Page 164 of Serenity Falls

‘What the?’

He raises a hand, as if to wave.

I look around and grab the only thing close to me. The telephone chair. I brandish it as if warding off a rabid dog.

‘Get back, or I’ll beat the shit out of you. I’ve no fucking qualms about a second dead armadillo.’

Arnie raises his other hand.

‘I’m warning—’

Sadie runs down the stairs. Double shit.

‘Sadie! Get out of here. Go find a neighbour. Call Jerry.’

Sadie stares at me and Arnie.

‘Dad, what are you doing?’

‘What am I doing?’

‘Put the chair down. It’s okay.’

‘It’s … what?’ I stare at her in confusion.

Arnie reaches up and wriggles his head off.

Beneath it is a young man. Blond hair in a ponytail, very blue eyes.

It takes me a moment. I frown, trying to put the pieces together, hearing Jerry’s voice: ‘Late twenties or early thirties. He was wearing a baseball cap and had a blond ponytail.’

‘Larry Broom?’

He smiles, a little awkwardly. ‘That’s not my real name.’ He holds out a hand. I lower the chair and cautiously shake it.

‘My real name is Davey Junior.’

Serena

I was just finishing my shift at the diner when I saw the sheriff’s car pull up.

I was running late and eager to drive home. Normally, as soon as Davey heard the sputtering sound of my battered yellow Beetle, he’d come running out in his pyjamas. It was a little late for him to be up, but Mom always said he just wouldn’t settle till I was home and sang him a lullaby.

Even when I was dead on my feet, the sight of his smile could lift me right back up, like I was walking on clouds. Yeah, I know it’s corny, but if you’ve got a child, you’ll know. They’re your life. If they’re sad, it tears your heart out. If they’re happy, it’s like a thousand suns are shining on you.

As soon as I spotted that brown-and-white cruiser through the diner doors, something inside me knew. Right away. It was here for me. And it was bad news.

The sheriff didn’t come and see you in person unless it was bad. Like when Dad had a heart attack at work and Hatchett came to tell Mom. And right then – even though it sounds terrible, I know – but I hoped it was Mom. I hoped more than anything that something had happened to Mom. Because the alternative was just too terrifying to contemplate.

I stood by the counter as Sheriff Hatchett pushed open the door. The closed sign was up, but it wasn’t locked. Only Stephanie and I were left in the diner.

‘Whoah,’ Stephanie commented. ‘You been speeding again? I didn’t think that wreck of yours could top fifty.’

I summoned a smile. ‘Oh, that wreck’s got torque.’

Hatchett walked up to the counter. Tipped his hat. ‘Ladies.’ Then he looked at me, as I knew he would. ‘Serena, I need to talk to you.’

Stephanie got the hint. She patted my arm. ‘I’ll see you, hun.’