Page 22 of She Saw What He Did

‘What’s up?’ asked Peter.

‘Probably nothing,’ said Ellen. ‘But I need to check it out.’

‘Well, you did say you wanted to be busy,’ he smiled.

For some reason, that she couldn’t explain, Ellen suddenly had an unshakable sense of something being very wrong.

‘I’m going to walk to the quay,’ she said.

‘You want me to come with you?’ Peter asked.

‘No, of course not, it’s most likely nothing.’

She grabbed her jacket. It had started to rain, although the air was still muggy. She walked slowly, telling herself there was no urgency. Roy waved on seeing her.

‘Was there a boat trip to Laslow today?’ she asked on reaching him.

‘Not today,’ he said without hesitation.

‘Is Craig about?’ she asked, looking around.

Roy looked at his watch.

‘He would have gone home. We can check his bookings though.’

Ellen followed him to the boat-hire booth and with slightly clenched fists waited while he checked the entries. His eyes narrowed.

‘Jared and Abby Miller hired a boat. They were going to Laslow. They took ‘Lilian’. Do you want me to check if it’s back? It doesn’t mean a thing if it isn’t. They may not get back until later. Boats don’t have to be back until nine.’

Ellen checked the time on her watch.

‘It’s quarter past now,’ she said.

‘Right, I’ll check.’

Ellen followed him and waited patiently.

‘No they’re not back,’ he said, minutes later.

Ellen nodded.

‘I’ll warn the coastguard in case,’ she said.

*

The engine roared and Ellen pulled her scarf over her head to stop the wind from whipping her hair into her face. Dark black clouds loomed overhead. Any minute now would be the welcome downpour. Not ideal weather to be sailing to Laslow. A loud thunderclap boomed above, and she jumped.

‘Here comes the rain,’ warned Roy.

She wondered whether she should call Ryan. But what if it was nothing? He’d rib her about panicking for months and besides she didn’t want to ruin his night at the jazz concert. No, she’d wait. Grasping the side of the boat, she inhaled deeply. She wasn’t a good sailor and she was beginning to feel quite nauseous. The sea was rough, and it would only get worse once the thunderstorm hit.

‘Wind’s coming up,’ called Roy.

‘Yes, sorry,’ she apologised.

‘You’ve got to check,’ he said philosophically. ‘You wouldn’t be doing your job if you didn’t.’

‘Yes,’ said Ellen.

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