Chapter 98

Chapter 98
Claire’s POV
“Are you okay, Clive? You seem terse, this isn’t like you,” I say trying to control my shaky voice. I am shaken to the core. His eyes were like ice and the snarl on his face was all too reminiscent of Jonathan in one of his moods. It makes me feel uncomfortable.
“I am fine, Claire. You need to stop asking all these questions. You will only serve to get people all worked up.”
“But aren’t you concerned?”
He sighs and rakes his long fingers through his hair. We are back outside now and I still need to go to a store where I can purchase more clothes, since Clive only bought a small selection. God only knows how long I will be here. And now I have to try and formulate a plan to get away from both Clive and Jake. That isn’t going to be easy since I have no vehicle and depend entirely on him getting me in and out of town.
Let’s face it this isn’t a large city. There is no Uber service and I doubt a taxi would even come up the mountainside to the woodlands where Clive’s cabin is.
I feel angry, scared and frustrated. I simply cannot get a hold of my heart the way it is racing in my chest right now. In fact, my sternum aches like I am going to have some kind of heart attack or other.
“No, Claire. I am not worried in the slightest. And nor should you be. This is none of your concern.”
So why can’t he look me in the eyes then? What have I gotten myself into I wonder. It all seems off. This isn’t the man who helped me stay hidden and get away from Jonathan.
“Did you know Jonathan by any chance, Clive?” I ask out of the blue. What the hell is going on with me? How would Jonathan even know Clive? They came face to face and almost had it out. I honestly think I am losing the plot. The stress has been too much and is taking its toll on my mental state of mind, clearly.
“Are you insane, woman?” He glares at me. A couple of men pass us and turn their heads and nod at Clive.
“Nasty business isn’t it, about the girl that has gone missing?” The shorter of the two men says. He is wearing one of those dark tartan flat caps and a hacking jacket.
Clive nods. “It is indeed, William. Nasty business. Glad I am not a town dweller. Like to keep myself nicely tucked out of the way, I do.”
“Ah, but what about that wayward brother of yours? Saw him in the local pub the other evening. He looked like he’d had a few. Running his mouth off he was about some woman who has come to take advantage of you and your money,” William says causing me to almost have my eyes bugging out of my head.
Clive snorts. “He’s an idiot. Pay no attention to him. This is Claire, William. She is an old friend of mine come to stay. That’s all. Jake and his tales, a right story teller that one.”
The other man who is tall and lanky, wearing fitted jeans and a polo jumper with a padded coat on, says nothing. He seems pretty disinterested in anything we are talking about. I am guessing he knows best that gossiping is not an attractive quality.
“Nice to meet you, William,” I say as I extend my hand. He takes it and I notice how warm his hands are against my cold hands. It’s bloody freezing out today.
“Lovely to meet you too, Claire. So, where do you hail from young lady?”
What do I tell him? The truth? Or a lie? I hate lying at the best of times but I have to protect not just myself now, but Nathalie at all costs.
“Oh, here and there. I’ve travelled with my work mostly.”
A small white lie won’t hurt will it. Clive glances down at me.
“Ah, are you one of those new age travelling women who have found independence in it’s entirety and do all of that social media nonsense?” he asks with an amused smile on his face. My hackles go up. He isn’t even that old, maybe forty something.
“You could say, William. I like my independence. Don’t I, Clive?”
He seems taken aback but quicky recovers himself. “Yes, that’s right. She does. A seasoned traveler this one and a whizz with computers and the like. Anyway, William it was good to see you. Next time you happen to come across my brother, tell him to keep his mouth shut will you.”
“Aye, Lad. I will. He will run his mouth off one too many times that he will and we’ll all be in trouble.” He places two fingers to his cap in salute of a goodbye.
Leaving me wondering why Jake running his mouth off will have the whole town in trouble.
Is this all something to do with the woman in the woods? Is there a cover up going on that the investigation didn’t pull to light?
Now I am intrigued and literally itching to get back to the cabin and get onto Google and do some digging around.
This town could be full of all kinds of secrets that they are hiding away from the rest of the world.
I mean, it is remote. It’s only got a population of around four hundred people. I think, I don’t know for sure.
Clive drags me away with a firm hand on my lower arm.
“Hey, you’re hurting me.”
“Just get a wriggle on. We need to buy you some clothes.”
“I can buy my own clothes, Clive. I have some money now.”
He stops dead in his tracks, his eyes narrow at me as he turns and faces me.
“Where did you get that from then, Claire?”
The way he asks sends an almighty shiver down my spine.
Fuck, I really should have kept that to myself.