‘Yes, we are friends.’
‘I shouldn’t really say but…’
‘But what?’
‘Barry hasn’t turned up for work today. No one can find him.’
Chapter 36
1st December 2019
Afternoon
‘Ms Chambers, thank you for taking the time to come in today,’ PC Hastings said, his smile designed to be disarming, though it was anything but. He looked at me like he wanted to hurt me. He’d scared me a little last time I was at the station and unnerved me further in the way he looked at me in the pub. But things had changed. I could feel he was no longer the ‘big man’ on the case. I caught the news. There was a new face in front of the cameras; a new DCI from a larger force who had stepped in to lead the investigation, one designed to handle cases like this. A woman, and Hastings seemed the type to hate that his new boss was female, and that made him dangerous now, unpredictable.
‘Not at all,’ I smiled back. ‘I want to help in any way I can.’
‘Well, we appreciate that. Please, make yourself comfortable.’
I knew it wasn’t standard practice for a police officer to ask you to come to the station for ‘a chat’. He should have come to my dad’s house instead. I suspected he wanted the formality of it, flexing the little power he now held. He needed to be on his own turf.
‘I suspect you’re wondering why I wanted to talk?’
‘Because Baz is missing.’
‘You mean Dr Barry McBride. Yes, partly.’
‘Do you know anything about what is going on?’ I countered.
‘Why don’t you tell me what you know,’ he said. Our little game of chess was well underway.
‘I know my friends are going missing. I know that with both Jamie and Georgia, it looks like foul play. And Baz, let’s just hope…’
‘Hope what, Ms Chambers?’
‘Hope he decided to leave, rather than anything else.’
‘What, like you did?’
‘Yes, like I did.’ I felt indignant. ‘Are we here to talk about what’s happening now, or what happened over twenty years ago?’
‘In my mind, Ms Chambers, I think they are part of the same question.’ He smiled again before standing. ‘I think it’s curious that more people are going missing since you have returned. I asked your friends about this earlier, Michael and Holly, they found it curious too.’ His tone had shifted, and his words felt rehearsed. I started to wonder if he had ever questioned anyone before, because everything he was doing felt like it came from some TV cop show.
‘Are you implying…’
‘I’m implying nothing, just curious. And I’m wondering how to interpret the curiosity.’
He’s trying to use my friends against me. Fucking. Wanker.
‘Perhaps you could start by looking into the Drifter?’
‘Ah yes, I wondered how long it would take for him to come up. Neve – may I call you Neve?’
‘Sure.’
‘Tell me more about him.’
‘Well, as I’ve said, I’ve seen him in the woods…’
‘I’m sorry, let me be clear, tell me about him from 1998.’
‘Why?’
‘I’m trying to get a picture of who this man is.’
‘So, you believe me now?’
He didn’t answer but watched me from behind his desk.
‘I don’t know what I can say that’s not been documented already.’
‘Yes, I’ve looked at your statements from back then.’
‘They’re probably more helpful than me trying to remember.’
He ignored my comment and turned his back to me, realigning a picture on the wall. ‘There was a lot of myth surrounding what happened to Chloe, and it was fuelled by this idea of the Drifter being a ghost from the mine.’
‘I never said it was a ghost.’
‘Not directly, no. You spoke of a man shrouded in shadow, moving only at night. And then Chloe went missing. And this Drifter – who you and your friends independently say you saw – vanishes without a trace, and Chloe is never found.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘I thought that she was down the mine, that whoever took her left her down there. There was no evidence to suggest anything of the sort. And as you know, the tunnels were searched. But we couldn’t search everywhere, too many unsafe places. Too many unfinished tunnels. Still. I’ve always wondered.’
‘How can I help you, PC Hastings?’ I said, my thoughts on what Thompson said the night before.
‘Where did you see this man – this Drifter – back then?’
‘I saw him near the mine mostly. Sometimes in the woods nearby. You know this.’
‘And now, where have you claimed to see him?’
I didn’t like the way he stressed the word ‘claimed’. ‘In the woods and outside my father’s house.’
‘And you’re confident, this is different to your “episode” in 2003 when—’
‘I know what happened to me in 2003. And yes, I am.’
‘So, a few more places then. I mean, different places to back then.’
‘Yes, a few more places.’
‘It’s just you’re the only one to have seen him?’
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Curious. What I don’t understand is, why would he return after twenty-one years? Why now?’
‘I’m hoping you will find that out.’
‘That’s the plan.’ He smiled again, the same fox-like grin. It was wiped off his face quickly when someone entered the room without knocking.
‘Hastings,’ a voice said behind me, a female voice. I turned to see a middle-aged woman, high cheekbones and strong green eyes, hands in her pockets. She smiled towards me, and then looked back at Hastings, who I could tell was squirming.
‘This is Neve Chambers,’ he said.
She offered her hand and introduced herself – I didn’t catch her name, but knew it was the same woman I briefly caught on TV this morning after Hastings’ five minutes of fame. The DCI from elsewhere.
‘I was just asking her about when she last saw Dr McBride,’ he offered without being asked, and I had to hide my smile at how pathetic he really was.
‘I see, and when was that?’ the DCI asked.
‘Last night, we met for a drink,’ I replied.
‘We?’
‘Dr McBride, Michael, Holly and me.’
‘Could anyone corroborate this?’
‘Yes, the pub was busy. Heaving. PC Hastings was even there,’ I added, knowing I might regret it.
‘I see,’ she said, looking over me at him. Her expression said more than words could.
‘Well, Ms Chambers, thank you for coming down. Sorry to take up your time,’ she said, offering her hand. I stood and took it; it was firm, commanding. She oozed confidence and control and I wished I could be a fly on the wall after I left.
‘If I can do anything else to help?’ I said.
‘Thank you. We have your number?’ She looked again at Hastings who must have nodded. ‘Good. Keep your phone on, so I can get hold of you when I have any news, or have any more questions?’
‘Of course.’
‘And if you can think of anything, please don’t hesitate to call the station.’
‘I won’t,’ I lied, for the second time in under twenty-four hours.
I dismissed myself without saying goodbye and walked towards the bus stop to catch the bus back to the village. As I waited, I messaged Holly and Michael.
I don’t know what Hastings has said to you, but please, will you meet me? Something happened last night I really need to talk to you about. But not in the pub, Hastings has made it quite clear he is watching, and the new DCI in the village is smart. Can we meet at the hut? Around 8? Please.
Chapter 37
1st December 2019
Evening
Dad had gone to bed early, and I could hear him muttering to himself from his room. I thought about our chat and his haunting words
, that he would rather die than go into a home. I left a note in the kitchen, telling him I’d be back soon. I placed it next to a sandwich wrapped in clingfilm, next to a cup, teabags, sugar and a small jug of milk. I hoped he would see I wanted to help, I was being thoughtful, rather than taking away his independence. Messaging Esther to tell her I was OK, despite the latest development, I grabbed a torch and a few candles from his emergency power cut box, stuffed them into my coat pockets and left the safety of his house to walk, in the dark, to the hut where I was to meet the others. Or what was left of us. As I walked, my phone pinged and pulling it out of my coat pocket I saw it was from Esther.
Free to talk?
I wanted to speak to her, hear her voice, tell her what was happening and have her help me make sense of it. But I didn’t.
Can’t, with Dad. Call you tomorrow?
Sure. Xxx
Putting the phone in my pocket, I continued on towards the lane. Above me the trees moved like a stormy sea, moaning, surging. And beyond it, the mine watched me approach.
Finishing my cigarette, I prepared myself, then turned the corner to the hut. I don’t know why I came so early. The hut, the place that once was synonymous with fun and a carefree life, now felt haunted. Walking around the back, I dropped low and crawled through the hatch. I lit the candles, warming the darkness to trick myself it was somewhere comfortable. One eye towards the hole in the wall that looked towards the mine. All I could do now was wait for the others.
‘Neve?’
Michael’s voice made me jump and I stumbled, catching my calf on the corner of the coffee table. ‘I’m here.’
After a shuffle, and a groan, Michael crawled into the hut and stood, dusting his jeans down. ‘I swear, that hole gets smaller and smaller,’ he said, smiling, but I could tell he was rattled.
‘I thought the same,’ I said, trying to appear in control. I offered him a cigarette, which he took, lighting up before me. I looked to the ceiling. There was a new crack.
‘How are you holding up?’ Michael asked. I smiled back and took a drag. ‘I know, silly question, right. This is a fucking mess,’ he finished, rubbing his eyes.
‘Are you OK, Michael?’
He looked at me, half scoffed and lowered his head. It was a stupid question. Of course, he wasn’t OK.
‘Neve, when we were kids, I wish…’
Before he could finish the hatch moved, and in crawled Holly, who looked as we all felt: tired, drained, afraid. I didn’t waste time with frivolities and told them about DCI Thompson’s visit last night. They didn’t comment, but fresh panic rose. I said he had been to the hut, and that we shouldn’t stay long.
‘Why did he come here?’ Michael asked. ‘I thought he was retired?’
‘He is, Michael, but he’s searching regardless.’
‘And making things twice as complicated. You know, Hastings asked to talk to me today,’ Michael added, his eyes wide, and wild and fearful.
‘Me too,’ Holly added.
‘And me,’ I said. ‘I also spoke with the new DCI on the case. She’s sharp.’
‘Fuck!’ said Michael, turning his back to me and Holly. ‘Fuck! I thought all this shit was over. I thought we could get on with our fucking lives.’
‘Michael, calm down.’
‘Calm down? It’s like you’ve forgotten what actually happened back then.’
‘No, Michael, I haven’t forgotten.’
‘Are you sure, because from here it looks like you’ve convinced yourself Chloe really was taken by the Drifter.’
‘Michael, please, we need to calm down,’ Holly reiterated, her voice cracking.
‘Let’s say it out loud, for once – let’s actually say out loud what actually happened to Chloe.’
Chapter 38
1st December 2019
Evening
Michael didn’t hold back as he spoke of the night. He didn’t omit any details. Much of the story I couldn’t remember; perhaps my own subconscious forced it back, trying to protect me. But he didn’t have that luxury. For Michael, it seemed every minute detail had been playing on a loop over and over for the past twenty-one years. He remembered exactly what we wore, exactly when the rain started to fall. He recounted everything up to the moment we walked into the mine, and as he spoke, he didn’t pause for breath. I couldn’t take it anymore.
‘Michael. Stop.’
‘No, Neve, isn’t it time we said it? Isn’t it time we took some fucking responsibility?’
‘I don’t want to go back there, Michael, I can’t.’
‘It’s too late for that. We were a group of seven, and now we are three. It’s pretty fucking clear we’ve been forced back, isn’t it?’ He pressed on, needing so say it out loud. Part of me understood, but I knew I wasn’t ready to hear it, even after all this time. ‘We went down the mine, to fuck about, and Chloe…’
‘Michael. Enough!’ I shouted.
‘No, Neve, no. I need to say it; for so long I have needed to say it. Aren’t you haunted by it?’
‘Yes. I think about it all the time.’
‘Don’t you still see her?’
‘All the time,’ I echoed, this time quieter.
‘So then why can’t you talk about it?’
‘I just can’t.’
‘Because you don’t want to feel responsible?’
‘Michael, stop,’ Holly said. ‘We were kids, we were scared.’
‘Yes, we were scared. We were all scared. Fucking hell, Holly, we’ve been scared ever since. And I’ve never directed that fear at anyone; I’ve swallowed it, smiled through it. I’ve mended cars; and drank in The Miners’ Arms through it, and when I’ve seen Chloe’s mum, I’ve nodded my head and offered a kind word, and you know what? I’ve been angry this whole time. Anger and fear, the only things I’ve really felt in twenty-one years.’
‘I know you’re angry, Michael, I am too…’ he cut me off. His words were hard and cold like the dirty floor we stood on. ‘Whose idea was it to go down the mine in the first place? Neve! Whose idea was it?’
‘It was my idea.’
‘And whose idea was it to do that stupid fucking ouija board?’
‘Mine. But Baz brought it.’
‘But it was your idea, Neve. In fact, who was behind every decision we made that night?’
‘Michael, that’s not…’ Holly started in my defence. He slammed his hand on the upturned table, silencing us. In the candlelight, I watched his eyes film over. When he blinked, a tear rolled down.
‘And then he came. Banging, do you remember? We panicked. And Chloe fell, do you remember, Neve?’ Michael rubbed his eyes, stepped away and faced the opposite wall, his head resting on it.
‘Yes, I remember.’
‘Michael, it’s OK,’ Holly said, going over to comfort him. It looked like it was something she had done many times before. ‘It’s OK, it’s all right. Take a deep breath,’ she whispered, and I could see his shoulders relax a little. I didn’t know what to do, or say, so I said nothing at all.
‘I wanted to go to get help.’ His voice sounded, broken, defeated. ‘I wanted to call the police. Who stopped us, Neve? Who told us to keep quiet?’
‘I did,’ I whispered.
‘I can’t hear you.’
‘It was me,’ I said, again much too loud for the small space. My words echoed off the wall above Michael’s head, and landed back in my ears. It was me.
Michael turned, faced me, and seeing him so sad, so broken, I began to cry.
‘Do you remember what happened next?’ he said. I nodded. I begged. ‘Please, Michael. No more.’
‘When we found her.’
‘Please.’
‘You didn’t look, did you? Over the edge. You didn’t see her down there.’
‘I couldn’t.’
‘Nor could the rest of us, but we had to. And then you used Jamie to bury her. You made us all responsible for her disappearance. Chloe has been down there ever since.’
‘It was
n’t just me, was it, Michael? It was your idea to take her top and put it somewhere else to draw people away from the mine. And it was Baz who said we should blame the Drifter. It wasn’t all me,’ I said, tears filling my eyes.
‘It’s your fault we had to all lie like we did. What happened to Chloe was a tragic accident, and you made us hide it from everyone. You made it a crime.’
‘I was scared.’
‘We were all scared. We wanted to get help. You stopped us. You did that, Neve. And then you fucked off and left us to clean up the mess.’
He waited for me to reply, to fuel the argument he had been clearly dying to have for so long. But I didn’t. I couldn’t. He was right about it all. If we’d gone to the police, explained what had happened, we wouldn’t have got into trouble. It was an accident. And although we were trespassing, I don’t think we would have been punished too severely. What happened to Chloe was punishment enough. Michael turned away from me, unable to look at me anymore and lit another cigarette. I didn’t blame him either. I wanted to turn away from me too.
‘I refuse to go to jail for something I didn’t do,’ he said.
‘You did, Michael. You did, we all did,’ Holly said quietly. Sympathetically.
‘Holly, you’ve got more to lose than us. What about your kids? What happens if the truth comes out?’
‘Michael, don’t you think I’ve thought about my kids?’
‘And now, that copper from back then is snooping around, there is a new hotshot DCI in the village, and we are going missing one by one. People are going to find out what happened…’
‘The truth won’t come out. Don’t you see, Michael? What’s going on now has nothing to do with Chloe; this is about crimes that are happening now.’
‘Yes, but they are happening because of Chloe. And the Drifter is back to punish us.’
‘It doesn’t make sense to me,’ I said, shocked I was speaking at all.
‘What?’
‘The Drifter. Why is he after us?’
‘It wasn’t just our lives you ruined that night. It was his too.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘For fuck’s sake, Neve.’
‘Michael,’ Holly comforted, her arm reaching out to hold him once more.
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