When he reached the harbour, Fleet spotted a light on in one of the rooms in Anne’s B&B. Even without the rain, on a day in early September, it was gloomy enough that natural light simply didn’t cut it. But the sun would be back, Fleet thought, looking at the horizon. The strip of blue was strengthening, and slowly extending the town’s way.
He passed the fishing boats, and the spot he’d had his run-in with Mason’s father. Compared to how it had appeared to Fleet last time, the promenade didn’t actually look that shabby. Strange, how perceptions were influenced by the way you were feeling. For the whole of his adult life, Fleet had thought he hated this place. The promenade, the beachfront, the entire town. But really it wasn’t so very different from anywhere else. It was tired, certainly, but at least it was trying. It was like with people: what more could you ask of them but that?
When Fleet was halfway along the walkway, he saw her sitting on the bench. Somehow he’d known she’d be there. He drew close, and waited for her to acknowledge his presence. When she didn’t, he joined her in looking out over the sea.
‘You found her, then,’ said his mother at last.
Fleet’s eyes caught on the inscription on the bench. His mother still wasn’t looking at him, and he found it hard to interpret who exactly she was talking about.
He sat down, at the opposite end of the bench from his mother.
‘Are you staying?’ she asked him, this time turning his way.
Fleet didn’t know if she meant it the way Holly had, or if she was merely referring to his presence on the bench.
‘I thought I might,’ Fleet answered, covering both bases, at which point he fully expected his mother to get up and leave.
But she didn’t. Neither of them did. They just sat side by side on Jeannie’s bench, waiting for the sun to break through.
Acknowledgements
I am incredibly fortunate to have three people in my writing corner whose instincts I trust more than my own. The first is my wife, Sarah, who is also the first reader of anything and everything I write. I never fail to be humbled by her extraordinary patience and insight, not just into the craft of writing, but also into the human condition. It is for Sarah I write at all (though I imagine she sometimes wishes I wouldn’t), and I could not write without her.
Next up is Caroline Wood, my agent now for over a decade. In all that time, Caroline’s support has been unfailing, and her insights and instincts flawless. More than just a wonderful agent, she is also a wonderful person.
And then there is my editor at Viking, Katy Loftus. Everyone who knows her would agree: Katy has a gift for what she does. She knows instinctively when something works and when it doesn’t – to the extent I often feel two or three steps behind her in my thinking. It is a delight and a privilege to work with her, and to consider her a friend.
Without Sarah, Caroline and Katy, this book would have been considerably poorer, and indeed would probably not have been written at all. So a heartfelt thank you to them all, as well as to the entire team at both Felicity Bryan Associates and Viking. A huge thanks as well to Amanda Bergeron and everyone at Berkley, as well as to Gemma Wain.
Finally, thank you to my friends and family, in particular to my three children, for their love, forbearance and support. You make it worth it.
Want another gripping thriller from Simon Lelic?
Join DI Fleet in his next case …
THE
HIDING
PLACE
A CHILD GOES MISSING DURING
A GAME OF HIDE AND SEEK.
22 YEARS LATER, HIS BODY IS FOUND …
THE SUSPECTS …?
HIS FOUR BEST FRIENDS.
THIS IS JUST
THE BEGINNING
Find us online and join the conversation
Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/penguinukbooks
Like us on Facebook facebook.com/penguinbooks
Share the love on Instagram instagram.com/penguinukbooks
Watch our authors on YouTube youtube.com/penguinbooks
Pin Penguin books to your Pinterest pinterest.com/penguinukbooks
Listen to audiobook clips at soundcloud.com/penguin-books
Find out more about the author and discover
your next read at penguin.co.uk
PENGUIN BOOKS
UK | USA | Canada | Ireland | Australia
India | New Zealand | South Africa
Penguin Books is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com.
First published 2020
Copyright © Simon Lelic, 2020
The moral right of the author has been asserted
ISBN: 978-0-241-98619-6
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
