Page 109 of The House Swap

If Keira was here, she was going to find her.

She found herself in the big living area, trying to get her bearings. The sofas and table were off to her left and she could see a large glossy kitchen ahead to her right. Beyond that was a door.

Hearing noise coming from outside, she didn’t hesitate, darting through the door and into a large hallway with a giant chandelier overhead and glossy marble floors.

Realising there was nowhere to hide on this level, she quickly fled for the stairs. Before she had even reached the top, she heard the sound of Keira’s case again and the click of the patio doors latching.

From the mezzanine landing, she watched Martin dragging the case through the hallway to the front door. Moments later, it opened and he disappeared through it.

Was he leaving?

To her relief, she heard the lock clicking, then the sound of the van doors opening and closing, before the engine started. Running through into one of the bedrooms at the front of the villa, she watched his van disappear down the road.

He had taken Keira’s cabin case with him. She had no idea why or where he was going, but right now it was more important she found her friend.

Poppy was certain she was in this house and she had a horrible feeling Martin might come back. She needed to locate Keira and get them both the hell out of here in case he did.

The villa was bigger than Tom’s and she had no idea where to start looking. Certain they were alone for now, she tried calling out.

‘Keira? Where are you?’

There was no response.

Heading downstairs, she went from room to room.

‘Keira. It’s me. Poppy!’

She was beginning to worry that Martin had done something to her friend, but then she heard what she thought was a faint cry for help.

‘Keira?’

It came again and Poppy ran in the direction of the sound, finding herself back in the kitchen.

Where the hell was she?

There was a small utility room off to one side and it was in here she found another door. She had at first assumed it was a cupboard but opening it now she saw a set of narrow stone steps leading down into the darkness. Spotting a switch on the wall, she pressed it, and a harsh white light snapped on.

Now she could see the staircase led down to another door. Cold air rose up from below, brushing against her skin, and she hesitated.

Did she have this wrong?

But then a sound. And a voice.

‘Poppy?’

For a second, she thought she’d imagined it.

It was still muffled, but louder now, and her heart squeezed, her doubts fading as she descended the stairs, slow enough to be careful, yet with urgency to get to her friend.

She saw the lock on the door first, her heart sinking, but then she spotted a key hanging on a single wall hook. Snatching it up, she quickly unbolted the door, pulling it open.

She wasn’t ready for the shape that came barrelling towards her and it caught her off guard, taking her a second to realise it was Keira.

Her friend looked wrong. Thinner. Paler. Her hair matted and her clothes creased and dirty. And there was an odour – stale and sour – that hit the back of Poppy’s throat as the two of them hugged fiercely.

‘Oh my God, Poppy. I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again.’ Her words ended on a choke that sounded somewhere between a laugh and a sob.

Poppy hugged back tightly. ‘You’ve been down here all this time,’ she murmured as much to herself. ‘I messaged you and had a reply. You said you had to fly home for an emergency.’