CHILDHUNT: A Mystery & Suspense Thriller in the Bestselling Diana Rivers Series (The Diana Rivers Mysteries Book 5) Read Online Free Page A

Diana said it was only going to be us, Roger, and a couple of friends from England. It’s hardly going to be arduous.”
    He watched as the colour drained from her face.
    “Will…no.’ Debbie’s voice was low and appealing.
    “Yes,” he whispered, lest the children overheard. “Remember, you promised that you would make an effort. It’s been six years…you have to make a start.”
    Debbie felt sick as she listened to his words. She had agreed, and she knew it was time to try and start afresh. At first she had been completely withdrawn, but earlier in the year, she finally began to talk about them. “Everything about that time is so hazy…I can’t even see their faces clearly. They’d be so much bigger now…nine and eleven, no longer babies. I try to imagine how they’d look, but it’s so muddled. I can’t get the nightmare from my mind,” she murmured.
    William held her tightly in his arms. “Darling, it’s okay. It’s only natural for you to feel like that. But it’s time to put all those thoughts behind you. Please, for the sake of our family, stop wondering how it happened.”
    That morning, Debbie looked up at her husband and heard the cajoling words. She knew he was being both protective and strong. “I’ll think about it,” she whispered.
    William smiled. “Good girl. Now I’d better be off down the hill before I’m late. There are bound to be some idiotic drivers out, who can’t handle their vehicles in this weather, and an accident before I reach Limassol is a foregone conclusion.” He kissed her, feeling her lips tremble under his. He wondered if he had upset her about the lousy drivers or about being more sociable. As he opened the door and felt the cold creep inside, he paused as some instinct made him want to stay at home in the warmth and safety of his family. Shaking the feeling aside, William got into his car, reversed it onto the drive and with a quick wave left for work.
    Debbie closed the door behind him and returned to the cosy kitchen where the children were. He’s right , she thought as she made herself a fresh cup of tea. It was time to forget the past. She had to make an effort to stop remembering and look forward to a bright and happy future with her new family.
    She stood and watched her children while she savoured the hot drink. They were her entire being. But she still returned to that dreadful period in her life and knew a part of her was still frozen. Over the years, her body provided a safety net, where a section of her mind helped her to reject the painful memories. She thought about her past life with Claude and how most of it was veiled with distortion. Debbie had to really think hard about where they lived during that time. She could only vaguely recall the small house in the quiet leafy lane. Claude’s face was a blur and thought she sometimes heard his voice; it was a soft voice, quiet yet confident. Sally and Stuart…my, God, what did they look like? A chill gripped her heart as she fought to remember. They were dark-haired like both their parents, and Sally had inherited her mother’s soft curls. They framed her tiny little elfin-shaped face. They were quiet children—she remembered that. They were well-behaved and never raised their voices. Was it she who insisted they played quietly? She thought back to when they played in the house. Was it a figment of her imagination that they were quiet and subdued at all times? Had she affected them in some way?
    She gave herself a mental shake. Six years was a long time…William was right. It was time to look ahead. Debbie glanced around at her house. She really did like living there in Cyprus. Despite being anti-social and living an almost hermitic existence, the long sunny days from April to November were beneficial. Even the other months saw many weeks of calm and warm weather. The house was simple, and Debbie did her best to make it cheerful and welcoming for the family. There was a large typical fireplace in