Page 79 of I Knew You Were Trouble

‘I’d expect nothing less.’

‘There’s more.’

‘Oh, go on then.’

‘He’s booked a suite in Hotel Gabbia d’Oro. I think I’m saying that right,’ I say, consulting my notes.

‘So expensive, opulent, and one of the best hotels in Verona?’

‘Yes, yes, and yes.’

‘And Marie discovered all this?’

‘Yep. It only took her an hour.’

Kate snorts out a soft laugh. ‘She’s quite something, your investigator.’

‘She is.’ Now comes the pressing question. ‘So, what do you want to do? Do you want to beat him to the punch? You’d have to arrive in Verona Friday night at the latest, then track down Lucia. Are you up to it?’

Her mood has markedly deteriorated since the start of this call and if I had to guess, I’d say she isn’t. But I’m not inside Kate’s head.

She breathes out noisily. ‘Iwas. If you’d asked me yesterday, I would have said yes. But…’

I think I know what she’s getting at. ‘Is it because it feels more real now?’

‘Yeah,’ she replies quietly. ‘And that keeps happening – right when I’ve got a handle on it, the rug gets pulled out from under me all over again.’

‘That’s understandable.’

She’s quiet for a moment. ‘But even so,’ she says, audibly perking up, ‘I stand by what I said yesterday morning. Lucia deserves to learn the truth before she’s dragged into this even further. I’m going back. I’ll take Friday afternoon off, fly straight there, and track down Lucia on Friday night. I just need to let Willem know.’

‘So, he’s going with you?’

‘Yes, he’s insisted on seeing this through.’

Kate hasn’t told me anything about what did or didn’t happen between her and Willem de Vries during their time together over the weekend – and nor did I expect her to – but it’s clear she’s interested in him romantically. And given how much time they’ve spent together,andhis insistence on accompanying Kate, there’s every chance he might reciprocate.

If there weren’t the possibility that it might interfere with the case, I’d be cheering them on from the sidelines. Something tells me they’d be a great match. I only hope they hold off until everything is wrapped up and Kate has had a chance to heal.

‘Well, that’s good – you’ll have someone there to support you,’ I say, affecting a positive tone.

‘Hiya, yes, what can I do for you?’ Kate asks – she must be talking to someone else. There’s murmuring, then, ‘Oh. Right now? Uh, okay – thanks. Poppy, I’ve got to go. I think Jon’s here.’

‘What? At your office?’

‘Yes. Oh god, I feel ill.’ Her ragged breathing is audible over the phone.

‘Okay, take a slow, deep breath. What did your colleague say, Kate?’

‘That there was a man in reception asking for me. He didn’t give his name.’

‘Well, then it could be anyone. But if itisDunn, tell him he’s come at a bad time. Tell him he pulled you out of an important meeting and that you’ll contact him later.’

‘But I’m supposed to be in Birmingham – I told him I was in Birmingham this week,’ she says, her panic rising.

‘You were called back to London unexpectedly,’ I say, rattling off the perfect alibi.

‘Okay.’ She exhales loudly. ‘Oh god, I’m not ready to face him, Poppy.’

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