New Encounters (21 page)

‘Yeah your right. You let me know if you hear anything and I will do the same. Then, if we hear nothing by Thursday I will call her work and speak to her there.’

I called Robert and gave him an update. He seems to think there is nothing to worry about, and that she is probably having the time of her life. But he also broke the news that he will not be back yet, and it looks like he might not be back until Thursday.

CHAPTER 27

Finally it’s Thursday morning. Emma, Sarah and I have text each other constantly, since Sunday, but none of us have heard anything. We have all tried to text and call her, but still nothing. I wait, until I know that the surgery will be open taking into consideration the time difference. I sit nervously with my coffee and my phone. Its times like this that I wish I still smoked. Mind you, I would have polished off the packet this morning alone. I was up at dawn, waiting for the time to go by so I could call the surgery. It was time, I dialled but was told I was in a queue. I waited, and paced.... same robotic voice updating me on the position I was in, which is now number 2...Come on... come on....

‘Welcome to Brooke Surgery, how may I help?’

‘Bridget, is that you?’

‘Yeah, who’s this?’

‘It’s Bella, Ash’s friend.’

‘Oh right’ A frosty answer indeed.

‘Can I speak with Ash please?’

‘I wish you could’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well she was due to come back to work today after her holiday with you in Sicily. We thought she had decided to stay there.’

‘Are you telling me she hasn’t turned up to work?’

‘Yes! And we are swamped because your mate has decided not to turn up. So if you don’t mind.’

‘Sorry, of course. Bye’.  As I hang up the feeling of dread is multiplied. This is not Ash, she goes into work no matter what the weather, no matter how ill she is..... she always goes to work. My heart is pounding, and I call the airlines straight away. My luck is in, there is a flight in 2 hours. I will have to be quick, so I book it. Quickly I run past the driver and tell him we are leaving in 10 minutes and we need to be prompt. I quickly throw some things in a bag, grab my bag passport and purse. I run down the stone stairs and quickly get in the car.

‘Airport please’

‘Is your friend flying back in?’

‘No, I am flying out.’

‘I am sorry for being rude, but have you told Robert?’

‘Not yet, but I will do it on the way. Please hurry I don’t want to miss the flight.’

He looks in the mirror at me and nods. We pull away, away from what was supposed to be a fun few weeks in this beautiful place. Instead Robert has been a let down and gone awol, and Ash.... well I don’t know what has happened to Ash. But I hope, I hope to god, she really is with a great guy having the time of her life. All of the other alternatives are just too.... too scary. I text Sarah and Emma the same text

*On my way to the airport to fly back. Ash hasn’t turned up for work. I should be back in a few hours.*

Then I call Robert and he answers very sleepily.

‘Bella... are you ok?’

‘Sorry have I woken you.’

‘Yeah, but don’t worry about that. Are you ok?’

‘No... not really.’ Without wanting to, I burst into tears on the phone, tears flowing down my face, I can taste the salt on my lips.

‘Bella... What’s happened?’ I can hear the alarm in his voice.

‘I’m... I’m scared’

‘What are you scared of? What has happened? Tell me now.’ He sounds frightened himself.
‘I called Ash’s work and she hasn’t turned up for work today.’

‘Well maybe she is throwing a sicky.’

‘She never got in touch with them Robert, she just didn’t show up.’

‘Well, maybe her time with this new guy has gone better than expected.’

‘No... It’s not that. She would never ever do that.’

‘Bella...’

‘Robert, I know something is not right. I am flying back to England.’

‘Bella... for god sake...’

‘Don’t you for god sake me... your not even here so it’s not as if you are going to miss me. I am flying to England I need to find her. This is not like her, don’t you understand? I just need to find her and make sure she is safe.’

‘Okay... okay. I’m sorry, I will arrange for David to meet you at the airport, what time is your flight?’
‘I leave at 10:30, I can’t even remember the flight number’

‘No problem, I will find out and ensure David picks you up ok.’
‘Okay... thank you’

‘Bella?’

‘Yes.’

‘Don’t do anything stupid ok. My bodyguards will be with you and if there is anything going on you must inform me at once.’

‘Ok... I will’

I feel scared that he now thinks things could be wrong as well. I sit there in the car... watching the scenery go by. But now... it doesn’t feel half as pretty as it did when I arrive. All I long to see is the grey cloud, the dull scenery, and Ash. All I want to see is Ash laughing. I get a text on my phone from Emma

*Shit, this is odd now. Call me as soon as you get home.x*

*Will do x*

Then another text, every time this phone makes a noise or vibrates I hope, and I pray that its Ash. But my heart sinks... its Sarah.

*Call me when you get home. Safe trip x*

I get to the airport, check in my luggage and rush through security. I double check my gate, but its not as if they are going to shock me and all of a sudden move it. But I am so nervous of missing this flight. I pace around the shop, and will the time to go quickly. I head to the bar and order a whisky, neat. It burns my throat when it goes down, and makes me feel warm and calmer. I order another, and by the time my gate opens, I have sank my 4th. I need it, I feel nervous, and scared all rolled into one.

I am pleased to see that no one is sat next to me. This is a huge relief as I am definitely not capable of polite conversation today. This trip feels like the longest on the planet. My trip to Australia felt like half of what this does. I impatiently flick through the on flight magazine, and finally we descend into land. I can barely contain myself when the plane settles and people get up. I do my best to push my way to the front of the queue, and run through to passport control. Thankfully, there are only a few other flights so getting through was quick. Turning my phone back on and checking if anyone has tried to call or text. But nothing. Typical though the luggage carousel was dead.... no suitcases, not yet. I wait, and pace and walk around checking that I am at the right one. I am, it says my flight on the screen above. Finally it whirrs into action and the cases come out through the hatch like a magic trick. The odd one getting stuck. All different colours, and the ones that are black people choose to tie ribbons around the handles to distinguish theirs. Makes me glad that mine are very different, and I can spot it coming out of the hatch now. I grab my case, and head for the double doors and straight away I spot David. I go over and he grabs my case.

‘Are you ok Bella?’

‘Not really David, I am frantic to be honest. ‘

‘Understandable. Let’s get straight to yours.’
David was fantastic. That’s what I needed, a man to take control of everything and be understanding with it. That’s what Robert should have done, this is where Robert should be, with me, right here right now, supporting me. Helping me to look for Ash and to make sure she is ok. We get out of the short stay car park quickly and we are heading to my house. The traffic is unbearable busy, it would have to be like this today. The day I need to rush. I hope she is at home. If she is I am going to give her a royal bollocking before I hug her to death. David calls Robert and I can hear him speaking into his earpiece.

‘Bella is with me Sir, she is fine but concerned, we are en route to the house. I will update you after that. Bye’

David weaves in and out of the traffic and takes some short cuts when his sat nav tells him to. I feel shattered, watching the rain hammer against the windscreen, and the windscreen wipers rhythmically moving. I am scared, terrified, frightened... all rolled into one. We pull down my street and I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. This is it. My car is there and so is Ash’s. She must be here.

‘David that’s Ash’s car, she must be here.’

As we pull up, David has barely brought the car to a stop before I fling the door open and fumble in my bag for my keys. David is shouting at me to wait for him, but I carry on regardless. I try to get the key in the door but my hands are shaking, finally the key slots in its hole. I open the door and shout

‘ASH? ASH?’ No answer, ‘ASH... ARE YOU HERE?’ Nothing.... no sounds come. I see Ash’s suitcase is in the hall still, but the side table has moved. It’s squiffy and I jump as I feel David is behind me and he places his hand on my arm.

‘It’s just me Bella... It’s just me’

I look down and there are scattered papers that must have fallen from the side table all over the floor. I bend down to pick them up and then I notice, there is blood. I fall back and David rushes over and looks at the blood. Tears begin to flow down my face. I run into the lounge but everything looks normal in there, so does the kitchen and the dining room. My heart is pounding that loud, I am sure David can hear it. He runs with me as I go frantically from room to room. Wiping the tears away from my face, they are blurring my vision. I run upstairs, and stumble on the last few in my hurry to check out her room. As I open the door, I steel myself. But Ash is not in here. Its clear she was though, and it looks like there has been a struggle. Her makeup is smashed on the floor, her blusher has decorated the cream carpet. The mirror has been smashed in the corner and the duvet is strewn across the floor. I start to feel hysterical. My breathing is erratic, and I have pain creeping across my chest. I fall to my knees and clutch at my chest. My Ash, my poor Ash what the hell has happened. I can hear David on the phone, I look at him, I’m confused, who is he speaking to. I hear him saying

‘There has definitely been a struggle in the bedroom and there is blood downstairs on the floor in the hallway.’

As if to answer my question he thrusts the phone at me.

‘It’s Robert.’

‘I can’t breath David.’ I am gasping for air. David throws the phone on the bed and gets down on the floor with me, kneeling in front of me.

‘Bella, listen to me carefully. Look at me.’ I look up and his eyes are looking into mine.

‘Cup your hands together like this, and breath in and breath out. Do it now.’

I do as he says and copy him.

‘Breath in... that’s it... deep breath. Now... breathe out slowly. Again, breathe in slowly, a little deeper Bella, that’s it... and now breathe out... slowly. Pushing out all the air that’s in your lungs. Good girl.’ We do this over and over again, until the pain in my chest has gone and my breathing has returned to normal. I slump on the floor with my head in my hands. He hands the phone to me, and I hear a voice. The room is spinning

‘Bella... sweetheart. Speak to me. ‘

‘Robert?’ I don’t know why I am sound so surprised, but I feel like I am swimming right now in a black hole. Spinning out of control.

‘Are you ok? ‘

‘No.... no Robert.....I ‘I sob down the phone.

‘Shhhhhhhhh its ok.’

‘Its not... its not ok. Oh shit I need to call the police’

‘Its ok Bella, David has gone to do that now. I’m so sorry Bella. But we will find her, we will find out who has done this ok.’

‘Yeah the Police will find her won’t they Robert. They will find her safe and sound. I don’t care about anything else. As long as she is safe and sound. Thats all I care about.’

‘If they don’t. I fucking well will’ the anger in his voice shocks me. Before I get a chance to process what he says, he adds.

‘Bella, I need to go. David will look after you and the bodyguards will be with you around the clock. David will keep me updated and I will speak with you shortly. I love you. ‘

‘I love you too’. He hangs up. How will he find her if the police can’t? Maybe he means her mobile phone. Maybe he will trace it, get his IT guy to do it. David walks back into the room and gently bends and puts his hand on my elbow.