Hide and Secrets

by Sophie McKenzie

  We walk to the playground on the other side of the village and eat our chips, while Bess plays happily on the swing. It’s almost eight now and the air is still warm. I try to focus on enjoying the food, but my mouth is dry and I keep checking my pocket to make sure the diamond is still there.

  Tyler finishes his chips and springs up. ‘Hey, Bess, cartwheel time!’ he announces.

  ‘What about you doing one?’ I suggest.

  Bess slides off the swing and claps her hands together.

  Yes!

  Tyler makes a fake-modest face. ‘Oh no,’ he says, pretending to protest. ‘I couldn’t.’

  ‘Go on!’ I encourage.

  Bess nods enthusiastically.

  ‘If you insist, then.’ Tyler sweeps down into a low bow, then walks over to a clear patch of tarmac. He steadies himself, then flips himself over – and up again.

  It’s a perfect cartwheel, as good as the one I saw him do the day after he arrived here. He stands up grinning.

  Bess and I applaud.

  ‘Your turn, Bess,’ Tyler says.

  He sits down on the bench next to me and we watch as Bess gets into position. For some reason I feel nervous, watching the concentration on her face.

  ‘You can do it!’ Tyler calls out.

  I hold my breath as Bess lifts one leg, points her toe and, focusing intently, flips herself over. Her legs are completely straight as they fly over her body then land, lightly and neatly, on the other side.

  ‘Amazing!’ I jump up, clapping. ‘Brilliant, Bess!’

  ‘Awesome!’ Tyler calls. ‘The best one yet.’

  Bess beams.

  At 8:15 p.m., we make our way back through Brockledore village. I want Tyler to get Bess home well before I’m due to meet Rik at the war memorial. Bess skips along happily at Tyler’s side. She seems to have completely got over our ordeal in Norfolk. It’s not just that she’s stopped being withdrawn. There’s a real openness about her now. It’s hard to put my finger on, but it’s as if she’s less fearful than she used to be.

  Or perhaps I’m just anxious enough for both of us. I shove my hand in my pocket for what must be the hundredth time. The Blue Fire is still there, tightly wrapped in its velvet pouch. The air is still warm but, as we get near to the memorial, I shiver.

  ‘You okay?’ Tyler asks quietly.

  I shrug. ‘I just hope this works, that I can convince Rik to leave Dad alone.’

  ‘It will,’ Tyler says. ‘I bet when he hears about the diamond he’ll agree to anything to get his hands on it’.

  I smile at him, feeling more confident. Tyler is right. I just have to be strong and insistent with Rik.

  We cross the road to the war memorial. The sun has set so low now that the bottom part of the monument is in total shade. I lean against it and the stone feels cold against my back.

  ‘It’s not right, leaving you here alone,’ Tyler says, a worried look on his face.

  Bess looks up at me, enquiringly.

  ‘I won’t be long,’ I say.

  Tyler gives me a reluctant nod, then takes Bess’s hand. I watch them cross the road and disappear into the woods that lead up to our house. A few moments pass and then a low voice sounds behind me.

  ‘Hello, Cat.’

  That’s not Rik. I spin round, my breath catching in my throat.

  ‘You!’ I gasp.

  32

  Rik’s Aunt Sandy is standing in front of me, a mean smile on her lips.

  I stare at her, my jaw dropping. ‘What are you doing here?’ I demand. ‘Where’s Rik? He said nine p.m., it’s only—’

  ‘It’s just a small change of plan,’ Sandy interrupts. ‘Rik decided I should meet you instead, and I like to be early.’ Her mouth stretches into a thin sneer. ‘Get over it.’

  I gulp. Sandy is wearing a zipped-up grey tracksuit top that hangs long over her hips and silver trainers that match her hair. She seems far livelier than when Tyler and I visited her flat.

  I glance around. From where we’re standing, I can see the high street ahead and the woods to our right. There’s no sign of Rik. At least Tyler and Bess are out of sight; they should be halfway through the woods by now. Sandy watches me, her eyes cold and hard. Dad’s words about her killing Pirate flash into my head.

  ‘You murdered our dog!’ The words shoot out of me.

  Sandy smirks. ‘If you say so,’ she says lightly.

  I grit my teeth. How could I ever have thought she was just a harmless old lady? She’s been in league with Rik from the start.

  ‘I’m here on Rik’s behalf.’ Sandy stares at my empty hands. ‘Where’s the papers and stuff on your dad?’ she demands. ‘Rik said—’

  ‘I don’t have any of that,’ I interrupt. My thoughts fly to the diamond. I fold my arms to stop my hands unconsciously reaching for my pocket. Sandy’s face flushes with annoyance. ‘I’ve got something better than paperwork,’ I add quickly.

  ‘Oh, really?’ Sandy snaps. ‘What’s that, then?’

  ‘The diamond,’ I say. ‘I found the Blue Fire diamond.’

  Sandy blinks with surprise. ‘You little liar.’ She glares at me. ‘Rik warned you about—’

  ‘I’m not lying,’ I say desperately.

  ‘But your father is the only person who knows where the diamond is.’ Sandy spits. ‘Are you telling me you’ve talked to him? Has he told you where it is?’

  I hesitate. ‘It doesn’t matter how I found it,’ I say. ‘What counts is that I have the diamond and I’ll give it to Rik provided he promises to leave my family alone.’

  Sandy gives a hollow laugh. ‘I suppose you’re imagining that if Rik backs off, you’ll get your daddy back?’ she says scornfully. ‘Well, let me tell you, I’ve met your father and for all his cheery ways he’s as selfish as they come.’ She pauses. ‘Whatever happens, he won’t come back here.’

  ‘Yes, he will,’ I insist. ‘So long as he’s safe… so long as we’re all safe.’

  ‘So where is this diamond, then?’ Sandy purses her lips, doubtfully. ‘If you’ve really got the thing, show me.’ She holds out her hand.

  ‘I don’t have it with me.’ I can feel my cheeks reddening and pray that Sandy will put this down to the stress of the situation rather than the fact that I’m lying. ‘Like I said, I need Rik to promise he’ll leave my family alone before I give it to him.’

  Sandy hesitates a second. I’m expecting her to argue with me again, but instead she takes out a mobile and hands it to me. ‘Wait here,’ she says. ‘Rik will call you in a moment on this.’

  ‘Why?’ I ask. ‘What are—?’

  But Sandy has already bustled away, along the high street. A second later she’s out of sight.

  I stand, waiting. Tyler and Bess should be through the trees now. Almost home. I wait for another minute, my anxiety rising. The phone Sandy gave me doesn’t ring. I try to open it, but it’s locked. Something doesn’t feel right. Why didn’t Sandy call Rik for me to talk to there and then? Why did she leave her phone with me?

  Why didn’t she insist on staying with me until she had the diamond?

  My heart beats harder and faster.

  Into the silence, the phone blasts. A loud, insistent ring.

  I snatch it to my ear. ‘Hello?’

  ‘You’ve got the diamond?’ Rik sounds incredulous.

  ‘Yes.’ My heart is thumping in my ears now. I look all around. The village is empty, nobody in sight. ‘You can have it,’ I go on. ‘But only on condition you stay away from Dad.’

  ‘What?’ Rik starts, ‘but—’

  ‘I know the truth,’ I interrupt. ‘I know there aren’t any gangsters. It’s you. You’re the one after Dad. You want revenge on him whether or not you get the diamond back.’

  Silence on the other end of the phone. ‘I see,’ Rik says, flatly. ‘Well, aren’t you clever for working it all out.’ He sniffs. ‘What you also need to know is that you’re in no position to be making demands.’ He sucks in his breath. ‘Your dad double-cross
ed me, and he has to pay. Period.’

  Panic swirls inside me. ‘But—’

  ‘Now, do exactly what I tell you. Get the diamond and take it to three, Cave Street in Coombehaven. That’s less than an hour’s walk from where you are now. Talk to no one on the way.’

  Fury surges up through my fear. ‘No,’ I protest. ‘I’m done with you telling me what to do,’ I go on. ‘If you won’t leave Dad alone, you can’t have the diamond.’

  There’s a stunned silence on the other end of the line. I cross the empty road to the line of trees that mark the start of the wood. From here I can see all the way along the road that leads out of Brockledore. Apart from some distant traffic, the place is deserted.

  ‘Never mind your pathetic excuse for a dad,’ Rik says scornfully, at last. ‘You should be more worried about your sister.’

  My blood turns to ice. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I have Bess,’ he says.

  ‘What?’ My guts seem to fall away as I spin round. I stare into the wood. The light has faded so much now that the trees are wreathed in darkness. ‘No… you can’t, how—?’

  Rik sighs, impatiently. ‘I followed you. The three of you.’

  I gasp, hurrying into the wood.

  ‘How dare you?’ I say, breathless, into the phone. ‘She’s just a—’

  ‘Quiet!’ Rik’s voice cuts over mine. ‘I’ve told you where to go. Get the diamond and go straight there. Now. Or you’ll never see your sister again.’

  33

  The phone goes dead.

  Bess. I stare wildly around. The branches of the dark trees around me hiss in the breeze. Rik has taken Bess.

  What about Tyler? He didn’t mention Tyler.

  Panic rising, I dart between the trees, crashing over the twigs and leaves.

  ‘Tyler!’ I yell.

  A thudding, thumping noise echoes through the woods. I race towards it, fear spiralling through my head. I stumble over a large root, almost falling.

  ‘Tyler!’

  The sound gets louder. I round the next tree and he’s there: lying on the stony ground beside a fallen log. His hands and feet are tied with rope. His mouth is gagged.

  I hurry over and tear the cloth from his face.

  ‘Rik took Bess,’ he gasps. ‘He was following us.’

  I nod, too shocked to speak. I sink to my knees and tug at the rope round his wrists. Tyler has already frayed some of the threads against a stone. I wrench it looser, then pull it off his hands.

  ‘He came up behind me,’ Tyler says, his voice fast and frightened. ‘There was nothing I could do.’ He touches my arm. ‘Bess tried to run but… but Rik caught her. I’m so sorry, Cat, I couldn’t stop him.’

  ‘It’s not your fault,’ I say, numbly.

  Tyler is already unknotting the rope around his ankles. He frees himself and jumps up.

  ‘We need to call the police. And your mum,’ he says.

  ‘No.’ I explain what Rik has told me to do.

  ‘He’s offering an exchange?’ Tyler’s voice is strained. ‘Bess for the Blue Fire?’

  ‘Yes.’ We stare at each other. The full horror of the situation is reflected in Tyler’s eyes. I look away, unable to bear it. Unable to cope with the idea of Bess, bound and terrified.

  ‘Maybe we could still go to the cops,’ Tyler suggests. ‘Is there anything on that phone Sandy gave you? Something we could show them?’

  ‘No, it’s locked. The only number I can call on it is nine-nine-nine.’ I hesitate, fear coursing through me. ‘But we mustn’t contact the police. Rik’s already guilty of kidnapping. We know how dangerous he is. If the police show up instead of me and the diamond…’ I trail off, unable to put the depth of my fears for Bess into words.

  Tyler nods.

  ‘Let’s go,’ I say, tersely.

  We follow the main road out of Brockledore for half a mile, then take the turning for Coombehaven. It’s properly dark now. My shoes rub against my heels as I push myself on, my heart thudding against my ribs. It’s irrational to think it, but it feels like the diamond is visible through my pocket. I keep my hand over it the whole time, turning over and over its soft velvet wrap.

  * * *

  Coombehaven is a tiny, rundown village near the beach. It’s too dark to see the sea, but we can hear it as we walk along the main street, lined with boarded-up shops. Cave Street is the last turning before the shore. The road is dimly lit – just one street lamp flickers on and off. The houses are piles of crumbling brick and cracked windows. None of them have any lights on.

  ‘It’s like a ghost town,’ Tyler says.

  I nod, my anxiety rising.

  Number 3 turns out to be a house at the end of the row. Its windows are nailed over with wooden planks.

  ‘How do we get inside?’ I ask.

  ‘I don’t think it’s locked.’ Tyler gives the front door a push and, sure enough, it creaks open.

  I light our way with the phone Sandy gave me. The place is empty and bleak, all concrete floors and paint-scraped walls. It’s spookily silent. Together, we search both the downstairs rooms and the three upstairs. There’s nothing here but litter and a couple of old, stained mattresses.

  ‘Why isn’t Rik here?’ Tyler asks. The shadows from the phone’s light cast a spooky glow over his face.

  ‘And where’s Bess?’ My heart sinks.

  We stand on the landing, uncertain what to do. And then a sound echoes up to us. The front door is creaking open.

  34

  Tyler’s eyes widen with fear. I peer down the stairs.

  A man dressed in jacket and boots with a torch in his hand quietly shuts the front door behind him. He looks up and my heart skips a beat as I catch sight of his face.

  ‘Dad?’ I gasp.

  Dad frowns and shines his light up at me. ‘Cat?’ I can’t see his expression properly now, but I can hear the shock in his voice. ‘What are you doing here?’

  Shielding my eyes from the glare of his torch, I hurry down the stairs, Tyler behind me. Dad and I stare at each other, open-mouthed, in the gloomy hallway of the deserted building. Thoughts run through my head at a million miles an hour.

  Does he know about Bess?

  Has he come to help rescue her?

  Dad peers at Tyler. He frowns. ‘Who’s this?’

  ‘This is my friend Tyler,’ I explain quickly.

  ‘Hello,’ Tyler says.

  Dad nods at Tyler. ‘Hi.’ His torch casts shadows across the walls around us. His tanned, weather-beaten skin looks ghostly pale in the dim light. ‘You two can’t stay here,’ he insists, his voice urgent. ‘This is one of Rik’s old hangouts. I came here to find him. I… I think he’s got the Blue Fire.’

  I feel for the jewel in my pocket. ‘No—’ I start, but Dad interrupts me again.

  ‘I went to the house to get the diamond, but it was gone,’ Dad explains. ‘I’ve already been to Sandy’s but there’s no one there and I think—’

  ‘Dad, listen!’ I interrupt. ‘Rik’s got Bess. I’m waiting for them right now.’

  Dad blinks, shocked. ‘What? What do you mean?’

  ‘He’s kidnapped her. He wants to swap her for the Blue Fire.’ My voice cracks, my terror surging up. Tyler moves closer; I can sense his presence right beside me, but I keep my eyes on Dad.

  Dad lowers his torch so that it pools with the light from my phone, washing the walls with an eerie brightness. ‘Rik has Bess?’ He says the words slowly, like he can’t believe them. ‘But why? Why, if he already has the diamond?’

  ‘He doesn’t.’ I dig into my pocket and hold out the velvet pouch. ‘I’ve got it. Tyler and I found it, where you said, “under the stars”…’ I open the pouch. The diamond glitters in my hand.

  Dad swallows, peering at the Blue Fire. He reaches for it, then hesitates, drawing back his hand. He looks up at me. ‘Clever Cat,’ he murmurs. I can’t read his expression.

  ‘I think you owe Cat a proper explanation for why you’re here,’ Tyle
r says. There’s a quiet fury in his voice. I glance up at him in surprise.

  Why is he so angry?

  I look back at Dad, still gazing at the diamond. ‘It’s more beautiful than I remember,’ he says softly.

  ‘I hope you enjoy it.’ Tyler’s voice still has that furious edge. ‘I hope it was worth everything you’ve given up for it.’

  I raise my eyebrows at him. What is he talking about? My thoughts flit, impatiently, to Bess. We need to be focusing on her right now. Then I look at Dad, at the shame in his eyes. And his earlier words echo in my head.

  I went to the house to get the diamond.

  Suddenly, everything falls into place.

  To get the diamond.

  Dad has risked exposure and a showdown with the man who wants to kill him. But not to ‘deal with Rik’, like he said. Or to be with his family.

  ‘You came back because of that?’ I point to the diamond. ‘Not because of us.’

  There’s a long silence.

  ‘Dad?’ My voice cracks.

  ‘It’s not that simple.’ Dad hesitates. ‘I am here because of you… to protect you. Don’t you see? I’ve already lost so much because of this thing, I can’t let it be for nothing.’

  I frown. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I… I didn’t tell you the whole truth before,’ he stammers. ‘About how I ended up with the diamond.’

  I stare at him. ‘You said Rik stole it.’

  ‘It was you, wasn’t it?’ Tyler says accusingly. ‘You stole it.’

  Dad chews on his lip. ‘It’s a long story,’ he says.

  ‘Oh, Dad.’ There’s a lump in my throat.

  My fingers close over the diamond. Suddenly, I can’t bear to look at it. I shove it back into my pocket.

  ‘I don’t expect you to understand,’ Dad says, ‘but in that moment when I realized we had a priceless gem on our hands, it seemed like a victimless crime. We couldn’t trace the diamond to a living owner. It didn’t belong to anyone.’

  ‘You said before that it “belonged to the world”.’ The misery I felt a moment ago is hardening and sharpening into a bitter fury. ‘I guess that was another lie?’