Annabelle Hamilton has been missing for four years.
Until she turns up at her mother's funeral acting like a completely different person.
But Annabelle's reappearance isn't as strange as what's happening in the village of Whitelea. In fact, it's p...
"It can't be his." Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "It must be Archie's."
"Why would Archie be coming back from Japan under Kuro's name?" Bella asked. Elizbaeth didn't answer and moved to the door.
"I'm going to find Kuro." Elizabeth said. "I'm going to get him to tell us it's false."
"Lizzy-" Bella called after her but she had already gone. She glanced down at the papers that were still in her hand. She moved the flight confirmation out the way and began to read the paper that was underneath. It was a note, written in handwriting she recognised almost immediately. It read:
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Bella folded the letter and slid it into her jeans pocket. She hurried after Elizabeth, only a few moments after her. She heard voices coming from an open door. "What do you mean he's gone?" Elizabeth demanded.
"I was just looking and I turned round to ask him something and he'd gone." Douglas answered. Bella paused in the doorway.
"He can't have gone!" Elizabeth cried. "I need answers."
"Then we'd better go find him then." Bella interrupted. Elizabeth turned to look at her.
"He could be anywhere." Douglas commented. Elizabeth was putting her phone to her ear. "What are you doing?" Elizabeth made a shushing motion in response.
"He's not going to pick up." Bella said. "He ran for a reason. I doubt he's going to answer a phone call. Especially when it's coming from you." Elizabeth sighed and hung up.
"Before you two start fighting, shall we try and find Kuro?" Douglas suggested.
"Where could he be?" Bella asked. She turned to Elizabeth. "He's your friend, you know him best. Where do you think he could have gone?" Elizabeth shrugged.
"I don't think he's gone too far. Maybe he went back to mine?"
"I don't think he'll be there." Bella said. "If you're hiding you go to the place you least expect them to be."
"Where would that be?"
"I'll try the house." Bella said.
"Maybe he even went to mine." Douglas suggested.
"I can't see Kuro sitting in a pub." Elizabeth said.
"Exactly." Bella said.
The three of them headed back downstairs and it was only Elizabeth who paused and asked what they should do about the unlocked door. Bella only shrugged and said that the Roux's would be coming back soon and that no one would want to steal anything from that house anyway. They split off into different directions, Elizabeth and Bella heading towards Hamilton House while Douglas headed towards his own home. Elizabeth insisted that she also check the woods surrounding the house and made Bella drop her off at the top of the drive.
