Part 4

Cape Verde Islands

Carol moved in her sleep, rolling towards the other occupant of the bed. Drowsily she reached up to stroke Susan's face.

Aah!' she screamed, touching stubble. There was a man in the bed – although at her scream he had shot out of bed.

Who the hell are you?' he demanded.

I like that!' Carol said, outraged, This is my hotel room, what are you doing here? And where's Susan?' The man blinked, looking confused.

Where is this?' Layabout tourist drunk drug addict, Carol thought. She'd heard about English soccer fans, although she wasn't aware of any matches on the islands, but she supposed that sort of person didn't need a soccer match or indeed didn't even need to like the game. She dialled hotel security. She eyed the man warily as he looked out the window and asked again, Where is this? What's going on?'

Security? I've got a strange man in my room, will you get him out, now? Room 314.' She heard a tapping on her door and since the man still seemed to be staring out the window and not about to interfere, she opened the door.

Mom, what's happening?' Ben saw the man, Who's that?'

I don't know. Security is coming.' She wished the man would attempt to run away, then it would not be her problem. Instead, he stayed near the window. He wasn't interested in her, that was clear, but it was almost as though he had no idea where to go.

Where's Susan?' Ben asked.

I don't know,' Carol said, worried. What have you done with Susan?' The man turned back to her.

I think we'd better get some things straight. I have no idea where I am, how I got here, who this Susan is, or who you two are for that matter. The last thing I remember is going to bed with my wife, in our house. I had no wine at dinner and I haven't had a spliff in years, so I am fairly sure I'm not hallucinating.'

Mad,' Ben breathed. He'd never seen a madman in real life before and he was making sure he got a good look.

I don't believe a word of it,' Carol snapped.

Neither do I but in the absence of further enlightenment it will have to do,' the man said. Would you mind telling me where I am?'

The Verde Grande.' Carol wondered where the security people were. Why wouldn't they hurry up? The man sighed.

Let's start big shall we? What country?'

'What do you mean, What country?' Carol exclaimed.

Cape Verde Islands. Of the coast of Africa. West Coast,' Ben said, as helpfully as possible. The man buried his face in his hands.

Oh God, this is some kind of nightmare,' he said. Carol wasn't sure whose. The hotel people arrived.

I think you'd better call the police,' Carol said. My room mate is missing.' Apart from saying he wanted someone from the embassy, the man said nothing as he was taken away. There was no clue as to what had happened to Susan.

New York

Phoebe paced the room under the glare of Rachel and Susan, and to the puzzlement of Mike. It was still the middle of the night but Rachel and Susan were in no mood to care what time it was. The only person being shown consideration at the moment was Emma. Rachel had briefly considered leaving her with Monica, but that would have taken time in explaining what was going on, time, with Ross stuck in another country, she did not want to lose. Emma was now asleep in Phoebe's bed, happy for a bed time kiss from her honorary aunty Phoebe, and oblivious to the undercurrents.

I don't know why you're blaming Phoebe,' Mike said for the eleventh time.

She was the one going on about triangles and mystic connections between London, New York and the Cape Verde Islands,' Rachel said. She's the only possible reason that any of these things could have happened.'

Yes, but what did I do?' Phoebe asked, We looked at the atlas. Here it is.' She took the rock off the book and showed the page. 'You were there, so was Monica. What's so risky about opening an atlas.'

What did you go after we went home?' Rachel asked, Come on Phoebe.'

I'm trying,' she said upset. Look, we had the atlas open, we had some coffee, we talked some more. Mike came home, you two left. I had a shower, and then I came out to put the things away. I just had a look at the map again and then I went to bed.'

What was that rock?' Susan asked.

Oh that? I was just playing around.' She picked up the rock. You see these lines? Well if you put the rock here – '

Phoebe!' Rachel shouted. Phoebe stared as she placed the rock on the Atlantic Ocean. What did you do next – just tell me, don't do it.'

Well you see how the lines point to New York, London and the islands? I just wanted to see if you turned the rock around if they still lined up and they did.'

That's it,' Rachel said. I don't know why but that's it.'