Page 94 of The Unseen
Quinn placed a mug of tea before him. “When are you off to Wales?”
“I’ll leave tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you feel up to it?”
“I’ll be all right. I just need to get out of London for a few days. My mum will feed and coddle me until I’m ready to scream. Coming back will be a treat.”
Quinn placed a plate in front of Rhys and took a seat across from him. She wrapped her hands around her own mug of tea. “Eat.”
Rhys nodded, but didn’t pick up his fork. He paled when he looked at the egg. “I don’t think I can.”
“Have a bit of toast then.”
Rhys picked up a piece of toast and bit into it experimentally. He washed it down with a gulp of tea. “It’s too sweet. I don’t usually take sugar.”
“Sweet tea is good for settling the stomach.”
He took another sip, his expression pained. “Want some?” he asked as he pushed his plate toward Quinn.
She accepted a piece of toast and munched on it silently. She wasn’t at all sure what to say to him. Rhys didn’t want her pity. He’d carry the scars of what had happened for the rest of his life, but no one would ever see the cracks in the façade. He would return to work after Christmas, refreshed, restored, and brusque as ever. Haley would become a thing of the past, as would the baby he’d so longed for.
Quinn’s mobile rang, and she pulled it out, thinking it might be Gabe, but it was Drew Camden.
“Hi, Drew,” she said warily. She no longer held out any hope that Drew would find Quentin. He seemed to have exhausted all his resources, both personal and professional, since his mates on the force couldn’t do anything more for him. “Any news?”
There was a sigh on the other end. “No, but I do have a Christmas treat for you.”
“Oh?”
“I received a packet from Jesse Holt today. He sent me some photos he found. I thought you might like to see what your sister looked like.”
Quinn’s breath caught in her throat. She still had no idea what Quentin looked like. “Text me a photo. Right now.”
“You got it. I’ll drop the rest by your flat after Christmas.”
“Yes. Thanks, Drew. Happy Christmas.”
“You too, Quinn. And don’t despair. 2015 is the year we find Quentin.”
Quinn ended the call and stared at her phone, drumming her fingers on the table in her impatience. The phone buzzed when a new text popped up. With shaking hands, Quinn picked up the mobile and opened the image Drew had forwarded. There shewas—Quentin. She looked to be about twenty in the photo. She had dark wavy hair and large dark eyes, so like Seth’s. She was smiling shyly, looking as if she’d been deep in thought when someone called her name.
Quinn’s vision blurred as she gently touched the screen with her finger. “Hey there, sister.”
“Let me see,” Rhys said. “Does she look like you?”
“A bit. She looks more like Seth, I think. I look like Sylvia.”
Rhys held out his hand for the phone and stared at the image, his brow furrowing in concentration. “Quinn, I know her.”
“What?”
“I know her. I’ve met her several times, in fact. She’s a photographer.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am. She’s a bit thinner now, and has shorter hair, but it’s definitely the same woman.”
“Name! Give me a name,” Quinn cried. Now that she was so close to finding her sister, she couldn’t wait another second.
