Serena
I was just finishing my shift at the diner when I saw the sheriff’s car pull up.
I was running late and eager to drive home. Normally, as soon as Davey heard the sputtering sound of my battered yellow Beetle, he’d come running out in his pyjamas. It was a little late for him to be up, but Mom always said he just wouldn’t settle till I was home and sang him a lullaby.
Even when I was dead on my feet, the sight of his smile could lift me right back up, like I was walking on clouds.
Yeah, I know it’s corny, but if you’ve got a child, you’ll know.
They’re your life. If they’re sad, it tears your heart out.
If they’re happy, it’s like a thousand suns are shining on you.
As soon as I spotted that brown-and-white cruiser through the diner doors, something inside me knew. Right away. It was here for me. And it was bad news.
The sheriff didn’t come and see you in person unless it was bad.
Like when Dad had a heart attack at work and Hatchett came to tell Mom.
And right then – even though it sounds terrible, I know – but I hoped it was Mom.
I hoped more than anything that something had happened to Mom.
Because the alternative was just too terrifying to contemplate.
I stood by the counter as Sheriff Hatchett pushed open the door. The closed sign was up, but it wasn’t locked. Only Stephanie and I were left in the diner.
‘Whoah,’ Stephanie commented. ‘You been speeding again? I didn’t think that wreck of yours could top fifty.’
I summoned a smile. ‘Oh, that wreck’s got torque.’
Hatchett walked up to the counter. Tipped his hat. ‘Ladies.’ Then he looked at me, as I knew he would. ‘Serena, I need to talk to you.’
Stephanie got the hint. She patted my arm. ‘I’ll see you, hun.’
I stared at Hatchett. ‘What is it?’
He took off his hat. And that’s when I knew, with gut-wrenching, heart-crushing certainty. The scream was rising in my throat before he even uttered the words: ‘It’s Davey. There’s been an accident.’
We drove in the sheriff’s car towards the coroner’s office.
I kept hearing those words again and again, but they wouldn’t sink in.
It’s Davey. There’s been an accident. They kept bouncing off me, like bullets against an armour of denial.
An accident. Drowned. A tragedy. But I couldn’t – wouldn’t – believe it.
‘Why aren’t we going home?’
‘I told you,’ Hatchett said softly. ‘He’s been taken to the morgue.’
‘He’ll be cold there.’
‘They’re looking after him.’
‘His favourite toy.’ I stared at him in panic. ‘Buddy. He hasn’t got his favourite toy. He can’t sleep without Buddy. I need to get him.’
‘Maybe later. Okay?’
I nodded. Of course, it wasn’t okay. Nothing was okay.
Nothing would ever be okay again. My brain kept swaying back and forth.
One side standing at the edge of a huge abyss, screaming in terror and grief.
The other calmly repeating: This isn’t happening.
Davey isn’t dead. You only saw him this afternoon.
He’s only four. He can’t die. And he can swim.
Davey can swim. So how could he drown? This is all a mistake. Just a big mistake.
We pulled up outside the coroner’s office and funeral directors. I didn’t want to move. It felt like a step closer to admitting reality.
‘C’mon, Serena,’ Hatchett said, opening the door. ‘He’s just in here.’
I blinked at him and slowly climbed out of the car. My legs almost gave. Hatchett grabbed my elbow and steadied me. ‘I’ve got you.’
Helplessly, I let him lead me inside.
‘Just this way,’ Hatchett said, and something in his voice was odd, like he was nervous.
We walked into a waiting room. Pastel yellow, magazines on the coffee table, pictures of Serenity Falls on the walls. There was another door opposite.
‘Is he … is Davey through there?’
‘You should sit down,’ Hatchett said.
‘I don’t want to sit down. I want to see my son.’
The door opposite opened and the coroner, Malcolm Gravelot, walked in.
‘Hello, Serena.’
‘Where’s Davey?’
Gravelot looked at Hatchett, who gave a small nod.
‘Serena, Davey is alive.’
I just stared at him. My vision blurred. I thought I might throw up.
‘What? Is this some kind of sick joke?’
‘No.’
‘Then why … why would you—’ I couldn’t continue. Dizziness washed over me. I stumbled and grabbed for the back of an armchair for support.
‘Here,’ Hatchett said. ‘Sit down.’
This time I didn’t argue. I couldn’t.
Hatchett crouched down next to me. ‘I’m really sorry we had to put you through that, but we needed everything to be as convincing as possible.’
‘What? Why?’
‘Serena, you need to listen to me very carefully. Davey did almost drown in the pool. Thank God, he was pulled out before it was too late. But what happened, it wasn’t an accident. Someone tried to deliberately drown Davey.’
‘Someone?’ I stared at Hatchett. ‘It was that sick little freak Owen, wasn’t it?’
I can see in Hatchett’s face that I’m right.
Rage coils in my gut. ‘I told Mom I didn’t want him coming round. Told her to keep him away from Davey.’
‘Okay, you need to calm down.’
‘Calm down? You just told me he tried to kill my son. Has he been arrested?’
Hatchett and Gravelot exchange glances.
‘Not yet,’ Hatchett says.
‘Well … why not?’
‘I think you know why, Serena.’
‘Because of his dad? Because his dad is some high-up Conservator that little freak gets away with it? He won’t stop. He’ll do it again.’
‘No, he won’t. Rest assured, Owen will be taken care of.’
‘Then—’ I look around, feeling confused. ‘What’s going on?’
Hatchett sighed. ‘You ever think about how perfect things are here in Serenity? How there’s never been a crime, not a serious one, in twenty years? That’s remarkable, don’t you think?’
I swallowed. ‘I guess.’
‘And there’s a reason for that. The Conservators make sure that nothing bad ever happens here …’ He paused. ‘Even if it does.’
I stared at him, trying to let this sink in. ‘They cover up crimes?’
‘Mostly, they root out trouble before it starts. They make sure that those who would seek to disrupt the harmony don’t remain here. But yes, sometimes, they need to change the narrative of certain events.’
‘Change the narrative.’ I laughed hollowly.
‘It was Harold Winsom’s dream. Perfect towns and communities. Everyone living in harmony. And it has to stay that way.’
‘Or what?’
‘Or the Winsom Corporation will shut us down,’ Gravelot says.
Something cold settled in my belly.
‘You ever wonder about the other Winsom towns?’ Hatchett asked.
‘Not really,’ I admitted.
‘There were seven, originally. Only one of them – aside from Serenity – is still running under the Winsom umbrella. The others failed to live up to the Corporation’s vision.
So they pulled the plug, left them to survive on their own.
Two are virtual ghost towns. The others, well, they’re just like any other town – plagued by antisocial behaviour, crime, drugs. ’
I stared at them in horror. ‘So, in order to maintain appearances, you’d cover up the attempted murder of a child?’
‘Justice will be served, Serena. But in our own way. It’s for the good of Serenity. For everyone. When the Flood comes—’
The coroner placed a hand on Hatchett’s arm. ‘I think you’ve said enough, Dean. The girl doesn’t need to know any more.’
Hatchett nodded. ‘I’m giving you and your son a chance here. Take it.’
‘So, you want us to keep our mouths shut.’
‘No.’
‘Then what?’
‘Davey is going to be taken from Serenity Falls tonight.’
‘What?’
‘Everyone – and I mean everyone – must believe he’s dead.
The official story will be that he was pulled out of the pool, but it was too late.
He died later, a fit, secondary drowning.
In a week or two, after the funeral, when we deem it safe, you can follow.
We’ll sort out a place for you to stay, some money to set you up.
We’ll say you were overcome with grief. People will understand. ’
‘Where will you take him?’
‘I know a nice couple. They’ll look after him till you get there.’
‘And what about Mom?’
‘Your mom will stay here. To maintain the story.’
I shake my head. ‘This is crazy. What if I refuse?’
‘Serena, the Conservators will do what is necessary to protect Serenity. A scandal like this—’ He shook his head. ‘They won’t allow the town to fail.’
‘We can stay quiet. No one needs to know.’
‘Can you?’ He smiled sadly. ‘Little Davey, he’s quite the chatterbox now?’
I stared at Hatchett, my mouth feeling dry.
‘And kids, you never know what they’re going to say. They’ve got no filter. It’s a beautiful quality. I’d hate to see him lose it.’ He rose. ‘I’m going to let you think about things for a few minutes, and then, when you’ve decided, I’ll fetch Davey for you.’
He left with Gravelot. I sat there, in that sickly-yellow room.
I thought about my son, my beautiful, sweet, innocent boy.
I thought how scared I was when I was pregnant, how frightened to tell everyone, but then how protective I became of that ever-growing bump.
I swore I’d give my baby a good life. But maybe that life isn’t here?
Hadn’t I always wanted to leave Serenity? Maybe this was our chance.
The door opened and Hatchett stepped back through.
‘Well?’
I nodded. ‘I’ll do it.’
He looked relieved. ‘Good.’
‘Just a couple of things. I need to go home and get Davey’s favourite toy, Buddy. He can’t sleep without him.’
He considered. ‘Okay. I can take you.’
‘And one other thing – I need you to tell me, who saved him?’