Chapter 35
THIRTY-FIVE
Keswick
“Mum, we went to the spooky island,” Mia exclaimed as soon as Gabe and the children rounded the side of the house and saw Quinn sitting on the deck.
“But Sam and Reggie said it isn’t safe,” Quinn replied, her gaze instantly going to Gabe, who deftly avoided answering as he followed Max, who had to pee, into the house. Alex and Mia went inside too.
“We didn’t go into the ruin,” Emma said.
“The fish weren’t biting, and Mia and Max got restless, so Dad rowed over to the island.
There’s a tumbledown chapel with a crypt.
” She looked excited. “There were still bodies in there until a few years ago. Of the nuns who lived on the island and were murdered by the men who sacked the abbey.”
“How do you know that?”
“Sam told us. And the chapel was used to smuggle drugs.”
“By the nuns?” Quinn asked.
“No, Mum. By a local drug gang. This was like two years ago, during the pandemic.”
“And Sam told you all that?”
“Yeah, when we went to borrow some fishing poles.”
“I didn’t know you liked fishing.”
“What else is there to do?” Emma exclaimed in frustration. “I can’t talk to my friends or go on Insta.”
“I got you that book.”
“I’m done with it,” Emma said.
“You finished it already?”
Emma nodded. “Last night. I needed something to take my mind off things.”
It was only then that Quinn understood how worried Emma really was. She didn’t know how to verbalize her fears, but they were bubbling just beneath the surface, and she needed answers. They all did.
“Where’s my dad?” Max wailed. “I want my dad.”
He’d come outside and was standing before Quinn, his face turned up to hers and his hands balled into fists.
She thought he might be gearing up for a tantrum.
Gabe appeared in the doorway but didn’t try to reason with Max.
Quinn thought he was probably worn out after spending hours with the kids and only wanted a few moments of quiet.
“He’ll be back soon. But Uncle Jude is coming,” Quinn announced brightly.
“He is?”
Some of the anger seemed to go out of Max’s stance, and his hands relaxed. He looked to Emma for confirmation, and she smiled and nodded.
“He’ll be here tomorrow,” Quinn said.
“Will my dad be back by then?”
Quinn and Gabe shared a look over Max’s head. Gabe’s eyes asked if Quinn had learned anything at the police station, and she shook her head a little to let him know that she hadn’t.
“This is such a nightmare!” Emma cried. She had intercepted the looks and had come to her own conclusions. She stomped off, and Quinn heard her slam the bedroom door.
“What’s a nightmare?” Max asked, just as Alex and Mia appeared on either side of Gabe. They were watching their parents, their eyes wide and their faces tight with tension.
“When can we go home?” Alex asked.
“Sunday,” Quinn replied.
“But what are we going to do until then?” Mia wailed. “This place is so boring.”
“Enjoy each other’s company,” Gabe said. “How about we grab an early dinner and then go see a film?”
“At night?” Mia asked, her shock evident.
The children had never been to the cinema in the evening since they usually went to an afternoon showing and then out for pizza afterwards. To go see a film at night was sort of a big deal.
“Why not?” Gabe said. “It’ll be fun. Now go play for a little while so I can speak to your mum. You too, Max.”
Max looked torn between defiance and suppressed excitement, then decided to follow his cousins into the house. They heard the television go on, and the annoying voice of SpongeBob SquarePants drifted through the open door.
Gabe closed the door and sank into the deckchair beside Quinn’s.
“Why did you take them to that island?” she asked accusingly.
“Because they were bored. When was the last time you tried to entertain four children without the use of devices? Taking them to the island was safer than letting them fish. They kept leaning over the side to look for fishies. I was afraid one of them would tumble into the water. So we gave up on fishing and decided to explore. We walked around for a bit, then came right back. No one was ever in any danger.”
Quinn exhaled deeply in exasperation. “Gabe, you were alone on that island with nary a phone between you. What if someone got hurt, or the boat drifted away?”
“Quinn, we’re fine. No one got hurt. And I can be trusted to tie up a boat. And we did have a phone.” Gabe pulled a small black phone from his back pocket.
“Is that a burner?”
He nodded. “I bought it when we stopped at the petrol station to get snacks. Just in case. Sorry, I forgot to tell you. How did the interview with Malone go?”
“Not well. They found Logan’s car,” Quinn whispered, worried Max might overhear. “It was left in some empty lot and burned out.”
“And the owner?” Gabe asked softly.
“No sign of him, thank God. Malone didn’t know much else. He wasn’t even in possession of basic facts. I’m surprised Sean asked him to take the case.”
“I don’t think Sean has much influence anymore,” Gabe replied. “You know how it goes—he was forced to resign after the fiasco with Edie, and now there’s someone new in charge. And the people who were once loyal to him see him as having been put out to pasture. He did what he could to help.”
“I know, and I’m grateful. I rang Drew after I left the police station.”
Gabe nodded. “That was good thinking. He’s bound to find something out.”
“Who’s Drew?” Max asked as he stepped outside. He came to stand before them, his gaze going from one adult to the other as he waited for an answer.
“Drew is my friend,” Quinn said.
“He drew you a picture?” Max asked and cackled at his own joke.
“He drew me several pictures of people I thought I knew,” Quinn replied sadly. “Now how about a snack? I’m starving.”
“Me too,” Max cried.
As they headed into the boathouse, Quinn reflected that thankfully she could still distract three out of the four children with the promise of entertainment and food. And just then, that was the only arsenal she had at her disposal.