Chapter Three - In Search of Truth

PJ's revelation was met with complete silence from both Jonesy and Susie. When this silence was finally broken PJ wasn't quite prepared for the response.

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head PJ? Cos that is the most ridiculous thing I've heard all day" Jonesy said his face close to breaking into one of his trademark smiles. PJ just looked back at him unable to believe that one of his closest friends in the world didn't believe him.

"I'm perfectly fine, thankyou Jonesy" PJ said haughtily "and I'm serious, I saw her with my own two eyes! You have to believe me". Jonesy's mouth was opening and closing like a dazed goldfish, he was about to tell PJ to get real when Susie interrupted.

"I believe you PJ" Susie said softly "I knew she couldn't be dead". Jonesy was stunned, apart from her tendency to get overexcited, Susie was supposed to be a sensible girl.

"PJ, Jo is dead and she isn't coming back. I don't think its fair of you to put us all, not to mention yourself, through this. We've all said our goodbyes, its over" By now Jonesy was pacing around the room unable to take all of this in.

"Jonesy I want you to come down to where I saw her and if we don't see anything I will let it go, you have my word" PJ's eyes were fixed on his friend now, silently pleading him to give him the benefit of the doubt. Jonesy sighed.

"Yeah alright PJ, I'll come with you but if we don't see anything then that is the end of it, ok?" Jonesy's eyes rested on Susie for a moment, who was smiling a thankyou at him.

The trio chose to make the journey over the beach early in the morning before the sun had reached its peak temperature. PJ was like a man on a mission and barely said a word for the entire journey. Susie was calm and collected on the outside but inside she felt like her insides were going to snap. But despite his vow to give PJ the benefit of the doubt Jonesy was filled with doubt over what PJ thought he saw.

"This is the place," PJ finally announced, but the place was completely empty. The beach undisturbed by the thousands of feet that made up the tourist population.

"Its still early" PJ quickly pointed out, sensing Jonesy's unease "She'll be here I just know it".

The morning came and went and soon the beach was packed with a throng of tourists. By the time lunch time rolled around all that was visible was a few scarce patches of pure white sand and hundreds of beach towels.

"This is ridiculous" Jonesy said loudly than he meant to "even if she was here do you really think you'd be able to find her in this..." He was cut off as PJ suddenly shot of into the crowd, he turned to Susie.

"What is he doing?" he was met with a shrug.

PJ's heart was in his throat as he pushed his was through the crowd, dodging sunbathers as he went. He'd seen her walking down the beach wearing a bright blue bikini covered partially by a apple green wrap around.

"Why do there have to be so many people," he whispered to himself. Finally he had caught up to her, emotion enveloped him as he reached out and grabbed her shoulder.

"Jo" he said loudly a grin spreading over his face. The woman spun around with a look of disdain on her face and to PJ's dismay he realised that she was certainly not Jo. Whilst she had the same basic build to her, her eyes were cold and unsympathetic and didn't have the same beautiful spark that Jo had always had. PJ mouthed an apology and turned around to see Jonesy and Susie standing behind him. They had obviously witnessed his moment of insanity. Susie walked up to him and swung her arms around him while whispering in his ear.

"I wanted it to be true too PJ" tears forming in her eyes. Jonesy nodded not daring to utter that he was right to doubt his friend.

"Lets go back " Susie said finally allowing herself to drop back to the ground. Jonesy agreed quietly and started to lead the way back to the apartment. After a few steps Susie noticed that PJ wasn't following. She stopped and gestured to him to come.

"Come on PJ, let's go," She said sympathetically, PJ just looked back and her blankly before replying.

"No I'm going to stay here for a bit, see if I can see her again" every rational part of him seemed to have gone out the window and Susie was worried.

"Aw come on PJ, you can't stay here, it wasn't Jo now lets go" but her words were bet by a defiant look as he shook his head. She nodded; he would come back in his own time. Till then she and Jonesy walked solemnly back to the apartment together.

"He looks as if someone has just ripped his heart out" Susie said fighting back tears. Jonesy didn't feel the need to say anything right at that moment, so he just put his arm around Susie and held her as close as he possibly could.

PJ was sitting there blankly on the beach for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn't long before what had happened caught up with him and he could feel his eyelids falling like lead weights over his eyes. He wasn't sure how long he slept for but it was what he woke to that he would never forget.