?’

‘You didn’t ask me what the other thing was.’

‘Come on, Miller, don’t beat around the bush.’

‘A little bird tells me you two are getting married.’

‘How did you know that? We haven’t told anyone yet’

Miller touched his nose and winked.

He smiled as he walked off. Sometimes, Sister, surely the wildlife cameraman should be allowed some fun.

He didn’t attend the wake afterwards, preferring instead to go for a long walk in the rain. Along the treeline, out of his line of sight, someone walked with him.





In court months later, Eilise gave evidence against her foster parents. Eileen received a reprimand in the strongest possible terms for her failure to act. Frank Staples was gaoled for seven years. The day of the sentencing would be the last time she ever saw them.

Jackie started a process she could have never foreseen a few months earlier; she applied to adopt the daughter she’d given up for adoption sixteen years before. We’ll hire a private tutor to finish off your education. On Saturdays, you’ll come and work in one of my agencies.

Eilise already felt she belonged more with her than she did with the Staples’ family. Closing her eyes, she shut the memories out. She had a new life now, with her real mother, and a half-sister to get to know.

Eilise made a solemn vow. She’d never touch drugs again.





Chapter 150



They arrived in the weak yellow sunshine of early morning from opposite directions and within minutes met as arranged, at a fashionable pavement café near Kew Gardens.

Carla caught sight of him first. ‘Hey, Miller!’ she called.

He turned at the sound of her voice. Her hair was longer than he remembered, but still short and spiky enough to bounce with every movement of her head.

‘Miller, how are you?’ She held out an elegant hand and raised both eyebrows, greeting him. A smile started in her eyes and spread quickly over her face, the friendliness and warmth genuine.

He’d forgotten how long her fingers were; he took her fingertips and folded them over his, so the back of her hand faced upward. Returning her smile, he bent and kissed it. ‘I’m very well and you?’

‘Careful, Miller, I might start to think you’re a gentleman and you know what that means?’

Miller cocked his head to one side. ‘No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.’

‘You’ll have to start treating me like a Lady,’ she said.

‘I don’t think I'd have too much trouble with that.’ Her fingers slowly slid away from his.

‘It’s good to see you again. It seems like forever ago.’

‘I know what you mean. I’ve been run ragged. Are you hungry?’

‘I’m Hank Marvin.’

He queried her with a raised eyebrow.

‘Starvin’,’ she said, laughing. ‘Surely you’ve heard that expression before?’

‘Nope, never heard that one before.’ He pulled a chair out for her and moved around the table to sit opposite. ‘Are you sure you’re okay with sitting outside?’

‘When I can see the sun it always makes me feel warm, even if I’m not.’ She zipped her bomber jacket right up into the collar. ‘I’m fine, really I am.’

‘Remember that story you told me about, on the train, about the lake with all the bodies in?’

‘Yes, I do. It’s not something I’ll ever forget.’ He laid his menu back on the table. ‘What about it?’

He turned to signal a waiter, who approached. They ordered breakfast.

Half-barrels planted with shrubs surrounded by brightly coloured flowers, helped screen them from the bustling pavement. Birds hopped between unoccupied tables beneath a green and white awning. What she was about to tell him was to be her next big article; she held back until the waiter was out of earshot.

‘I’ve been digging and delving since we last met. There were a couple of things you got me into, and since I stalled on the vigilante story—’

‘You stalled on it?’ He couldn’t hide his surprise.

She explained, ‘I needed more than what I had. I can’t just do half a piece. Anyway getting back to Devil’s Pond, in amongst the bodies they recovered was an Australian student. The police had identified him as the caver who went missing a couple of weeks before his girlfriend vanished.’ Breakfast arrived, interrupting her. She stopped to butter some toast and then resumed speaking. ‘Well, guess what?’ Pleased with herself, a lop-sided grin etched a line into her cheek.

‘They found her in the lake with him.’ Miller echoed her smile.

‘How do you do that?’ She shook her head, bemused. ‘Anyway, that’s right. She was in there, too. She was the key to identifying not only him, but a missing German woman as well.’

Miller began writing in a notebook he’d taken from his pocket.

‘She was wearing an amulet, a five poisons charm. It was on a chain around her waist; her name inscribed around the edge in Chinese – the killer must have missed it – no other jewellery was recovered from any of the other bodies. As you can imagine, there wasn’t much left of the boyfriend by the time they pulled him out. They had to use dental records.’ Carla watched as Miller finished the last of his food and lifted the teapot ready to pour.