Page 60 of Serenity Falls

‘No.’ Ramona shakes her head. ‘You’re not from Serenity. You don’t understand.’

‘You’re right. I don’t. So why are you telling me any of this?’ She looks at Ellis. ‘Yesterday you acted like you hardly knew Frankie.’

‘I’d only just met you – and I couldn’t say anything in front of my dad.’

‘So, why invite me today?’ And then it dawns. Sadie’s stomach sinks a little. ‘You asked me along to find out if I saw anything, the day he died?’

Ellis shakes her head. ‘No. That’s not it …’

‘But did you?’ Ramona asks.

Sadie makes a show of scrunching up her face. ‘Now you ask, yeah. Right before they found Frankie I saw this figure, dressed up like a clown, and he was holding a red balloon and saying something about … floating.’

Ramona’s eyes widen. ‘Really?’

‘No, not really,’ Sadie snaps.

She reaches for her milkshake and then pauses as she sees Lou approaching their table again.

‘Crap, what now?’ Ellis mutters.

Lou smiles curtly. ‘Keli has asked if you want to move.’

‘Why?’

Lou nods to the entrance, where several people are waiting.

‘People want lunch, and you guys only have shakes. There are stools at the bar.’

Sadie pushes her shake to one side. ‘That’s fine. I’m just leaving.’

‘You don’t have to,’ Ellis says. ‘We can go someplace else.’

‘I’ve got stuff to do.’ Sadie fishes in her bag for her wallet and pulls out five dollars, which she places on the table. ‘Nice meeting you all.’

‘Oh, man.’ Ramona shakes her head. ‘I am still not getting over that accent.’

Sadie smiles. ‘Try.’

She nods at Lou, pushes her chair back and walks quickly out of the diner. She hasn’t gone far when she hears a shout behind her:

‘Sadie. Wait up.’

Sadie keeps walking. She hears the slap of trainers on tarmac and Ellis jogs up to her side. ‘Man, you walk fast.’

‘And you don’t take a hint.’

‘You’re pissed at me.’

‘I just don’t like being played.’

‘Okay. I did invite you because of Frankie, but not just because of Frankie.’

‘Whatever.’

Ellis glances back at the café. ‘Ramona and Dax don’t trust many people round here. I convinced them you were okay – and you might be able to help us.’

‘Wow. You guys really are deep state.’