Beautiful Dead 02 - Arizona

by Eden Maguire

  Raven's hand clutching my jacket.

  I nodded. 'And your son showed me his sketches. He has a real talent.'

  'He likes to draw.' There was a break in the frosty tone. 'Let go of the jacket, Raven, be a good kid.'

  He turned his head away but held on tight.

  'It's OK, it's not a problem.'

  'Let go - please!' Al yson reached out and tried to uncurl his fingers. There was something so sad and hopeless about the action that it brought on the tears. 'I'm sorry,' she sobbed, stepping back and covering her face with her hand.

  'No problem - honestly. Arizona talked to me about her brother. I understand.'

  'She did?' Al yson found this piece of information hard to swal ow. 'I

  didn't think Arizona confided in people. I thought she suffered from the

  family trait of bottling stuff up, big style.'

  'Most of the time she did,' I agreed. I was staring at the weeping woman, wondering where Monster Mom and my Suspect Number Two had gone. 'But some things are just too hard to hide.'

  Al yson came inside the summer house again and we al sat down,

  Raven stil holding tight to me. 'So she explained his condition?' 121

  Right then the sense of Arizona grew stronger. I heard her voice saying over and over, ' You won 't see me but I'l definitely be there.'

  'Arizona said Raven was an amazing, special boy,' I told them both. 'She wouldn't have wanted to leave you, Raven, because she loved you more than anything in the world.'

  'Don't - he doesn't understand.' Tears ran down Al yson's cheeks. 'He thinks his sister is going to come back. Every day he waits for her.'

  'Maybe you do understand, Raven. You know that Arizona loves you.'

  So why did she do what she did?' A bitter tone came through Al yson's tears. 'If she loved him, she wouldn't have drowned herself in the lake.'

  I took a deep breath. 'Maybe that's not the way it happened?'

  'Sure it was,' came the defensive reply. 'Suicide by drowning. That's

  what they said at the inquest no question.'

  'And how come everyone is so sure?'

  Because there's no other way of looking at it.' Al yson raised her hand to stroke Raven's hair back from his face. 'Anyway, the family -

  Frank's family has a history. His uncle blew his own brains out. He has a brother with bipolar disorder.'

  'I'm sorry. I didn't know that.' Suddenly my own single-parent, no-

  money family situation began to look kind of desirable.

  And Frank was affected by that, natural y. With him you don't see much emotion. He keeps things locked up. Even when Raven was born and we first knew something was wrong, Frank never shared how he felt. And I had to do al the practical stuff - the clinics, the diagnoses, the treatments he never came along with me.'

  'I'm sorry,' I said again. My view of the Taylor set-up was shifting again. Every time I thought I had a hold on it - hyper-ambitious mom unwil ing to give tip career to care for autistic son - the footsteps in the sand settled, the wind blew and blurred the lines so that everything looked different.

  'Frank wanted reasons,' Al yson sighed. 'Is Raven the way he is due 122

  to genetic factors? Abnormal levels of serotonin in the brain, a virus during pregnancy, Fragile X Syndrome he went through everything.'

  'It didn't help?'

  'No, though when she grew older, that's what Arizona did too. She

  read al the theories, just like her dad.'

  'She was smart,' I reminded her.

  'But it led to fights between us. She always thought she knew the answers a special diet, cognitive behavioural therapy ...'

  'I hear you.'

  'So I was the bad guy, going down the conventional route and sending Raven away to the Lindsey Institute, and when he was home making sure he took his seizure medication. We fought over that a lot, while Frank -

  he did his usual thing of withdrawing.'

  'Leaving you to deal with the practicalities?'

  Al yson nodded. 'You're young, so you can't know what it's like to be married, but not have someone you can rely on, someone who is offering you support. It makes a person bitter.'

  I thought my way into her situation and agreed.

  'You know something - soon after we lost Arizona, Frank took away al the pictures of her, plus her school books, her jewel ery, her clothes -

  everything.'

  'What did he do with them?'

  'He stored them in boxes and locked them in the annexe, said he didn't want to be reminded. That's how he dealt with it.' Al yson breathed in deeply, then pul ed her shoulders back. 'Peter told you that

  everything around here changed? Raven gets to take a break from the Institute while Frank and I take a break from each other.'

  I nodded. Now she real y was flying solo for real, and it showed in her red-rimmed eyes, her drooping mouth. I did what I would have believed was impossible thirty minutes earlier - I felt truly, deeply sorry for

  Al yson Taylor.

  So where was Arizona when I came out on to the street?

  I checked in both directions, then set off for town, guessing that by now the Beautiful Dead had arrived back at Foxton and that Hunter had ordered her to meet with them - which meant that I had to return there too.

  'This is when possession of a superpower would come in useful,' I muttered as I hurried along. 'A quick fix of dematerialization is what I need right now.' Otherwise, how did I get up to the ridge?

  Through Brandon, that was how. He carne by on his Harley, just as I

  reached the industrial unit behind the shopping mal . 'Kyle fixed your car,' he told me, stopping at the edge of the sidewalk. He looked amused by the fact that I was having to get from A to B on foot.

  I stared back hard. 'Kyle?' I echoed.

  'Sure. No charge. I told him it was the least he could do.' 'Did he ... did he say anything?'

  'Only that you needed to learn to stop poking your nose in where it isn't wanted. I didn't ask.' Patting the pil ion seat, Brandon told me to hop on the bike. 'Come on do you want to get your car back or not?'

  Of course I did. But I wasn't happy riding pil ion with Brandon Rohr, putting my arms around his waist and feeling the warmth of his body beneath his white T-shirt. It made me want to cry.

  We rode by the electrical wholesalers unit, took a left and headed for Mike's Motors. Brandon pul ed up outside the workshop, tel ing me to wait by the Dyna while he went inside. A couple of minutes later he drove my car down the ramp. 'Good as new,' he said, getting out and throwing me the keys.

  In the workshop doorway I saw Kyle Keppler standing with his arms

  folded, watching intently.

  'How did you do that?' I muttered to Brandon in disbelief.

  'Kyle knows he was out of line. Besides, he owes me a couple of favours.'

  'So thanks,' I nodded. I was about to get into the car and drive away when Brandon put his hand on my shoulder and stopped me.

  'Crazy,' he mumbled, staring into my eyes. 'I swore to my brother that I'd take care of you.'

  The heavy hand made me uncomfortable and feel al the differences between Brandon and my own Phoenix.

  'Thanks,' I said again. 'You're doing a good job.'

  Brandon let out a sigh. 'Do you think Phoenix knows it wherever he is now?'

  124

  Wherever he is now. Like I said already sometimes people tread so hard on my secret that I want to scream. I drove fast up to Foxton, desperate to see Phoenix and looking at storm damage by the roadside. In

  the burn-out area by Turkey Shoot, charred trees had toppled and lay criss-crossed on the hil sides, while torrents of brown, foaming water flooded the gul eys. Swinging left at the Foxton junction, I hurried past the fisherman's shack where Lee had made his exit.

  High on the ridge, where the track ended, I abandoned my car and ran along the deer track towards the water tower.

  Phoenix, I need to see you! My heart cried out, my body was
blasted by the high wind that had blown the storm out a few hours earlier. Wind and wings mixed together, the sound rising to a fresh tempest as I paused by the rusting tower. Any stranger facing this invisible force field would surely have turned back.

  But I ducked my head and held my jacket tight across my chest, plunging down the hil towards the dripping, steaming barn. I ran blind, head down, heart thumping right into my boyfriend's arms.

  'Darina, it's OK,' Phoenix whispered, his lips against the top of my

  head. Then, putting one hand under my chin, he tilted my head until I was looking into his eyes.

  'Oh God, I was scared you wouldn't make it through the storm!' I cried, clutching the lapels of his leather jacket like it was a matter of life and death.

  'I'm here,' he soothed - his voice low and intense, waiting for me to calm down. The wild wind blew through his hair, pushing it across his forehead, then flicking it back from his beautiful face.

  'Lee ...' I mumbled, hiding my face against his chest.

  'I know. Poor baby, poor Darina I'm sorry you saw that.'

  'There was blood. He was in pain. There was no way I could help.'

  'Hunter told us,' Phoenix said softly. 'Lee took a direct hit - a fork of lightning hit him ful on.'

  'I tried to get him out of the shack,' I sobbed. 'Then Hunter could 125

  have helped him.'

  'No. It was already too late. We don't survive long after a direct hit. We fade within a couple of hours.' Phoenix wanted to make me feel better. He held me tight and stroked my hair. 'Lee was too weak, the electric storm had done its work before you got there.'

  'It's so sad.' Gradual y I was able to stop crying and relax into Phoenix's strong arms. 'It scared me real bad.'

  'Poor Darina,' he said again, squeezing me and rocking me gently as we stood in the yard. This is tough for you.'

  I shook my head. 'No, this isn't about me. What real y scared me was the idea that the same thing could happen to any of you - Summer, Arizona, especial y you, Phoenix.'

  This time there were no comforting words. He looked into my eyes

  without denying it.

  'A storm can happen any time. Last night, you were in El erton with me. It could have been you as wel as Lee.'

  Phoenix nodded. 'We al take that risk. That's why Hunter sends us

  out in twos or threes whenever he can.'

  'That guy is seriously brave,' I confided.

  Phoenix smiled. 'So you don't hate him any more?'

  'Yeah, I stil do. He's way too control ing.' I managed to grin back at him. 'He's like the worst kind of father the kind you can't argue with.'

  'Tel me about it.' If anyone knew this about their overlord, it was my boyfriend and the other members of the Beautiful Dead. 'You know he's listening right now?'

  I nodded. 'Where is he?'

  'In the hayloft with the others. Are you ready to join them?' Taking my hand, Phoenix led me into the barn. He bolted the door behind us.

  Out of the wind at last, and calmer now, I raised my head and took a look around. Old, dust-covered bridles and reins hung from their hooks, spades and forks rested against the wal s. Dusty spiders' webs were slung from beam to beam, undisturbed.

  'Upstairs,' Phoenix prompted. Again he led the way. The wooden steps creaked under his weight.

  And there they were - Arizona, Summer, Eve with her baby, Kori, 126

  Donna and Iceman - the Beautiful Dead. And their overlord, Hunter, stern-faced and powerful.

  They looked remote and serious, deep in grief over Lee.

  Arizona came over. 'Sorry Hunter made me leave earlier. But you carried on speaking with Raven?' she asked anxiously.

  I nodded. *I told him everything you asked me to.'

  She drank in my words, as if every strand of hope, delicate as the spiders' webs, hung on my reply. 'How was he?'

  'I can't lie to you. Anyway, you saw him yourself. Al yson said he stil expects you back.'

  Panic flickered across Arizona's face. 'Al yson?' she echoed.

  'She showed up. And she confirmed that she doesn't want your grandparents to visit any more. She's definitely taking the paid-carer route.'

  'My God, she can't do that!' My answer threw Arizona into a tailspin. 'Raven needs his family around him.'

  'I'm sorry. But to me, Al yson didn't come across the way I expected.' I tried to settle her panic. 'She does care for Raven - more than I thought.'

  'Yeah, she cares enough to put him in that school! She cares enough

  not to look at stuff like diet and toxins, modern therapies!'

  'That wasn't what I got from her,' was al I could say, turning to Hunter who had joined us. 'None of this is how it looks from the outside.'

  'Including Arizona,' the overlord pointed out. 'You never expected her to be suffering the way she does.'

  'True. Listen, Arizona, I won't walk away from Raven - whatever

  happens.'

  'You swear?' She caught on to this like a lifebelt thrown to a man fal en overboard. 'You'l be a link with his past. You won't let him forget me?'

  'I promise. He knew your name and he connects me with you. I did what you asked I told him you loved him.'

  I guess at this point Arizona would have been happy to make her exit.

  She was where she wanted to be - knowing that in future I would look

  out for Raven, that he understood a little and she had done everything she 127

  could. I genuinely believe she didn't care how she'd died or what

  happened to her now.

  But the Beautiful Dead had a mission to get to the core of the mystery, and Hunter was the guy who was in control.

  'We have less than twenty-four hours,' he reminded us. 'It's stil looking like a suicide, unless Darina can come up with something else.'

  Everyone stared at me.

  'Let's get moving.' Summer broke into the tense mood. 'What have we got, Darina? We have a boyfriend who's living on a knife-edge in case Sable finds out about his affair with Arizona. We have the Taylor family so caught up in fights and arguments that no one can think straight.'

  'Plus, grandparents who care, but are kept at arm's length,' I added. 'And a kid brother who runs away from his school on the same morning that Arizona drowns.'

  'And me,' Arizona reminded us. 'One crazy, mixed-up girl who has no friend or family she can talk to. Maybe that's it - I gave way to the pressure and jumped in that lake, like they said.'

  Summer did something I'd never seen before - she grew angry. 'You don't real y believe that!' she cried, getting into Arizona's face. 'You're a fighter. You don't do surrender!'

  Arizona shook her head. 'Maybe I did just that once.'

  'I don't believe it.' I agreed with Summer. 'Even if the Kyle situation was hopeless and it was getting to you, you'd never have given up on Raven. No, somebody else was involved and you've blocked it out - like the trauma is too strong.'

  'So Darina, you should go back to El erton,' Hunter broke in.

  ' Phoenix can go with you. If you decide to meet Kyle Keppler face to face and ask him exactly where he was and who he saw the day Arizona died, Phoenix can take care of you.'

  If Kyle came across with the violence, Phoenix could zap him with his super-strength again. He could get me out of any danger I might find myself in. I also knew this was not a tactic Hunter would favour in anything except an emergency. Time was agonizingly short and the main 128

  questions were stil unanswered.

  I turned to Phoenix and saw that he was scared on my behalf. 'Hey, at least we get to spend another night together,' I joked.

  Arizona didn't appreciate my humour. 'You won't get any answers from Kyle,' she stil insisted. 'No way was he involved.'

  We didn't believe her our silence said it al .

  We were in the hayloft and our guard was down. Otherwise we would have heard the bikes gathering by Angel Rock.

  They'd come up from Forest Lake, ghost-busting on their Harleys and Kawas
akis, a group of tough guys who had listened to the ramblings of an old fisherman who had found his way down from his shack with an incoherent tale of a kid who got caught in the storm, who drowned in the creek, and whose bleeding corpse glittered and disappeared in front of his eyes.

  At first they'd laughed at the crazy old man then they'd drunk a couple

  of beers. After that, someone suggested they ride up and take another look.

  'Iceman, get up there!' Hunter ordered when he did final y pick up the sound of engines. 'Donna, you go with him. Set tip a barrier - don't let anyone through.'

  The commands came thick and fast. He told Summer, Eve and

  Arizona to circle round the back of the bikers and then approach from the direction of Amos Peak. 'We squeeze them from al sides,' he explained. 'We bunch them together, then we push them along the ridge towards Foxton. Do whatever you have to do!' He told Phoenix and me not to

  move from the house until the coast was clear. 'Go!' he ordered, half

  pushing us down the steps. 'Lock the door from the inside.'

  We obeyed, crossing the yard as the Beautiful Dead spread out across the hil side, disappearing into the aspens as dusk began to fal .

  They moved silently and swiftly, like shadows.

  'Hunter's got a crazy look,' Phoenix told me as we went into the house. 'He's mad that he didn't post lookouts. Now we're al in danger.'

  'Even Hunter gets it wrong sometimes,' I shrugged. I felt safe in the

  house, though the wal s were only rough-sawn logs and the iron bolt on 129

  the door was rusty. I was happy that Hunter had chosen Phoenix to stay

  and take care of me. 'So you have to tel me what's happening up at Angel Rock,' I insisted.

  Phoenix listened hard. 'Donna and Iceman are in position. The bikers are talking amongst themselves.'

  'You can hear them?' Personal y I could only pick up natural sounds of wind rustling through dry grass, of breeze shaking the fal leaves in the aspens. 'Do we know who's there?'

  'I can tel you how many, but not who they are. Iceman's saying maybe twelve or thirteen. He and Donna are starting to drive them along the ridge. Arizona and the others wil soon be behind them, piling on the pressure.