‘No,’ Dad protests, ‘it was more… more that nobody else was going to claim it, so… so why shouldn’t we?’
‘Because it didn’t belong to you,’ Tyler says.
‘We didn’t think about it like that,’ Dad says. ‘The truth is, Cat, that I was… in trouble. Debts.’ He gives an awkward cough. ‘Some bets I’d made that I thought were sure fire… they hadn’t paid off. Plus, well, I already told you… your mother and I were in a bad place. She was angry with me over it.’
‘Gambling debts?’ I frown. Mum has never mentioned any of this.
Dad sighs. ‘Rik and I made a plan to sell the Blue Fire on the black market. I knew about diamonds and Rik had all sorts of dodgy contacts. It was win-win. I was going to use my share to pay off my debts, then with the money left over buy us a second home right by the sea, get a proper yacht, maybe set up a boat design business… and of course spoil you girls rotten.’
I stare at him, bewildered. ‘So what happened?’
There’s another awkward pause. Dad’s eyes glisten in the soft light. ‘I came to realize that Rik was not the sort of person who should have access to the kind of money we were going to make. God knows what he’d have used it for… he was already a criminal, so I tipped the police off about a few things Rik had done. Like I told you before. They went to his house, found stolen goods and arrested him.’
My jaw drops. ‘You mean you had Rik sent to prison so you could take the diamond for yourself?’ I gasp. ‘You double-crossed him?’ I can’t believe it. All this time I’ve thought that Dad was the victim of a crime Rik had committed, but now… My body tenses as the realization settles over me like a dark cloud.
Dad – my lovable, smiling dad – is a thief.
Everything that has happened, including Rik snatching Bess, started with him.
His greed. His selfishness.
‘I didn’t exactly take the diamond for myself. The first step was just to get it away from Rik. I hadn’t thought any further than that.’ A deep frown creases Dad’s forehead. ‘But before I could decide what to do, everything went wrong. Rik knew I was the one who’d ratted on him. He threatened me from jail. He demanded the diamond back but he also made it clear that he was going to make me pay for grassing him up. That was when he had Pirate killed. And threatened to kill you girls too. I wasn’t lying about any of that: he said I’d taken what was most precious to him – his freedom. And that he was going to take what was most precious to me, to make me suffer.’ Dad gives a miserable shake of his head. ‘I couldn’t see how to make it stop. Rik was in prison awaiting sentencing and I had no idea how long he’d go away for. I was desperate, Cat. The last thing I wanted to do was fake my own death, but Rik’s men were after me, after all of us and it was the only thing I could think of that would stop them. I staged the drowning so that Rik would think I’d ended up at the bottom of the sea and taken the diamond with me.’
‘But why didn’t you tell us? Mum and me and Bess?’ The mention of Bess’s name gives me a fresh stab of anxiety. ‘You could have explained…’ My voice rises on a sob.
‘I know it was selfish of me to put you through all that, but I was so full of self-loathing by then I honestly thought it was the best thing for everyone for me to be out of the picture,’ Dad says miserably. ‘I was in a mess, not thinking straight. I just wanted to keep you safe, don’t you see? I always thought I’d come back at some point but… but the more time I spent away, the harder it became to find a way back when that meant disrupting your lives all over again.’ He pauses, shadows flickering across his face. ‘It broke my heart. I can’t tell you how much I’ve regretted leaving like I did, how there were months when I thought I’d never feel a moment’s happiness again.’
My thoughts turn to the home I found in Hallerton East.
‘So Julie… and the baby…?’
Dad nods, his expression full of shame. ‘Julie was kind when I was at my lowest ebb, helped me start again. We’ve been together ever since and she’s great. Honestly, you’d really like her. As for little Finn, he wasn’t planned, but…’ He trails off, eyes glistening with tears.
My jaw drops. ‘He is yours?’
Beside me, Tyler blows out his breath.
Dad nods again. ‘I’m so sorry, Kitterbug. I’ve really screwed up.’
I lean against the wall of the rundown house, my head spinning. Dad lied before. He has a whole new family with Julie. Finn is my brother. Bess and I have a little brother. I say the words in my head but it doesn’t feel real.
‘I wasn’t lying about missing you desperately,’ Dad goes on. ‘I look at this every single day…’ He pulls a crumpled photo out of his pocket. It’s the same print that I found in the box of his things: of him with me and Bess and Pirate. ‘Like I told you, it was missing you so much that led me on to your social media.’ Dad grimaces. ‘I’m kicking myself about that. If I hadn’t, Rik would think I was dead and you wouldn’t have been dragged into all this.’ He pauses. ‘And I wouldn’t be here now, trying to put everything right.’
‘How are you going to do that?’ I ask, my insides hollow.
‘By taking the diamond and running away again?’ Tyler’s voice is knife-sharp.
‘No,’ Dad insists, glancing briefly at him, then turning back to me. ‘That was my plan. After we spoke, Cat, I thought leaving the country was the only option…’
‘You mean you were going to go abroad with Julie and… and Finn?’ I stare at him, feeling numb. ‘Start a new life with the money you’d get from the diamond?’
Dad nods.
Tyler’s hand rests on my shoulder, but I shake it off. I don’t want his pity.
‘I’m not going to do that now,’ Dad says quickly. ‘Now I’ve seen you again, now I know Rik has Bess… it’s made me realize that I can’t just take the diamond and leave.’
I bite my lip. Does he really mean that? There’s no way I can be sure. ‘So, what—?’
Before I can finish my question, the phone Sandy gave me utters a piercing ring. I lift it to my ear, fear for Bess flooding through me like poison.
‘Have you got the diamond?’ Rik demands.
‘Yes,’ I snap, instantly focused on my sister. ‘But where’s Bess? You were supposed to be here with her? What have you done w—?’
‘She’s perfectly safe,’ Rik says smoothly. ‘I’ve given her something to make her sleep, she’s completely unaw—’
‘You’ve sedated her?’
Dad reaches for the phone, but I back away. Rik knowing that Dad’s here isn’t going to help us save Bess.
‘Tell me where my sister is right now,’ I order. ‘I’m done waiting.’
‘Fine.’ Rik chuckles. ‘We’re on the beach just down the road. A few minutes’ walk. The old jetty. I’ll be waiting. That’s where we’ll do the trade: Bess for the diamond. Provided you come alone, she won’t get hurt.’
He rings off.
‘Is Bess okay?’ Tyler asks.
‘What’s he doing with her?’ Dad urges.
‘He still wants to trade her for the diamond.’ I turn towards the door.
‘Wait,’ Dad says.
I look back at him. ‘Dad, it’s the diamond or Bess. I have to do this.’
Dad hesitates. For a terrible second I think he’s going to insist that I give him the diamond, so he can run away with it after all.
‘I don’t want you to have to deal with Rik,’ Dad says at last. ‘It should be me.’
‘That’s not what Rik’s expecting,’ I say. ‘Come on, Tyler.’
‘Listen to me,’ Dad persists. ‘I told you, I’ve made my choice. I’m not taking the diamond. And I’m not leaving you until I know that you and your sister are safe.’
I stare at him. Is he serious?
‘If we do this my way,’ Dad goes on, ‘Bess will be rescued and the diamond and Rik will be handed over to the police…’ He pauses, straightening up. The shame lifts from his face. ‘I’ll give myself up to them too.’
‘How are we going to make all that happen?’ Tyler asks suspiciously.
‘I’ll be the one to approach Rik. I’ll show him the Blue Fire, then offer to trade myself and the diamond for Bess,’ Dad says.
I stare at him. I still can’t be sure he really means anything he’s saying. ‘Then what?’ I demand.
‘Once Bess is safe, I’ll overpower Rik while you two call the police.’ Dad peers anxiously at me. ‘It’s simple. Do you see?’
‘What if Rik refuses to let Bess go?’ I ask. ‘Remember he’s not expecting you to be there.’
‘And what if you can’t overpower him?’ asks Tyler. ‘What if he’s got a knife… or a gun?’
‘He won’t have,’ Dad says.
‘You don’t know that,’ I say.
We stand in silence for a moment, then I take a deep breath.
‘Actually,’ I say. ‘I’ve got a better idea…’
35
I go over the plan one last time.
Tyler nods, slowly. ‘It’s going to work.’
Dad looks at me, clearly less sure. ‘I don’t know, Cat, it puts you at more risk than I’d like…’
‘Only a little.’ I meet his gaze. ‘Anyway, I think given everything you’ve done, you’ve lost your right to tell me what to do.’
Dad’s lips give a tiny tremble, then he nods. ‘Okay,’ he says.
‘All that matters is saving Bess,’ I go on.
‘Plus, Cat’s idea means she keeps hold of the diamond,’ Tyler adds icily.
It’s clear what he’s implying: if Dad has the diamond, the temptation to run off with it might be too great for him to resist.
‘Okay,’ Dad says again. He glances at me. My guts twist. Dad has made mistakes, sure, but I can see in his eyes how sorry he is and hear in his voice that he’s determined to make amends.
At least I think I can.
‘That’s sorted, then,’ I say.
* * *
Long, deserted Coombehaven beach is just a minute’s walk from the house where Rik called me. The wooden jetty is about a hundred metres away, dimly visible against the navy night sky. We walk along the hard-packed sand towards it in silence. It feels like we’re at the edge of the world. We’re certainly too far away from the few residents of Coombehaven for anyone to hear or see us. The moon gives off a soft glow and we’re careful to keep to the cover of the sand dunes. It’s vital that Rik doesn’t realize Dad is here.
My plan depends on it.
We get closer to the jetty. It’s damaged – with gaps in the boards and half the wooden posts missing – and stretches deep into the blackness of the sea.
The three of us crouch down behind a sand dune. The only sound is the gentle whoosh of the waves.
‘I can see Rik,’ Tyler whispers. ‘And there’s Bess.’
My stomach lurches into my mouth. I peer along the length of the jetty. I can’t make out anyone.
‘Where?’ I whisper.
Tyler points to the very end of the jetty. I squint, screwing up my eyes.
‘It’s Rik’s boat,’ Dad says softly.
As he speaks, I see it: a small white-hulled sailing boat, bobbing on the waves. The top of its little cabin reflects the moonlight on to the deck below, where Rik is standing.
Next to him, slumped against the wall of the cabin, is Bess. My heart skips a beat. I can only see her outline from here, but it’s obvious from the way she’s sitting that she’s still unconscious.
‘Ready?’ Dad whispers.
I nod.
‘Be careful.’ Dad squeezes my hand, then disappears into the dark of the beach. He’s heading for the sea, keeping low against the sand to avoid being seen.
‘Are you sure about this?’ Tyler asks, suddenly sounding doubtful. Even in the dim light I can see the anxiety in his eyes.
‘It’s going to work,’ I say, trying to sound more confident than I feel. I set off. My legs are shaking as I reach the jetty and step into the rays of moonlight that stretch along its half-broken boards. The damaged wood creaks as I walk.
Rik spots me. His boat rocks from side to side as he leaps on to the jetty. I shuffle a little way towards him, careful to avoid the gaps in the wooden boards. Rik picks his way carefully towards me, then stops, his hands on his hips, about twenty metres away.
‘Do you have it?’ he calls out.
For an answer, I take the diamond out of my pocket and hold it up to the moonlight. It sparkles like the fire it’s named after. I stare, mesmerized. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in my life.
Rik paces towards me. I glance along the jetty, towards his boat moored at the end. Waves slap against the white hull. Bess is still slumped against the cabin wall. I’m still not close enough to see her face, but there’s no mistaking her fair hair, fraying from its plaits. Where is Dad? He should have swum to her by now, to rescue her, get her to safety…
I can’t see him.
I take a step back.
‘Stay there!’ Rik orders. He strides towards me, nimbly picking his way across the boards. I hold my breath, willing him to land on a piece of broken wood so damaged that it will collapse underneath him.
Why hasn’t Dad reached Bess yet? Has he changed his mind about helping to save her? My guts give a painful twist. If I give Rik the diamond now, he’ll just take it back to his boat and then he’ll have Bess and the Blue Fire.
I glance around, looking back at the beach. I can’t see him, but I know Tyler is there, watching from the shadows with the phone Sandy gave me. As soon as he sees Dad swimming away from the boat with Bess, he’s supposed to call the police.
So where is Dad?
Rik jumps lightly over another broken board. He’s just a couple of metres away. I have to stall him. There isn’t another choice. I draw back my arm, ready to hurl the Blue Fire, still dangling on its chain, as far as I can behind me.
With a roar, Rik closes the gap between us. He snatches the diamond out of my hand.
I gasp, horrified. Stumble backwards.
‘Don’t move!’ Rik grips my arm. He holds me tightly as he peers down at the diamond, now sparkling in his palm. Then he looks up, a mean grin on his face. ‘This is it,’ he says. ‘After all this time, I—’
A splash from the boat. Dad’s there, at last. He hauls himself on board, water streaming from his clothes. Rik spins round, letting go of my arm. The boat rocks violently as Dad slips, sliding across the deck, desperate to get to Bess.
‘You!’ Rik yells at him.
Time seems to slow down as Rik pelts away from me, back to the boat.
The diamond is still in his hand.
36
I race after Rik, leaping over the jetty’s broken boards. My heart is in my mouth, all my energy focused on Dad and Bess in the boat.
‘You double-crossing monster!’ Rik is yelling.
Dad glances round. I can see the terror on his face. He’s struggling to pick up Bess. She’s limp, unconscious. Her arms dangle, a dead weight.
Rik pounds along the jetty ahead of me. On the boat, Dad staggers sideways, trying to get his balance. Rik reaches the boat. He jumps on board. The boat rocks violently from side to side. Water splashes over the hull, drenching Dad. Bess slips half out of his grip.
‘Help!’ I yell. My cry vanishes, hopelessly, into the night air.
Rik looms over Dad, as Bess slides fully out of Dad’s arms, back on to the deck.
Dad turns, looks up. Rik’s fist lands with a crack on his jaw. My heart skips a beat as Dad staggers back, into the stern, the very back of the boat. He falls down, into the shadows. A loud metal clank echoes through the air.
‘Dad!’ I scream.
‘Aaagh!’ Dad yells, as Rik dives into the stern after him.
They’re in darkness. All I can hear are their grunts and shouts.
‘Dad!’ I shriek again.
As I reach the boat, I’m suddenly aware of footsteps behind me. I spin round. Tyler is here. We scramble on board together. Now I’m clo
se up I can see them: Dad and Rik are fighting in the stern, all fists and elbows. I turn to Bess. She’s sprawled, unconscious, on the deck.
‘Let’s get her out of here,’ Tyler urges.
We hurry over. My heart thuds against my ribs. Angry shouts and bangs from the back of the boat. We put our arms under Bess’s small body. Pick her up between us.
‘Get away from her!’ Rik cries.
Tyler and I freeze. My head whips round.
Rik looms over Dad, pinning him down. Dad is bucking and writhing, unable to move. He’s surrounded by something thick and wet that gleams in the moonlight. The smell reaches me as I spot the overturned can at Dad’s head.
He is lying in petrol.
I hesitate.
‘Put her down and listen to me,’ Rik snarls, panting. ‘Otherwise, I end your dad.’
I glance at Dad’s terrified face. ‘Okay,’ I say.
Tyler and I ease Bess down again, letting her sink back against the deck. We straighten up. I turn to face Rik.
‘Let my dad go,’ I demand.
Rik lifts his foot a little way off Dad’s chest, but keeps a light pressure. Dad’s eyes are wild with fury, his hair glistening in the petrol surrounding his head.
‘Here’s the deal,’ Rik says, catching his breath. ‘The new deal. You kids take Bess and keep quiet about seeing either me or your dad.’
‘But—’ I start.
‘I take your dad and the diamond,’ Rik cuts across me. ‘I’ll do what your dad pretended to do seventeen months ago. Except, this time, there’ll be no loose ends.’ He gazes down at Dad, a vicious look in his eye. ‘After all, Alan,’ he says, ‘as far as the rest of the world is concerned, you’re already dead.’
My insides fall away. Rik is going to kill Dad and dump his body out at sea. Bile rises inside me. The same horror I feel is etched on Dad’s face. No.
Even after everything he has done, I don’t want to lose Dad all over again.
I can’t.
A soft nudge, Tyler’s hand on my ribs. I glance around. Tyler flicks his gaze to the petrol now spreading this way. With a jolt I realize the diamond is there, on the deck, halfway between us and Dad and Rik. Its star-cut surface glints in the moonlight.
Hide and Secrets Page 18