Page 22 of Serenity Falls

‘Anyway, you want to wrestle with the tech on your own, be my guest.’

‘Thanks.’ A pause. ‘Look, I know this has been a lot … and that’s even before that kid decided to take a dive in our pool. But—’

‘It was a freak accident. I get it.’

‘Can we try to move past it?’

‘Sure.’

‘And five years seems a long time. I know that too. But maybe there’s some wiggle room.’ A rueful smile. ‘And once you’re eighteen you can do what you like. Move out. Move back to the UK.’

‘You trying to get rid of me?’

‘For years, but no takers.’

She grins. ‘I’m the best thing that ever happened to you.’

‘True.’

‘I’m sorry too,’ she says. ‘About last night.’

‘Forget it. Last night was last night. Today is a fresh start. No more dead bodies or any more weirdness … and that is a sentence I never expected to say.’

And talking about weirdness has just reminded Sadie about the old woman handing out leaflets for the missing kid. ‘Remember – if you see Davey, you let me know.’

‘There was one thing,’ she starts … but she’s cut off by a sudden heavy thudding on the glass doors. She jumps. Dad’s head shoots round.

A large black guy with dreadlocks stands outside. He wears shorts and a purple polo shirt emblazoned with the company name: Jules’ Pools. He’s holding some kind of pump contraption and has a large length of thick hose wrapped around one sturdy bicep.

Jules (if that’s who he is) grins and waves through the glass. ‘Hey there!’

Dad raises his eyebrows at Sadie, then stands and pulls the doors open. ‘Hi.’

Jules holds out a meaty hand. ‘Here to clean your pool.’

Dad shakes it. ‘Thanks for being so prompt.’

‘At Jules’ Pools we pride ourselves on our prompt and efficient service, sir.’

‘Err – how did you get in here, by the way?’

‘Oh—’ Jules glances over his shoulder. ‘I just let myself in through the back gate. Hope that’s okay? Often folk just want me to get on with it.’

‘Err, yeah. To be honest, I didn’t know we had a back gate.’

Jules chuckles. ‘Oh yeah. You might want to latch that if you don’t want just anyone walking in.’

Dad smiles politely. ‘You’re right. I’ll do that.’

Jules’s face grows more sombre. ‘I heard someone drowned.’

‘Yes.’

Jules shakes his head. ‘That’s tough. Ain’t had nothing like that for years.’ He waves a hand. ‘But don’t worry. I’ll give it a thorough going-over.’

‘That’s good to hear. You want a drink or anything while you get set up?’

‘Man, I would love an iced coffee. Milk. Two sugars.’