Beneath the Shadows

‘Wow!’ A

Grace laughed at them both. ‘Sounds great. But can you give me some help first?’

A

‘Don’t look at me like that. Last night I remembered I hadn’t checked the boxes in the cellar for Adam’s passport, and so I took a look, and sure enough – I found it.’

‘Really? Why on earth did he put it down there?’

‘I don’t know. I wish he’d told me about the damn cellar in the first place. I have no idea why he didn’t.’

‘Maybe he thought you knew about it,’ A

As Grace considered that, her a

‘I don’t believe you sometimes,’ A

‘Look, it won’t take long,’ Grace tried to persuade her. ‘And you can sit at the top and sort the stuff out. We’ll get through it in no time if we all pitch in.’

A few hours later, Grace felt like she was corralling unruly sheep. A

By mid-afternoon they had done well. There were piles of full boxes and binbags destined for either the tip or a charity shop. The cellar was now rimmed with bare, grimy shelves.

‘Okay,’ Grace conceded, when she took stock of how much they had done. ‘Let’s take a break.’

‘Finally, she lets us rest.’ James sat down heavily on the stairs and leaned against the wall.

‘Let me tell you this before I forget,’ A

‘Perhaps Co

However, if there was anything in the cottage containing more information about why Adam might have disappeared, then she was getting down to the last few places to look. The suggestion that these boxes might reveal something important gave her a renewed sense of purpose.

‘If I take these upstairs, can you two entertain Millie for a while?’ she asked them.

‘Anything if it keeps me away from those damn boxes,’ A

When Grace got into her room, she lifted the boxes one by one and tipped their contents onto the bedcovers, knowing that if she had to clear them away before she could go to sleep tonight it would make her work faster. She climbed up to sit amid the chaotic mountain of papers, and began rifling through. Anything she wasn’t interested in got tossed back into an empty crate, and she began to stack the rest in piles by her bedside, next to her neglected copy of Rebecca.

Her spirits sank as the collection of papers she wanted to look at more closely grew larger. Bundles of letters, mainly, or notepads that had been scribbled in. Bank statements that she didn’t feel she could throw away without checking. Old greeting cards. Photos – both in albums and loose. A couple of school yearbooks that might well contain something about Adam. As she was going through them, it became clear that at least one of the boxes had contained Rachel’s effects. It made her think of Co

She picked up a bundle of letters. They were written in the same handwriting, and she plucked one from the top and opened it. Without knowing the contents she couldn’t determine their value, but she still felt as though she were snooping.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I hope you are both all right. I know you will still be getting over the shock, but please, please keep writing and telling me your news. I am doing fine in York. I’ve found a flat, and there’s plenty of space for the baby, who is kicking me all the time now – it’s a strong little thing, that’s for sure.

When you see Meredith, please could you tell her that I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye. I’ve included a letter for you to pass on to her. I miss you all very much. I know it’s hard, but I’m sure I am doing the right thing. Why don’t you come and see us when the baby arrives?

All my love,

Rachel

Grace plucked the next one from the pile.

Dear Mum and Dad,

It’s good to hear that they have fixed the road – it’s hard enough driving up the bank without potholes to avoid! I’m glad to hear that the show went well too, Mum, I’m sure you did a brilliant job of organising it.

The whole city is talking about the Viking house found under the old Craven’s factory. We went for a walk over there yesterday, but there’s not much to see at the site. Plenty of people trying to have a look, mind.

Thanks for the money, but please don’t feel you have to keep sending it – I’m doing fine on social security, and I have earned a bit more doing some casual typing work – finally, all those hours practising are paying off. It’s good work, because I can do it when Adam sleeps. I’m lucky that at the moment he’s a good sleeper in the day, though he keeps me up all night long sometimes! I can’t wait for you to meet him – come and see us soon.

All my love,

Rachel

Grace stared out of the bedroom window at the wintry afternoon twilight. From the letters, it sounded as though Co

She glanced at a few more pages to find that they contained similar themes. She would have to go through them one at a time, but it could probably wait. It seemed unlikely that Jo