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really should say something. Sneaking out without even a word smacked too much like running away. Even if running away was exactly what she was doing. Thinking, she leaned down and quickly wrote a short note. As an after thought she wrote her number after her name. If David needed to find out what had actually happened the night before, he could call her, she decided.
    Glancing toward the bed, she could see that he was sleeping soundly. So far so good. She reached his bedside and placed the note next to an open bottle of painkillers.
    Beth left the room quietly, carrying her shoes in one hand and handbag in the other. Headed barefoot to the taxi rank was a cowardly way to exit but it did work.

Chapter 7
    As Beth arrived home she stood on the front step to take a few deep calming breaths before going inside. She looked down the street and back, feeling the chill of the cold early morning air. Beth loved this neighbourhood, this house. The Victorian terrace had that warm familiar feeling of home and Beth could feel herself relaxing. She walked up the five broad stone stairs feeling much calmer and let herself in the house. Hearing voices raised in the kitchen, she tossed her keys on the sideboard and headed toward the back of the house. This was going to take some explaining.
    She and Vickie had inherited this house from their parents twelve years before. Their parents had loved each brick of the place and had run it as a Bed and Breakfast while they had been alive. Now the twins shared the house with Vickie’s husband, Scott. It was a comfortable existence. The front living room was formal with its elegant furniture and heavy cream drapes. Opposite the living room was the family room which was perfect for watching TV and just lazing around. Both rooms were to the front of the house and their huge bay windows let in light and stretched from knee high to the ceiling. Next to the family room running further into the house was the study where Vickie and Beth ran their business. The rest of the ground floor was taken up by the kitchen and hallway. With its wooden floors and old world charm the house was perfect for them.
    Beth adored all the memories she had of the place but the house was especially perfect because it had plenty of room for her to share it with Vickie and her husband. They each had plenty of privacy with the top floors of the house had been converted into spacious private flats. They had the room to live as a family without living in each others personal space. Nowhere else in London would you be able to get this sort of living and at no cost. The sisters counted their lucky stars every time they came home.
    As she got closer to the kitchen, Beth could hear a deep baritone say gently, “I don’t think we need to call out search parties – the hotel probably put her up for the night.” Bless Scott, she thought, he was trying to calm her highly excitable sister before Vickie called out every friend and family member. Beth smiled, relieved she had arrived just in time; she’d never have been able to live it down if Vickie had been let loose.
    “I called the hotel! She wasn’t registered there and she never turned up at Karin’s. I’m telling you something happened. We have to find her!” Vicky’s normally placid voice sounded frantic. She had obviously gone up to Beth’s flat to find her sister only to realise she hadn’t made it home. Beth walked down the hall into the kitchen trying to keep her cool. There was a chance, a slim chance but a real chance, that she could get away without complete embarrassment.
    “I’m here,” she said moving into the room and put her bag down on the granite kitchen top. Scott and Vicky swung round in mid discussion and stood staring open mouthed at her. Their expressions went from relief to surprised shock.
    Both were in their robes looking as if they had just got out of bed. Scott’s blond hair was ruffled and he looked as dishevelled as a banker could look. Vickie