Hide and Secrets

by Sophie McKenzie

  ‘Hello there, Cat,’ Mr Tuesday says, his face wreathed in a smile. ‘Haven’t seen you all day.’

  ‘Mum’s got me working hard on her appointments and stuff,’ I say, still standing in the doorway. I can feel Tyler’s eyes on my face, but I’m deliberately not looking at him. I’m certain that, whenever I do, he can see just how much I like him and I don’t want to expose myself any more than I already have. ‘Er…’ I hesitate. ‘I just wanted a quick word with Tyler.’

  ‘Sure… go on, son,’ says Mr Tuesday. ‘I’ll clear the dishes.’

  I let myself look at Tyler at last, as he stands up and lopes over to the door. He holds it open, as if inviting me properly inside, but I beckon him out to the courtyard.

  ‘What’s up?’ he says, softly, letting the door swing shut behind him. His golden-brown eyes gleam in the dying light. ‘Are you okay? You look weird.’

  Great.

  I pull myself together. ‘I just found a way for us to get to Norfolk,’ I whisper. ‘Well, to London, anyway. Mum’s agreed to take me with her to the convention she’s speaking at. She’s driving up, first thing the day after tomorrow.’ I explain how I’ve offered to help Mum with her admin and her stall at the convention centre. ‘Once we’re in London, we just need to get the train to Norfolk, then the bus, then walk to the mobile-home park and… and find my dad. I’ve looked at the times. We can be back in London by evening.’

  As I speak, a frown creases Tyler’s forehead. ‘That’s brilliant, Cat,’ he says slowly. ‘But I don’t see how I fit in – your mum won’t want me with you.’

  ‘I’ve thought of that,’ I say eagerly. ‘The convention’s at Alexandra Palace, in North London. It can’t be that far from where you live. I thought you could say you wanted to go back. Stay at a friend’s? Or… or see your girlfriend?’

  Tyler nods. Does that mean he does have a girlfriend in London? Or just that he agrees with my plan?

  ‘That could work,’ he murmurs. ‘I’ll have to set it up properly. Dad’ll want to check it’s okay with whoever I stay with, but…’ He grins and my heart gives a little skip. ‘Yeah, that’ll work.’

  We stand in the courtyard, smiling at each other. Tyler seems like he wants to say something so I wait, my whole body tingling with pleasure that he seems so delighted.

  ‘Wow,’ he says finally. ‘It’ll be amazing to get back to London for a bit. I mean, I know we’ll be off to Norfolk on one of the days, but I’ll have another to see my mates. It’ll be brilliant.’

  The smile falls from my face. Of course. It makes total sense that seeing his real friends is what he’s really looking forward to.

  I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

  16

  The drive to London is like one of those fairground rides where you start out all excited and hopeful and end up desperate to get off because you’re feeling so sick.

  It’s Mum’s fault, of course. She’s told Mr Tuesday that she’s ‘absolutely delighted’ to be giving Tyler a lift to London, but nearly four hours into the journey it’s embarrassingly obvious that she’d rather he wasn’t here.

  We’ve barely reached the outskirts of the city, but Mum’s already mentioned the fact she needs to drop Tyler off five times.

  ‘I’m very happy to be doing it, of course, but on top of getting to Alexandra Palace… well, I don’t know the area and the driving in London is terribly aggressive with all those one-way systems.’

  ‘You can just leave me at Alexandra Palace,’ Tyler says, shifting awkwardly in the passenger seat. I’d hoped we could ride together in the back, but Mum insisted Bess and I sat there and that Tyler was up front with her.

  ‘Nonsense,’ Mum trills, her jaw clenched. ‘I promised your dad I’d take you right to your friend’s door. It’s no imposition at all.’

  The closer we drive, the worse things get. I was Bess’s age on my last visit and don’t remember the city at all. As we negotiate the endless streets full of cars and vans and buses, Mum misses turn after turn, sitting hunched over the steering wheel. Bess, who has spent the journey drawing and listening to stories on her headphones, is now, thankfully, asleep. Mum, meanwhile, gets in more and more of a flap.

  ‘Oh, this is so confusing! Oh my goodness and now I have to do this detour for you, Tyler. Which of course I’m totally happy to do, but…Aaagh!’ she shrieks, making Tyler and me both jump. ‘That car behind nearly hit us!’

  In front of me, Tyler stiffens, clearly terrified by her driving.

  ‘Jeez, Mum!’ I mutter.

  ‘Stop attacking me, Cat.’ Mum takes both hands off the wheel, waving them angrily in the air. ‘This is just the downside of having Sagittarius in the eighth house and Capricorn rising. It’s not my fault I find this… this onslaught so overwhelming.’ She sighs. ‘I’m sorry, Tyler, but I’m going to have to drop you at the Palace after all.’

  ‘That’s fine,’ Tyler says, sounding relieved he will soon be let out of the car.

  ‘He said it would be fine over an hour ago,’ I can’t help but comment.

  ‘Will you please stop being so aggressive, Cat,’ Mum snaps. She glances across at Tyler. ‘As soon as I did that one’s birth chart I knew she’d be difficult. It’s her having her Sun and Mars in Aries. Same as her dad. And not just a temper, but a sarcastic one.’ She glares at me in the rear-view mirror.

  My face burns with embarrassment. I’m used to Mum saying stuff like this, but Tyler is looking at her – not for the first time – like she’s utterly mad.

  It’s gone 3.30 p.m. by the time we arrive at our apartment. After the busy streets on the way in, I’m astonished by how quiet and leafy it is here. I’d imagined the whole of London would be stylish and exciting, but the road where we’re staying, close to the convention, feels a lot like towns in Devon, though maybe with more houses packed in together. And definitely more cars. I can’t help but feel a little disappointed it’s not more glamorous.

  As Mum rummages among her bags in the boot, muttering to herself about ‘London parking’, I go over to Tyler.

  ‘Is it like this where you’re from?’ I ask.

  ‘What do you mean?’ He stares at me, the sun lighting his caramel skin, making his eyes look more golden than usual.

  ‘Just rows of houses.’ I pause. ‘I thought there’d be more shops and… and atmosphere, more buzz.’

  ‘Did you?’ Tyler gives me a wry smile. ‘London is a lot of different places.’

  I frown, unsure what he means. ‘So is where you’re from more like the centre?’ I gabble. ‘Like it is around Oxford Street and the big department stores? Where they have shops like Liberty with loads of amazing fabrics?’

  It’s the most I’ve said all journey.

  ‘No,’ he says shortly. ‘Where I’m from is nothing like that.’ He gazes at me curiously. I wish I knew what he was thinking. Then he lowers his voice. ‘See you tomorrow, 9 a.m.’ A second later, he shouts a ‘thanks for the lift, Mrs Mooney’ at Mum and strides away.

  I watch him go. He doesn’t look back. Clearly, it doesn’t even occur to him that he might want to.

  Mum shouts at me to help with the bags and she, Bess and I take our stuff into the apartment. She’s still grumpy, complaining that the flat is too small and lacks ‘a spiritual vibe’. Of course, half an hour later, when the convention co-ordinator turns up with a young volunteer totally in awe of Mum’s celebrity status, Mum is all smiles and enthusiasm.

  I wish the people who think she’s so serene and easy-going could see how bad-tempered and demanding she gets when there isn’t an audience around to impress.

  A car is coming to pick us up at 8 a.m. tomorrow, so that Mum can set up her stand before the convention opens at 10.

  ‘Oh, it sounds just wonderful,’ she coos. ‘Thanks so much for all your hard work.’ She reaches out and pulls Bess, hiding behind her, a little closer. ‘I’m so lucky to have so many people looking after me. Including these two beautiful angels.’ She indicates me and Bess.r />
  Bess gives the co-ordinator a shy smile. I scowl, earning a sharp prod in the back from Mum.

  ‘See you tomorrow,’ Mum says cheerfully, as the others leave. ‘Can’t wait!’

  As soon as the door of the flat shuts behind them, she turns to me and snaps:

  ‘Make your sister a snack. I’m going to have a bath.’ And sashays off to the bathroom.

  She’s in a slightly better mood once she’s washed and changed. We order in a takeaway which we eat in front of the TV. I glance every now and then at my phone, wondering if Tyler will message me. Of course he doesn’t. He’s probably out with his friends. Maybe even the girlfriend I’m sure he must have, who he hasn’t told me about. Nobody as good-looking and kind as him could be single, especially coming from somewhere as full of people as London.

  I do get a text from Rik, on yet another new number.

  Rik here. Any update?

  I hesitate before writing back. I don’t want to sound too excited, in case the Saltcliff lead is wrong. In the end I decide to be positive, but not too specific:

  Think Dad might be in Norfolk, going tomorrow

  Rik’s message pings back straight away:

  Will contact you again tomorrow. Good luck!

  As the evening wears on, my nerves build. My excitement at getting closer to Dad weaves in and out of the fear that we’ll be too late. That maybe if two teenagers can figure out that he’s hiding in a mobile home in Norfolk, then maybe a skilful and ruthless bunch of gangsters will have got to him first.

  * * *

  I wake to the sound of the kettle boiling. Mum is already up and dressed – in her most extreme outfit: a blue and purple volcano of frothy chiffon with a matching headdress that spouts long strips of coloured silk all the way down her back.

  My heart starts to thud as the car taking us to the convention sets off. I’m expecting the journey to take a while, but five minutes later we’re in the car park, high on a hill. Mum has explained that this isn’t a real palace, but it’s still enormous, with huge arches on either side of the entrance, and a massive glass window above it. You can see all over London from just outside the building, but there’s no time to take in the view. Mum hurries Bess and me inside, issuing instructions about where on her stand to set out the astrological ornaments and how to divide all her leaflets into the appropriate piles.

  Bess and I work obediently for about half an hour, while Mum greets person after person. She seems to know almost everyone exhibiting at the convention. It’s a massive room. I can only see the surrounding stalls, but they burst with colour: two of them have sun-splash and star sign posters and piles of books, while a third strains under the weight of its rows of crystals.

  I check the time. Quarter to nine. Mum has been whisked off for a cup of tea by the volunteer who showed up yesterday. She left Bess and me with strict instructions to store all the extra pamphlets in neat, organized piles under the table. I shove the lot into the corner. It’s time to go and meet Tyler outside.

  I glance at my sister, feeling guilty. I’m not so much worried about her safety. She’s sat inside the stall with her back to the table, hunched over her latest drawing of a puppy. She’s not even visible from the exhibition floor.

  No, it’s more that when Mum gets back from her cup of tea and discovers I’ve gone, she’ll be furious. And, by going, I’m leaving Bess to deal with that all by herself.

  My phone pings. It’s Tyler. He’s already outside. I squat down next to Bess and tap her shoulder. She looks up.

  ‘I have to go…’ I say. I’d been going to pretend I was just going in search of a bathroom, but looking into Bess’s clear eyes I know I can’t lie to her. I hesitate, then say: ‘Don’t worry about me.’

  Bess frowns. Her eyes glint in the overhead light as she stamps her foot. No. She’s clearly telling me. She stamps again. No.

  ‘Stay here till Mum gets back.’ I straighten up, guilt still tugging at my chest. I tell myself that it’s worth upsetting Bess in this moment, if I can find Dad alive, and so make her happy forever.

  I turn and hurry away, following the signs to the main exit. Tyler’s text says he’s at the bus stop just outside. I race out to the terrace. It was overcast when we woke up, but the sun has burned all the clouds away and London is spread out before me, its mass of buildings going on for miles, into a clear blue sky.

  As I run down the steps to the pavement, I see the bus stop across the road to the right. There’s a knot of people waiting, but I spot Tyler straight away. He raises his arm and waves as he sees me. My heart gives a little leap of hope.

  This is it. The start of my quest to find Dad.

  Tyler waves harder, beckoning me to move faster. A big red bus trundles towards us. Tyler holds his arm out to stop it.

  I race across the road as the bus reaches the stop. The central doors open and a slew of people in colourful outfits stream out. Panting for breath, I weave my way through them to the front of the bus. I lose sight of Tyler in the crowd for a moment. There he is, holding out the Travelcard he’d promised he’d get for me. His eyes flare as he sees me… Is that surprise? Excitement? I can’t read his expression. Someone behind me is shoving me in the back. I barely have a chance to grab the Travelcard before I’m hustled on board. I tap the card on the pad by the driver and move inside the bus. People stream on. I spot Tyler over their heads – he’s made it on. The door of the bus shuts, the engine roaring into life. I’m forced further down the bus as the people between us swarm past me to the seats at the back. As the bus moves away I turn around, expecting to see Tyler right there: alone and smiling at me.

  He’s there all right, but he’s neither smiling nor alone. My jaw drops as the bus picks up speed, hurtling down the hill away from the Palace. Because there, standing beside Tyler, with her chin jutting forward and a defiant glint in her eyes, is Bess.

  17

  Tyler ushers Bess towards me, his eyes wide with shock.

  ‘You brought your little sister?’ he hisses. ‘What happened to “she’s not even seven”, “she’s vulnerable”?’

  ‘I didn’t bring her,’ I gasp, as the bus zooms past a stop.

  I crouch down so I’m face to face with Bess. ‘Why did you follow me?’ I demand.

  Bess lifts one shoulder then drops it in a sulky shrug.

  ‘What were you thinking?’ My voice rises. ‘This was really selfish of you. Really—’ I stop, my breath catching in my throat.

  I sound just like Mum.

  I look out of the window. The bus is sailing past the next stop now, gathering speed as it hurtles down the hill. Bess kicks at the floor, scowling.

  ‘Can we take her back?’ Tyler asks.

  I shake my head. ‘There’s no time if we’re going to make our train. Anyway, Mum will have noticed we’ve gone by now.’

  I glance around. We’re standing in the middle of the bus by the double exit doors. There’s a smattering of other passengers, but none of them are taking any notice of us.

  ‘Come on.’ I take Bess’s hand and guide her towards the long seat at the very back of the bus. Tyler sits on my other side.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ he asks.

  ‘She’ll have to come to Norfolk with us,’ I say with a sigh. Bess looks up at me, a sad, sulky expression on her face. I put my arm round her. ‘It’s okay, Bess. Sorry I got cross. I wouldn’t have wanted to be left behind at that stupid exhibition either.’

  Bess folds her arms and stares out of the window. I decide there and then that I won’t tell her we’re on a mission to find Dad. There’s no point raising her hopes until I know for sure he’s at the mobile-home park. ‘You have to promise me you’ll do whatever Tyler and I tell you.’ Bess says nothing, just kicks her foot listlessly against the seat in front. Which is, luckily, empty.

  ‘There’s no need to be like that,’ I say, feeling annoyed again.

  Bess sticks her tongue out at me. I go to stick mine out back, then remember Tyler is sitting on my
other side. So, instead, I blow out a frustrated breath and lean back in my seat.

  I love my sister, but having Bess with us is going to slow us down and make us stand out from other teenagers enjoying a bit of time away from home. Plus, it could be dangerous for her, especially if we encounter any FFG gangsters.

  And, of course, it means I won’t get to be alone with Tyler. I scowl to myself. Not that being alone with him will make any difference to how he feels about me.

  The bus turns on to the main road.

  ‘We should be at Finsbury Park in about ten minutes,’ Tyler says. ‘Then we have to go on the tube to get to Liverpool Street…’ He hesitates. ‘You should probably let your mum know you’re okay.’

  I nod, taking out my mobile and sending Mum a brief text saying that I’m really sorry and I know she’ll be furious, but I won’t be able to help out on her exhibition stand as Bess and I have gone out for the day. I don’t mention Tyler – no point getting him into trouble too. Then I remove the SIM and slide the phone into my shirt pocket.

  ‘Why are you doing that?’ Tyler asks.

  ‘The price of me having a mobile has always been Mum insisting she could track it at any given time, night or day.’ I glance anxiously at Tyler. ‘I know, it’s really uncool.’

  He shrugs. ‘She’ll be worried.’

  ‘I can’t imagine your dad tracking your movements,’ I say with a smile.

  ‘Nah, my dad would call something like that an invasion of privacy,’ Tyler says. ‘He’s all about taking responsibility. Stuff like that.’ He grins, then lets his hand rest lightly on mine, before sitting back in his seat. The brief press of his palm makes my skin fizz.

  I try to focus on what lies ahead. We might be just hours away from finding Dad. I try to picture the moment I see him. What will I say? How it will feel?

  I can’t imagine it; all I know is that I’m suddenly brimming with nervous excitement.