“Exactly.”
“Fine. It better be some surprise,” he says grumpily.
I end the call, still smiling, and start chopping off the heads of the carrots. Everything goes according to plan, and I had already poured in the chicken stock and Guinness over the meat and vegetables. I was just about to put the stew into the oven, when Florence calls.
“Sofia, have you started making your stew yet?”
“Yeah, I’m just about to put it into the oven.”
“Oh, thank heavens. I forgot to tell you to add a small cup of strong black coffee and a piece of bittersweet chocolate.”
“At what stage should I add it?”
“Now.”
I laugh. “That was a bit of luck, wasn’t it?”
She joins in the laughter.
I end the call and look in the fridge. I have no dark chocolate. I switch off the stove and scribble a note for Jack if he comes when I’m out.
Gone to get chocolate. Love you. xoxo
Then I grab my phone and my purse, pull on my coat and my silly purple hat because it is drizzling outside, and go to the front door. Mika whines because she wants to come, but I don’t take her because it’s wet and messy and I’ll only be gone for a short time.
“Just wait for me. I’ll be back soon,” I say, and slip out of the door.
I button my coat in the elevator. As I come out of it I see the little old lady that lives in the apartment a floor below us coming through the entrance so I wait and hold the lift for her. She smiles at me.
“It’s horrible out there,” she sniffs.
“I know.”
“I’ll be glad to put my feet up with a cup of tea,” she says.
I step out into the street. It is already busy with people returning from work. I huddle into my coat and hurry down the road. I get into the shop and Kaja is behind the counter. There is no one else in the shop and she chats with me as I pay for my chocolate bar. As she is returning my change, that quaint little bell over the shop door rings.
I turn around and my heart stops.
Forty
Lena
I stand by the window staring at the needles of rain lashing the glass. I don’t know why I feel restless and jittery inside. I’ve felt as if there is a tight knot in my stomach ever since I woke up this morning. Even Guy knew something was wrong.
My first thought was that it was something to do with Sofia, so I called her straight away, but she seemed fine. Still, I invited myself to her place. She was the picture of health. We went shopping together and even then the niggling sensation wouldn’t go away, so I actually asked her outright if she was happy.
“Yes,” she said, and glowed like a light bulb. You can’t fake that kind of joy. That made me feel a little better. Then, while I was there Jack called, and the way she melted at the sound of his voice made me sure there was nothing wrong.
Reassured, I came back home, but the tightness in my stomach is worse, far worse now that I have come home, and I’m alone. It must be my paranoia working overtime. Maybe I’m just not used to seeing her so happy. I know Jack is ridiculously in love with her, but a part of me is still frightened that it is all too fabulous. That something bad is looming on the horizon.
I touch my forehead. Or, maybe I’m just coming down with something. I see Mary’s reflection appear in the glass, turn around and smile at her.
“Would you like me to bring in some tea?” she asks.
“No, thank you, Mary. I had a cup with Sofia.”
“Oh, how is she today?”
My mouth curves automatically. “She’s fine. She’s cooking for her man tonight.”
“It’s good to know that she’s happy. She has a beautiful heart.”
“Yes, she does.” I turn towards the glass and the rain splattering on it. “Why don’t you have an early night, Mary? Make your way back to the village before the storm comes.”
“I will. Thank you, Mrs. Hawke.”
“Good night.”
“Good night.”
She leaves the room and I turn back to the window. It is dark and miserable. Lightning streaks across the sky. The weather is definitely going to get much worse. Strange to have a thunderstorm in winter. I remember when I first arrived at this house, how a big tree came down in the night. I hope no trees come down tonight. It’s always a sad occasion for me when we lose a tree.
“Lena.”
I whirl around in surprise. The room is empty but for me, but I could have sworn I heard Sofia’s voice call my name. I freeze and listen, but there is only the sound of the rain. The kitchen is too far for sounds to carry, and Irina is upstairs with her nanny.
My heart starts beating really fast.
The churning sensation in my stomach is so strong I feel physically sick. I press my hand into my belly. Something is wrong. Very wrong. I know it. I run to the table, grab my phone, and call Sofia.
It rings out.
I call her home phone. Sometimes she’ll leave her cellphone somewhere and not hear it from the kitchen.
There is no answer.
The knot in my stomach is so tight I can barely breathe when I call Jack.
Forty-one
Jack
I write a note for Karen in the file of the patient sitting in front of me, close it, and look up at her with a smile. “If you take this outside my assistant will sort out some dates for you.”
“Thank you very much, Doc,” she says taking the thin folder from me.
“No problem.” I stand and start walking around the table.
She follows my example and we walk together towards the door. I open the door and hold my hand out. As she puts hers in it my phone starts ringing.
“Saved by the bell,” she quips.
I smile politely. “See you soon,” I say, letting go of her hand.
As soon as she walks through the door I close it, cross the room, and glance at my phone. It’s Lena. With a frown I accept the call.
“What’s up, Lena?”
“Do you know where Sofia is?” she asks in a rush.
“At home,” I say immediately, even though my brain instantly registers that she can’t be or Lena wouldn’t be calling me.
“She’s not. I’ve tried both her mobile and the landline. She’s not answering either.” Her voice is high and full of anxiety.
At that point my mind refuses to believe anything could be wrong. I am very aware that Lena tends to be overprotective. “She should be,” I say mildly. “She said she was preparing a surprise for me. I assumed she was cooking something.”
“She was, but I can’t contact her, Jack, and I’m really worried. I know it sounds stupid to you, but something is wrong. I can feel it.”
Her words send a chill through my body. “I’m on my way,” I say striding towards my door.
I run through the reception and burst out into the street in my shirt. I run around the block to where my car is parked. I get into my car and start the engine. A text comes through. It is Lena again.
Please call me the instant you find her.
I turn on the ignition and speed dial Sofia’s number. Sofia has never activated her answerphone and it rings out. I swing out into the traffic, swearing.
The journey home is without any doubt the longest one I have ever ta
ken. I get cursed at by a dozen irate drivers, but fuck them. I just use the sheer width of my Lambo to literally ram my way through the traffic.
They honk and viciously spit profanities at me, but they make way. I don’t care what happens to my steel box, but they do. I hit two red lights and just plough through, but less than a block away from home I get stuck in a standstill traffic jam. I pull over onto double yellow lines, get out, and start running.
I fly through the entrance door of my building and slam my palm on the elevator button. It opens. I go in and pace the floor restlessly while I wait for the elevator to take me up to my floor.
The doors swish open and I run down the corridor. On the other side of the door I can hear Mika barking, and for a few seconds I actually think everything is fine. She must have popped out and now she is back with the dog. Fucking hell, Sofia. This is some surprise all right. I open the door and Mika doesn’t run in mad circles around me. Instead she barks in a high pitched tone.
Oh shit.
I rush through the apartment calling for her, even though I know she is not there. In the kitchen I see the half-cooked pot of stew. I touch the pot and it is still warm. The oven light is on.
I look around and see her hastily scribbled note stuck under a fridge magnet. I stride up to it and snatch it off the fridge. She went to get chocolate. I dial her number, and as it rings I walk through the apartment. At least I know the phone is not here. She took it with her.
I run all the way to the corner shop. Kaja must have seen me running because she comes out and stands under the awning at the entrance of her shop. Her hands are tightly clutching the edges of her cardigan and her eyes are anxious.
“Have you seen Sofia?” I ask urgently.
She nods, her hands coming up to gesture wildly as words tumble out of her quickly. “Yes, she came here. She bought chocolate and then these two scary men came in. They spoke to her. I think in Russian. She didn’t say anything to them. She just turned to me, and asked me if she could leave a message for you with me. She looked pale and strange. Not like herself at all. She was talking like a robot. I was so shocked I just nodded and she said, ‘Tell Jack. I’ll love him to the day I die.’ Then she went with them.”