Page 83 of Endgame

‘What’s going on?’ I ask.

‘We’re getting you out of here. There’s a hundred thousand US cash in this rucksack, a burner and an address. Here, take it.’

I do as I am told.

‘My plane is going to fly you just outside Cà Mau in Vietnam tonight. Nothing will be waiting for you. The first thing you need to do, when you land, is to get a new identity. Find your way to the address in the bag. He has already been paid. Lie low. It will take a couple of days. Once you have your new ID, call Ariella on your burner, let her know you’re okay, then toss it. I think that should be the last she hears from you until all this is sorted. Once you’ve tossed the burner, you will be given the details of another plane arranged for the same night, to fly you out of Vietnam.’

‘Where will that plane be going?’

‘I don’t know yet, but somewhere Caleb Black didn’t land and doesn’t exist. You’ll need to use the cash to keep moving.’

I take the bag.

‘Good luck, Caleb. I’ll look after her.’

‘She doesn’t need looking after.’ I turn round and walk towards the plane.

‘Anything you want me to tell her?’ Dominic shouts after me as I take the first step to ascend.

‘No.’

I actually don’t give a shit about what happens to me. This is just another beating life is dishing out, one that I will have to fight through. Then it occurs to me. Icouldchoose to dodge immigration, customs and police in a bunch of foreign countries so I don’t end up facing the death penalty for someone who, I am sure, is pulling all our strings and will resurface eventually.

But things have changed, and more importantly I am trying to change. While I still don’t give a shit what happens to me, leaving means driving Ariella mad with worry, because I believe her. She will stop at nothing until she finds me again. I’m not going to put her through that. I can’t and I won’t. I’m going to hand myself in and call the British High Commission in the morning, if Ariella hasn’t left them a dozen messages already. I stop at the top of the stairs, turn round, make my way back down and walk directly towards a perplexed Dominic. I throw the rucksack at his feet.

We are exactly the same height, so I step up to him, nose to nose.

‘I’m not going anywhere. I’m pretty certain that you know more than you’re letting on, MrNice Guy. I’m going to do whatever it takes to find out just how involved you are in this mess, because I don’t think this is just about Ariella. I think you have a lot more to hide.’

I look at him dead in the eyes and smile.

‘Almost, Budget Jasper. Almost.’ I pat him on the shoulder, walk off the airfield, find my car app and drop a pin to be picked up before I send a text to Ariella.

I’m not going anywhere. Sit tight. I’m coming to get you.

NINETEEN

ARIELLA

The text from Dominic comes through before Caleb’s.

Caleb is staying. He needs to go the police rather than wait to be picked up. I tried.

It turns out someone saw Caleb and Melissa having a heated argument the night before she went missing. The police didn’t have much to go on aside from the information Caleb had told them already at his interview so, much to my relief, they let him go after a few hours. I’m waiting for him at the station reception when he is released.

‘I’ve been in touch with the British High Commission and they are going to help,’ I say, hugging him.

‘I’m not worried. Melissa is fine.’

‘How do you know?’

‘She told me that night. She knew something was going to happen.’

‘But they can’t prove that.’

‘No, and I suspect it won’t be my last visit to the police. They told me not to go far.’

‘I’m so happy you changed your mind and came back.’ I try to hold back the tears of relief.

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