Page 96 of The Unseen
“So she’s been out there for three months without contacting anyone?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“Have you alerted the authorities?”
“I’ve spoken to someone at the British Embassy in Kabul. They’re keeping an eye out for her.”
“An eye?” Quinn exclaimed.
“Look, Dr. Allenby, there’s no reason to panic. She’ll turn up. She always does.”
“Thank you, Mr. Sutcliff. Happy Christmas,” Quinn said and hung up.
“Well?” Rhys asked when she came back into the kitchen.
“She hasn’t been heard from in three months. Her last known location was Kabul,” Quinn replied as she slid back into her chair. Standing was too much of an effort when her legs felt like jelly.
“Right.”
“Rhys, I think she’s missing.”
“You don’t know that.”
“She hasn’t been in contact in months. No wonder she never responded to my letter. She probably never received it. Rhys, who, in today’s day and age, goes silent for three months?”
“Perhaps she has no access to the internet or a telephone.”
“Exactly.”
Rhys stared at her. “Quinn, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that something has happened to her. I can feel it. It’s like there’s a void in my gut that’s telling me something’s wrong.”
“Quinn, Jo Turing is a professional. She knows what she’s doing, and I’m sure that if anything happened to her, we’d have heard about it by now. There are reporters from all over the world stationed in the Middle East. Her disappearance would have made headlines.”
“What if no one’s realized?”
“Someone would have. Stop fretting. She will return, and then you two will have a long-overdue reunion. I know you’re desperate to finally meet her, but you must be patient. It will happen.”
Quinn nodded. “I know. I just feel so helpless.”
“Quinn, you now know who she is and how to contact her. That’s tremendous progress. And I’m sure her agent will tell her you rang as soon as Jo checks in with him. Go to Berwick and have a wonderful Christmas with your family. You will meet Jo in the New Year. It’s a certainty.”
“I have to tell Logan. And Seth.”
“Go on, then. Honestly, I’m ready for bed anyway. I’m exhausted.”
“You’ve barely eaten.”
“I’ll be all right. I promise. I just need a little time to grieve my loss.”
Quinn walked around the table, put her arms around Rhys, and pressed her cheek to his temple. Rhys leaned against her. There was no need to say any more.
FIFTY-SEVEN
JULY 1919
London, England
