Chapter 29
There’s a police car outside their house. The sheriff’s car.
Sadie’s heart wedges in her throat. Police cars never visit for any good reason.
She vaguely remembers the cars outside after Mum disappeared.
Strange men and women in uniforms. They tried to be kind to her, but she knew it was an act.
They were there because something bad had happened. It was the same after Decker:
‘So, tell us, in your own words, what happened at the party?’
‘Had you been drinking? Did anyone else witness the alleged assault?’
And then later: ‘We’re sorry, but it’s your word against his.’
She shoves the memory away as she reaches the front door. She had found herself relaxing while she watched the movie and even managed to walk home without being accosted by any strange women or litter pickers. But now this.
Maybe Jerry is just here to check everything is okay. She holds her bracelet to the keypad and the door buzzes open.
‘Hello?’
No reply. She frowns and walks across the hall into the living area. Empty, but she can see Dad and Jerry outside in the yard. Uneasiness twitches again in her stomach.
She walks outside, catching the end of Jerry’s last sentence.
‘And it was here when you arrived home?’
‘What was here?’ she asks.
Both men turn. She sees her dad’s face fall.
‘Hey. I tried to call you.’
‘Oh, I had my phone on silent.’ She fishes it out of her pocket. Yes, a missed call from Dad. She forgot to check when she came out of the cinema.
‘What’s going on?’ she asks again.
Jerry turns, adjusting his hat in the heat. And then she sees it. Tied to one of the handrails at the edge of the swimming pool: a bunch of brightly coloured balloons.
Her stomach takes a dive. ‘What the hell?’
Her dad walks over. ‘It’s okay. It’s probably just someone’s idea of a joke.’
She stares at Jerry. ‘Then why’s he here?’
‘Well, after the intruder your dad thought he saw, he asked if I’d come take a look.’ Jerry pushes back his hat and scratches his head. ‘Seems to me, someone might be yanking your chain.’
She swivels back to her dad. ‘Intruder. What intruder?’
Dad shuffles awkwardly. ‘Monday night and Tuesday night, I saw something on the security camera.’
‘What?’
‘It looked like someone dressed as Arnie the Armadillo in the back yard.’
Arnie the Armadillo. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because when I went outside, there was no one there and the images just disappeared from the app. I didn’t know what to think.’
Sadie glares at her dad. She’s so angry her chest hurts. ‘You should have told me.’
‘I’m sorry. I know I should. Okay? But I didn’t want to worry you. I thought if I could find out what was going on, I’d tell you later. There’s been so much weirdness, I didn’t want to stress you out.’
‘Oh. Well, nice job, because I’m really relaxed right now …’
She looks at the balloons still swaying carelessly in the breeze. The sight of them makes her feel sick.
Jerry clears his throat. ‘It’s nothing to be scared about, Miss Barker. Like I said, probably just someone yanking your chain.’
Sadie glares at him. ‘Because nothing bad ever happens in Serenity Falls, right?’
He stares at her, and Sadie can’t quite make out his eyes in the shadow of his hat.
‘Have you checked the security app today?’ He addresses the question to her dad.
‘Yes. Nothing there. Again. Like I told you, someone is messing with the camera.’
Sadie glances at her dad. Messing with the camera?
‘I had the home security company round this morning—’ he continues.
‘Well, maybe they just didn’t reset something.’ Jerry turns abruptly and bends to inspect the balloons. ‘Anyone touched these since you came back?’
Dad shakes his head. ‘No. I called you straight away.’
Jerry nods. ‘Looks like there’s some kind of card attached here.’
‘What does it say?’ her dad asks.
Jerry frowns. ‘Well, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.’
But there’s something in his voice. A nervousness, Sadie thinks.
‘Can we see?’ her dad asks.
Jerry detaches the card from the balloons and passes it to her dad. Printed on it:
Why did the mascot cross the road? 61322.
Sadie blinks. A pain throbs in her temple.
‘I’ve seen that number before,’ she says.
Dad looks at her. ‘Where?’
She reaches into her pocket and drags out the now-crumpled flyer Larry Broom gave her:
Nothing bad happens in Serenity.
Not by accident. 61322.
Her dad studies it, frowning, and then hands it to Jerry.
‘Who gave you this?’ he asks Sadie.
‘Some guy at the fairground.’
‘Can you describe him?’
Sadie hesitates. She doesn’t want to get Larry Broom into trouble. On the other hand, what if he’s the person tormenting them?
‘Sadie?’ her dad prompts. ‘It could be important.’
‘O-kay. Blond hair. Ponytail. Late twenties, maybe. He said his name was Larry Broom.’
‘Larry Broom?’ Jerry frowns. ‘Doesn’t ring a bell.’
‘He was picking up litter,’ Sadie adds.
‘Larry Broom. Litter-picker.’ Jerry scribbles it down in his notebook.
‘Maybe it’s not his real name?’ Dad says.
Jerry glances up. ‘You think?’
‘Is it possible he could be the one behind this?’ her dad asks.
‘It’s possible. I’ll ask around at the fair.’ Jerry flips the notebook closed. ‘In the meantime, anything else suspicious, let me know.’
‘What about the balloons?’ Sadie asks.
Jerry frowns. ‘What about them?’
‘Can you find out where they came from? I mean, Serenity Falls isn’t that big. If they were bought here, maybe someone at the shop would remember?’
Jerry looks back at the balloons. ‘Well, Serenity Gift Shop is the only place that sells party balloons like these. I’ll check there. Corrine might know something.’
‘Thank you,’ Dad says.
Jerry gives him a sharper look. ‘If someone is playing games here, Mr Barker, I’ll find out. There’s no place for troublemakers in Serenity Falls.’
He turns and saunters back through the sliding glass doors. Sadie hears the front door slam.
‘Arsehole,’ she mutters.
‘Yeah. Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the figure I saw on the security camera.’
The anger has dissipated. Suddenly, she just feels really tired. ‘It’s okay.’
‘But you didn’t tell me about the flyer. So, full honesty from now on, right?’
‘Right.’
‘Anything else you want to share?’
She considers. ‘Ellis’s friends told me that Frankie wasn’t supposed to be doing our meet-and-greet. He swapped with another kid.’
Her dad pulls a face. ‘Shit, that’s bad luck.’
‘Is it, though?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘What if his death wasn’t an accident?’
His face darkens. ‘Look … I know there’s some weird stuff going on, but we shouldn’t get carried away.’
‘That’s what I thought. But now I find out you’ve seen someone dressed up as Frankie on the security camera. They’re leaving balloons and cryptic messages. Something is going on, and it all goes back to Frankie.’
Dad sits down heavily on one of the garden chairs. He runs his hands through his hair. She can tell he’s itching for a beer, or a cigarette. ‘Okay. I mean, yes, I suppose it could be connected … but whatever is going on, we should let the police deal with it now.’
‘You mean Jerry?’
‘I know he’s not exactly Columbo.’
She snorts. ‘He’s not even Jessica Fletcher.’
‘But we’re stuck with him … and stuck living here. I don’t see a way out of it.’
She remembers her conversation with the weird vicar. ‘Actually, there is.’
‘What?’
‘Apparently there’s something called “a residency clause” in the contract. If the Conservators decide you’re unsuitable, like you break the law or something, they can buy the house back at a discount and kick you out.’
She looks at him hopefully.
‘So, you’re suggesting we go on a crime spree?’
‘I’m just saying … maybe we do have options.’
‘Okay, this is a lot all at once. Let me look into it—’
His phone buzzes. He picks it up and glances at the number. Then he puts it down, a little too quickly. Furtively, even. Sadie’s immediately curious.
‘Who’s that?’
‘Oh. Just a teacher I met today at the school.’
‘A female teacher?’
‘Yes, actually. Miss Hegarty. She teaches philosophy.’
‘And she’s messaging you now, why?’
He looks awkward, his face reddens. ‘I invited her for a drink tonight. That was just her confirming.’
Sadie stares at him in shock. ‘You invited a woman for a drink?’
He chuckles. ‘I know. It’s not like me.’
Sadie tries to keep a smile on her face.
She should be happy for her dad. This is what she wanted for him.
But he’s right. It isn’t like him. Over ten years in the UK and a handful of dates.
Less than a week here and he’s asking out some strange American teacher he’s only just met.
No wonder he wants to stay, she thinks, uncharitably.
She tries to keep her tone light. ‘So, tell me more?’
‘Like?’
‘First name. Age.’
‘First name – Lorraine. Age, I’ve no idea. Forty, maybe.’
‘What’s she like?’
Another hesitation. ‘Nice. Normal. Brown hair. Average height. Just nice.’
‘Right. Nice.’
She obviously doesn’t succeed in keeping the edge out of her voice because her dad’s face immediately falls. ‘This is okay, isn’t it, Sadie? Because if it’s not … I can cancel.’
Guilt rushes her. She’s being selfish. Of course her dad should go on a date.
‘No, it’s fine. Honestly.’
Dad holds out his arms and Sadie steps into them, resting her head on his chest. He smells of deodorant and a lingering hint of smoke. He must have sneaked a cigarette before she got back. Normally, Sadie would feel annoyed at him. But right now, the smell is familiar and comforting.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she catches a flash of colour over his shoulder. Her smile fades.
‘Dad?’
‘Yes.’
‘Can we please get rid of those fucking balloons?’