Page 32 of Serenity Falls

‘No. It was something.’ She hesitates and then says: ‘I’ve got some cold lemonade in the fridge back home, and fresh cookies. Least I can do to say thanks?’

She seems a nice young woman. But ‘young’ is the operative word. She can’t be much over twenty. ‘I’m afraid I’ve a prior engagement.’

She nods. ‘Well, maybe another time.’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘I can even pop some gin in the lemonade if you’re not driving.’

I chuckle. ‘Even better.’

She starts to turn away. ‘We’re on Gladness Row. On the corner. You can’t miss it.’

‘Okay.’

‘Just call round. If we’re in, we’re in.’

She waves. The little boy in her arms waves too, and then she saunters away up the grassy bank. The two young joggers have returned to their circuits of the lake. I spot Lockhart hurrying towards me, holding two bottles of water.

‘Mr Barker, are you all right?’ He stares at me in concern.

I try to wring some of the water out of my shorts. ‘Yeah. You saw what happened?’

‘Some of it.’

‘I thought a little boy had gone into the water. But … well, it was a mistake.’

Lockhart shakes his head. ‘Always trouble with that family.’

‘You know her?’

‘Hailey? Yes. Bright girl, intended to go to college. But then she fell pregnant and dropped out of school to have her son – Brandon.’ He sighs. ‘I don’t like to speak ill of people, Mr Barker, but that family are bad news. I’m sure you meant well, but it would be wise to steer clear in future.’

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask whether I should have just let a little boy drown. But self-preservation stops me. I need this job, I remind myself.

‘Understood,’ I say.

Lockhart smiles and hands me the water bottle. ‘Now, why don’t we get you dried off and head over to the hotel?’

‘Sure – sounds great.’

He waits as I pull on my socks and trainers. The cowboy hat has almost been swallowed by the water. Just the tip visible.

It would be wise to steer clear in future.

Unfortunately, I’m not wise.

And I really like cookies and lemonade.

10

‘So,’ Ellis says as they walk out on to the street. ‘Fairground’s this way.’

‘Great.’ Sadie turns in the opposite direction.

‘Where are you going?’

Sadie glances back over her shoulder. ‘I said I wanted to see the cemetery.’