Page 160 of This Woman Forever

Sam snickers. Drew’s nostrils flare.

“Out,” I say, pointing the way.

“Fine.” Drew stomps off. “You won’t need these.” He holds something up above his head.

“What’s that?”

“Keys to the Aston the dealership’s lent you while yours is located. John put a call in.”

I go after Drew, swiping them from his hand. Must call John. “Thanks.”

“Fuck off.”

“John sent this too,” Sam says, and I turn and find him holding up my book on pregnancy. “Might want to swap it for one on twins.” The book drops. “Fucking hell, man.”

“Yeah, I know.” I take the book. “You and Kate okay?”

“Yeah, we’re good.”

“Will you let her know I’m taking Ava away tomorrow?”

He looks surprisingly surprised. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t know,” I muse, hoping I can convince her to let me get us away from the fucking city for a few days while we figure out what the hell is going on.

I’m not holding my breath.

I close the door on the boys and get my mobile, calling John.

“Are you back in the land of the living?” he asks, his deep rumbling voice strangely comforting.

“It was a bit of a shock, eh?”

He laughs. “A bit. How do you feel about it?”

“Good,” I say, knowing he knows it will have unearthed endless regrets and guilt in me. “I’ve told her about Jake.”

Again, the absence of Rosie and Lauren’s names in that sentence screams. “Okay,” he says slowly. “How did she take it?”

“Well.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less. Ava’s a reasonable young woman. When she’s not being driven crazy by her husband.”

I scowl. “Ha. Ha.” And is he trying to say something without saying it? Like... I bet she’d take the bombshell about your dead daughter and ex-wife well too. And I bet she’d be reasonable if you suggested Sarah returns to work. “Anything on the cameras?”

“I’m trying to access the backup recordings. Playback is on the blink.”

Jesus, the new system can’t come soon enough. “Let me know.”

“I will. Listen, a police officer gave me his number when I went back to the scene. You’d already left with Ava in the ambulance. I said I’d get you to call him. He wants a statement from Ava.”

My hackles rise. “They’ll have to wait.”

“This is serious. There were multiple cars involved. You can’t deal with this on your own, Jesse.”

“I know, John.” I wish I could, though. I wish I could find the fucker and break every bone in his body. Whoever the fuck he is. Jail time just won’t cut it.

“Your bike and Ava’s car have been picked up by the police. They may need them for evidence, depending on how the investigation goes.”