an article about Matt, regardless of what I found out. I wasn’t
ready to give it up entirely, though. Perhaps there was a better story to be
found, or one that I could write that wouldn’t hurt them as much. Doubtful, I
thought, but stranger things have happened.
I knew Matt was due back from Spain later that day,
and I dreaded seeing him after our doomed kiss. I wondered if he dreaded seeing
me, or if he had even thought about me since I’d left. I didn’t even have the
energy to smile smugly at Sarah as I passed her office that morning, and I sat
at my own desk in a haze of annoyance and bad temper.
I thought about Matt’s sister, the beautiful Leila.
I felt like she was the key to something, although I wasn’t sure what. I typed
her name into Google and pressed search.
The first item that came up was a newspaper article
and I clicked on it. I read the opening lines and felt sick.
Police have confirmed that the body
found at a property in Madrid last Thursday has been identified as that of
24-year-old Leila Westwall, a British citizen.
The circumstances of the incident are
still under investigation, but police have revealed they are treating it as
suspicious.
The Westwall family say they are
devastated by the loss of their bright, darling daughter and sister, and have
appealed for privacy to grieve their loss.
Suspicious? Like murder? I had assumed she had died
in a car crash, or of an illness. But this? This was awful. I went back to the
search results and clicked on the next entry, desperate to know more, but
simultaneously not wanting to read the horrible details.
Police have confirmed that the death of
24-year-old Leila Westwall, who was found dead in her in flat in Madrid last
Thursday, is being treated as murder. The British citizen, who moved to Madrid
just six months ago, is believed to have suffered severe head injuries. Police
are enquiring for any witnesses to contact them immediately, but have stressed
there is no cause for general alarm as it is believed to be an isolated crime.
I closed down the window. That poor family. I felt
my anger at Matt trickling away. No wonder he said he was a wreck when his
sister died. Who wouldn’t be? I couldn’t imagine someone I loved being taken
away from me on purpose by another human being. It was just monstrous.
Matt arrived back in the office in the early
afternoon, evidently straight from the airport as he was clutching his suitcase
as he came through the door. He saw me sitting there and immediately looked
awkward, but I smiled at him. After what I’d just read about his sister, I
couldn’t bear to be cold with him, even after what had happened the other night
in Spain. I thought he’d suffered enough in his life.
‘Welcome back,’ I said. ‘Good flight?’
He seemed surprised by my friendly demeanour, but
nodded, setting his case down.
‘Yes, it was fine thanks. Mum didn’t want me to go,
of course, but I had to get back here. I’ve got so much work to do.’
I nodded sympathetically. ‘I’ve moved around as much
as I can, but I can’t get rid of Sarah.’ I threw up my hands to indicate I had
tried and failed. ‘She’s determined to see you today.’
I’d had a succession of blunt emails from her –
evidently now even talking to me face-to-face was too much to bear – telling me
this meeting was vital and could not be rearranged. She also assured me Matt
would want it go ahead.
He made a face and I could tell he wasn’t in the
mood for it. I should have tried harder to put it off.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I should have been more
forceful.’
He shook his head.
‘Don’t be silly, I know Sarah can be a bit pushy.’
He stopped and stared at me, looking awkward. ‘Look…’ he began, haltingly.
‘About what happened…’
‘Say no more,’ I said, breezily. ‘You were right.
What happens in Spain, stays in Spain.’
‘Oh.’
Was it my imagination, or did he seem disappointed?
‘As long as you’re
ready to give it up entirely, though. Perhaps there was a better story to be
found, or one that I could write that wouldn’t hurt them as much. Doubtful, I
thought, but stranger things have happened.
I knew Matt was due back from Spain later that day,
and I dreaded seeing him after our doomed kiss. I wondered if he dreaded seeing
me, or if he had even thought about me since I’d left. I didn’t even have the
energy to smile smugly at Sarah as I passed her office that morning, and I sat
at my own desk in a haze of annoyance and bad temper.
I thought about Matt’s sister, the beautiful Leila.
I felt like she was the key to something, although I wasn’t sure what. I typed
her name into Google and pressed search.
The first item that came up was a newspaper article
and I clicked on it. I read the opening lines and felt sick.
Police have confirmed that the body
found at a property in Madrid last Thursday has been identified as that of
24-year-old Leila Westwall, a British citizen.
The circumstances of the incident are
still under investigation, but police have revealed they are treating it as
suspicious.
The Westwall family say they are
devastated by the loss of their bright, darling daughter and sister, and have
appealed for privacy to grieve their loss.
Suspicious? Like murder? I had assumed she had died
in a car crash, or of an illness. But this? This was awful. I went back to the
search results and clicked on the next entry, desperate to know more, but
simultaneously not wanting to read the horrible details.
Police have confirmed that the death of
24-year-old Leila Westwall, who was found dead in her in flat in Madrid last
Thursday, is being treated as murder. The British citizen, who moved to Madrid
just six months ago, is believed to have suffered severe head injuries. Police
are enquiring for any witnesses to contact them immediately, but have stressed
there is no cause for general alarm as it is believed to be an isolated crime.
I closed down the window. That poor family. I felt
my anger at Matt trickling away. No wonder he said he was a wreck when his
sister died. Who wouldn’t be? I couldn’t imagine someone I loved being taken
away from me on purpose by another human being. It was just monstrous.
Matt arrived back in the office in the early
afternoon, evidently straight from the airport as he was clutching his suitcase
as he came through the door. He saw me sitting there and immediately looked
awkward, but I smiled at him. After what I’d just read about his sister, I
couldn’t bear to be cold with him, even after what had happened the other night
in Spain. I thought he’d suffered enough in his life.
‘Welcome back,’ I said. ‘Good flight?’
He seemed surprised by my friendly demeanour, but
nodded, setting his case down.
‘Yes, it was fine thanks. Mum didn’t want me to go,
of course, but I had to get back here. I’ve got so much work to do.’
I nodded sympathetically. ‘I’ve moved around as much
as I can, but I can’t get rid of Sarah.’ I threw up my hands to indicate I had
tried and failed. ‘She’s determined to see you today.’
I’d had a succession of blunt emails from her –
evidently now even talking to me face-to-face was too much to bear – telling me
this meeting was vital and could not be rearranged. She also assured me Matt
would want it go ahead.
He made a face and I could tell he wasn’t in the
mood for it. I should have tried harder to put it off.
‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I should have been more
forceful.’
He shook his head.
‘Don’t be silly, I know Sarah can be a bit pushy.’
He stopped and stared at me, looking awkward. ‘Look…’ he began, haltingly.
‘About what happened…’
‘Say no more,’ I said, breezily. ‘You were right.
What happens in Spain, stays in Spain.’
‘Oh.’
Was it my imagination, or did he seem disappointed?
‘As long as you’re
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