Page 95 of The Rising Tide

‘I was pretty drunk by then. I didn’t want to leave Fin. But that blade was back against his neck and I’d just seen—’

Daniel pauses, collects himself. ‘Before I went over theside, the guy gave me final instructions. When I was rescued, I was to tell police I’d drowned Billie and Fin. And I had to pass on a message, very specific:She deserves every fucking thing she gets. He’d be watching, he said. He’d be listening. If I did as he asked, in three days he’d release Fin. But Ihavedone as he asked. To theletter. And yet Fin’s still missing.’

For a while they sit in silence. Horror has piled upon horror. It’s too much to take in, and yet Lucyhasto take it in, because if Fin’s alive—

‘The police told me theLazy Susanwas recovered,’ Daniel says. ‘What about the dinghy?’

She shakes her head. ‘I told them about it. But by that point they’d already stood down the search.’

‘I’m not getting out of here any time soon. After the things I’ve said, possibly never. Like it or not, this rests with you now. You have to find Fin. Bring him home.’

‘I will.’

‘This guy’s ruthless, Lucy. You’ll have to be ruthless too. Whatever it takes.’

‘I can do that.’

Daniel glances around the visiting hall, at the various prison officers standing guard. ‘The first thing you do, when you get home, is figure out some protection. Before you do anything else, you do that.’ He pauses. ‘I’ve been wondering if I should have told the truth. Perhaps I—’

‘No.’

Lucy’s reply is louder than she intended. She takes a breath, sits back in her seat. She knows how desperate he must be to even consider that; his distrust of the police is etched into his bones.

Daniel was six when he first ran away from his parents.At the police station where a member of the public took him, he’d believed his ordeal was over. Instead, officers drove him straight home. Despite the beating Daniel took as punishment, he escaped again two months later. A different police station, this time, but the same result.

Another year passed before neighbours, concerned about what they were hearing through the walls, made a complaint. Children’s services attended. They found Daniel with injuries so severe he spent three weeks in hospital recovering.

His life didn’t improve much in care. And then one morning, aged thirteen, he woke to police officers arresting him for assault. Two boys had been attacked overnight. A bloody cricket bat had been found under Daniel’s bed.

No point protesting his innocence. He pleaded guilty for a shorter sentence and quietly served his time. Lucy’s pretty sure Daniel shares her suspicions about the true culprit.

Her own experiences with the police are no more positive. When Zacarías Echevarria tracked her to Portugal after she fled the Spanish commune, she knew he intended to take her back. Only when she saw he’d rather leave her dead than return empty-handed did she grab a knife and defend herself.

The Portuguese police cared nothing for her version of events. At trial, the prosecution portrayed her as a violent and ruthless manipulator. Contrary to the allegations, she never stole any of his money. She did take his car, but he’d sold hers to fund repairs to his solar rig.

‘I think you were right to keep quiet,’ Lucy says. ‘I’m not ready to put my trust in them, and I don’t think you are either. The stakes are just too high. You were rightearlier – this is on me now. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I’ll figure it out, I swear it.’

‘Everything this guy’s done so far has been orchestrated, designed for maximum effect. Almost like he’s directing some sick piece of theatre. We might not have heard from him since, but I don’t think leaving the stage quietly is in the script.’

‘You think he has something else planned?’

‘I’d bet on it. Which means you’ll have to figure out his next move and disrupt it before he acts.’

‘What else can you tell me?’ she asks. ‘You didn’t recognize him?’

‘I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him around Skentel, but I couldn’t say where. Clean-shaven, pale skin. Kind of forgettable face. Around my age, maybe a few years either way.’

‘Did he have an accent? A particular way of speaking?’

‘He … I remember he never raised his voice. That he never showed any emotion, even when … even when Billie went in the water. I don’t know how much it’ll help, but I remember a smell, from when we were in the car. Some kind of ointment. Something for skin, maybe. A medical smell, rather than cosmetic.’ He grimaces. ‘I’m sorry. It’s not much.’

Lucy reflects on what she’s heard. ‘How was Fin when you last saw him?’

At the mention of their son, Daniel’s eyes fill. ‘He’s going to be different after this, Luce. There’s no getting away from it. But he’s still going to be Fin. I know how much love you can give him. If anyone can guide him through this, it’s you.’

She can. She will. But she has to find him first. ‘Billie,’ she says at last. ‘Did she know? At the end? Did she knowwhat was about to happen? Did she have a long time to be frightened?’

Daniel’s jaw starts to shake. ‘This isn’t the time or place,’ he says. ‘But she wassobrave, Lucy. I can’t begin …’

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