Page 138 of Serenity Falls

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‘So, what do we do?’ Ellis asks.

Sadie stares at her. ‘Talk to Father Miller?’

‘No way.’ Ramona shakes her head. ‘That dude gives me the creeps.’

‘He’s not going to tell a bunch of kids anything,’ Dax says.

‘And he’s going to want to know why we’re asking,’ Ellis adds. ‘Plus, he might tell our parents.’

‘Oh, man. My dad would freak,’ Ramona mutters.

Sadie rolls her eyes. ‘So, what do you want to do?’

They all fall silent. The former excitement has faded. What do they do? Who do they talk to?

‘Maybe we should just take this to the police.’

Ramona shakes her head again. ‘Jerry won’t do shit.’

Sadie has only met Jerry twice, but she would have to concur.

‘Maybe we should just sit on it for a bit,’ Dax suggests. ‘Think about a strategy. I mean—’

He breaks off. The librarian from the front desk is approaching their table. Freya. A waft of sweet perfume billows over them.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she says. ‘But the library closes from twelve today, so I’m going to have to ask you all to leave in a few minutes.’

‘Can’t we stay a little longer, Miss Green?’ Ramona asks. ‘I mean, I work here. I can keep an eye on stuff.’

‘Well, that’s very kind, Ro, honey. But I’m afraid not.’

She smiles lopsidedly and then her gaze falls on the papers spread out on the table. Sadie shuffles them towards her, covering them with her arm. ‘We’re probably done here for now.’

‘No problem.’ Freya nods and pads away again. Sadie watches her.

‘I probably should have mentioned her face, right?’ Ramona says.

‘What, no. I mean, it’s fine. What happened?’

‘Dunno exactly. Something to do with an accident with a kettle.’

‘Right. Well, she seems nice.’

‘Yeah,’ Ellis says in an odd tone.

‘What?’

Ellis shrugs. ‘I don’t know. I don’t really like her. Nothing to do with her face. Just, it’s like she’s too nice.’

‘Ellis doesn’t trust nice people,’ Dax says.

‘Don’t know what that says about us,’ Ramona adds with a grin.

Ellis nudges her in the ribs.

Dax checks his phone. ‘I should head, anyway. I’ve got a shift at the cinema.’