Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(16)

‘Can I borrow a cigarette?’ He grinned down. Beth hesitated, then held out her pack.

‘Thanks.’ He took two, putting one in his mouth and the other in his pocket. He had turned his back on her before he took his first drag. Lauren saw Beth’s eyes follow him, as he wandered back to her sister.

‘How are you liking BaileyTennants?’

Beth shrugged. ‘It’s okay. It’s good.’

She tried to sound enthusiastic, but fell a notch short. Lauren didn’t blame her. Data archiving was notoriously poorly paid, even for an entry-level role, and the team was housed in the basement level. Anytime she had to go down there, Lauren emerged craving natural light.

‘Are you enjoying working with your sister?’

‘Yeah, definitely.’ The enthusiasm sounded genuine this time. ‘It’s thanks to her I even got the job. She put in a good word.’

‘Where were you before?’

Beth shot her a glance and Lauren wondered if she’d somehow put her foot in it.

‘Between jobs.’

‘Oh.’

Beth took a drag, and sighed out a cloud of smoke. ‘Sorry. I’m grateful to have the work. It’s just all this.’ She gestured around the clearing. ‘It’s not really my thing.’

‘I’m not sure it’s really anyone’s thing. Except maybe Daniel’s.’

Lauren suddenly remembered Alice and looked up. The corner where she’d been standing with Daniel was empty, and across the clearing Lauren could see him now. He and his sister were standing a little apart from the group, watching. No Alice in sight.

There was a distant crack of thunder and the conversation dimmed as faces turned to the sky. Lauren felt a drop on her forehead.

‘I’m going to check that my pack’s in my tent,’ she said and Beth nodded.

She crossed the clearing and picked her way over the taut guy ropes. The sisters had done a good job putting up the tents, she thought as she knelt down and unzipped the door.

‘Alice!’

Alice jumped. She was sitting cross-legged in the centre of the tent, her head down, an eerie blue wash across her face. In her lap, she held a mobile phone.

‘Shit.’ Alice clutched the phone to her chest. ‘You scared me.’

‘Sorry. Are you okay? The food’s ready if you want it.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘Are you sure? What are you doing?’

‘Nothing. Really, I’m fine. Thanks.’ Alice pressed a button and the phone screen went dark, her features disappeared with the light. Her voice sounded strange. Lauren wondered for a moment if she might have been crying.

‘What did Daniel want?’ Lauren said.

‘Nothing. Something about the agenda for the AGM.’

‘That couldn’t wait?’

‘Of course it could’ve. You know Daniel.’

‘Oh.’ Lauren’s knees were aching from being crouched in the doorway. She could hear the rain hit the canvas near her head.

‘Is that your mobile? I thought you handed it in.’

‘That was my work one. Hey, do you have yours?’

‘No, we weren’t supposed to bring them.’

A short hard laugh. ‘So of course you didn’t. It doesn’t matter. I can’t get a signal anyway.’

‘Who are you trying to call?’

‘No-one.’ A pause. ‘Margot.’

‘Is everything okay?’

‘Yes.’ Alice cleared her throat. ‘Yes, everything’s good. She’s good.’

She pressed a button and the screen lit up again. Her eyes definitely looked a little watery.

‘Still no signal?’

No answer.

‘Are you sure everything’s okay?’

‘Yes. I just –’ There was the thump of a phone being tossed on a sleeping bag. ‘I need to get through.’

‘Margot’s sixteen, Alice. She’s okay on her own for a couple of days. You’ll see her on Sunday anyway. At prize night.’ Lauren could hear the bitter note creep into her tone. Alice didn’t seem to notice.

‘I just want to make sure she’s all right.’

‘Of course she is. Margot will be fine. Margot’s always fine.’ Lauren forced herself to take a deep breath. Alice was clearly upset. ‘Look, I know what it’s like. I worry about Rebecca too.’ That was an understatement. Lauren sometimes felt she hadn’t slept a full night through in the sixteen years since the day her daughter was born.

No answer. The sound of fumbling, then the blue screen light appeared again.

‘Alice?’

‘I heard you.’ Alice sounded distracted. Her features were hard as she stared down into her lap.

‘At least Margot seems to be doing well for herself. With the dance award, and everything.’ The bitterness was back.

‘Maybe. I just –’ Lauren heard Alice sigh. ‘I was hoping for better for her.’

‘Right. Well. I know how you feel.’ Lauren thought of her own daughter at home. It was dinner time. She tried to imagine what she might be doing now and the familiar sinking feeling blossomed in her stomach.

Alice rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand. Suddenly her head shot up. ‘Why is it so quiet out there?’