The Women Who Ran Away - Sheila O'Flanagan Page 0,47

waved at her. Despite the drama of the night before, she looked wide awake and refreshed, dressed today in a plain white T-shirt and cornflower-blue capri pants. She’d substituted a blue pendant for the turquoise necklace.

‘Hi.’ Deira plonked her tray on the table. ‘How are you?’

‘I’m fine. What about you?’

‘Apart from the fact that my car is probably a total write-off, I’m grand,’ said Deira.

‘Oh dear.’ Grace looked at her sympathetically. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘Have some coffee,’ Deira said. ‘After that, I might be able to put my mind to it.’

‘Good thinking.’

‘But . . .’ Deira added milk to the coffee and smiled suddenly, ‘on the other hand, I might have solved our clue.’

‘You might? Really?’

‘Yes.’ Deira explained about the boat and the portholes, as well as her idea that the first number was 20 and not 2 as she’d previously thought.

‘So that means that all I have left to do is take a photo of the door to the museum,’ said Grace.

‘If I’m right.’

‘I bet you are.’ Grace beamed at her. ‘I’ll do it this morning. Do you want to come?’

‘I have to hang around while they sort out what’s going to happen to the car,’ Deira said. ‘And I really need to talk to the insurance company. Otherwise I’d love to.’

‘I’ll leave in about an hour,’ sat Grace. ‘If you’ve heard before that, let me know. Otherwise I’ll go on my own. I’ll give you my number.’ She took out her phone and they exchanged contact information. Then she headed back to her room, leaving Deira to her breakfast.

Chapter 15

Loire-Atlantique, France: 47.1987°N 1.6537°W

Deira was pouring herself another cup of coffee when her mobile buzzed and caused her to splash a good deal more than she’d intended into her cup. Once again she worried that by some process of osmosis, Gavin had discovered what had happened to the car. But when she took the phone from her bag, she saw a message from Gillian.

Just to let you know that all is well in your house. It’s a good thing we came because you left milk in the fridge! Also, I’ve watered your plants. And I’ve folded your bed linen and put it away along with your smalls. Will do the laundry before we go. Lovely day here.

Deira sighed.

She’d forgotten that she’d left her washed bed linen as well as a selection of her undies drying in the tiny utility room off the kitchen. Naturally Gillian had found them. Even though there’d been no need for her to go into the utility room at all. As for the fact that her sister had put away her underwear . . . Deira was trying hard not to think about the fact that Gill had probably poked through her chest of drawers and seen, along with the lacy lingerie she liked to wear, the sex toys that she and Gavin had often used together in bed. She shuddered but didn’t bother responding. Instead she finished her coffee and got up from the table.

Although she dreaded having to deal with the issue of the car, she knew she had to stay on top of the situation, so she went out into the bright sunlight of a day that was getting more glorious by the minute. The early-morning clouds had parted and the sky was a bright blue. The sun was warm and only the hint of a breeze disturbed the air.

The police had lifted the cordon around the parking area and were now allowing people to inspect their vehicles. The convertible had come off the worst of all of them. When she opened the door, water sloshed from the side panel and soaked her feet. The service manuals in the glove compartment were soaked too. But she was able to find the number for the global assistance package that had come with the car, and when she called it, the person she spoke to was sympathetic, although he pointed out that as her issue wasn’t a mechanical fault, the company wasn’t responsible.

‘But we can get it towed to the nearest authorised dealer if you want,’ he told her. ‘It will be at your expense. Hopefully your insurance will cover it.’

She thanked him and rang the insurance company. After spending an age following the instructions of the automated answering system, she eventually got to speak to a human being. The insurance agent was perfectly pleasant, but Deira felt he didn’t quite believe her story about a burning pergola raining fire down on