Page 169 of Serenity Falls

‘Something like that,’ Davey says.

I think about what Jerry told me: ‘The Conservators do a great job here. They maintain the status quo.’

The headache is growing more insistent. I try to focus on Davey, but my vision is blurry. I blink a few times.

‘I understand about your mum, but what the hell is this all about?’ I gesture to the bedraggled mound of fur on the floor.

Davey flushes. ‘I’m sorry, but we needed to get your attention. To get you to realize something was wrong here.’

‘And who’s we?’

‘Stella and me.’

‘Stella the coroner?’

‘Yeah, she’s been helping me. She caught me breaking into her office to look for records about my death. I confessed who I was, and it turned out she’s been digging into Serenity herself. She’s a smart lady. She was the one who suggested I use one of the ghost houses to hide out in. Apparently 61322 is the default key-safe code.’

‘I’m guessing she provided the costume too?’

‘Yeah.’

‘And you left the balloons?’

He nods.

‘What about the security camera?’

‘Stella knows someone who works at the Hub. He owed her a favour. Manipulated the footage.’

Right. Of course. Handy.

‘Is that how you got my number?’ Sadie asks.

He nods. ‘Yeah, it’s how we got all your details.’

I rub at my aching head. ‘You couldn’t just talk to us – send a text?’

‘Would you have believed us?’

‘Maybe,’ I lie.

‘We had to be careful. You know what happens to people here who rock the boat.’

‘I’m getting the picture.’

Davey smiles thinly. ‘Plus, Stella says people are more willing to accept things if they discover them on their own. “You’ve got to give folk a reason to give a shit.”’

‘But why do you care about us giving a shit?’

He leans forward. ‘You’re the first new people to move here in over a decade. There must be a reason for that.’

‘Yes, my mum left us the house.’

He shakes his head. ‘And the job and the visa?’

‘You really did get all our details.’

‘I mean, didn’t you ever think it was all a little convenient? Someone wants you here.’