Still Waters

by Linda Kavanagh

  Suddenly, Ivy froze. There was a second body in the front passenger seat of the car! Ivy was so shocked, she momentarily forgot she was underwater and opened her mouth, then nearly choked as the water rushed in. Coughing and spluttering, she rose to the surface again, vomiting up the bile in her stomach, leaving her throat raw and a bitter taste in her mouth.

  The fresh air and daylight restored a sense of normality, and Ivy realised she’d been imagining things. It had simply been a trick of the light – after all, she herself had been Joe’s front-seat passenger. It was impossible that there was another body there – she’d imagined it simply because she was spooked already. Or perhaps her handbag and weekend case were piled up on the front passenger seat, creating the shadowy configuration she’d thought was a body. Feeling relieved, Ivy filled her lungs with air and descended to the bottom of the lake again. This time, she intended grabbing her possessions and heading straight back to the surface. Then all her worries would be over.

  In the gloom of the water, Ivy made her way to the car again. She’d have to try and reach her stuff through the broken back window …

  Suddenly, her heart jumped in her chest – there was definitely a body in the front passenger seat! In horror, Ivy looked at it through the glass. It was in the same state as Joe’s body, with bits of soft fatty flesh still clinging to the bones. Ivy wanted to vomit again as acid reflux burned her throat. Quickly she rose to the surface again.

  Hauling herself up onto the bank, Ivy sat shivering, and momentarily in a daze. What on earth was going on? How could another body be sitting in the seat she’d originally occupied? And if there really was a body there, who on earth could it be?

  Like an automaton, Ivy stripped off her wet bra and panties, and brushed off the plant debris still sticking to her skin. Taking out her towel, she quickly dried herself off, got into fresh underwear, T-shirt and tracksuit, wrapping her wet underwear in her towel and placing it with the goggles in her sports bag.

  Still shocked by what she’d seen, Ivy found herself shaking from head to toe, even though she was now dressed. It couldn’t really have been a body, could it? No, she was just imagining it. But despite her attempts to rationalise what she’d just seen, she still couldn’t get the picture of the decaying figure out of her mind. It was as though its image had burned itself into her brain. Ivy felt a bizarre and dizzying sense of puzzlement. She didn’t know of anyone from the locality who was missing.

  Despite her intention never to return to the depths of the lake, Ivy knew she had no choice but to make another dive soon. Which meant facing whatever – or whoever – was in the front passenger seat of the car.

  Tying her hair back to disguise its wetness, Ivy left the field beside the lake and made her way back onto the road. It felt as though she’d been in the water for an eternity, but her watch told her that she’d been less than an hour at the lake. She’d have to find out from Peggy when exactly the lake was being drained – hopefully it wouldn’t be for a while, because she couldn’t face another dive any time soon. Besides, she needed to get back to work later that week.

  Deliberately putting all thoughts of the body aside, Ivy began to walk briskly. The area was still deserted and, if she was lucky, her parents wouldn’t be up yet. As she approached the village, her sports bag over her shoulder, she began jogging. She needed to look the part. Locals would appreciate that soap stars had to exercise regularly to keep in shape. Luckily, no one in the village seemed to be up yet. So far, so good, Ivy thought. Even though she hadn’t located her belongings, at least she’d managed to get in and out of the lake without being spotted.

  As she let herself in the front door of her parents’ house, her mother was just coming down the stairs.

  “Good morning, Mum!” Ivy called cheerfully as she stepped inside.

  Her mother looked at her in surprise. “Your hair is all wet!”

  “That’s just sweat!” Ivy lied, smiling as she hurried past her and headed quickly up the stairs to avoid further scrutiny. “I’ve just been on a really long run! Got to have a shower now, Mum – see you later!”

  In her bedroom, she quickly hid her sports bag beneath her bed, grabbed her dressing gown and headed for the bathroom. Luckily, her father was still asleep and the bathroom was free. A long hot shower would help to warm up her body and soothe her aching limbs.

  Ivy stepped into the shower and turned on the tap. But even as the cascading water warmed her, she felt her insides chill with fear. She couldn’t hide from the truth any longer – there was definitely a second body in the car beneath the lake. Who on earth was it, and what was she going to do about it?

  Chapter 14

  The coloured bunting stretched across the hotel’s conference room. Tables had been set up on either side of the room, and staff bustled in and out of the kitchen, putting out plates of assorted finger food. A large banner was being strung across the centre of the room, proclaiming ‘Happy 18th Birthday, Joe’, and Julia was fussing because she felt that it wasn’t perfectly straight.

  In the kitchen, a huge cake had been iced and a birthday greeting written across it. Julia had secretly made it in her own kitchen, and it was a work of art as well as a work of love.

  A group of musicians were tuning their instruments, and Fred felt pleased that he’d been able to track down and employ one of Joe’s favourite bands. Between the party and the band, the event was costing him an arm and a leg, but it would all be worth it when he saw the surprise on Joe’s face. Then his eldest son would know that despite their differences, he was deeply loved. He’d immediately apologise for striking Joe – it had been a dreadful thing to do, and he was thoroughly ashamed of himself.

  Fred envisaged himself and Joe in a warm backslapping embrace, all their differences forgotten, each of them promising the other that they’d be more understanding in future, and assuring each other that their problems were far from insurmountable.

  As the guests began arriving, Fred hurried forward to greet them. Many of them were his customers, and he felt that the party was also an ideal way of thanking them for their custom over the years. But there were also many young people arriving and before long the conference room was full, and Fred hoped he’d hired a big enough venue. What a tribute to Joe, and to the Heartleys, to see so many people here! Fred was beside himself with happiness.

  “Peggy – it’s time,” he said to his daughter, an excited expression on his face. “Go and find Joe, and tell him his dad wants to buy him his first legal pint. That should get him here in a hurry!”

  Peggy nodded. She hoped Joe would fall for the ploy, because she’d noticed how tetchy and uncooperative he’d been lately. In fact, she’d almost let slip about the party herself, but Joe had been so preoccupied he hadn’t seemed to notice.

  As Peggy let herself into the Heartley house, she found the silence unnerving. Usually their home was full of noise and people, but now it had an eerie quality to it. As she moved from room to room, calling her brother, it soon became evident that he wasn’t there.

  Opening the door into the shop downstairs, Peggy checked the aisles and the storage area, but there was no sign of Joe anywhere. Heartley’s Stores was closed for the evening, but Fred had given his customers notice, so that everyone had a chance to stock up on groceries or fuel in advance. Of course, most of the villagers would be attending the party anyway, and Peggy and Danny had contacted all Joe’s classmates as well.

  Locking up the shop and the house again, Peggy began walking back to the hotel. By now she was worried in case the party turned out to be a disaster – surprise parties were all very well, but they didn’t take account of the guest of honour’s own plans. Maybe Joe had gone to visit friends? On the other hand, surely those friends would be attending the party anyway?

  Back at the hotel, Peggy relayed the information to her father, who’d been waiting outside on the steps, ready to inform the guests inside that Joe was arriving. Everyone had been primed to keep quiet as Joe approached the
hotel. Then, when Peggy steered him into the conference room, they’d all shout out: ‘Happy Birthday, Joe!’

  Fred was now becoming extremely agitated as he and his daughter entered the conference room again. Over in a corner, Peggy could see her mother chatting to Ivy’s parents, Eleanor and Peter Morton, unaware that her eldest son couldn’t be found. Peggy longed to ask the Mortons if they’d seen Joe, or if they knew where he might be, but she didn’t want to make an issue of it, since everyone seemed oblivious to the fact that there was a problem, and anyway Joe might turn up at any minute.

  Peggy noticed that Ivy wasn’t present either – could Joe be over at her house? She’d noticed that Ivy and her eldest brother had become very friendly lately, and always seemed to have their heads stuck in some schoolbook or other. Maybe they were studying together? On the other hand, since Ivy, Owen and their parents knew all about the surprise party – and Owen was already on the dance floor with Mrs Evans – surely they’d have made certain that Joe got to the hotel?

  Nevertheless, Peggy slipped out and made her way to the Mortons’ house, only to find it in complete darkness. She knocked tentatively, but there was no answer, so she made her way back to the hotel.

  As the band began playing an upbeat number, people started to drift onto the small dance floor, and before long all the young people were dancing. Rosa Dalton was showing off as usual, twirling around dramatically to draw attention to herself, and even some of the older villagers were shaking a leg too, and getting into party mood. Peggy decided that the only thing to do was to join in, so she stepped onto the dance floor. It wouldn’t look good if the host family were all looking miserable!

  As he stood on the sidelines, Fred’s brow was furrowed. Where on earth could Joe be? They hadn’t spoken to each other since their most recent spat, therefore he could hardly expect Joe to keep him apprised of his movements. But surely his eldest son would instinctively know that hostilities would be dispensed with while the family celebrated? After all, his eighteenth birthday was a special event for the family, and his parents would want to mark it in a special way. Now, all his family, friends and neighbours were gathered in the hotel to celebrate, yet the guest of honour was nowhere to be found. And where on earth was Danny?

  Just then, his younger son appeared, and Fred quickly sidelined him. “Thank goodness you’re here, I was beginning to wonder if any members of the family were going to turn up! I can’t find Joe anywhere – have you any idea where he might be?”

  Danny shrugged his shoulders. “I haven’t a clue, Dad. Since you didn’t tell him about the party, he could be anywhere.”

  Fred felt a strong urge to cuff his younger son for his insolence, but he knew that it would only damage his relationship with Danny as well. His violence had already caused enough problems with Joe. He was suddenly frightened. How could such a marvellous plan go so terribly wrong?

  As Rosa rushed forward to claim him for a dance, Danny disappeared into the crowd, and Fred found himself alone again. Suddenly Hannah Dalton was at his side.

  “Fred – are you okay?”

  Fred quickly converted his frown into a smile.

  “Oh, hello, Hannah, I hope you’re enjoying the party?”

  “Yes, thanks, Fred – it’s wonderful. You and Julia have gone to a lot of trouble. But you look worried – is everything alright?”

  Fred sighed. “It’s just that Joe hasn’t turned up yet.”

  “Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be along soon,” Hannah said, smiling. “He’s probably having a few drinks at one of the pubs before he gets here. A first legal drink is a big milestone for young people!”

  Fred smiled gratefully at Hannah. She was probably right – why hadn’t he thought of that himself? He’d had a sentimental notion of buying his son his first pint himself, but maybe Joe had taken the matter into his own hands.

  Feeling a lot more cheerful, Fred allowed himself a beer from the bar. Since he’d be making a brief speech later, congratulating Joe on reaching his majority, he wanted to stay reasonably sober. But right now a beer would take the edge off his nerves.

  As the evening progressed, people seemed to forget the reason they were there, and were simply enjoying themselves. Food and drink were being consumed at an alarming rate, but Fred wasn’t worried about the cost. Although still perturbed by Joe’s absence, he was relieved that no one seemed to be missing the guest of honour so far. Hopefully, Joe would turn up in time to blow out the candles on his cake, which Julia had baked so lovingly.

  Fred spent much of the evening chatting inanely to his neighbours, his eyes always turned towards the door. At intervals, he slipped outside the hotel to look for Joe, even walking into the village to check in the local pubs for his son. But there was no sign of Joe anywhere. One pub-goer suggested he might have gone into Allcott, several miles away, and Fred decided to drive there himself. But when he went to the garage to get his new red Ford saloon, it was no longer there.

  Puzzled and angry, Fred returned to the party. Joe must have taken the car to Allcott without his permission! Fred felt there was little he could do right now, except suppress his anger and ensure that everyone enjoyed the rest of the party. Hopefully Joe would be mature enough to leave the car in Allcott and take a taxi home, although Fred intended giving him a piece of his mind the following day. But right now all Fred wanted was for his son to turn up, even if well inebriated. Everyone else at the party was merry by now, so it would hardly matter.

  Hannah collared him as soon as he entered the conference room again, a querying expression on her face.

  Fred shook his head, and told her about his missing car.

  “Look, Joe won’t be used to alcohol, so if he’s had his first few pints, he’s probably sleeping off his hangover in some friend’s house,” Hannah assured him.

  Fred felt comforted by her suggestion. At least Joe would be safe. But he was still furious with his son for not turning up for his own party.

  As the evening came to an end, the band announced that they were playing their final number, and suddenly guests realised that something was amiss.

  “What about the cake?” someone asked plaintively. “Doesn’t Joe still need to blow out his candles?”

  Fred made his way up onto the platform where the band had been playing. There was immediate silence, since by now word had begun circulating that the guest of honour hadn’t turned up, and everyone was anxious to find out what had happened.

  “Good evening, everyone,” Fred began falteringly. “Thank you all for coming to Joe’s eighteenth birthday party. Unfortunately, we don’t seem to have Joe here himself –” Fred gave a weak smile, “so I’ll have to rely on the rest of you to tell him what a great party he missed!”

  Everyone laughed loudly, but by now there was an undercurrent of unease among the guests. People were trying to remember when they’d last seen Joe, and his classmates were asking each other if any of them had been assigned the job of making sure he got to the hotel. Everyone was shaking their heads and looking mystified.

  As Fred left the platform, Julia grabbed his arm. By now, she’d had more than a few vodkas, and was slurring her words as she clung to him.

  “Where’s my son? Why isn’t he here – at his own party?” she sobbed, and Fred quickly summoned Peggy, who was talking to friends nearby.

  “Better get your mother home,” Fred whispered to his daughter, who instantly began steering Julia out the door of the conference room. Peggy felt almost hysterical herself – how on earth could Joe miss such a wonderful party? She knew their parents had spent a fortune on the event, and she felt angry with Joe on their behalf. When she next saw him, she’d tell him exactly what she thought of his behaviour!

  By now, Julia was weeping copiously, and Peggy steered her down the road and into the Heartley home, where she helped her upstairs and finally got her into bed. When she eventually looked down at her mother’s sleeping form, Peggy was filled with rage. How dare Joe ruin everything for the
ir parents, and for her and Danny too! Despite all the money they’d spent, their parents had been publicly humiliated. How would her poor father feel as he opened up the shop tomorrow? The Heartleys would be the talk of the village, and she knew how seriously her father viewed his position in the community.

  Peggy bit her lip. What on earth could have gone wrong? Maybe she should have told Joe about the party in advance, and then he wouldn’t have gone off somewhere else. Maybe surprise parties weren’t such a good idea after all.

  Peggy headed down the corridor to her own bedroom. She wouldn’t like to be in Joe’s shoes when he eventually got home. Today had certainly been a day the Heartleys would never forget.

  Chapter 15

  During the next few days in Willow Haven, Ivy tried to relax. She was well aware that noses would be out of joint if she visited one set of friends and not another, so she undertook a round of visiting that occupied most of her time. She spent an evening with Fred Heartley, another with Hannah Dalton, and she took her parents for a meal at the local hotel. All this activity proved useful by keeping her mind occupied and away from thoughts of the second body in the lake.

  By now, the initial shock had worn off and Ivy was left puzzled. How could the second body have got there? She and Joe had been the only passengers in the car. Even if someone fell into the lake, they’d never have ended up inside the car. Which could only mean that the body had been deliberately put there. It also meant that the person had been murdered – there was no other logical explanation. Which meant the murderer had to know that Joe and his father’s car were at the bottom of the lake. Did that also mean someone knew Ivy had escaped from the car and kept Joe’s death a secret? If so, there was someone out there who knew what she’d done. And could she now find herself implicated in this second person’s death?