The Suspects
Page 25
“How’s life treated you?” I ask Zak. What’s he done with all the years of freedom that he might have lost out on? Years that Oskar Bramley never got to live. Years that Stuart spent in prison.
He’s been a travel writer, a charity worker and more recently a website designer.
He’s lived in Prague and then in Sarajevo. When it got nasty there he moved to Palermo for a while. We talk about the others. Imogen’s working for the UN. Stuart’s out of prison now. Who knows where Chiara is?
“Sounds like everything worked out for you,” I say.
He shrugs. “I’d have traded it all in if I could.”
“What for?”
“You need to ask?”
“But you left, remember? You said you couldn’t live with me because I hadn’t trusted you.”
He nods. “And I meant it – for a few days at least. I was hurt and angry. I thought about getting in touch but I didn’t let myself. I thought it was for the best. I spent a few weeks trying to work it out. When I went back to the house it was empty and there was a For Sale sign outside.
I told him how we’d handed in the keys to the building society. He didn’t seem surprised. It was what everyone was doing back then.
“Then a few years later when Facebook started up I found you. I wanted to get in touch but your profile says you’re married and I didn’t think you’d welcome me turning up.”
Perhaps I shouldn’t say it, but I do anyway.
“I’m not anymore.”
When we leave he keys his number into my phone. “In case you ever want to get in touch.”
I watch him walk back over the padlock bridge and along the quay. I keep watching until he’s nearly disappeared. And I realise I can’t let him go, not this time. I text Wait.
I see him stop and look down at his phone. He turns, smiles, and weaves his way back towards me.
THE END
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