Page 168 of Serenity Falls

He pulls something out of his shorts pocket. ‘My mom left me this.’

He places a much-folded piece of paper on the coffee table in front of us. A birth certificate:

Davey Junior Henderson. Born July 25th, 1992, at Serenity Falls Hospital.

Mother: Serena Henderson. Father: Unknown.

‘I grew up in foster homes and care,’ he continues. ‘Moved around a lot. I never knew what happened to my mom. The only thing she left me was this old toy cowboy – Buddy. I kept him all through college, even when I got a job. By then, he was getting a bit worn, seams starting to split. I was going to sew him up when I noticed this bit of paper sticking out.’

‘Your birth certificate?’

‘Yeah, but that’s not all.’

He lays two more pieces of paper on the table. The first is lined, torn from a notepad:

Dearest Davey J,

First, know I love you more than life itself. That’s why I have to send you away. To keep you safe. Hopefully, I’ll be with you soon, and you’ll never read this. In case that doesn’t happen, and you ever come looking for me, or want answers, you’ll need this.

The second piece of paper is thicker. Like it’s come from a book. It looks like a map of Serenity. But not a street map. It takes me a moment.

‘Are these tunnels?’

Sadie breaks in: ‘They run beneath the whole town, Dad.’

Davey nods. ‘And this one here runs out of the town. Like an escape route. Or a secret way in.’

‘And that’s how you got into Serenity?’

‘Yeah. I tracked it down to an abandoned fun fair – one that closed down when Winsom Wonderland opened. There was a trap door under an old Carousel.’

‘Where does it come out in Serenity?’ I ask.

‘This cabin in the woods. It seemed deserted, but I didn’t hang around to find out.’

I let this new piece of information settle. I can feel a headache swelling behind my eyes. ‘How long have you been here?’

He considers. ‘A year or so. I stole some maintenance overalls, which helped me blend in. No one takes much notice if you’re wearing work overalls.’

‘Why?’ I ask him.

‘I needed to find out what happened to my mom … and me. All my life I felt like there was this whole part of my life that was a mystery.’ He smiles wanly. ‘And then I came here and found out I drowned in a swimming pool.’

‘Do you remember anything about that day?’ I ask.

‘I used to have nightmares about being in water, and there was another kid there, holding my head down.’

I sit up a little straighter. ‘Who?’

‘I don’t know. I wasn’t even sure if it was a real memory.’

I consider this. Attempted murder, a kid trying to kill another little kid – that would be a big scandal in Serenity, the perfect town with no crime.

‘You think the authorities here – the Conservators – covered it up?’

Davey nods. ‘I’ve learnt that the Conservators control everything in this town. And everything must be perfect, including the people. If they don’t fit in or if they ask too many questions …’

‘… they disappear or have an accident,’ Sadie finishes.