The Flood Page 11

  16

  June 2010

  Trudging home alone, Daniela wondered whether she should tell her family that Franklyn had left. They’d figure it out soon enough. Daniela could feign ignorance and no one would doubt her.

  Already Franklyn’s absence made Daniela restless and irritated, and more aware of how claustrophobic Stonecrop was. The urge to leave was stronger than ever. Twice she almost turned back to get on the same bus as Franklyn.

  She thought of the money Franklyn had taken from Henry’s shop. The burglary still sat badly with Daniela, although Henry undoubtedly deserved it – he was a shit person, breaking the law with his petty counterfeit business, and it was Franklyn’s money to begin with. Didn’t Franklyn have the right to take it back?

  Somehow, Daniela didn’t think Stephanie would see it the same way. Maybe that’s what made Daniela uncomfortable – the idea of being caught. She tried to shove the thought away. She wasn’t a goddamn kid anymore. She wouldn’t go through life being scared of her big sister.

  Why the hell didn’t I go with Franklyn?

  The weather had turned cooler and the sky was filled with fat, pregnant clouds. The rains that year had been unusually light. Often the River Clynebade broke its banks long before now. But this year they’d been lucky – so far. Daniela looked at the sky and knew it was only a matter of time.

  When she reached her house, she circled around to the back and snuck in through the kitchen, intending to grab something to eat before retreating to her bedroom. It was still early and she hoped no one would be about. Stephanie’s car was gone from outside. It was unlikely their father would be awake before midday.

  Daniela had somehow forgotten Auryn and Leo were at the house. More annoyingly, they were at the kitchen table eating breakfast when she opened the door, and they gave her identical looks of surprise.

  ‘I didn’t realise you’d gone out,’ Auryn said.

  ‘Didn’t know I needed to post a notice.’ Daniela kept her eyes away from Leo. She went to the cupboard and rummaged for something edible.

  ‘We left you some bread if you want toast,’ Leo said. He started clearing the plates from the table. ‘I’m putting the kettle back on.’

  Auryn got up and gave Leo a quick, self-conscious kiss. ‘I’m gonna take a shower.’

  Daniela plonked down in a chair. She wondered if Auryn was avoiding her, but Daniela was too keyed up to worry about it. She still felt the trailing edge of the sick thrill left over from the burglary. If Leo hadn’t been there, Daniela might’ve told Auryn everything.

  She watched Leo potter about the kitchen like it was his own. He switched the kettle on and, whilst waiting for it to boil, loaded plates into the dishwasher. Daniela tried to remember her father doing similar things. Or her mother, for that matter. It was easier to picture Leo in that role, growing older alongside Auryn, sharing a kitchen and a life, if not in this house then another similar one. It ignited a spark of jealousy, which Daniela quickly snuffed.

  ‘So, Daniela.’ Leo smiled as he drew her name out in his sing-song fashion. ‘Where did you go?’

  Daniela wished she had a cute nickname for him that she could throw back. ‘Just for a walk,’ she said. ‘I needed some air.’

  ‘It’s a shame you didn’t go into Stonecrop. You could’ve got more milk.’ Leo shook the half-empty carton. ‘Well, there’s enough for the three of us. I’ve half a mind to switch to black tea when I’m here.’

  The floorboards creaked as Auryn moved across to the bathroom above them. In that house, it was difficult to go anywhere or do anything quietly.

  Leo checked his phone. It was a brand-new model, sleek and shiny, the white cover unblemished. Daniela was sure Auryn had bought it for him. Leo pocketed it.

  ‘I wonder if …’ He trailed off, then glanced at the door and chewed his lip.

  Daniela hadn’t noticed before, but there was a tension about Leo, not just in his voice, but in how he held his body, his elbows tucked close and his back stiff.

  ‘Hey,’ Leo tried again, ‘can I talk to you?’

  Daniela started to make a flippant remark, but his nervousness stopped her. ‘Sure,’ she said.

  ‘It’s about what happened in the shop.’

  For a second, Daniela thought Leo had somehow found out about the burglary. Then she realised he meant the argument yesterday. ‘What about it?’

  ‘Was it serious?’

  ‘Nah, not really. More like handbags-at-dawn, y’know?’

  ‘It looked serious to me.’

  ‘Maybe it depends where you were standing. You guys were all the way at the back. It didn’t look so much from where I was. A bit of swearing and a scuffle, that’s all.’

  ‘Oh.’

  For some reason he sounded disappointed. Daniela wondered if she should’ve exaggerated her own involvement. God, what a dumb thought. Being alone with Leo, aware of his movements and his smell … it unsettled Daniela. They’d known each other forever – shouldn’t Daniela be comfortable in his presence by now? But Leo had an unnerving quality. He wasn’t like anyone Daniela knew.

  What had started as a harmless if inappropriate infatuation was growing into something worse, and Daniela felt powerless. She stared at the floor because she hated herself for staring at Leo. It was made all the more unbearable because he obviously had no clue how she felt.

  He wandered back to the table to get his mug, and Daniela had to shrink back to avoid his arm brushing hers.

  ‘I think Dad sees it as more than a scuffle,’ Leo said then. ‘He’ll take it seriously.’

  Daniela shrugged as carelessly as she could manage. ‘He can think what he likes. Doesn’t matter to me.’

  ‘No? You don’t care if he causes trouble for your family?’

  ‘We can deal with anything he does,’ Daniela said, but she heard her own uncertainty. How would Henry react when he discovered the break-in?

  ‘It won’t just be pushing and shoving next time,’ Leo said. ‘Sometimes, at home, when he properly loses his temper, it’s scary. I know he’d never do anything to hurt me or Mum, but—’ He chewed his lip again. ‘You don’t know what it’s like. Franklyn shouldn’t antagonise him.’

  ‘Why d’you assume it’s Franklyn’s fault? No offence, but from where I was standing it looked like your dad started it.’

  Leo brushed his fringe away from his face. ‘I’m just worried, that’s all.’

  ‘About Franklyn? She can look after herself.’

  ‘Can you?’

  Daniela blinked. ‘Me?’

  ‘Dad’s never been a fan of your family. He’s still bitter about the way your father broke off the business partnership. It was bad enough when me and Auryn started going out, but now …’ Leo dropped his gaze. ‘You didn’t hear the way Dad was talking yesterday, after the fight. I’m scared what he might be planning.’

  17

  To be honest, Daniela liked the idea of Leo worrying about her. Not because it was fun seeing Leo upset, but because Daniela liked feeling she was worth someone’s concern.

  She wished she could reassure Leo. But all Daniela could think was, I’m scared too, and she could hardly say that out loud. In the silence of the kitchen, with Leo chewing his lip and looking so uncertain, Daniela shared his fear; believed, yeah, maybe Henry was planning something and, yeah, maybe everyone should be worried.

  But an hour later, after Daniela left the house on the pretext of going into Stonecrop to buy something proper for lunch, it felt like maybe Leo was being melodramatic. His dad was an occasional nutcase, sure, but if Henry was mad at anyone it’d be Franklyn. He wouldn’t care about Daniela.

  When she reached the village centre, her feet automatically put her on the road past the antiques shop. The shop was still closed. Daniela peeked through the windows, trying to look casual, but there was little to see inside. Less than three hours had passed since she and Franklyn had broken in. Chances were the damage hadn’t been discovered yet.

  As she pas
sed the open door to the corner shop, Margaret McKearney looked up from arranging the magazine rack and gave a cheerful wave. Daniela wondered if Margaret knew what her husband was up to. Did any of the counterfeit cigarettes end up behind the counter?

  Daniela couldn’t face going into the shop to buy food. Anyway, she wasn’t sure she was hungry. Her stomach was still unsettled.

  She crossed the main street, passed the Crossed Swords, which wasn’t open yet, then ducked into a lane that terminated at a five-bar gate. A path from there took her in a long loop through the woods, wandering almost as far as Winterbridge Farm, then along the back lanes to the northwest of Stonecrop. She had no motive for walking, beyond a desire to be out in the fresh air where she could think. And she hadn’t wanted to hang out with Auryn and Leo. Listening to their plans for university made her irritable. So, she walked, knowing each path would inevitably lead her back home.

  Even though it was before midday, Daniela felt the sting of another wasted day. Everything she did was just killing time, waiting for something better to happen.

  The sun was trying its best to break through the clouds, but it was still chilly in the shadows of the trees. Daniela took a less-worn path that came close enough to the banks of the Clyne for her to hear the water. This section of the woods was deserted. She had the place to herself.

  Or so she thought. As she stepped over an outcropping of rock that jutted into the track, she glimpsed another walker, coming towards her.

  Daniela disliked meeting anyone else when she was out. It ruined the illusion that those woods belonged exclusively to her. She stepped off the path and cut between the trees in the direction of the river, keeping her head down so she wouldn’t have to make eye contact with the person.

  She went around a mossy pile of felled branches. The trail was indistinct, used only occasionally by fishermen looking for the perfect spot by the river. The Clyne flowed past a few feet away. The river was high, even with the lack of recent rains, the waters turgid and muddy with runoff from the fields. Unseen currents created patterns on the surface.

  When Daniela glanced back, she realised the person had stepped off the main path as well. They were coming towards the river. Annoyed, Daniela shoved her hands in her pockets and walked faster.

  Up ahead, she spotted a car park. In the height of summer, it was a popular picnic spot, but at this time of year it was usually abandoned. At the edge of the car park, where tarmac gave way to scrubby grass, a footpath led down to the riverbank. Next to the walkway were two picnic benches on concrete bases. In the sunshine, it might’ve been a pleasant spot, with trees shading the benches and flowing water cooling the air. Right now, it was dismal.

  There was one vehicle in the car park. It looked familiar.

  Too late, Daniela realised it was Henry’s car. She’d seen him getting into it just that morning.

  She turned and saw Henry striding towards her, coming around the other side of the mossy pile of branches to cut her off. He’d covered the distance fast.

  Daniela didn’t stop to think. She took off at a run along the muddy riverbank.

  She should’ve followed the footpath into the car park, but if Henry wanted to he could’ve easily intercepted her before she got there. So instead she plunged into the long grass at the side of the river. The weeds swiped at her legs.

  Too late she realised her mistake. It’d been several months since she’d last used that route. Last time she’d been there, a narrow trail skirted the edge of the river before widening out and curving back towards the road. But over the winter, heavy rains had washed out a whole chunk of the bank and carried it away. Daniela found herself at a dead end where ten feet of riverbank had been washed away by the river. She could see the path continuing after the gap but it was too far away for her to jump. The bite-shaped chasm between was filled by a sweep of muddy water. To her left was a thick wall of brambles. She could never get through that.

  She spun around to find Henry ambling towards her.

  ‘Lost, are we?’ Henry said. He stopped some distance away. His expression was bland, but he’d placed himself deliberately so he was blocking Daniela’s escape.

  Daniela clenched her hands inside her pockets. Why was he here? Had he followed her? Or was it coincidence that he’d spotted her walking and decided to speak to her?

  Regardless, Daniela was all too aware that she was alone out there, with no one to help if anything happened.

  She swallowed down her fear and went to barge past Henry.

  He moved into her way. Daniela stopped short to avoid running into him. She eyed him warily.

  ‘What do you want?’ Daniela asked. She hated how her voice wavered.

  ‘A conversation, for starters,’ Henry said. ‘I’d like to know why you broke into my shop this morning.’

  Daniela’s stomach contracted. ‘I didn’t—’

  ‘There were two sets of footprints across my yard. One set belongs to Franklyn, I’m sure. The other? I’m betting it was yours. Correct?’

  He took a step forwards and Daniela retreated. ‘I don’t know what you’re on about,’ she said.

  ‘No? How about an easier question then? Where’s Franklyn?’

  Daniela tried to dodge past him on the river side. Henry’s arms shot out and pushed her back. Daniela stumbled. Her foot slipped off the bank and she went to one knee. She scrambled backwards, regaining her feet, her heart pumping. The toe of her left foot was wet where it’d dipped into the river.

  Henry advanced again. Daniela backed off. She was all too aware of the broken gap behind her, cutting off all escape.

  She glanced behind her. The river was six feet deep, and although it looked sluggish, the current was strong. She could picture what it was like to sink, for water to flood her mouth and nose, to be pulled down and down—

  ‘Steady,’ Henry said. He was smiling again. ‘It’d be easy for someone to slip and fall here.’

  ‘Get away from me.’

  ‘And let you fall in? What kind of friend would I be if I did that?’ Henry shook his head. ‘Where’s Franklyn?’

  ‘I-I don’t know.’ Daniela heard the edge of fear in her voice. She swallowed and tried again. ‘I don’t know. I’ve not seen her all day.’

  Henry clucked his tongue. ‘Let’s skip over that obvious lie. When you last saw her, where was she going?’

  ‘Why don’t you go find her yourself?’

  ‘That’s the trouble. When she doesn’t want to be found, she can be difficult.’ Henry took another step towards her. His tone was still conversational. ‘She’s not here in Stonecrop. I’m guessing she’s not anywhere in Birmingham that I’d find her. So, where’s she gone?’

  Daniela could only shake her head.

  Henry had now come forwards so far, he was within arm’s reach. There was nowhere else for Daniela to go. Her heels were inches from the broken edge of the bank.

  ‘It’ll be easier if you just tell me,’ Henry said. ‘I don’t want to have to trouble Auryn by asking her instead.’

  Was that a threat? Daniela tensed. She wished she’d listened to Leo when he’d tried to warn her about his dad. She hadn’t taken him seriously. She’d figured Henry was all talk. Their families had known each other for years; she’d grown up thinking he was her uncle. But now, with him right in front of her, she was so scared she could barely breathe.

  ‘I-I can call Frankie,’ she heard herself saying. ‘I can—’

  ‘You think I haven’t tried calling?’

  ‘She won’t answer if she knows it’s you. She’ll answer me.’

  Henry held her gaze for another moment. Then he smiled and held out his hand. ‘Give me your phone, then.’

  If there’d been any space behind her, Daniela would’ve backed away further. Her eyes darted left and right, looking for a weapon—

  Her breath caught in her throat as she remembered the knife in her pocket.

  Henry still had his hand out. ‘This is very simple,’ he said. ‘
Give me your phone, or I’ll go straight home and tell the police that you and your idiot sister broke into my shop this morning. How do you think your dad will feel about that?’

  Pretending to look for her phone, Daniela reached into the inside pocket of her jacket. The knife handle was cool against her palm. Her left hand went into her front pocket and got out her phone.

  Instead of handing over the phone, she tossed it high over his head. It dropped with a splat into the mud some distance behind him. Annoyance flashed across Henry’s face.

  ‘Now let me past,’ she said. She managed to keep the tremor from her voice.

  The look of annoyance turned into a smirk. Henry held up his hands mockingly and stepped out of her way. To get past, Daniela would have to cross between him and the river. It would be way too easy for him to shove her into the water as she darted past.

  ‘Move,’ she said.

  Henry stayed where he was, still smirking.

  ‘Move.’ Daniela flicked out the blade of the knife.

  That got rid of his smile. His eyes moved from the blade to her face and back again.

  ‘Are you still claiming you didn’t steal anything from my shop?’ he asked with a nod to the distinctive knife.

  ‘Get out of my way.’

  With a shrug, Henry stepped backwards. He kept a watchful eye on her face. As he passed where her phone lay in the mud, he bent down to scoop it up, then stepped off the path onto the verge. He pressed back into the edge of the bramble bushes to give Daniela plenty of room to get past.

  She considered demanding her phone back. But all she wanted in that moment was to get away. The hand holding the knife was shaking.

  ‘Mind your footing,’ Henry said, looking down at the muddy ground. ‘It’s a bit cold for swimming at this time of year.’

  Daniela edged as close as she dared before darting past him. The knife was gripped tight in her hand, ready to swing at Henry if he so much as moved, but he leaned back well out of her way. His eyes were still cautious.