Chapter 67
SCARLETT
My eyes pop open wide. I look around, kicking desperately.
‘Breathe, Scarlett. Breathe.’ A voice I recognise drifts from behind me. A strong arm tightens around my middle.
I turn my head sharply.
‘It’s Tim. DS Porter.’ His hand cradles my head against his shoulder. ‘I’ve got you. You’re going to be OK.’
‘Tim!’ I say, confused. ‘But my sister?’ I continue looking around, fighting to come to my senses. I gulp air, coughing and spluttering, struggling to free my tied hands. ‘My sister was here. Where’s she gone?’
‘I’ve got you, Scarlett. You’re safe.’
Daisy’s presence was a mere apparition. Some kind of figment of my imagination. It fills me with sadness and relief in equal measure. I’m now depending on Tim to keep me afloat. ‘Justin told me you came earlier,’ I cry. ‘Why did you leave me?’
‘We had to go and get a warrant. But then Beth called, saying she needed to tell us something, so we came straight back.’
A noise makes us turn to a struggle several feet away.
The rowing boat rocks from side to side.
Justin is desperately trying to maintain his balance, while another person clings to the side of the boat attempting to board it.
At first, I think it’s another police officer, but then I see George’s curls stuck to his head.
‘George!’ I call, confused. What is he doing here?
The boat’s see-saw motion is too much for Justin. He tumbles backwards into the water, immediately submerging close to where George is treading water.
‘You’ve got to help George. Please, Tim.’
‘I can’t leave you.’ He sounds as desperate as me. ‘You’ll go under. There’s only so long you’ll be able to tread water, and I can’t get those cable ties off you in here.’ He holds me close, supporting my weight in the water.
As Justin fails to surface, George dives under and disappears. The lake turns still. The siren of an ambulance sounds in the distance.
‘George!’ I try to break free from Tim, but he tightens his grip.
‘Calm down, Scarlett. I need to keep you safe.’
We wait. Nothing. I exhale, exasperated at the helplessness of the situation.
Nothing can happen to George. I’ve grown fond of him.
Apart from family, he’s the last close connection I have to my sister.
I can imagine us being friends for life.
It’s my fault he’s here. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him.
Tim starts kicking, leading me back to the boat. Suddenly, the water erupts.
George bursts out, wheezing for breath. The relief at seeing his face is enormous. His frantic voice echoes around the grounds. ‘His leg’s caught in the reeds. I can’t get it free.’ He gulps air, ready to dive back in.
‘No!’ Tim yells. ‘Come back. You need to help me here.’
‘But he’ll die,’ George calls back.
‘I’m not asking you, George.’ Tim is assertive but not unkind. ‘I’m telling you. Let me do my job.’
George swims to join us and swaps places with Tim.
Tim rushes to the spot where George surfaced. He sucks in a deep breath and goes under. George holds me from behind, resting my head on his shoulder so I can breathe freely. ‘What are you doing here?’ I ask, confused.
‘I saw your email. I called Tim – couldn’t get hold of him – so I came.’
That email finally got sent then.
George shifts my head along his shoulder. ‘I was scared something had happened to you.’
I’m suddenly freezing cold. The wail of the ambulance siren stops. My body shudders.
George tightens his grip. ‘It’s going to be OK,’ he reassures me. ‘You’re going to be OK. Tim called for backup. Look – the police are here.’ He swivels me around to the flashing lights of two patrol cars sitting at the water’s edge. Beth is lying on the grass. A police officer kneels beside her.
Tim appears, wheezing for breath. His eyes find mine. ‘It’s no good. He’s gone.’