Laura Cassidy: Angel Kiss

Come on, Jacki. You have to decide, I told myself.

‘Dad,’ I whispered, ‘I know I can’t talk to you. But you might be able to hear me anyway. I need you to help me. I need you to give me a sign.’

I turned round and walked back to the path. That’s when I noticed the large stone facing the sculpture. It seemed to have some sort of inscription engraved on it. I moved closer and read:

This sculpture and area of reflection is dedicated to all missing persons. May all relatives and friends who visit find continuing strength and hope.

I had my answer.

Just as I reached for my phone, it started to ring.

‘Hello,’ I said.

‘Morning!’ Mum’s voice was comforting as always. ‘We’re just leaving Avarna now, so we should be in Dublin around lunchtime.’

‘I can’t wait to see you!’ I said. We’d arranged to spend a couple of nights in Dublin to visit Gran.

‘How did your gig go?’

‘It went great.’ I hadn’t decided whether to tell Mum about Sergeant Lawlor. But it definitely wasn’t the kind of thing I could tell her over the phone.

‘I’m sorry I missed it.’

‘It’s fine, Mum. Sure you’ve been to enough of them.’

‘I know I have!’

‘Tell her! Tell her!’ I could hear Des shouting in the background.

‘Tell me what?’ I said.

‘Well, we have some news.’ She sounded a bit nervous. ‘You’re… you’re going to be a big sister!’

‘Oh my god… you’re pregnant?’ I was so shocked. But very excited.

‘Yes!’

‘Oh, wow! That’s amazing! We can celebrate later!’ I knew Mum and Des had been planning to have a baby, but I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. I was really happy for them.

‘So we’ll see you in Gran’s?’ said Mum.

‘Definitely, I’m going to get the bus to Dublin soon. I’m meeting Hannah and the others for lunch, then I’ll go straight to Gran’s.’

‘Great, see you later.’

‘See you later!’ shouted Des.

I had just hung up when the phone beeped with a text.

Miss you x

It was from Nick. I missed him too. Now I had so much news to tell him. But I had another call to make first.

I stood for a few minutes with the phone in my hand, staring at the screen. Then I took the white card out of my back pocket and dialled the number written on it. He answered straight away.

‘Detective Sergeant Lawlor.’

‘Hi,’ I said. ‘This is Jacki King.’

‘Hello, Jacki. How are you?’ He sounded very professional, but I could still sense the anticipation in his voice.

‘I’m well, thanks. I’ve decided to do it. I’ve decided to help with Operation Trail.’ As I said it, I could feel a familiar mix of fear and excitement rising inside me. This was it. There was no going back now.

‘Thank you,’ said Sergeant Lawlor. ‘That’s good news. I’ll let the team know and will be in touch.’

I slipped my phone into my coat pocket, then turned and walked back towards the castle.

Four.

The number of women I have to help.

I’d like to thank:

My agent Faith O’Grady, my editor Paddy O’Doherty and everyone at Puffin for making my dreams come true. My first readers and researchers, especially Kitty, Charlene and Conal. Anthea, Liz, Martina and Laura for all their help and encouragement. My grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends for their enthusiasm. My beloved blog readers. Vanessa O’Loughlin for her support at every step and for being my literary angel. Sarah Webb, Claire Hennessy and David Maybury for giving such great advice and for welcoming me into their world. John Kilfeather for brightening up mine. My brother, Liam, for all his help and for always believing in me. And my parents, Joe and Jean, for everything.

Laura Jane Cassidy was born in 1986 in County Kildare in Ireland and has taken time out from her Drama studies at Trinity College Dublin to write full-time. She dislikes it when people use the Internet to cheat at table quizzes, but likes it when they use it to visit her popular blog, laurajanecassidy.com , where she talks about book-related matters, as well as playlists, fashion and lots of other stuff. Angel Kiss is her first novel.