Page 127 of The Boathouse By the Loch

He raised his eyebrows.

‘Return to where I grew up. My two younger siblings, the twins, who were taken into care – I’d like to find them too.’

He put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. ‘We’ll find them, I promise you.’ He paused. ‘Will you do something for me?’

‘Of course, anything.’

‘Will you tell me why you’re still lying to me?’

She looked at David, shocked. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘I just know you haven’t told me everything.’

She lowered her eyes, remembering the conversation she’d had with Gayle in the kitchen alone, while the two of them were washing up after the meal, before she headed upstairs and out ontothe balcony. Gayle had said to her,whoever you were meeting in London, you need to tell David. No more secrets.

She’d told Gayle, ‘It really isn’t of any consequence in terms of him and me.’

‘Even so, just tell him. It’s something that’s obviously been playing on your mind,’ she’d replied.

She took a deep breath. ‘All right, I will.’ She looked at David in the eye, and said, ‘There’s this guy.’

‘Oh, my god – I knew it!’

‘No, no – it’s nothing like that. It’s an older guy. It was him who employed me to redecorate The Lake House.’

‘Jake Campbell-Ross’s house?’

‘Yes.’

‘He had some extra work for you in London?’

Bonnie smiled. ‘Yes.’

‘Oh, thank god!’ he grinned at her. Then his smile dropped. ‘There’s something else – isn’t there?’

‘The job in London … I promised to be … discreet.’

‘Discreet?’

‘Well, actually, it was written into my contract not to tell anyone.’

‘Who is this guy who employed you? Is it William Ross?’

‘No, his name is Aubrey Jones. I’m not meant to tell anyone. I shouldn’t be telling you.’

‘Telling me what?’

‘About Eleanor Campbell-Ross. That’s why I couldn’t say anything in front of everybody at the police station or at my therapy session.’

‘What about her?’

‘After the accident, they didn’t tell the press what happened toher, did they?’

David shook her head. ‘They seemed to close ranks, no press conference or press release. Nothing. I don’t think anybody knows what really happened to her after that.’ He stared at her. ‘You know where she is, don’t you?’

She nodded, thinkingthere but for the grace of god go I.

‘You don’t have to tell me anything more.’

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