Can he tell I’m lying?

  ‘I’m sorry, but I really didn’t. I wish I could help more, but I can’t.’

  DS Moore regarded her for a moment longer before sighing and jotting down a note in his pad. ‘All right. I’ll be around for the rest of the morning. If you remember anything, no matter how small, come and find me.’

  DS Moore got to his feet and left with Sarah.

  Bloody hell, talk about suspicious. No wonder he’s a copper. I hope he doesn’t question family and friends like that.

  Leaving the staff room, Rain sighed, relieved to finally be on her own. She adjusted the strap of her bag over her shoulder, ready to make her way to the storeroom to collect the cleaning supplies. Lost in her thoughts, she almost didn’t notice Jimmy approaching until they nearly collided in the corridor.

  ‘Oops, sorry about that,’ Rain said, as she steadied herself.

  ‘No worries,’ Jimmy offered a small smile. ‘Just starting your shift?’

  ‘Yeah. You?’

  Jimmy nodded.

  Her thoughts returned to Fay, and seeing the kindness in Jimmy’s eyes, she decided to ignore the nagging doubts in her mind and continue her enquiries.

  ‘Hey, Jimmy, did you happen to know Fay? She was a cleaner here,’ Rain said casually, trying to keep her tone light.

  Jimmy’s expression shifted almost immediately, his smile faltering for a moment before he regained his composure. ‘Fay? Yeah, I saw her around sometimes. Why’d you ask?’

  Rain shrugged, feigning nonchalance. ‘Seeing as I replaced her. I just wanna know if I’ve got big boots to fill.’

  Jimmy’s expression turned sombre. ‘I wouldn’t know about her cleaning skills, but Fay was a sweet girl. She had a rough go of it, though.’

  Rain noted he mentioned Fay in the past tense. Did that mean something, or was she overthinking?

  ‘Rough how?’

  Jimmy sighed as he leaned against the wall. ‘Let’s just say she had her fair share of troubles. Seemed like she was always one step away from disaster, bless her.’

  ‘What kind of troubles?’

  Jimmy hesitated, his gaze drifting towards the floor. ‘You know, the usual stuff. Money problems, family drama. She was always on edge, like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.’

  ‘Sounds tough.’ Rain studied Jimmy closely, looking for the slightest detection of emotion. ‘Did she ever mention anything about a boyfriend?’

  Jimmy shook his head, a furrow forming between his brows. ‘Can’t say she did. But then again, Fay wasn’t exactly one to spill her guts. Kept to herself most of the time.’

  Rain gave a faint smile. ‘Seems she was a closed book.’

  ‘You sound way too invested for someone who didn’t know her. Is there something you’re not telling me?’

  For some reason, from the moment she had met Jimmy, she had felt a connection. There was something about him that made her want to confide in him.

  I have to open up to someone or I’ll never find out anything.

  ‘Jimmy, if I tell you something, can you promise to keep it to yourself?’

  ‘Cross my heart. The only thing I spill secrets to are my vegetables,’ Jimmy said, winking at her.

  Rain took a step closer and lowered her voice. ‘Jimmy . . . Fay’s my sister, and she’s missing. I’m trying to find out what happened to her.’

  Jimmy’s eyes widened. ‘Your sister? Jesus. How long has she been missing?’

  ‘A couple of weeks now.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Rain. That must be really tough.’

  ‘It is. I think she might have been seeing someone from the hotel, and he might have something to do with it. Did you ever hear any rumours?’

  Jimmy’s demeanour shifted, his eyebrows furrowing in thought. ‘No, nothing like that. But I’ll definitely keep my ears open now. And if I come across anything, you’ll be the first to know.’

  Rain nodded appreciatively, a sense of relief washing over her. Perhaps Jimmy could be the ally she needed in her search for Fay.

  ‘I’d better get on. The last thing I need is to be fired.’

  ‘All right, and Rain, try not to worry. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation for everything. Fay always struck me as the type that could look after herself.’

  ‘I hope so, Jimmy. I really do.’

  Chapter Twenty

  Lauren sat on the sofa nursing a glass of wine when she heard the front door open and close. Moments later, Jake walked into the room, looking tired and worn out. Even after everything, she still found herself worrying about him.

  ‘Rough day?’

  Jake let out a deep sigh, running his fingers through his hair. ‘Yeah, you could say that.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘It’s nothing. Everything’s fine,’ he said, but his voice sounded strained. ‘Look, about those things I said. I didn’t mean them. I’ve just got a lot on my mind at the moment.’

  ‘Haven’t we all, but that doesn’t give you the right to—’

  ‘I know, I know.’ He sighed. ‘Can we please change the subject. I feel bad enough as it is.’

  Lauren got up and walked over to the bar, pouring a drink for Jake, then handing it to him.

  ‘So, what’s the plan for dealing with the guest who overdosed?’

  Jake hesitated, looking out the window like he wanted to be anywhere else. ‘I talked to Eleanor. She wants to keep it quiet, you know, sweep it under the rug. She’s afraid of what we might find if we start poking around.’

  Lauren felt sick to her stomach. Of course, her mother would care more about the hotel’s reputation than actually dealing with the problem.

  ‘We can’t just pretend like there isn’t an issue, Jake. Drug dealing could be rampant, happening right under our noses. What if someone dies next time?’

  Jake knocked back his drink and poured another one. ‘That’s how Eleanor wants it handled. My hands are tied.’

  ‘Anything for an easy life, eh?’

  ‘Think what you want. You always do anyway,’ Jake finished his drink and poured himself another.

  ‘When it comes to you, I guess I have reason to. Believe me, I would love to be wrong.’

  ‘No, you wouldn’t. Who else would you have to blame for leading such a miserable existence?’

  Just as Lauren was gearing up for another heated exchange, a knock at the door interrupted them. Hurrying to answer it, she pulled it open, only to find herself face to face with Rain.

  Before she could say anything, Jake appeared behind her.

  ‘You new here? This area’s off-limits to staff,’ Jake said, eyeing Rain’s uniform questioningly.

  Rain hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between Lauren and Jake. ‘I, um, I’m sorry. Yes, I’m new—’

  ‘I asked for someone to be sent up,’ Lauren quickly intervened, sensing Rain’s discomfort. ‘I need help with something.’

  ‘Well, isn’t this a first? My fiercely independent wife actually asking for assistance. Must be serious.’

  Rain entered and followed Lauren into the living room.

  ‘Take a seat,’ Lauren said, her voice strained as she struggled to maintain her composure. She couldn’t fathom what had possessed Rain to show up unannounced like this.

  Jake sauntered in behind them, leaning against the wall as he observed their interaction with keen interest.

  ‘So, are you going to enlighten her about her duties, or are you just going to leave her in suspense?’ he said. ‘Poor thing looks like she’s about to jump out of her skin.’

  Lauren searched her mind for a plausible explanation.

  ‘Right, yes, I, um, need help with . . .’ she trailed off, her words failing her as panic began to set in.

  To her relief, Rain jumped in to save the day.

  ‘The upcoming team-building event, right? Sarah mentioned you needed someone to distribute the details to the staff.’

  Jake raised his eyebrows, clearly sceptical. ‘Couldn’t you just send an email? Seems like a waste of time to involve an employee.’

  Lauren shot Rain a grateful look. ‘I don’t have everyone’s email addresses on file. It’s more efficient this way. Rain, come to my office and I’ll print out the information for you.’

  Without waiting for a response, Lauren turned and strode out of the room with Rain close behind. Jake, not one to be left out, trailed after them.

  They reached Lauren’s office. Lauren made a beeline for her desk and clicked on the first file that appeared on her screen, not even bothering to check its contents before hitting the print button. The printer whirred to life, spitting out pages at an agonisingly slow pace.

  As the seconds ticked by, Lauren could feel Jake’s eyes boring into her back, his suspicion practically radiating off him in waves.

  The printer finally spit out the last page, and Lauren snatched up the stack of papers, thrusting them into Rain’s hands.

  ‘Here you are. Please make sure everyone RSVPs by the end of the day. Thank you, Rain.’

  Rain nodded, her fingers brushing against Lauren’s as she took the papers. The brief contact sent a jolt of electricity up Lauren’s arm, and she had to fight the urge to gasp.

  After Rain had left, Jake lingered in the doorway, his presence looming over Lauren like a dark cloud. ‘Since when are you on a first-name basis with the staff?’ he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

  Lauren’s heart raced, but she forced herself to meet his gaze head-on. ‘Now what are you talking about?’

  ‘Probably nothing, but I could’ve sworn you two seemed awfully familiar with each other.’

  Lauren shook her head, a bit too vehemently. ‘Jake, I had no idea who Sarah was sending up. It’s not like I have a say in the matter.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Jake said. ‘Then why did you call her by name? Unless “Rain” is just a cute little nickname you’ve given her?’

  Lauren’s blood ran cold, the realisation of her slip-up hitting her like a ton of bricks. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

  ‘You know what? I don’t have time for this. I’m heading back to the office,’ he said.

  With that, he turned and walked out of the room. Lauren sank into her chair, her legs trembling as the adrenaline began to wear off.

  That had been too close, far too close.

  Lauren ran a hand through her hair. She knew she couldn’t keep doing this, couldn’t keep living this double life. It wasn’t fair to anyone – not to Jake, not to Rain, and certainly not to herself.

  But the thought of giving up Rain, of never feeling the warmth of her touch or the comfort of her presence again . . . it was unthinkable.

  The only option was to take a leap of faith into an uncertain future, even if it terrified her to her very core of her being. Which it did. But would she have the courage to do it?

  That remained to be seen.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Rain stepped into the lift, her heart almost seizing in her chest. What the hell had she been thinking, turning up at Lauren’s place like that? She had not expected Lauren’s husband to be there, that was for sure. Foolishly, she’d thought he’d still be at work, and she would have the opportunity to speak to Lauren – no, that was a lie. She didn’t want to just speak to Lauren, she wanted to hold her in her arms again, to feel the warmth of her embrace and much, much more. But that ill-conceived plan had been thwarted the moment she had set eyes on Lauren’s husband. The tension in the suite had been so thick, she could have cut it with a knife. It was obvious that things weren’t exactly harmonious between them.

  No wonder Lauren had been looking for a little happiness outside of her marriage.

  It boggled her mind how and why couples still stayed together long after the love had gone. She knew there was a kid involved, but even so, why put off the inevitable?

  Rain made her way to the staff changing room, glad her day was finally over.

  As she opened her locker and started to change, Rain heard the door open behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, expecting to see one of her co-workers, but instead, Jake was standing there, his eyes locked on her. Rain’s heart nearly leapt out of her chest. What the fuck was he doing in the women’s changing room?

  She quickly snatched up her shirt, holding it against her body. ‘Are you lost?’

  He remained silently, simply staring at her.

  Okay if that’s how you want to play it. You wanna try and intimidate me? Two can play at that game.

  She loosened her grip on the shirt and stood there in her bra, staring right back at him.

  It worked – Jake dropped his eyes to the floor, and she quickly pulled on her shirt and jacket.

  ‘Excuse me,’ she said in an attempt to brush past him, but he blocked her way, his expression unreadable.

  ‘We need to talk, Rain.’

  Rain’s stomach twisted into knots. She tried to play it cool, but her voice wavered slightly. ‘Talk about what? My job?’

  Jake’s eyes narrowed, and he moved even closer, his presence looming over Rain. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, and it made her skin crawl.

  ‘No, about you and my wife.’

  Rain took a step back. Oh fuck!

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your wife—’

  ‘Don’t play dumb with me. I know there’s something going on. I saw the way you two looked at each other. I’m not blind.’

  Rain’s mind raced, trying to come up with a way to defuse the situation. She was trapped with no way out except past Jake. She didn’t know how he would react if she tried to barge past him and she wasn’t about to tempt fate. She’d read of the horror stories of jealous husbands and the fate of their poor wives.

  ‘Look, I think you should be having this conversation with your wife—’

  ‘No, I’m having this conversation with you.’

  ‘Well, I have nothing to say.’

  He leaned in close, and she could smell the sour stench of alcohol on his breath. ‘I’m going to find out the truth. One way or another. And if I find out you’ve been lying to me …’ He let the threat hang in the air, his eyes boring into hers.

  She opened her mouth, desperate to say something, anything, to get out of this nightmare. But just then, the door swung open, and Denise walked in.

  Taking in the scene before her with widened eyes, she said, ‘Everything okay in here?’

  Rain nearly cried with relief. Thank god!

  Jake straightened up, his demeanour shifting in an instant. He flashed Denise a charming smile. ‘Yeah, all good. Just checking in with Rain, seeing how she’s settling into the job.’

  Denise didn’t look convinced. ‘Rain, can I talk to you for a sec? Alone?’

  Rain nodded, relief flooding through her. She watched as Jake walked out of the changing room, his presence still lingering like a bad taste in her mouth.

  Denise waited until the door had closed behind him before turning to Rain, her expression serious. ‘What the hell was that all about?’

  ‘Um, nothing.’

  ‘Rain, that didn’t look like nothing to me. Listen, you need to be careful. There’s something off about Jake, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.’

  ‘Off in what way?’

  ‘I don’t know, call it a gut feeling, but you need to steer clear of him.’

  Rain forced a smile, trying to act like everything was fine. ‘Thanks, Denise. I appreciate you looking out for me. But really, it’s nothing.’

  Denise raised an eyebrow, but let it drop. ‘All right, well, if you need anything, you know where to find me.’ With that, she turned and headed out, leaving Rain alone with her thoughts.

  Rain slumped against her locker, her head spinning from the whole messed up situation. Great, just fucking great. Now he’s onto me.

  Part of her wanted to just go straight to Lauren and tell her what happened, but then she had to get real with herself. If she told Lauren, she’d probably freak out and put some serious distance between them.

  Not that Rain could blame her. Lauren had a lot riding on keeping up appearances. If her family found out she was messing around with one of the hotel cleaners, they’d probably flip. So as much as she wanted to fill her in, she decided to keep it to herself for now and see how things played out. Maybe she’ll actually work up the nerve to tell Jake herself.

  Still shaken, Rain headed out into the night. She didn’t know where she was going, but she knew she needed a drink. Or several.

  She found herself at a nearby bar, downing one beer after another until the world started to blur around the edges. She barely registered the woman who slid onto the stool next to her, barely heard the words they exchanged. The next thing she knew, they were stumbling out of the bar together, giggling and clinging to each other like old friends. Rain’s mind was fuzzy, her thoughts scattered, but she couldn’t seem to bring herself to care.

  When she woke up the next morning, she was in a strange bed, her head pounding and her mouth dry as a desert. Panic threatened to engulf her as she frantically searched her memory for any clue as to how she had ended up here, but the events of the night remained stubbornly out of reach.

  Just as the tendrils of panic began to tighten their grip, the door opened, and the woman from the night before entered the room, carrying a mug of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air.

  ‘Morning,’ the woman said. ‘I thought you might need this.’

  Rain took the coffee, the warmth of the mug soothing against her clammy palms. As she took a tentative sip, a wave of nausea washed over her.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Rain mumbled. ‘I don’t even remember how I got here.’

  The woman smiled. ‘It’s okay. You had a bit too much to drink last night. But don’t worry, nothing happened between us. I’m Clara, by the way.’

  Relief flooded through Rain like a tidal wave, washing away the remnants of her hangover-induced panic. She offered Clara a weak smile.

  ‘I don’t usually—’

  ‘It’s okay. We’ve all been there before. You were pretty upset.’