Page 62 of Someone in the Water
Raphael clicks his tongue and shakes his head, but he doesn’t challenge his wife.
‘What’s the significance of the 31st of July?’ Lola asks, trying to pull the conversation back to Izzy, the date of her death.
‘It’s the darkest night,’ Jack says. ‘When most of the killings take place.’
‘Again, you’re not explaining it right.’ Raphael’s voice rises a notch. ‘The legend goes that the mazzeri are most active on the night of the 31st of July. But they are prophets, not killers.’
‘Whatever,’ Jack says, wafting his hand like he’s bored. ‘I’m going to the bar for a drink.’ He pushes back his chair and stomps off without offering to buy drinks for anyone else around the table.
Raphael raises his eyebrows, then continues. ‘Dom is correct that it’s just a fantasy story, but Salvo saw it as more than that. So when Patrick suggested we have the gathering on Thursday, it felt like a good way to honour him.’
‘Did Izzy believe in the mazzeri?’ Lola asks. She knows it’s a stupid question, but she wants to start talking about Izzy again.
‘I told you,’ Harriet says. ‘It was your mum who knew most about the legend back then.’
‘Oh, it’s all so long ago,’ her mum says, wafting her hand in the air. ‘I haven’t thought about that story in decades.’
Her mum’s voice is light and dismissive, so Lola doesn’t understand why no one except Harriet can meet her eye.
‘Well personally, I’m looking forward to celebrating Salvo’s life on Thursday,’ Dom says. ‘I’m done with that date being all about Izzy’s death. Especially with it coming two nights after the anniversary of Archie’s passing.’ He shakes his head. ‘I still remember how happy he looked the last time I saw him.’
Her mum looks up. ‘At the waterfall? But Archie didn’t look happy at all. He left because of how bad he was feeling.’
‘No, not then: later. I couldn’t sleep because that cut on my head was throbbing like hell fire. And when I went out to get some fresh air, I saw Jack and Archie down by the hut. They were playfighting like a couple of schoolkids.’ He sighs. ‘That’s why the news the next morning was such a shock. But I guess people are past logic when they decide to take their own life.’
Her mum turns towards Harriet, and they share a look. ‘What time was this?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe around two o’clock?’
‘But that doesn’t make sense,’ her mum goes on, a mix of confusion and shock on her face. ‘Izzy told me that Jack was in town all night.’
Dom raises his eyebrows. ‘You mean Izzy the pathological liar?’
Jack returns to the table and drops into his chair, making everyone jump. He swirls an ice cube in what looks like a glass of whisky. ‘Speaking ill of the dead again, Dom?’
‘I don’t remember you mourning her too much.’
Jack shrugs. ‘I asked her not to go swimming and she ignored me. It’s not my fault that karma got her.’
‘That’s why I didn’t go,’ Harriet says. ‘I felt it was disrespectful.’
‘I’m pretty sure you just didn’t want to get your hair wet,’ Dom murmurs.
‘Did you go swimming, Dom?’ Lola asks, pretending she doesn’t know.
‘Um, yeah. I took a bit longer to get in than the girls though, so I hadn’t swum that far when it all kicked off.’ Dom turns to Frankie. ‘Do you remember? I was still in the shallow water when you started screaming. I can’t remember when you got in, Raphael?’
‘After you, for sure,’ Raphael says. ‘It’s hard to remember exactly.’
‘You were on the beach too, weren’t you, Jack?’
Everyone, including Lola, turns to look at her mum, surprised by the hardness in Frankie’s voice.
‘When Raphael found Izzy,’ she goes on.
Jack bristles. ‘I came when I heard all the commotion. I didn’t go in the water.’
‘Why not?’ Lola asks. ‘Didn’t you want to help with the search?’
