The Lake by Louise Sharland (best ereader for pc txt) 📕

She nods and then continues, ‘If things got messy, not only could he have been kicked out of school—’

‘But he could have also been charged with statutory rape.’ Now it’s starting to make sense. ‘Do you think that’s why he kept it a secret?’

‘Maybe.’ She takes a sip of her drink and seems to be thinking over my question. ‘Or maybe he just wanted to keep it private.’

‘But you knew.’

Siobhan shifts in her seat. ‘He was on a mobile one night. Not his normal one, but some cheap piece of rubbish.’

The burner phone.

I’m trying desperately not to push too hard, but I need answers. ‘And you thought?’

Siobhan’s eyes meet mine then almost as quickly look away. ‘I didn’t think anything. He said the battery on his iPhone was going and that he kept his old one for emergencies.’

‘But you didn’t believe him.’

‘We slept, ate, trained and studied next to each other. It was virtually impossible to keep a secret in that house.’

‘So what happened?’

Siobhan sighs heavily. It’s almost as if a weight is being lifted. ‘I could see he was texting, and, well, I was curious. So when he went to make himself a smoothie, I took the phone.’

‘You what?’

‘Well he left it sitting on the arm of the chair.’

‘And you were, as you said, curious.’

‘I thought he had a secret girlfriend and was going to tease him about it.’ She gives an embarrassed, cheeky grin. ‘And maybe text something back.’

‘But Michael found out.’

‘It was stupid really. I mean the house was all open plan. He just had to look up from where he was making his drink.’

‘And when he did? When he saw you on his mobile?’

‘He went absolutely ballistic.’

I put my glass down and lean forward. ‘What did you find?’

Even in the dim light of the pub I can see her blush. ‘The texts,’ her voice is deep, hoarse. ‘They were, um, pretty explicit.’

I put my hands to my face as if trying to blank out the world. It takes a moment before I can speak again.

‘Do you think it was someone from Edgecombe? Someone in your year?’

‘I couldn’t say.’

‘Oh come on!’ This faux bashfulness is getting on my nerves. ‘You’ve told me this much, why not the rest?’

Siobhan appears to be looking to the ceiling for an answer. ‘I thought maybe he was seeing a sixth former,’ she says, finally. ‘I mean why else would they be keeping it a secret?’

I exhale softly. At last. There is one more thing, however, I do want to ask.

‘Do you think they might have been together at the lake that night? The night he died?’

‘What?’ The girl’s expression changes from one of caution to one of fear. ‘Look, Mrs Hardy – I’m not really sure there’s any more I can tell you.’

I feel my heart sink, but I won’t give up. ‘Do you think Diving Fish was there?’

Siobhan looks as if she is about to burst into tears. ‘I … I don’t know!’ A few of the other customers have turned to look at us.

‘Why don’t I get us a couple of coffees?’ I say, forcing a bright tone. The last thing I want is a bunch of do-gooders sticking their noses in and stopping me from getting the information I so desperately need. I must keep everything under control.

I’m back a few minutes later, and, placing the coffees on the table, say, ‘Why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself? What have you been up to since leaving Edgecombe Hall?’ A look of doubt crosses Siobhan’s face and I know I’d better think fast if I’m going to keep her on side. ‘I always imagined that you and Michael would have stayed friends after graduating.’ I pause. ‘Had he lived.’

She smiles as if she had imagined the very same thing. ‘Popped my knee playing five-a-side football during my final A Level year, which pretty much put an end to my swimming career. Started a Sports Science degree but screwed that up too.’ She gives a bitter laugh. ‘So here I am, in some lousy admin job at a posh prep school with all the swimming superstars of the future just rubbing my nose in it.’

‘I thought you liked Edgecombe?’

‘It’s a great place when you’re a winner. Crap when you’re not.’

‘What about the lovely car I saw in the car park? It looks quite new?’

‘My parents lent me the money, but now that I’ve decided to go travelling, they’re hassling me to make sure I’ve got at least a year’s car payments in the bank. I’ve been saving like crazy, but that and travel expenses mean I’ll need at least another grand.’

‘I’m sure something’ll come up.’

Siobhan checks her phone. ‘I’ve got to go,’ she says, clearly desperate to leave the bleak hollow of the Old Wheel.

‘But I still have so much to ask you.’

‘Look, Mrs Hardy, I’ve pretty much told you everything I know.’ She takes a deep breath and I know at once there is something else. ‘There is one thing. Lisachick is Lisa Edwards. She was in her first year of A Levels when Michael arrived. Weekly boarder, went home for weekends. A real pain in the …’ Siobhan stops herself. ‘I’m pretty sure nothing was going on between them – as far as I knew, Lisa was only interested in girls. Things may have changed of course.’ Siobhan gives a wry smile. ‘Some kids were always experimenting. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that she did not like Michael.’

I feel as if I am travelling deeper and deeper into darkness. ‘What do you mean, did not like Michael?’

‘She was always slagging him off, saying he was undisciplined. Using.’

‘Using?’

‘You know.’ Siobhan looks uncomfortable, as if realising she has said too much. ‘Performance-enhancing drugs.’

‘What?’

‘Nobody believed her.’

‘Why would someone who barely knew Michael say that about him?’ My maternal instincts kick in, even though I no longer have someone to mother. ‘Why did she dislike him so much?’

‘I really don’t know.’ The girl’s