The Missing Husband: a tense psychological suspense full of twists

concern. ‘Of course I can, Kate. I’ll swing by and pick up their change of clothes on the way to school. If you’re feeling peaky just leave them outside the front door for me. Look after yourself and I’ll drop them home after pizza. I really hope you feel better soon.’
‘Thank you,’ Kate said weakly, hanging up the phone and curling up into a ball on the sofa. It was finally time to confront the truth. Everything she had felt over the last few months – the shock, anger, fear, loss, guilt and the sense of betrayal was real but she hadn’t been honest with Erin or the police about what had really happened that morning. The only two people who knew were her and Pete. But it had been there, etched into her memory, all along. The deal they’d made and the promises he’d given her. It was time to face what had really happened to Pete after she last saw him on Monday 7 September.

26


Pete
‘All right,’ he heard himself saying to Kate. ‘I’ll take some time out, on my own, to figure things out. How much time?’
‘As much as you need,’ she replied. ‘As long as it takes for you to decide what you really want. Do you want to fight for this marriage, to fight for all that we built together and our children, or do you want to end it?’
‘And what about you? What do you want to do?’
‘I need some time to work that out, too.’
He nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Where will you go?’ she asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ he replied. ‘I’ll rent a holiday cottage, it’s out of season now, it won’t be difficult. Somewhere in the middle of nowhere where I can be alone, just me and my thoughts.’ As he was saying the words he was thinking of Claire, who would have arrived at the station by now and would be waiting for him to join her. He had to tell her that he wasn’t coming. ‘I just need a minute,’ he said.
She looked at him and nodded, the cogs turning in her head as she realised what he needed to do. He went upstairs to their bedroom and sat on the bed. Looking at his phone he saw a message that Claire had sent earlier.
Just closed the door to the flat for the last time. Heading to the station. Can’t wait! Will get you a cappuccino