Page 126 of D for Dead

He worked hard at school, knowing the only way he would escape Melford would be to excel academically, and he did so, graduating and getting accepted at Cornell University in New York to study for a degree in computer science.

It was during the first summer break back home in Melford that he met Nadine Williams, a sullen girl with a bad attitude who had been kicked out of her parents’ house and taken in by her sympathetic aunt.

Nadine was a couple of years older than Troy, hard work to be around and acted as if the world owed her a favour. She wasn’t soft and pretty in a natural way like Amy, but there was still a connection and something special about her.

His parents disagreed. Nadine Williams was trash. She had a criminal record for shoplifting, had dropped out of high school and drifted aimlessly through an array of dead-end jobs before moving to Melford. Her aunt had pulled some strings, persuaded the owner of the local diner to take her on, but did their hard-working son really want to hook up with a waitress?

Troy didn’t listen to them. He was already fixated on Nadine and spent the first two weeks of his summer vacation sitting in a booth in the diner, sipping coffee, and watching her as she worked. At first she seemed irritated by the attention, but eventually she relented and agreed to go out with him; he went to pains to make her feel special, knowing he had to win her over. By the end of summer she was putty in his hands.

This was good. He needed this one. This one was special.

And so their relationship blossomed, much to the Cunninghams’ chagrin. Troy had at least been a positive influence on Nadine, who kept her head down and, although still sullen, toed the line and held on to her job in the diner, living for the promise that once he graduated, he would take her away from Melford and they would start a life together.

It was during his third year at Cornell Troy ran into Cap. His old friend had not long graduated high school and was in New York staying at his father’s plush apartment. It was good to see him and the years apart melted away as they settled straight back into the easy friendship they had once shared.

It was after watching a ball game at Cap’s dad’s place that the subject of Tucker Johnson came up.

‘I wish I had been there with you the night it had happened.’

‘What night?’ Troy asked, knowing full well what his friend was referring to.

‘The night in the basement with the girl. I’m guessing you never told anyone else?’

Troy was silent for a moment. Cap was the only one who knew he’d been there. ‘No, no one else knows.’

‘I would have liked to have been there; to see it happen.’

‘Why?’

‘You know, to see what he did to her.’

‘That’s sick, man.’

‘Is it?’ Cap grinned and Troy was unsure if he was fooling around or not. ‘Is it sick? Did it not turn you on just a bit, seeing her all chained up?’

‘I was just a kid.’

‘But old enough to have a crush on a girl. What was her name, the one who got away?’

‘Amy.’

‘You ever hear any more about her?’

‘Not since she got out of hospital and went back home.’

‘I bet she still thinks about that night and what would have happened if she hadn’t gotten away. I wonder why she never told the police.’

Troy shrugged and took a sip of his beer. ‘I dunno. I guess she had her reasons.’

‘You didn’t tell.’

‘No.’

‘I bet it’s because you liked what you saw.’

‘I did not.’ Colour heated Troy’s cheeks as anger bubbled inside. ‘I didn’t tell because I didn’t want to get into trouble.’

‘Liar.’