“Tyrone changing his statement like that—he couldn’t remember seeing Summer, and then suddenly he did. It’s a bit odd, isn’t it? ”
“Well, he’d had a drink, hadn’t he? People forget something small.
”
“Hardly small. Seeing Summer and then forgetting about it until she was arrested and banged up. ”
“Like you say, Chesney, not really any of your business anyway. ”
He didn’t want to push it.
Neither did I. We both knew what was at stake if we said too much. Later, Gary came to find me. He’d been at the garage all day, with DI Swain pecking at his head, asking the same questions over and over.
“So, you don’t remember seeing Summer? And now you suddenly do. ”
“Yeah, I’ve had it too,” I said. “I hate it.
”
“But what else can we do? We can’t tell the truth, can we? We know what Kevin did to Carl. ”
We’d lied to protect him.
Now the lie was wrapping around us like a rope. Debbie had other things on her mind. She’d booked a villa in Spain for all the sisters. A little holiday, just the girls.
No misters. She was buzzing about it, showing off the details to Bernie and the others. But when we gathered for the announcement, Debbie stood up with her glass and made a speech. “I love you all, and this is absolutely gorgeous, but I’m not coming to Spain.
”
“Pardon? ”
“No, I still want you all to go. The place is paid for, the flights are booked. You must go.
But I’m not coming. ”
“Why would you spoil it for us? ” I asked. “You’d be watching over me, wouldn’t you?
Taking turns looking after me, making sure I didn’t disappear in a strange place. And I’d hate that. I’d spoil your fun. But I still want you all to go and have the time of your lives.
Send me pictures. That would make me really happy—seeing you lot enjoying yourselves. ”
Ronnie tried to argue, but Debbie was firm. “It’s what I want.
”
So we raised our glasses. But the joy had gone out of it. Sarah was quieter than usual. I’d noticed her snapping at David, and so had other people.
When I brought it up, she brushed it off. “It’s hardly front page news, is it? ”
“Is this something to do with being back at number eight? ”
“What do you think?
Like I was triggered. ”
“You’re not fine,” I said. “This is massive, what you’ve been through. Bottling it up isn’t going to help.
”
“I’m not bottling it up. ”
But she was. I could see it. She said the investigation into her assault might be reopened—a random attack, that’s what they wanted to believe.
She kept saying she was fine. She wasn’t. When I got home, I heard Sam’s voice coming from his room. He was talking to himself, rapid and strange.
“I am with you forever. I am your friend and protector. Your guide, your compass, your north star. The truth, the light, the resurrection, the rebellion.
”
I froze at the door. He was playing a game, moving pieces across a board like he was in the middle of a war. “He will kill you,” he muttered. “He will kill you, Sam.
”
I stepped in. “Sam? You okay? ”
“I’m still here, Sam,” he said to himself.
“I will always be here. ”
He wasn’t talking to me. A few days later, Carla called, worried. Sam had locked himself in the café’s back room.
I could hear him through the door, shouting. “They’ll get in here and he will kill you. Leave me alone! ”
“Sam, it’s me.
Let me in. We want to see if you’re all right. ”
“You can’t let them in. It’s a trick.
It’s Will. It’s him. ”
“Sam, please open up. I just want to talk to you.
”
“I have to get rid of him. He’s dangerous. He’s going to kill you, Sam. You have to destroy him before he destroys you.
”
“Sam, it’s Roy. Would you like a drink? ”
“It’ll be poison. It’s a trick.
”
He wouldn’t open the door. We heard a crash, and then a chair flew. It hit Roy in the head. Sam ran.
He vanished. All night, no one knew where he was. Nick was frantic, knocking on doors, calling the police. Sarah tried to keep calm.
“He’s just coping in his own way,” she said. “But the police asked if he was a danger to himself or others. ”
“Well, if he’s capable of hurting Roy, he’s capable of hurting someone else,” Nick said. “He wouldn’t do that.
You didn’t see him yesterday. ”
Then I got a call. A woman had seen a boy matching Sam’s description in a park. I rushed there.
He was sitting alone on a bench, head bowed. I sat down beside him. “You’re not going to give me up, are you? ” he asked.
“No, of course not. ”
“They’re coming for me. I’m on to them. I’m on to everyone.
That’s why they’re coming. ”
“Sam, your dad’s not coming for you. He’s just really worried. ”
“No, he’s coming.
They all are. Done something. It’s got to go. ”
“It’s okay.
Just stay with me for five minutes. ”
“You’re trying to trick me as well. I know you’re upset. I know what you’re going through.
”
“Sam, Roy’s fine. Honestly, he’s not hurt. ”
“You’ve seen him. You’re working with them, aren’t you?
”
“What? No. ”
“Give that to me. What are you doing with your phone, Sam?
”
I tried to stop him, but he snatched my phone. “You told him where I am, haven’t you? Just like the rest of them. ”
“Sam, I haven’t told anyone.
It’s me. It’s Carla. Have I ever tried to hurt you? ”
He looked at me with wild eyes.
“You’re on their side, Sam. I’m sorry. ”
Then I saw it happen. He wasn’t looking at me anymore.
He was looking past me, at someone who wasn’t there. “Dad, get off. Dad, get off. ”
“Sam, it’s okay.
”
“He needs help,” I said. “I think he’s in psychosis. ”
I called Nick. “They’ve got Sam.
Carla found him. ”
Nick’s voice cracked with relief. “Is he all right? ”
“I don’t really know any more than that.
”
When they brought him home, Sam wouldn’t touch the hot chocolate Nick made him. “They might be trying to poison me. ”
“Come on, son. It’s just hot chocolate.
”
“It’s Roy,” Sam said. “He’s been telling me to do terrible things. ”
“That’s not Roy. Roy hasn’t got a bad bone in his body.
”
“That’s what he wants you to think. ”
“Sam, I really don’t want to scare you, but you’re seeing things. People who aren’t really there. It happened to Carla a few years ago.
Sometimes your brain stops working properly. Do you understand what I’m saying? ”
“Roy’s tricked you as well, hasn’t he? Don’t worry, Dad.
I’m not going to let him trick me. He wants me to hurt Will, but I’m on to him. ”
Nick looked at me, helpless. Sam had disappeared into a world we couldn’t reach.
Debbie, meanwhile, was feeling sorry for herself at home. “This is me now, isn’t it? My life is just going to get smaller and smaller. You, Kevin, Carl, Abby—these four walls.
”
“We’ll still go out all the time. ”
“But I can’t be spontaneous anymore, can I? I can’t just fly off somewhere at the drop of a hat. I won’t even be able to go into town and buy a new handbag without taking someone with me.
”
“Look, you’re still you, aren’t you? ”
“Yes. But for how long? ”
I didn’t have an answer for that.
I hated that I didn’t. Then the call came. Sam had slipped out again. Nick found him wandering near the playground.
“Sam, we need to go home. ”
“You’re not going to get me locked up, are you? ”
“No, of course not. ”
He kept looking over his shoulder.
“Where’s Uncle David? ”
“You’ll see him later. ”
“You said I was seeing things. ”
“I know.
Let’s just get you home, okay? ”
But when we drove near the hospital, Sam panicked. “You said we were going home! You promised!
”
“Sam, we need to get you some help. ”
“No, they’re going to lock me up forever. ”
“No one’s going to lock you up. They’re just going to help you get better.
”
“Please, Dad. Don’t do this. ”
I opened the car door. He wouldn’t move.
“Sam, come on. Take my hand. ”
He was shaking. “Don’t leave me.
”
“I’m not leaving you,” I said. “I’m right here. ”
I held out my hand. He looked at it like it might burn him.
Then, slowly, he reached out and took it.
