by Bowes, K T
“Stop being a prat,” Dane said, helping her up with strong fingers on her elbow. “You’re such a nutter sometimes, woman.”
Sophia swallowed and pulled her skirt straight, her mind going off at awful tangents of devastation and despair. “Why are we back here?” she asked.
“Because I like it,” he replied. “It’s peaceful this time of night. The tourists are gone, the locals are home having their tea and it’s just you, me and a few people walking their dogs.” He smiled at Sophia as a rumpled looking male staggered out of a bush with a whiskey bottle tucked under his arm. He weaved away up the path and Dane reached for Sophia’s hand. “There’s also the odd entertaining drunk,” he added. “Not to mention the shagging couples, male and female and very occasionally one of each.”
“Stop it!” Despite herself she laughed. She wove her fingers through his. “Do you come here often?”
Dane snorted. “That’s a chat up line I haven’t heard in a while.”
He walked her to the Indian garden and they sat on a bench overlooking the river in the replica of a maharajah’s palace. Their voices echoed but nobody disturbed them. “We need to talk about a few things,” Dane said, gathering her closer with a hand against her hip. “I will marry you one day,” he said. “I’ve already chosen the wedding ring and saved up a few hundred dollars towards it. Can’t run to an engagement ring though; figured you wouldn’t mind.” He paused and licked his full lips. “But I also wanna tell you the plan I’ve made for finding Edgar’s woman and something else.”
Sophia waited, feeling Dane’s fingers pick at the wool of her sweater, the pressure against her waist betraying his anxiety. Something prevented her from speaking, a fact she’d be glad of later. “I know you want to take our relationship further,” he said. “I’m not stupid, Soph and I want it too.” He swallowed. “But there’re things you don’t know.” He wiped his top lip with a shaking hand and Sophia’s heart rate increased, watching Dane thrash around in agony. “If I tell you my step father forced me, you must take my word for it. He set it up with this girl who needed drugs and said it’d make a man of me.” His voice shook and he swore; two ugly words outside his usual vocabulary. Dane’s foot began an involuntary tapping on the concrete floor, the sound echoing around them like a drum beat. He let go of Sophia and ran his hands through his hair, dragging the dark locks away from his face and letting his fingers rest at the back of his neck. The foot continued to tap.
Sophia inhaled and exhaled, her own problems forgotten. She sat and watched Dane’s back become rigid, his soul expecting rejection and abandonment to drift over him like a familiar blanket. She dragged his hands away and pushed herself into his lap, draping herself across his torso and wrapping her arms around his neck. His psyche unravelled before her, the violence, the gang alpha and the rescuer personality, spreading out like a well-travelled rug on a mausoleum floor. “It doesn’t matter,” she whispered in his ear, picking up his burdens and feeling his arms tighten around her. “We’ve got each other and they can all go to hell.”
Chapter 14
A Plan
They held hands and prowled the darkening gardens, moving from one to the other and retracing their earlier steps with the children. Sophia shuddered, seeing the spectre of Maisie’s anxious eyes staring from around every corner and hedge, even though the child lay at her foster home tucked up in bed. The children’s fate haunted her more than her own. Dane’s confession left him flushed and sweating but Sophia’s heart chilled with its awfulness. She didn’t ask and he volunteered nothing more of his painful secret.
“We’re going to Palmy this Saturday.” His tenor rang out in the silence of the American garden and Sophia’s brow knitted.
“How?”
“I’ve organised a ride and some help. I swapped shifts at the garden centre and faked a note from Edgar saying you’d gone to your mother’s. That will cover your head girl duties on Saturday morning. You’re rostered to supervise the detentions, remember? Declan’s doing it for you. Carl and Maria plan to take the little kids to see family in Auckland for the weekend and Bob thinks I’m going with them. Pack your gear and meet me at Calli’s at six in the morning. We’ll leave your car there.”
“Edgar won’t let me go.” Sophia swallowed. “What do I tell him?”
“Say you’re going to Sal’s. He’s not gonna ring her to chat about it and it fits with the note I wrote for school. They know your circumstances and won’t pull you in to supervise a dean’s detention session when it looks like you might be reconciled with your mother.”
“The note won’t look like Edgar’s writing.” Sophia gnawed on her thumbnail and felt it split. Dane pulled her hand away from her mouth.
“It looks fine. Nobody will take a second look.” He pulled the note from his trouser pocket and stuffed it into her hand along with the shopping list from her kitchen.
“That’s where the list went,” she said. “We started another one.”
Dane turned and continued walking, keeping her hand in a firm grip as she pushed the papers into her blazer pocket. “How did you do all this?” Sophia asked, aghast. Respect and awe mingled with fear.
Dane shrugged. “None of it was hard. We’ll go to Palmy and find out if this woman is real. I found a photo on her profile of her playing at a park with a kid. She called it an esplanade. There’s one in Palmerston North so it fits. She might be stealing someone else’s photos, but she spoke like she knew the place. People are stupid, Soph. A good lie needs to stick as near to the truth as possible.”
Sophia nodded. “Okay, I’ll do it. What will I need to pack?”
Chapter 15
Last Chance
Sophia squirrelled away the camping gear Dane told her to take; warm clothing for night time and a sleeping bag. She packed and checked it numerous times. Edgar appeared on Friday night, knocking on her door and forcing her to ram the lot under the bed. “What?” She kept her voice grumpy, hoping he wouldn’t come in and stay.
“I’m working tomorrow,” he said, chewing on his lower lip.
“Congratulations.” Sophia stood and picked up her school shoes, pushing them onto a shelf in the wardrobe. “Do you get a medal or something?”
“Don’t be rude!” Edgar snapped, pushing the door open. “I’m only saying.”
“I don’t care.” Sophia heard the tiredness in her own voice but figured Edgar too embedded in his new addiction to care.
“What are your plans for tomorrow night?” he asked. “I finish at three and wondered if you’d come to the mall with me. I want to get a new phone.” He hefted the brick shaped Nokia in his hand and peered at it. “I need one that can get internet. This is too old.”
Sophia closed her eyes and bit back a retort which would ruin everything. Of course he needed a constant connection to the internet. “We can’t afford it,” she bit. “You’re barely making the mortgage repayments and you want to buy a new phone?” She snorted, an arrogant, pain filled sound. “No wonder you want rid of me; that’s one burden less to finance, I guess.” Edgar gaped, his mouth open and his brain lost for words. “It’s fine.” Sophia picked up her school uniform from the floor and pushed past her father, ramming the tartan skirt in the washing machine with the white blouse.
“You can’t do that; the colours will run.” Edgar reached across her to drag out the blouse and Sophia slapped his hand away.
“What do you care?” she shouted. “Just go away!”
Edgar retreated from the laundry and left Sophia to put the uniform on a cold wash like she’d done every Friday since Sally Armitage disappeared. She hung it on an airer in her bedroom ready for school on Monday and hoped she’d be home in time to iron it. Her father made another attempt to soothe troubled waters as she fixed herself a sandwich she knew she wouldn’t eat. “Don’t be like this, Soph. Come with me to Palmy; I want a new life for both of us.”
“I’m head girl.” She spoke through gritted teeth. “The culmination of my entire education
is in this moment and you think I’ll throw it all away and follow you to goodness knows where, just because the fancy takes you.” She slammed the plate on the counter and watched the crack spread from one side to the other, buried beneath her cheese sandwich. Calli’s words returned to her and Sophia decided cheese would be off her menu also from this day forward. She enunciated her words enough to penetrate Edgar’s selfish, loved-up brain haze. “I’ve got scholarship applications in and the replies will come to this address. My final exams are booked at this school. I picked classes associated with teachers I know can get me fantastic grades and despite everything you and my bitch mother put me through, I’m doing well enough to get an excellence grade at the end of it.” She looked her father in the eye. “Am I really worth so little to you, Dad, that you can’t wait for seven months before upending my life? At least let me claw back what I need for my future.”
Edgar looked at the floor and rage engulfed Sophia. “Yeah, thanks for that, Edgar. I officially hate you.” She threw the broken pieces of plate into the sink and watched her sandwich float like a rubber dinghy on top of the sudsy water for a moment. As it sank, she glared at Edgar Armitage, pity mingling with anger. “I won’t forget this, Edgar.” She said his name with contempt, driving home her final barb and knowing she’d never call him Dad again. “I’m staying with Mum for a few days. I’ll leave in the morning. Have a fun time spending money you don’t have and planning your new life without me.”
Edgar reeled back as though she’d slapped him and Sophia watched the flush spread across his face with an irrational sense of satisfaction. Everything about his body language told her he hadn’t expected that. She capitalised on his obvious misery and delivered the final blow. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Chapter 16
Going Phishing
“Are you sure it’s okay to leave my car here?” Sophia looked doubtful, handing the key over to Calli.
The other girl shrugged. “Yes. Allen will move it if he needs to get into the garage.” She swung the precious key ring on her finger with a thoughtful expression on her face. “I wish I could go with you.”
“I do too.” Sophia glanced across at Darren, her brow knitted. The blonde boy’s physique showed signs of maturity gained in a very short time. Almost as tall as Dane, farming agreed with Darren’s need to be ever in motion, his attention deficit disorder satisfied by the hard physical labour. Muscles bulged from places where skinny arms stuck out months before, his legs tanned with ridged veins powering the tendons and sinews. He lifted Dane’s pack with little effort and sat it in the bed of the ute.
“Didn’t he used to have a thing for you in Year 12?” Calli whispered and Sophia’s features creased in worry.
“Yes. A bad one.” Sophia glanced at Dane and anticipated trouble.
“Why did your boyfriend invite a kid with a monster crush on his girlfriend to back him up on a road trip?” Calli shook her head.
“He must know what he’s doing,” Sophia whispered, turning her face to project her voice into Calli’s ear. “He asked me to trust him.” She stared at the large boned blonde boy standing next to Darren. “Don’t know who the other dude is. Dane asked me to put my trust in him so that’s what I’m going to do. Right after I ask him about Darren.”
Calli winced. “Questioning him isn’t really trusting, is it?” she asked and smiled.
“Ready?” Dane’s jaw flexed as he approached Sophia, his blue eyes twinkling with excitement and danger.
Sophia nodded, then paused. “Is inviting Darren a good idea?” she asked, searching his face for truth. Dane nodded.
“He’s obsessed with that girl you used to hang around with. I think he’s hoping you’ll talk to her for him.”
Sophia’s heart sank and she rolled her eyes at Calli. “Great. A trade off, how lovely.”
Calli shrugged and cocked her head in question. “What’s this about?”
“Darren and Maddie had a short fling last year until her mother found out. Maddie left school at the end of Year 12 to go to hairdressing college and I figured that was the last I’d hear of the Darren and Maddie saga. My mistake.” Sophia glared at Dane. “Last I heard, she’s dating a guy from the university. Darren’s got rocks in his head if he thinks smoking weed with a sixteen-year-old endeared Maddie’s mother to his cause. She won’t let him near her again.”
Dane shrugged and winked at Calli, fixing his arm around Sophia’s shoulder and dragging her towards the car. “I didn’t think I had a cat in hell’s chance with you, babe, but look at us.”
Sophia opened her mouth and then closed it again, grimacing at Calli’s bark of laughter. “Preach it, bro,” the other girl said, giving him a thumbs up. Declan’s absence cast a pall over the moment and her smile faded.
“He wanted to be here,” Dane said, perception creating uncharacteristic tenderness. “His mum would suspect if he turned up here at six in the morning and probably talk to all the other adults. We’d be rumbled before we got to Taupo and the cops would drag us all back. He’s helping by supervising Soph’s faculty detentions this morning.”
Calli nodded and glanced back at the big house behind her, curtains drawn across the windows. “Go,” she said, her face crestfallen. “Before Allen hears us and wakes up.”
The group piled into the utility vehicle, Darren driving and his strange companion riding shotgun. Dane sat in the back with Sophia. They waved to Calli and then Sophia leaned across and got Dane’s attention, jerking her head forward and widening her eyes. Loud screamo music blared from the radio and he tipped towards her to hear. “Who’s the goon?”
Dane bit his bottom lip, eyes twinkling with humour. “Darren’s older brother,” he mouthed. “He’s good in a ruck.”
“A ruck?” Sophia’s eyes widened and her mouth hung open. “Nobody should get into a ruck!”
Dane laughed and dragged her hand across his lap, rubbing her fingers in his and shaking his head. “Joke,” he mouthed and grinned but Sophia felt fear and doubt vying for attention in her heart. She closed her eyes and prayed that somewhere in this foolhardy plan there might be a break through which didn’t involve violence. Concentrating on the view through the window, Sophia slowed her breathing and focussed on Hamilton East passing by at a steady pace. By the time they reached Cambridge she felt calmer and enjoyed the sense of escape. Darren stopped before the small town and Dane and the large blonde boy got out and did something to the front and rear bumpers. When they got back in, Darren drove on to the filling station, remaining in the driver’s seat while his brother lumbered to the pump and opened the fuel cap.
“Do you want anything?” Dane asked, jerking his thumb towards the shop. Sophia shook her head, surprised when he opened the door and got out, leaving her sitting in the ute alone with Darren. She watched his lean body saunter across to the entrance, hands thrust deep in his pockets and his shoulders set in a determined stance.
Darren turned in his seat, blonde eyelashes flickering over eyes glittering with dangerous excitement. “Hi, Soph,” he said, grinning. “It’s great to see you again.”
Sophia pushed her bottom harder against the back of the seat and smiled, knowing it looked forced. “Hello, Darren. How are you?”
“Good thanks, Soph.” His eyes flickered and he chewed his bottom lip. “This ute belongs to my boss.” He patted the dashboard. “He trusts me with his gear.”
“Wow, that’s awesome. Thanks for coming along; I’m glad you’re here.”
“Are you?” Darren’s face lit up like a Christmas tree and Sophia swallowed, angry at her choice of platitude.
“As a really good friend,” she added in haste. “I need all the friends I can get at the moment.”
Darren nodded, the movement slow and calculated. “Okay, Soph. I’ll be your friend. I’ll be the best friend you ever had.”
Sophia fixed the wooden smile on her lips and prayed for Dane to hurry. She watched through the huge glass frontage as he spoke to the cashie
r and then ambled back to the vehicle carrying bottles of fizzy drink and an armful of chocolate and biscuits. Darren’s brother snapped the petrol cap closed and climbed back into the passenger seat.
Dane smiled as he got into the ute until he read the horror on Sophia’s face. “Don’t we need to pay for the gas?” she asked, panicking as Darren started the engine.
“I did,” he said, sounding hurt. “Just then.”
Sophia looked away in embarrassment and took shallow breaths through pursed lips, her heart pounding to the point of pain. She pressed a knuckle against her mouth and cursed her assumption that the boys would steal the gas instead of paying. When Dane pushed her thigh to get her attention she ignored him, staring through the muddy glass at the passing landscape of equine stud farms and countryside.
The boys got out again just before the turn onto the main state highway and repeated whatever they’d done earlier. She heard the sound of a drill and felt the vehicle shudder. Sophia hid the misgiving in her heart and tried to push away the thought they might be riding in a stolen vehicle. Dane gave her a cheeky smile as he got back in and Darren took off again. She turned her face away and beat down the sickness in her stomach.
A click made her turn to see Dane undoing his seatbelt. He slid across into the middle seat and used the lap belt to secure himself. “What’s wrong?” he whispered in her ear and she shook her head, reluctant to share her faithlessness. “Just scared huh?” he asked over the sound of the engine and Darren’s brother tuning the radio into even louder music.
Sophia closed her eyes and nodded, realising the overwhelming impossibility of their mission. “What are we doing?” she hissed, her dark eyes round and scared. “We’ve lied and run away from home and for what? Maybe the garage exists and maybe this woman works there but what difference can we make? We’re just kids and they’re not.” She jerked her head towards the large blonde man taking up space in the front seat. “I don’t even know his name!”