Page 99 of The House Swap

A little nagging voice in the back of her head pushed forward the question. What if it was deliberate?

Her thinking was bordering on irrational, deep down she was certain it was, still it didn’t stop her joining dots. Things moving in the villa, the sense of someone outside late at night. The cameras.

She had blamed Martin, but did she have it wrong?

The thought came uninvited and was uncomfortable enough that she almost pushed it away as soon as it surfaced. It didn’t make sense. None of it did.

For starters, how would Jem even get access to the villa? And it was really stretching things trying to link her meeting him in Crete with what had been going on back home.

No, it was ridiculous.

She was still staring at the name when his voice came from behind her. Too close.

‘All ready to go?’

Poppy jumped, swinging around.

‘Is everything okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’

He went to reach out and touch her arm, but she flinched back.

Steady, Poppy. You can’t let on you know.

She hadn’t meant to react like that.

And anyway, what was she supposed to know? She was jumping to conclusions. Their first meeting at the mini-market had been random.

Unless he had been following her. Looking for the right opportunity to orchestrate a meeting.

She managed a shaky smile. ‘I’m fine. Is the bulb fixed?’

‘Yeah, it’s all good.’

Poppy followed him out of the villa, conscious that she had to act normal and just get through the ride back to Tom’s place.

She was almost to the car when a door opened.

‘Jeremiah? I said to Ian I thought I heard⁠—’

Poppy froze, recognising Sue’s shrill voice.

‘Poppy?’

Crap! This was awkward.

Poppy exchanged a quick glance with Jem, before forcing herself to turn round.

Sue stood on her doorstep, silk dressing gown and fluffy slippers on and a sleep mask pushed up onto her forehead. Thankfully, she made no attempt to come closer and her look of surprise quickly turned to one of distaste. As if Poppy was something she’d just found on the bottom of her shoe.

Unsure how to react or how to respond, Poppy awkwardly raised her hand in greeting. ‘Hi, Sue.’

Her face was on fire, her heart thumping hard in her chest. She felt like she was in an alternate universe, no longer sure where the danger would come from next. All she knew was she had to get back to Tom’s villa. Away from Sue and Ian. Away from Jem. Ironically, the place that had felt most hostile since her arrival in Crete was now going to be her sanctuary.

An uncomfortable silence followed and she was debating whether to just get in Jem’s car.

Before she had the chance, Sue made the decision for her.

‘I’ll catch up with you tomorrow, Jeremiah,’ she said stiffly, now looking past Poppy as if she wasn’t even there.