Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(92)
Day 4: Sunday Morning
‘I’ll be able to find my way out. I did it at McAllaster.’
Lauren looked at Alice. ‘You did a lot of things at McAllaster.’
‘Oh God, Lauren. Not again. I’ve apologised for what happened back then. So many times.’ Alice turned. ‘Look. I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go.’
Lauren reached out, grabbing Alice’s jacket this time.
‘Not with the phone.’
‘Yes, with my phone.’ Alice pushed her away and Lauren staggered back a little. The tall shadows around her seemed to waver and she felt a thrill of anger as Alice turned away.
‘Don’t leave.’
‘For God’s sake.’ Alice didn’t turn back this time. Lauren lunged again, feeling a little unsteady on her feet. Her hand closed around Alice’s bag, jerking her back. ‘Don’t leave us.’
‘Jesus. Don’t be so pathetic.’
‘Hey!’ Lauren felt something bloom and burst in her chest. ‘Don’t speak to me like that.’
‘Fine.’ Alice waved a hand. ‘Look, come, if you want. Or stay. Or walk out when you finally realise they’re not coming for you. I don’t care. But I have to go.’
She tried to pull away, but this time Lauren kept her grip.
‘Don’t.’ Her hand ached from holding on so hard. She felt a little light-headed. ‘For once, Alice, think about someone other than yourself.’
‘I am! I need to get back for Margot. Look, something’s happened and –’
‘And God forbid anything should trouble precious Margot Russell,’ Lauren cut her off. She heard herself laugh. It sounded strange in the night. ‘I don’t know who’s more bloody self-centred, you or her.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. She’s as bad as you. You pretend you’re sorry for how you were at school – how you are now – but you turn out a daughter who acts in exactly the same way. You want her to follow in your footsteps? You’ve certainly achieved it.’
Alice gave a cold laugh. ‘Oh, really? Well, snap, Lauren. You’d know all about that.’
There was a silence. ‘What –?’ Lauren opened her mouth but the words evaporated.
‘Forget it. Just –’ Alice lowered her voice. ‘Just leave Margot out of it. She hasn’t done anything wrong.’
‘Hasn’t she?’
Alice didn’t reply.
Lauren looked at her. ‘You know she was involved, Alice.’
‘What, with that problem with Rebecca? That’s all been dealt with, you know that. The school investigated. The girls responsible for the photos were suspended.’
‘The girls they could prove were responsible were suspended. You think I don’t know they were all in Margot’s group? She was involved, no question about it. She was probably the bloody ringleader.’
‘If that were true, the school would have said.’
‘Really? Would they? How much extra did you donate to the school this year, Alice? How much did it cost to buy Margot that blind eye?’
No answer. Something rustled in the bush.
‘Yeah, I thought so.’ Lauren was shaking so hard she could barely draw breath.
‘Hey, I have tried my best to help you, Lauren. Didn’t I recommend you for this job in the first place? And haven’t I covered for you – how many times lately? – when you’ve been distracted and stuffed up.’
‘Because you feel guilty.’
‘Because we’re friends!’
Lauren looked at her. ‘No. We’re not.’
Alice said nothing for a minute. ‘Okay. Look. We’re both upset. It’s been a really hard few days. And I do know how difficult everything is with Rebecca. For both of you.’
‘You don’t know. You can’t imagine what it’s been like.’
‘Lauren. I can.’ Alice’s eyes were shining in the moonlight. She swallowed. ‘Look, apparently there might be some photos of Margot and –’
‘And what?’
‘So I need to get back –’
‘And you expect me to care now that it’s your girl on the wrong end of a camera and not mine?’
‘Oh Christ, Lauren, please. Your daughter was bloody miserable long before any of those stupid photos got sent around –’
‘No, she wasn’t –’
‘She was! Of course she was!’ Alice’s voice was an urgent whisper. ‘You want someone to blame for Rebecca’s problems, why don’t you take a good hard look at yourself? Seriously. You honestly can’t see where she gets it from?’
Lauren could hear the blood rushing in her ears. Alice was standing close but her words were distant and faint.
‘No?’ Alice was staring at her. ‘You need a clue? How about sixteen years of her watching you get pushed around? Letting people walk all over you. You’re never happy with yourself. Bloody yo-yo dieting for years. I bet you’ve never taught her to stand up to anyone in her life. You wonder why you always end up with a raw deal? You asked for it at school and you still let it happen to you now. We could all be walking out of here with your help, but you’re too scared to trust yourself.’