Page 40 of The World Outside My Window

Laura’s heart stops, and she sits up, her head spinning. Her throat thickens, the words getting stuck.

‘Mrs Parks?’

‘Is there bad news?’

‘No, no. Nothing to worry about. In fact – well, I’m afraid there isn’t much news at all, not yet.’

‘You’re not – giving up, are you?’

‘Certainly not. We will continue to actively look for your husband, Mrs Parks, but…’

‘What?’

‘Well, if he doesn’t want to be found, then it is going to be extremely difficult.’

Laura swallows hard. Her throat feels blocked. ‘Is that—?’ She coughs. ‘Is that what you think has happened? That he doesn’t want to be found? That he’s hiding from me?’

‘Not exactly hiding. But there are no signs yet that anything untoward has happened, so all other conclusions point towards him having chosen to disappear. But as I say, we’re keeping all lines of investigation open. I’m sorry we don’t have anything more positive to tell you yet.’

‘Okay. Thank you.’ Her voice feels small.

When she ends the call Laura lies back on her bed. She wanted to cry and shout and rail against the police officer for failing to find Jim, for assuming he’d left on purpose. But the truth is, she’s beginning to come to exactly the same conclusion. And it makes her feel both terrified and furious at the same time.

Yes, things have been tough recently. Yes, she’s been pretty much oblivious to Jim’s needs. But how could he just up and leave her? Why would he do that, knowing she’s ill?

The only thing she can do is carry on looking, carry on asking questions, and hope that someone holds the key to his disappearance. It’s increasingly becoming her only hope.

Only then will she get any answers.

* * *

Debbie is due about two o’clock, so when the doorbell peals as she’s scraping the remains of her sandwich in the bin just after one o’clock she’s surprised. Debbie’s late more often than she is early.

She pulls the door open and takes a quick step back. ‘Oh!’

Ben is on her doorstep, looking sheepish. He has a bottle of wine in his hand and she finds her mood lifting at the sight of him.

‘Hello, Laura. Sorry to come round out of the blue but I’ve been feeling bad about what happened the other day and I wanted to say sorry.’ He holds out the bottle. ‘I also wanted to say that if you need any help looking for Jim, I’d like to. Help, that is.’

Laura stands still a few seconds, numb with surprise. Surely she’s the one who should be apologising to Ben, not the other way round? Yet she can’t deny she felt a little shiver of pleasure when she opened the door to him.

‘Oh, well, thank you.’ Should she invite him in? She was planning to leave soon. She’s due to try and pay a visit to the next neighbour on the list, Jane, and her children, Archie and Abbie, and she’s just waiting for Debbie to come and accompany her.

‘So, is there anything I can do?’

‘I—’ She stops as a thought occurs to her. ‘I don’t suppose you know Jane, do you? From across the road?’ She points vaguely in the direction of Jane’s house.

‘Jane Hardwick? With Abbie and Archie?’

‘Yes.’

‘Yes, I know her quite well. She was friends with – with my wife. She’s lovely. They all are, actually. Why?’

‘I was thinking of trying to go over there later. See if she knows anything.’

He glances over, then back at her. ‘Would you like me to come with you?’

‘I – my friend Debbie is coming.’

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