Page 12 of The Girls in the Lake
‘You’re not shitting me, this is for real?’
‘I swear it’s all real. Christ, I wish it wasn’t. You didn’t see her floating in the water. It was awful. I thought that she might still be alive so I jumped in to pull her out. I tried to drag her to the jetty, but her hair was stuck in the anchor chain. I had to tear her hair from her head to get her free.’ Ethan shivered as the ripping noise filled his mind; he didn’t think it would ever leave him.
‘I’m so sorry, I had no idea. How the hell did she get into the water?’
‘How would I know, I haven’t got a clue how or why she was in there. Except that she was and now she’s dead. Where did you all go?’
James lifted his face to look at Ethan. ‘I took her friend back to my apartment. I thought I’d give you some privacy.’
‘For what? We didn’t sleep together, if that’s what you mean. I was too drunk for one thing and I don’t think she was that into me. I’m surprised you didn’t take them both back with you.’
‘I wish I had.’
‘Yeah, so do I. Every time I close my eyes all I can see is her pale face turning blue. She was so small, but felt so heavy. The police made me go to the hospital to get checked out and then I had to go to the station to give a statement.’
James was shaking his head. ‘I can’t believe it. Do the police want to speak to me? I didn’t see any of it.’
‘Probably, she was on your boat after all . She left all of her clothes on the deck when she went into the water. They’ll need a statement from you as well. You should go there and speak to someone. The detective I spoke to was called Josh Walker.’
James shook his head. ‘Nah, if they want me, they can come find me. Like I said, I know nothing about it. Why should I waste my time going there?’
Ethan couldn’t believe what he was hearing, but it didn’t totally surprise him. James had regained his composure and could be so arrogant at times. Why should he be any different now? He found himself clenching his fists in anger. What was he hiding? Surely his conscience would kick in, should kick in.
‘I know what we can do to cheer you up.’
Ethan eyed him suspiciously. ‘What?’
‘We’ll go to the Hydro, grab a bite to eat maybe have a couple of drinks in the bar. Take your mind off everything. My treat.’
‘I don’t know, I’m not really in the mood.’
‘Come on, you can’t sit here feeling sorry for yourself all day. Yes, it’s terrible what’s happened, but it’s already happened. It’s too late and there’s nothing you can do to change it. We can grab some food and if you want to talk, we can. It’s got to be better than staying here in this shithole that smells like you have a carcass in the cupboard.’
‘Bugger off, James.’
‘You don’t have anything rotting in here, do you, Ethan?’
‘What are you trying to say?’
James began to laugh. ‘Nothing, you know. I’ve read the stories about those weird serial killers, that’s all. Who was it that liked to kill his victims and eat their brains? He kept their bodies chopped up in bits all over his flat?’
‘Jeffrey Dahmer.’
‘Yeah, that’s the one. How do you know his name, Ethan? You always know the weird shit.’
‘Everyone knows his name, and you don’t complain about me knowing weird shit when we win at pub quizzes.’
‘That’s true. Have a shower and get changed. I’ll give you ten minutes then we’re out of here. You can sleep at mine tonight.’
Ethan wanted to tell him to get stuffed, but he didn’t want to be alone and this was a better option even if it meant having to listen to James and his overinflated ego all night.
* * *
Ethan got out of James’s Porsche 911 and put his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the hotel. He really didn’t want to be here, but he didn’t know what he wanted to do instead. He followed his friend into the recently refurbished reception area, which was dominated by two huge purple sofas, and through into the bar. Ethan tugged James’s arm and pointed to an empty table on the patio area in front of the bar which overlooked the lake and headed in that direction. He’d had enough of the water for today and sat with his back to the view, staring inside at the empty tables. It was a nice place, much nicer than the last time he’d been here.
James headed towards the bar and came back with a Coke and a beer.
‘I wasn’t sure what you fancied.’
