Page 42 of Serenity Falls

‘The Overlook Hotel,’ I try to clarify. I raise my hands and make a chopping motion. ‘Heere’s Johnny.’

Alice shakes her head slowly, looking unsure. I realize I sound a little deranged.

‘Probably before your time,’ I mutter. ‘Anyway, the protagonist’s wife is called Wendy.’

‘Oh.’

‘Yeah. Great book – and film.’

‘Great.’ Alice smiles. ‘What can I get you all?’

My coat, I think. We place our orders, and Alice departs.

‘Not a King fan,’ I say.

Lockhart fiddles with his cutlery. ‘Well, to be honest, we do try to limit our students’ access to works of fiction that could be construed as violent or extreme.’

‘I’m sorry?’

‘Young minds are so malleable. Why expose them to terrible things?’

I look at him in disbelief. ‘Because the alternative is censorship?’

‘We prefer to use the term “Constructive Positivity”.’

Constructive positivity. I bite my tongue so hard I think I swallow a chunk. I reach for my drink and wash it down. An awkward silence descends. Sadie breaks it.

‘So, is the Weeping Wendy story true?’ she asks. ‘Did someone really kill themselves here?’

Lockhart winks. ‘Every town has its ghosts, young lady.’

‘What about Davey Junior?’

It’s like someone has pulled a shutter down on his face. ‘Where did you hear that name?’

Ellis buries her nose in her drink.

‘The guy who came to clean our pool told me about him,’ Sadie says.

I stare at her. ‘Would you care to tell me?’

‘He was a little kid who drowned in the family swimming pool.’

Lockhart nods. ‘Yes. Davey’s death was a tragic accident, but it was a long time ago—’

Sadie cuts in: ‘What happened to his mum, Serena?’

Maybe it’s my imagination, but Lockhart seems to flinch.

‘Sadie,’ I say gently. ‘Maybe this isn’t a topic for lunch?’

She gives me a mutinous look.

‘It’s fine.’ Lockhart smiles. ‘Serena was something of a local celebrity. She was the first child to be born in Serenity Falls. She did a lot of publicity for the town. After Davey’s death, there was talk – unkind talk – about Serena and her mother. Serena was overcome by grief and fled the town. No one has heard from her since.’

‘Do you think she’s dead?’ Sadie asks bluntly.

Ellis snorts Diet Coke out of her nose and starts to cough. For some reason, I want to tell Sadie to leave this. A feeling. Bad air.