Page 33 of The Lake Escape
Maybe. Or maybe not,thought Julia, gulping down her growing apprehension. Again, she entertained the dark notion that David had nefarious reasons for wanting to delay the police as long as possible. But that was crazy. He might be a womanizer, but he’d never been violent. Still, her intuition told her something didn’t add up.
“David, look, let’s not ignore the obvious,” said Julia sternly. “You didn’t have a quiet night with Fiona after the bonfire. I’m pretty sure the whole lake heard you arguing.”
Erika leaned forward in her chair, her elbows resting on her knees, a cagey look narrowing her eyes. “Fucking the nanny, David? Really? How cliché of you.”
David’s smug expression did little to defuse their suspicion. “Fiona and alcohol donotmix,” he said emphatically. “And Fiona and your crazy blue concoction is even worse. She was out of her mind last night. You all saw her.” David’s eyebrows shot up in horror. “It was cringeworthy, the whole thing,” he continued. “Then, when we’re getting ready for bed, she starts going off on me, spouting all kinds of accusations. I have no clue where she got that insane idea about the nanny.”
Julia cleared her throat uncomfortably. “From what I overheard, it sounded like she got it from your behavior.”
“And you don’t think she could have misread something innocent? These days you touch a young girl on the arm, and you’re suddenly a rapist. Obviously, I wasn’t sexually harassing the nanny—and I certainly wasn’t sleeping with her.” His top lip curled. “Good God, I hope you two don’t think that of me. You’ve known me my whole life.” He sought reassurances from Julia, who kept her expression inscrutable.
Erika squinted. “I just hope you don’t have any incriminating internet searches, David. I might be a defense attorney, but I know how prosecutors think. And they’ll look at the twins’ iPads. Just saying.” Her accusatory stare came across like a stab.
David’s posture stiffened. “What are you even suggesting?” he asked. “I didn’t do anything to harm Fiona, if that’s what you’re getting at.” His voice carried an edge, but it only made him sound less trustworthy.
“I sure hope not,” Erika said.
Julia wasn’t jumping to conclusions about David, but she was certainly worried about Fiona. Who knew where she could have gone, what danger she might be in?
This whole thing was too weird to ignore. Someone had to call the police.
“Whydidthe last nanny quit suddenly?”
David picked up the innuendo, returning Julia’s question with a defiant stare. She found that quite telling. Good gracious, the things he thought he could get away with because, well, he was David. Allthose young girls hoping to be the next big thing, sending him their headshots, praying he’d make the right connection to this producer or that director—always someone important that David claimed to know. Did he use this power to coerce some of these women into his bed?
Julia had no doubt.
He saw, he wanted, he took. He was a child in that way. She had always known this about him, but it was strange how it never failed to surprise her. Who was this man who felt so entitled? Julia could only laugh at herself. She knew damn well who he was. And yet she still kept him close to her heart. Childhood bonds were like that, she supposed. It was easy to look through the distorted lens of time and see David as he once was, with the wistful hope he could be that person again: someone who would carry her on his back, drive far out of his way to rescue her, treat her kids like he’s their devoted uncle—not the self-obsessed caricature he’d become.
“I told you both, nothing happened with the last nanny,” David said in a huff. He turned to go, but stopped himself, standing up straighter and more self-assured.
“She up and quit,” he added, if he were playacting his own attorney and Julia and Erika were the jury he sought to convince. “Put us in a real bind. Gen Zers don’t take work seriously enough, in my opinion.” David seemed satisfied with his retort.
Julia began to construct a mental list of ways David appeared guilty of something heinous. It was all there, a police detective’s dream: minimal eye contact (except when he gave empty but impassioned speeches about the prior nanny); his answers at the ready, too practiced and well versed; an overly confident, cocky demeanor; known to have a temper. And last but not least: David had a colossal blowout fight with the missing person the night before she disappeared. None of this looked good.
In her head, Julia composed a truth-telling post for social, wondering how many likes and comments she would get if she dared share it.
Possible captions:
Hey all, this is my hunky, maybe murderous neighbor, David Dunne. Wanna come over for tea?#lakelife #TheGuyNextDoor
or
What’s missing from this picture? Hint: it’s this guy’s girlfriend who we can’t find. And PS, they got into a BIG row last night over the nanny, who he may have shagged.#handthatrocksthecradle
If the sordid scene playing out in her mind had been an Instagram Reel, she would probably have racked up a thousand views in an hour. Instead, she had a headache and a sinking pit in her stomach.
“I’m making the call,” Julia announced as soon as David departed.
Before she could summon the police, in a move that would undoubtedly earn her David’s ire, Lucas emerged from upstairs. His long hair curtained his face, so it was impossible to read his eyes as he shuffled past them without offering a hello. Julia didn’t know the musical group depicted on his T-shirt, but she recognized the ripped jeans as a fashion trend that wouldn’t go away.
“Hey, Mom, we’re out of Dr Pepper,” he moaned from the kitchen, his voice muffled, his head most likely buried inside the refrigerator.
We may also be out of time,Julia thought, imagining Fiona at the bottom of the lake or bleeding out after a bear attack.
Erika was quick with her response. “I believe you have a driver’s license, Lucas, and you know how to get to the store. We’re kind of dealing with a crisis here.”
“There’s no chips or anything good to eat,” he called out.
