Page 59 of The Island in Bramble Bay
‘What? With her? That seems so unlikely,’ said Megan, shaking her head.
‘It’s a photo of him, sleeping.’
‘There could be an innocent explanation.’
‘I don’t know, Megan. It’s weird, and she obviously sent it to me to cause trouble which she’s managed to do before without photographic evidence.’
‘Well, at least give Charlie a chance to explain. I find it hard to believe that he would cheat on you, Maggie. You two are great together. Once he’s back, it’ll be okay, you’ll see.’
But Maggie had a horrible feeling that it was never going to be the same as it was in the beginning. Too much had happened.
56
JET LAG HAD finally forced Charlie to book a room at the hotel across the street from the High 5 offices. Having felt like he was going to sleep forever when he got there, he woke up just a couple of hours later feeling refreshed enough to go back to the office.
Jared’s theory that Jessica could be behind the cyber-attack had gained traction with Charlie while he’d slept and he knew it was something they had to rule out and that meant seeing Jessica one last time.
Her visit to Bramble Bay had made him realise that any attempt he made to cut her out of his life was never going to work. Confronting her and addressing the past, was the only way to tackle it. But he couldn’t do it alone.
Jared was still in the office, exactly where he’d been when Charlie had left. They were no further forward in the search for the source of the denial of service attack.
‘I’m buying into your Jessica and Drew theory,’ Charlie began. ‘I think we go over there and see if we can find anything out. You okay with that?’
‘Shit, Charlie, she’s never gonna confess to us.’ Jared looked pale and Charlie realised that he was frightened of Jessica. That could have been how things turned out as they did; maybe Jessica had played on Jared’s fear of her to get what she wanted. Perhaps Jared had experienced this other side to her before.
‘Maybe not but we might be able to find something out. If one of us can distract her maybe we can get a look at the history on her computer or check her messages or something.’
Jared grinned, ‘Like Magnum PI.’
‘If you want,’ said Charlie. ‘C’mon. Let’s go.
Jared’s Tesla was parked out back. Charlie found it slightly perturbing that Jessica’s address was already programmed into the Sat Nav.
‘We were still together when I got the car. She programmed it in.’ Jared said, reading Charlie’s mind.
‘What’s the plan then?’ asked Charlie.
‘Man, this was your idea. You don’t have a plan? It’s obvious. She wants to get back with you so you can distract her while I look for something.’
The thought of having to tell Jessica that it was over, that he didn’t want her, ever, terrified Charlie. He’d made a half-hearted attempt when he threw her off the island but this was it and he didn’t know how she’d take it.
Jared pulled over just before they turned onto Jessica’s street.
‘Okay, you drive in, I’ll get in the back so she doesn’t see me on the cameras and I’ll head around back while she’s letting you in.’
‘Okay,’ agreed Charlie, reluctantly. ‘I’ll give you as long as I can.’
Charlie pulled up to the gates of Jessica’s house and pressed on the intercom. She answered after a few seconds.
‘Charlie, this is a nice surprise.’ She sounded genuinely pleased to hear from him. Not at all like someone who was almost forcibly removed from his house the last time they met. She buzzed the gates open.
Jared snuck out of the back seat as Charlie headed for the front door and made it around the side of the house before Jessica opened the door.
She looked immaculate as ever, wearing a bathing suit and a flowing robe. She leaned forward and kissed Charlie on both cheeks. He went along with it; he had to for now.
‘It’s great to see you, Charlie. Can I fix you a drink?’ She floated over to the kitchen island and draped herself along the side of it.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Jared waiting next to the open patio door and Charlie focussed on why they were there.
