Page 64 of The Girls in the Lake
Then Leah Burton had blatantly turned him down when they’d been left alone on the boat. Telling him she didn’t like him, she liked his friend with the cute, floppy hair.
Grace was staring at him. ‘Ethan, are you okay?’
He looked at her, then nodded. ‘Fine and dandy, you?’
‘I, erm. Yes.’
A loud clap of thunder exploded above their heads, and she screamed.
He started to laugh.
‘I think we should go back, this is dangerous and probably very stupid.’
‘I think you’re right. It is dangerous and extremely stupid. We should carry on.’
‘I don’t want to. Please take me back.’
He shook his head. ‘No, I don’t think so. We’re here now. I wanted to ask you, what did you think of my friend who owns the big boat you were on?’
Grace paused. ‘I don’t really know him, he seems all right. Why?’
He shrugged. ‘No particular reason. Do you think he’s handsome?’
She turned to look around and see how far they were from the shore.
‘Please, let’s go back now. You’re scaring me.’
‘Am I? Sorry, it’s only a simple question. You just have to answer and then we’ll go back and get dry. Tell me, Grace, do you think James Marshall is good-looking?’
‘I guess he is, I mean he’s bound to be with all that money. Even if he was ugly he could afford to have himself made nice.’
‘Ah, you know that’s a shame.’
‘What is?’
He dropped the oars and stood up, rocking the boat dangerously from side to side. Grace screamed as he lunged forward and grabbed hold of her shoulders. Then he gave her an almighty push.
As she tumbled over the side of the boat he shouted, ‘Wrong answer.’
Then he started to laugh, rain pouring down his face, thunder crashing all around him.
Seventy-Five
Beth watched in horror as the boat lurched to one side when the man violently pushed the girl. She lost her balance, and the scream that erupted from her lips echoed around the lake. And then she was in the water with a loud splash. Taking out her phone, Beth pressed Josh’s contact name, and he picked up immediately.
‘Oh God, Josh, I think it’s Ethan… he’s pushed her in. At the Marine Centre. I’m coming,’ she shouted down the phone, and the line went dead.
Beth had little choice. She unzipped her coat, throwing it onto the floor and kicked off the heavy walking boots. The girl was splashing around in the water which meant she was still alive, but not for long. Ethan was manoeuvring the boat back towards the girl as best he could in the wind and rain. Saying a silent prayer that Josh had heard her and was on his way, Beth tugged off her jeans, which would weigh her down, and ran into the lake.
A scream left her lips at the biting coldness of the water that washed over her – she didn’t know how long she would last in the cold, but she had to try and get to the girl in time. Fully submerged, her limbs in shock and her teeth chattering, she swam towards the floundering girl as fast as she could. She watched in horror as Ethan reached the girl, calmly leant over the boat and reached out as if to grab her hand. For a moment Beth felt a surge of relief; it was an accident, he’d gone back to help her, it was all right, everything was going to be okay. But then his extended hand grabbed hold of the top of her head and he pushed it under the water.
Beth screamed ‘No!’ as panic filled her chest. She couldn’t breathe. She tried to swim but her limbs felt like anchors dragging her down. She wasn’t going to make it; there was no way she could get to the girl. Fear and frustration made her eyes prick with hot tears. She knew she had no choice, she had to keep on. The faint sound of a motorboat in the distance filled her with a sudden hope. Swimming as best and as fast as she could towards the drowning girl, she prayed it was coming their way before they both went under.
Beth pushed herself on and reached the girl. Trying to help, she lifted her fingers and scratched at the hands holding the girl under. The girl was strong and had managed to pull free from the grip on her head. Mesmerised, Beth watched as the girl swam closer to the boat instead of trying to get away; she reached out and grabbed his arm. Realising what she was about to do, Beth reached out and gripped the other, and between them they pulled him into the lake, screaming at him in anger.
Taken by surprise and wearing his outer clothes, he went under, dragged down by the weight of his coat and boots. Terror filled Beth’s veins; what if he dragged her down and took her with him?
Finally, the engine of the boat was next to them, and a man and woman reached down. Beth had never felt such relief as when they took hold of the girl and hoisted her up into the boat. Then they headed straight for Beth. She was floundering, her arms too heavy. She was doing her best to tread water but her body was weak and tiredness was making it impossible to keep awake. Her eyes began to close as hypothermia began to set in.
