“Yes, sir. I’ll do that.” The Inspector sounded sympathetic.
Then Father was on the phone. “Do you think you could come over, Son? I need you.”
“Father, I’ll try and get over, but I’m in the middle of a crisis here, and I can’t leave now. The Inspector’s going to tell the Masons, and Penny will get in touch.” I listened to his woes for a moment, then interrupted him. “I’m sorry. I really have to go.” And I shut the phone off with a snap.
Grief pushed at my mind. Edward and I had been close once. But I had other things on my mind.
“Lawrence. Get the best UK firm onto this. But they’ll have to liaise with the Sandiford copshop. I can’t be doing with it. And tell the bank to stop all the cards that Edward has from now. Tell em we’ll be claiming back anything out of the ordinary after the hire car. They should’ve spotted that and cancelled the cards then.” My voice cracked.
“Then forget it. We need to concentrate on finding Toni.”
“Yes, sir. I’m very sorry, sir.”
* * *
The PI appeared in the doorway. “New Orleans. She got on a flight to New Orleans.”
My heart leapt. “Lawrence. Let’s …”
“Wait.” The PI lifted his hand. “I’ve got someone hot footing it over to try and get witnesses while they might remember. But she landed an hour ago, and there are parts of the city where there isn’t a good network of working cameras.” He looked at me. “It’s going to be difficult to find her.”
He and Lawrence exchanged glances. I knew what that meant.
“Well, then get more men onto it.” I knew my voice was edgy. “Why the hell did she choose there?”
The man shrugged. “I expect it was the first plane out that had a seat.” He turned and left the room.
I spun around to Lawrence. “What did Paul say?”
“She hasn’t contacted him.” Lawrence sounded tired. “And if she’s abandoned her phone, she doesn’t have his number now.”
“Tell him to keep working on her app. We need to make it work, so she’s got her own money whenever she gets in touch.”
“Yes, sir. I already did.” Lawrence smiled thinly. He knew me very well. He liked Toni too, although I don’t suppose he thought our relationship was very orthodox.
I dropped into a chair. How long? How long would it take?
Toni
“Come on, Jackson.” I glanced down to see how much oatmeal was left in the bowl. “Only a couple of mouthfuls left now, mate.” I wiped his chin with the rag, while he stared vacantly past me, his eyes rheumy with age.
I spooned another mouthful in, scraping the excess that dribbled out back into the bowl. “That’s it. You’re doing well, Jackson.”
I glanced around the room. “Eat a bit more, Betsy. And you, Moll.” The dim room was depressing. Most mornings I even found myself longing to work at the diner again. Anything would be better than here. But Cinderella never really happened, and I’d paid for my hopes by sliding even lower.
Here I was, in an unregistered care home, looking after poor wrecks of humanity that had slipped through the cracks of the wealthiest nation on the planet. The owners collected their disability and used at least some of it to keep them alive. I shrugged. At least they had a roof over their heads. And here I was, paid a pittance because I had no papers, no proof that I was legal. At least no proof that I was willing to use. I didn’t know how hard James would look for me, or how long.
Like the residents, I was trapped here by poverty, and a need for a roof over my head too. I finished the breakfasts and cleared the dishes. Then I went to find Maria. Another girl who was desperate enough to work here, she was the only sunshine in my life. Together we took the residents, one by one, and bathed them the best we could. She loved them all, and would sing cheerfully as we did what we could to brighten their lives.
“Let’s start with Betsy, Maria. I think she needs to be first.” Maria shrugged.
“Whoever,” she said and pirouetted with me into the room.
“You’re first this morning, Betsy.” I dropped to my knees in front of her. “Let’s make sure your feet are straight.” I uncurled her right foot, and we stood on each side of her, and struggled to lift her to her feet. It took an age to help her to the bathroom, but we made it without letting her fall, and my back ached afresh.
“There you go.” I lowered her to the chair with a groan. “Look, Maria’s going to brush your hair.” I rolled my eyes at Maria, and mouthed the words quietly so Betsy didn’t hear. “I’ll need to clean the chair.”