is there, blowing on his fingers and stamping his feet. He’s not dressed for being outside in this weather. As soon as Amber gets out of the car, he walks over to her.
‘Thank you for coming,’ he says quietly. ‘George is still in the water. We’re getting very concerned about hypothermia.’
Amber gulps. ‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Just stand on the bank, where he can see you. That may be enough. If you want to say anything, keep it simple. My guess is that he’s scared.’
‘Okay.’ She follows Benedict down a narrow path and through a gap in the hedge. It opens out onto a small gravel beach.
There’s no moon visible tonight; it’s hidden behind a cloud of orangey-brown pollution that hovers over the reservoir like an alien presence. George’s silhouette rises from the water, making him look as if he’s been cut off at the knees. Even in the dark, from a distance, she can tell that he’s shivering.
The anger she felt so strongly in the car evaporates, and she’s overcome with pity for him. For both of them. They’ve both behaved abominably towards each other, but what does it matter? They are just a grimy subplot of the main tragedy. Lewis is lying in a coma. Mabel is missing. Gone. Vanished. Spirited away. The last sighting of her no more than a bulge in a jacket creeping through the shadows.
‘George?’ she calls, moving towards the line of inky water. ‘It’s me. Amber.’
‘She’s here somewhere!’ he shouts. ‘This is where he dumped her.’
Her heart flutters like a bird trapped in her ribcage. ‘How do you know? Did he tell you?’
‘No … couldn’t make him confess, the little shit … But I know she’s here.’ He brushes the water with his hands. ‘This is where he dumped her. It’s the obvious place, virtually within walking distance. I’ve looked everywhere else. I’m going to find her, bring her home.’
She inches forward. Icy rivulets lap around her fine leather boots. ‘You can’t see properly in the dark,’ she says. ‘Wait until it’s light and I’ll help you. We can search for her together.’ It’s a lie, but then what’s one more after so many that have passed between them?
He shakes his head. ‘No, I need to find her now.’
‘It’s too cold, too dark. Please come out, George.’ She takes a step. Then another. The water is up to her ankles now. Next it will find the hem of her coat. ‘You’ll freeze to death. Come out and we’ll try again tomorrow.’
He tugs at his hair and lets out a long, anguished moan. ‘I’m sorry,’ he cries. ‘I fucked it all up.’
‘We both did. I’m sorry too. For everything.’ She extends her arm. ‘Please come out. It’s dangerous. You’ll die of cold. Please? I can’t lose you. I need your help to find Mabel.’
He doesn’t respond. It feels as if it’s just the two of them out here in the dark and wet, even though there are a dozen people behind the hedge – still as statues, collectively holding their breath. The seconds are ticking by and the temperature is plummeting. DI Benedict won’t let this go on forever.
The water creeps up her coat, making the woollen fabric cling to her thighs. Her bones ache with cold and the heels of her boots are sinking into the mud, trapping her. ‘George!’ she tries again. ‘I can’t go any further. You have to come to me.’
Suddenly there’s a thunderous roar as officers rush out of the bushes as if fired from a starting gun. They charge into the water, almost knocking Amber over as they lunge at George. He topples backwards and goes under for a few terrifying moments before he’s wrenched out, dripping wet, spitting and spluttering for breath. He’s dragged out of the water and onto the gravel beach. Officers surround him, shouting out his rights and applying handcuffs. A paramedic hovers, clutching a foil blanket.
Amber feels strong arms around her. ‘Well done,’ a voice says. Her heels squelch as she twists them free and allows herself to be led back to the bank.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Day Nine without Mabel
Amber watches sadly as George is taken away in an ambulance, escorted by two patrol cars, blue lights flashing, sirens blaring.
A paramedic puts a blanket around her shoulders. ‘You need to get out of those wet clothes,’ he says. ‘I’d like to take you to A&E, get you checked out.’
She shakes her head. ‘No, I’m fine, really. I just want to go home.’
By the