‘They’re in the library. What’s it about Max? I’m making them a cup of tea, do you want one?’
‘No thanks. I’ve no idea what they want, so I’d better go and see. Shall I take the tea?’
‘No,’ Ellie said. ‘It’s not ready yet. I’ll bring it through in a minute.’
Max disappeared towards the library, and Ellie finished making their drinks, absent-mindedly watching the twins making patterns on the floor with their muddy boots.
She put the two mugs on a small tray with a plate of biscuits, and as she approached the library she heard Max ask the police what he could do to help them. She didn’t quite catch the reply, but was very surprised to see Max close the library door. Balancing the tray in one hand, she pushed the door open again, and the room went silent. Max turned a slightly startled face towards her, and then stepped forward to take the tray.
And still nobody spoke.
‘Do you mind closing the door on your way out, love?’ Max asked. ‘Thanks.’
He gave her a weak smile, which Ellie found even more disturbing.
As she pulled the door closed behind her, the front door opened, and Leo walked in with a scowl on her face.
‘God, my feet hurt. A daft idea, marching up and down the high street in these sandals.’ Leo kicked the offending shoes off and sat down on the stairs. ‘I noticed a strange car in the drive. Have you got visitors?’
Ellie was quiet for a moment. She was still unsure what to make of Max’s behaviour.
‘It’s the police. They wanted to talk to Max.’
Sitting on the bottom step and rubbing her feet, Leo barely glanced up.
‘Oh, they came here did they? I got the impression he’d been down to the police station. Ouch - that’s a blister.’ Leo seemed to suddenly register Ellie’s silence. ‘What’s up, Ellie? You know Max wasn’t driving that night. I can’t think that you’ve got anything to worry about.’
‘What if whoever was driving did it, and Max has been keeping quiet?’ Ellie asked.
Leo rested her forearms on her knees and gave Ellie a puzzled look.
‘Max wouldn’t do that - you know he wouldn’t. They probably want to know if he saw anybody when he was coming home. Don’t look so frightened.’
Ellie just stood. She felt as if she were frozen to the spot.
‘Leo, what did you mean when you said you’d got the impression he’d been down to the police station?’
Leo took her bottom lip in her teeth - a habit that Ellie recognised from when they were children. It always meant that she was going to have to say something that she’d rather not.
‘Look, it was just the village gossipmongers. You know how they can make a mountain out of a molehill. I went to get some bits from the deli - there, in that bag by the door. They mentioned that the police had been interviewing a PE teacher, so I presumed it would be Max, but then he wasn’t driving, was he? And I thought they said at the police station, but I mustn’t have been listening properly. The odd thing was… Ellie, are you listening to me?’
Ellie was gazing out of the window and across the lawns. She’d heard everything she needed to, and now she understood why Max had closed the door. He’d been with her, and he didn’t want Ellie to know. Ignoring Leo completely she made her way slowly back to the kitchen, wondering how she was going to deal with this latest bit of information. Then she felt her phone vibrating in the pocket of her jeans. She kept it permanently on silent now.
She sat down in the corner of the kitchen, as far away from the hallway as possible. A text message. Was it him? The number was blocked.
TUT, TUT, ELLIE. LITTLE MISS PERFECT HAS A SECRET. AND GUESS WHAT? I KNOW WHAT THAT SECRET IS! WHERE WERE YOU ON FRIDAY NIGHT? AND WHO WERE YOU WITH? I’M SURE MAX WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW. BUT I PROMISE NOT TO TELL IF YOU DO ONE LITTLE THING FOR ME. I’M NOT READY YET BUT I WANT YOU TO BE PREPARED AND WAITING. DON’T THINK OF TELLING ANYBODY - BECAUSE I THINK YOU CAN GUESS WHAT I’LL DO.
Ellie stared at the screen for a full minute. She felt the pressure of tears at the back of her eyes, and had to suppress them. Her pulse