‘I know that,’ said Tara tightly. ‘It wasn’t exactly easy for me. I just thought I should tell you.’
Leo turned to her. She risked looking sideways. His eyes were intense, worried. She looked away, unable to handle his gaze. He paused for two, three seconds before speaking abruptly.
‘The thing is, Melodie’s been . . . kidnapped.’
Tara sucked in her breath sharply, drawing her fingertips to her lips.
‘But how did you know?’ he continued, louder now. A bit aggressively. ‘Do you know something? Because you have to tell me if you do.’
Tara winced at the hard jabs of his words. She shook her head, more tears threatening behind her eyes. ‘No, no, I told you. It’s something that happens to me. I can’t help it.’ Oh, God, she thought. I’m going to have to tell him about Tyler Evans now.
But Leo was staring into the middle distance. He kept squeezing one of his hands into a fist as it lay on the faded black denim of his thigh.
‘She never got to Brighton,’ he said, quiet again. ‘No one has seen her for over a week. She’d insisted on getting the train to Adam’s, even though Faith offered to drive her. She called me and she called Faith, leaving messages to say she was there. Well, you know. I played it to you.’
He glanced at Tara and then away again. There was a pause. She didn’t want to interrupt. She waited for him to speak again.
‘And now Faith and Adam have both been sent these pictures of Mel . . . all tied up.’ The words came out in a rush. He swallowed and Tara saw a bright sheen in his eyes. ‘They want . . .’ His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. ‘They want money from Adam. Fifty grand. Have said that if they go to the police, they’ll . . .’ He swore and leapt to his feet, savagely running a hand across the top of his head, mussing his spiky hair further.
‘Cut her,’ whispered Tara. ‘I know.’
They met eyes. His contained such a lost look that he suddenly seemed younger than seventeen. He sat down again.
‘Can you tell me everything you . . . see? You know, when you get the pictures?’
Tara told him, aware for the first time that, really, there wasn’t a lot of useful detail to pass on. A dark room. A single lightbulb. A cot bed. It wasn’t much. She could tell Leo was disappointed. ‘I don’t know if maybe you could give me something of hers and I could try again?’
He blew air out slowly through his lips. ‘Might be an idea. But I promised Faith I wouldn’t tell anyone. She’s going nuts over there. Thinks if it gets out . . . well, it could be worse for Mel. I’d have to think about how we could do that.’
‘Will he pay up?’ said Tara after a moment. ‘Her dad?’
Leo shrugged.
He sat with his head bowed. His nearest hand was still clenching and opening like a reflex. It hurt Tara somewhere deep in her chest to see him in pain. Before she could stop herself, she gently placed her own hand over his. He turned his over and clung on tightly.
‘Look, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad yesterday,’ he said. ‘It was just a bit hard to take in, you know?’
‘I know,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s not something I usually tell people.’
‘I won’t go around shouting about it,’ he said.
‘You don’t need to,’ said Tara. She quickly told him about Jada and watched a look of cold dislike creep over his face.
He swore. ‘She’s such a stupid cow.’
Tara couldn’t help the feeling of hope that bloomed now. And also annoyance. ‘You believed her yesterday. I thought maybe you and her . . .’
Leo gave a short, bitter laugh. ‘Yeah, in her mind maybe. She’s been flirting with me since she was about twelve. No thanks. Never understood why Mel likes her,’ he said. ‘And I’m sorry I listened to her yesterday. She was insistent, you know? I shouldn’t have paid any attention but she got to me. I got it into my head that you’d only noticed me because . . .’he paused and swallowed, looking away into the distance, ‘ . . . because of something to do with Mel.’
Tara’s heart was thudding. Was that what had happened yesterday? He’d been . . . hurt? Because he liked her? It was no good trying to squash down that hope any more. It was seeping into her veins like a painkiller and an energy drink all in one.
‘No. It was nothing like that,’ she said. ‘I don’t even like Melodie.’ She hadn’t meant to say that. ‘I’m sorry,’ she squeaked, horrified. But to her amazement, Leo barked a short, shocked laugh. Turning to her, she saw amusement in his eyes again. Then it faded back into worry.
‘No, I really am sorry,’ said Tara. ‘I didn’t mean it like that. Just that . . . well, I had no weird stalky thing, or celeb worship thing going on, that’s all.’
‘That’s okay,’ said Leo. ‘I know better than most what my sister can be like. That last time I saw her . . .’ He swallowed again. ‘When we rowed? She actually hit me! And all because I told her not to do anything stupid like running away with Will.’
Tara looked away, debating whether she should tell him she had been there. But no, she decided he didn’t need to know everything.
Leo’s face was grim again. He looked down at his hands. ‘But I tell you what . . . I’d do anything to have her back, in my face, being a pain. Anything.’
His eyes glistened, and there was a short silence before he spoke again.
‘Look, I’d better get off,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘I want to get back over to Riverdale Rise to see if there’s been any news. Got to square things with Dobby first.’
‘Okay,’ said Tara. Leo dipped his face down to hers and kissed her. She closed her eyes and let herself be taken away from everything for a few moments. She never thought this would happen again. It was impossible not to dance a little inside, despite everything.
He gave her a small smile, although his eyes were clouded by pain.
She smiled back. ‘Will you text me later if there’s news? Or if you want me to . . . you know, help in any way?’
‘Yeah, course,’ he said.
Tara stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him one final, hard kiss. ‘She’s going to be all right,’ she whispered, looking into his dark blue eyes. He closed them for a second, as though making a wish.
‘I really hope so,’ he said. He said it so quietly that the words were mostly warm breath on her face.
Tara walked home slowly, mulling over all the complex emotions she was feeling. Maybe she hadn’t lost Leo after all. She’d been so sure . . .
She had to keep pushing back little flutters of pleasure. It was wrong to be happy when something horrible was happening to his sister.
It was only when she got to the house that she remembered the entire rest of her family was away. She opened the door and went inside, her improved mood deflating again. Sammie bounded up for an enthusiastic welcome. Tara dropped to her knees and made a big fuss, trying to stave off the emptiness of the house that seemed to wrap itself around her. The thought of being here alone all evening was horrible now. She even contemplated ringing Beck to ask if she could tag along to his poker party, but he wouldn’t be keen. Well, she couldn’t stay here, that was certain.
‘Come on, boy,’ she said and went to the cupboard to get the lead, which prompted a rapturous response from Sammie, who bounced at her with his wide doggy smile. She clipped on the lead and left the house.
It was cooler than she’d expected so she nipped back to get her cotton hoodie, slipping it on as they made their way down to the river. The Indian summer everyone had been on about seemed to be ending now. Trees along the riverbank had leaves tipped in gold and red. There was a distinctive autumnal smell from a bonfire somewhere. It made Tara vividly remember being a kid, when things like fireworks and Bonfire Night had seemed important.
She walked slowly, thinking about Leo and wondering whether there was any news on Melodie yet. She got out her phone a couple of times to check it hadn’t rung without her realising it, even though she knew that was a bit daft when it was right there in her pock
et.
She idly noticed people were up ahead. Tara recognised the woman and little girl on the bike she’d met that other time, the fateful evening when she’d seen Leo and Melodie fighting. What a lot had happened since then . . .
The woman was calling out to the little girl, her back to Tara. Her body language transmitted impatience.
‘Hattie, will you hurry up?’ she said in an exasperated tone, walking backwards towards Tara. ‘I told you we shouldn’t bring the bike, didn’t I? Didn’t I say you were too tired after nursery?’
The little girl started to wail; her mouth pink and round with misery. She wasn’t moving on the bike at all now. As Tara got closer, the woman turned to her and raised her eyes up, with a weak smile.
‘Honestly!’ she said. ‘We’ll be here all day.’
Tara smiled back sympathetically.
‘I not coming!’ yelled Hattie, crossing her arms, comically cross.
‘Okay,’ said her mother, catching Tara’s eye and winking. ‘That’s fine, but I’m going to Nanna’s for tea, even if you’re not. Bye then!’ She started to walk away.
The little girl’s eyes widened. ‘Mummeeee!’ she cried out. Then with a look of grim determination, her chubby knees started to work the pedals and the bike trundled slowly forwards. She picked up speed and the bells tied to her handlebars tinkled. The little girl rode past Tara, shooting her a ridiculously grumpy look as she did so.
Ting, ting, ting, ting.
The little girl’s mother turned. ‘There’s my big girl!’ she called, grinning. ‘Come on, you’re going to beat me!’ She pretended to run as the little girl speeded up.
Ting, ting, ting, ting.
Tara stopped walking. That sound . . .
What was it about that sound?
Adrenaline was coursing through her and her fingertips fizzed with energy. Why? Why did she feel like this? Something kept nudging the back of her mind, trying to make itself known. Something important . . .
But what was it?
Then, as though someone had pressed a switch and flooded a dark room with light, Tara understood.
The bells had reminded her of the wind chimes at Riverdale Rise. But she’d heard those wind chimes somewhere else recently. Heard them when they shouldn’t have been there. When it came to her, an icy chill grasped her insides. The chimes had been there, ever so faintly, in the background of Leo’s call from Melodie. The call that was meant to have come from Brighton. But she had actually been at the house, or right by it.
Tara started to feel excited. She didn’t know what it meant, but it might be helpful. Melodie must have come back to the house for some reason. Why did she lie? Tara had no idea. Maybe she was going to sneak off to spend time with Will first? But she’d never got to see him, or he would have said so. Which may mean she wasn’t far from home when she was snatched.
She had to tell Leo. Tara grabbed her phone and jabbed his number in with shaking fingers.
‘It’s Leo. Leave me a message and I’ll call you back.’
Tara hung up. She didn’t want to leave this as a message. There wasn’t time. Those people could be hurting – cutting – Melodie right now. Even though the very thought made her feel sick with nerves, she knew what she had to do. She was going to have to force herself to go to the house and tell Faith directly. Even if it meant getting Leo into trouble for telling her. This wasn’t about spooky ‘gifts’ or pictures. This was proper evidence; something she’d heard. They could hear too if he still had the message on his phone. Tara felt a surge of brave determination.
She hadn’t been able to save Tyler Evans’s life.
But maybe she could help save Melodie Stone’s.
CHAPTER 14
SPIN
She crossed the bridge and quickly found her way to Riverdale Rise. As she got close to the house, she hesitated. Sammie was a pain with new people and Tara didn’t want the distraction of trying to stop him from jumping all over Faith. She could tie him to the railings at the far end of number ten’s front garden. Mum wouldn’t like her leaving him unattended but it would only be for a few minutes and, anyway, Faith probably wouldn’t invite her in, not with everything that was going on.
Tara tied the dog’s lead to the railings and he lay down with a sigh, dropping his head on his paws. Sammie regarded Tara sadly as she left him and approached the house.
She lifted the heavy door knocker and rapped twice.
There was no movement at all from inside. The house had an abandoned air. Tara shivered. She felt a bit sick and put it down to nerves. Or maybe she felt weird because this was Melodie’s house and Tara was close to her things. Her chest tightened and she forced herself to take long, slow breaths.
Come on, she thought. Hold it together, Tara . . .
She rapped the door knocker again and this time could hear movement inside.
The door opened a crack. Faith peered out, blinking, as though the daylight hurt her eyes. She looked confused and then recognition crossed her face and she opened the door wider. Her eyes seemed large in her small, pretty face. She was shorter than Tara – doll-like in her floaty summer dress that showed off thin white legs. She seemed vulnerable and small and it gave Tara courage that she was doing the right thing. Imagine how Mum would feel if she, Tara, was the one missing? She had to try and help.
‘Hello again,’ said Faith in her soft voice. ‘What is it you want, lovey?’ Her slight smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, which looked tired, the delicate skin beneath them almost translucent. ‘Only I’m a bit busy right now.’
‘Look, don’t be cross with Leo, okay?’ Tara blurted out, reflexively reaching out her hand. Faith looked at the hand curiously, as though it might be a dead fish, then up at Tara’s face again. Tara started to blush furiously but hurried on. ‘The thing is, I know what’s going on . . . about Melodie.’
Faith’s eyes widened. Her cheek twitched as though someone was yanking a piece of thread attached to it. ‘What do you mean?’ she said, her voice lower now.
‘Leo, he, um, kind of told me,’ said Tara with a spiralling sensation that things were happening too fast. ‘We’re . . .’ She trailed off. What were they, exactly? All they’d done was kiss twice. She wished she could speak properly. And feel less odd.
She took a breath. ‘Anyway the thing is that I heard a message on his phone and I realised something. I thought I should tell you in case it’s important to help you find her . . .’ Her voice trailed off. Faith was looking at her intently, her fair eyebrows drawn together.
Footsteps behind her on the street made Tara turn. An elderly man with a small West Highland terrier on a lead had stopped. He was looking at them with suspicion on his face.
‘Evening, Ted,’ said Faith, smiling sweetly. ‘Can I help you with something?’
The man frowned and pulled his dog, which was stoically receiving Sammie’s nose at its bottom.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘I was just wondering whether you’d thought any more about tidying up this front garden,’ he said stiffly. ‘Only the Residents’ Association and I, we think that —’
‘Of course!’ interrupted Faith brightly. ‘I’ll do it right now, shall I? Alternatively,’ she said, putting her finger to her cheek in a parody of deep thought, ‘you could just bugger right off and drop dead!’
The man’s eyes widened. Tara couldn’t help but gape. The man opened and closed his mouth, fish-like.
‘You’d better come in,’ said Faith wearily, putting her small, warm hand on Tara’s wrist. She drew her inside the house with surprising strength.
She closed the front door behind them and made an obscene gesture at the glass. ‘Miserable old git,’ she said. ‘All he does is go on and on.’
Tara smiled back at her uncertainly.
‘Why don’t you tell me all about it?’ Faith said. She walked along the hallway and down some steps at the end into another room. Tara hesitated. Her head began to spin a little. The black and white floor tiles of the hallway seeme
d to shift and blur as though the pattern in them was being re-set every few seconds. There was a star-shaped crack near her foot and the tiles were askew around it. Tara had to tell herself sternly not to trip, because she was dizzy enough to fall.
She pressed her hand to her chest as if she could slow her thudding heartbeat and picked her way around the bikes, boxes and piles of magazines in the hall. A ginger cat slunk in front of her, meowing in a piteous way. Another cat, a sleek Siamese, was curled up on the staircase to her left and it regarded her lazily through jade-green eyes. A wave of dizziness washed over her and Tara steadied herself by touching the long shelf that ran over a radiator running down the hallway. The shelf was cluttered with candles – some in wine bottles while others had melted in waxy stalactites over the side of the shelf. The air smelt of their sweet perfume and cigarette smoke with an undertang of cat. A pile of bedding with a pillow on the top was at the bottom of the stairs.
She followed Faith down the steps into a huge kitchen that led out onto the back garden. The kitchen was cluttered with newspapers, plates and cups on almost every surface.
A frying pan with congealing fat on the large Aga gave off a sour smell that caught in Tara’s throat. Faith sat at the table and picked up a wine glass with a grainy red residue that was lying on its side. Tara’s mind instantly filled with a picture of blood scabbing on skin and she blinked hard, trying to get rid of it.
Faith lit up a cigarette and blew smoke out sideways, regarding Tara with one eye slightly closed. She tapped her ash onto a large white dinner plate with a gold rim around it that was already crowded with cigarette butts.
‘Sit down, darling. Sorry it’s a mess, but . . .’ Her voice wobbled and she wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand, her fingers curled inwards. ‘It’s a bad time right now.’
Tara nodded, feeling lost for words temporarily. She felt so sick . . .
Faith spoke again. ‘Look, Leo really shouldn’t have told you what’s happening, you know. He could have made things bad for Mel. If it gets out . . .’ Her eyes blurred with tears and she sucked savagely on her cigarette. Her face drifted in and out of focus and Tara blinked a couple of times.
Hold Your Breath Page 13
