Page 110 of Love Thief

“I’m tech, remember. And besides, I’ve sorted your other problem.”

She shrugs. “I saw Kell’s statement,” she says, and all of a sudden she puts her head down and starts to cry.

“Hey, hey,” he says, making a noise in his throat as if he’s going to cry with her. The camera goes down and it’s audio only. There’s clearly only the two of them there.

“Why does he not come, Jonno? I want him here. Why? Did he really not love me? I can’t believe that’s true. I know he’s scared, but so am I. I need him here. He needs to be here.”

I hear him kiss her and say, “He’ll come, Sis. He’s not that dumb. I hope.”

“He’s that terrified, though. God, I even play the babies his songs so they’ll know his voice. I know he said Bridstones, but it doesn’t feel like the end. Why doesn’t he come?” She’s sobbing now, and Jonno is holding her.

“Let’s go get a drink and some tissues. Have you phoned him?”

“Yes, loads. I’ve left messages for him, every time. But he never phones me back. He doesn’t want us anymore. He said I was a pain, and too tying. Not letting him live his life like he thinks he wants to. I thought he was just lashing out, but maybe he’s decided that life is what he wants. A wife and four kids is hardly rock and roll, is it?”

“He’s not that daft, Evie. A life with you is worth a thousand of what he has now, and he knows it.” There are shuffling noises and the recording ends.

I sit for what feels like hours, but is in fact only minutes. “Mick!” I bellow through the empty house.

He enters the lounge from the kitchen area, his hands on his hips, a ‘what the fuck is wrong now’ look on his face. From the look in his eye, I know one more wrong move from me and I’m toast.

“Get the plane. We’re going.”

He grins at me. “Thank fuck for that,” he says, already picking up the phone to get calling.

I pack nothing, just walk out the door and get in the car to leave, Mick barrelling in right behind me, talking a mile a minute to get me on that plane.

Icall Jonno, as soon as we’re moving. “Fuckhead?” he answers, “on your way to the airport I hope?” Fucking Greystones and their apps.

“I am. Something weird, though. James sent me a recording of you and Evie, I’m assuming from a few days ago at the stables in Devon, and she was upset I hadn’t come.”

He chuffs out a breath. “Yeah, so what? She’s been upset for months, but carrying on, unlike you.” His tone is accusatory.

“Look, Jonno, I’m coming. I’m sorry. I’ll tell Evie I’m sorry when I get there and hope she’ll forgive me. But listen, she said in that audio that she’d phoned me and left me messages, but I’ve had none. No calls, no messages, nothing. So what do you think is going on?”

He thinks for a beat and then says, “Well, it’s not me. Hang up and I’ll call you from my number and then from Evie’s number.”

“How can you do that?”

“Duh, clone.”

I grin. “Fucking criminals.”

“We prefer the term Security,” he laughs as I hang up.

He calls me from his number and it connects. He then hangs up and I assume calls from hers. Nothing. No call, no message. “Did you get it?” he asks immediately after ringing back on his phone.

“No, nothing.”

“Mmmm, someone’s put a divert on her number. It goes to a voicemail. I left a message telling you you're a dickhead. Someone will find it very entertaining.”

“Can we find out who it was?”

“Sure. I’ll need access to your phone, though.” He talks me through some tech stuff and I hang up.

If I would’ve heard her messages, would I have gone? I’m not sure, but I feel I would have gone sooner than this.

Jonno calls back just as I am boarding the plane. “Can I ring you when I’m in the air? I can make calls.”

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