Only You: an absolutely gripping psychological thriller
Page 19
Mary has a flash memory of Jamie handing her the picture he had taken, of her and Bella by the pond. She looks at Trent.
‘You were there,’ she says.
‘I was where?’ Trent asks.
‘When I was twelve. You and Jamie gave me the picture he had taken.’ Mary looks round, then points at the beck. ‘Over there. You were Jamie’s friend, then. Just before we started at high school.’ She gazes at them both, certain she is holding a piece of the jigsaw in her mind. ‘What happened to change it?’
Trent looks at her steadily. He licks his lips, and Mary thinks with amazement he might actually be about to tell her, when Jamie says, ‘For God’s sake! We haven’t got time for this!’
‘I burnt it down because I promised.’ Trent says, answering her first question instead.
‘We need to go and find Athene or whatever her name is and get her to tell us why she’s doing this!’ Jamie’s voice is laced with frustration and fear. Mary ignores him.
‘Who, Trent? Who would possibly tell you to burn down a house and kill a human being? And even if they did, why the hell would you? You’ve just spent half your life in prison! Why?’
But instead of answering her, Trent turns to face Jamie.
‘What’s Athene got to do with this?’ he asks.
There is a pause, like the day is taking its breath.
‘What do you mean? She’s the girl who started this!’ Jamie’s eyes are wide with suspicion. ‘It was her phone you rang just before you came here. It was probably her who sent you the email and the pictures!’
‘What are you even talking about?’ Trent raises his voice, cutting through Jamie’s. ‘What girl? What’s this got to do with Athene?’
‘That’s her name,’ Mary says quietly. ‘That’s the name of the girl who came up here and got us together. We think she’s with the police. She’s gone to Blea Fell. That’s why she wanted the batteries.’ Mary points at the sky, the light retreating like it had lost the battle. ‘For her torch.’
‘But that’s not possible. Athene is…’
Trent’s voice fades, and Mary can see that he is genuinely confused. Confused and sad and frightened.
‘Who is Athene, Trent? How do you know her?’
Trent looks at her blankly for a moment, then lets out a long breath. ‘We all know her, Mouse. It was her secret name. She’d found it in a book she’d discovered in her room, under the floorboards. Or at least that’s what she told me.’
Mary can’t speak. She feels like she is dying of sadness inside.
‘What book?’ Jamie asks. ‘Who are you talking about?’
‘I’m talking about Bella,’ says Trent simply. ‘Athene was Bella’s secret name for herself. It’s a version of Athena.’ He looked at both of their shocked faces.
‘Athene was Bella.’
58
Athene’s Phone