Force of Nature (Aaron Falk #2)(93)

‘I’m not!’

‘You are. You’re so bloody weak-minded –’

‘I am not!’

‘And if you can’t see the damage you’ve done to that girl, you’re a worse mother than I thought, and honestly, I already think you’re a complete mess.’

Lauren’s head was pounding so loud she could barely make out her own words.

‘No, Alice. I have changed. You’re the one who’s still the same. You were a bitch at school and you’re even worse now.’

A laugh. ‘You are kidding yourself. You haven’t changed. You are who you are. It’s just your nature.’

‘And Rebecca isn’t well –’ Guilt rushed up Lauren’s gullet so fast she nearly choked. She swallowed it down. ‘Her problems are complicated.’

‘How much do you pay your therapist to make you believe that?’ Alice sneered. ‘It’s not that complicated, it’s the way of the world, isn’t it? You think I don’t realise that my daughter can be a scheming little bitch? And aggressive and manipulative and everything else that comes with it? I’m not blind, I can see what she is.’

Alice leaned in. Her cheeks were flushed. She was sweating despite the cold and her hair stuck to her forehead in a clump. She had tears in her eyes.

‘And God knows, she does some stupid, stupid things. But at least I can admit it. I can hold my hand up and accept my part in it. You want to waste thousands of dollars trying to find out why your daughter is sick and starving and sad, Lauren?’ Their faces were so close their cloudy breath mingled. ‘Save your money and buy a mirror. You made her. You think my daughter is just like me? Your daughter is just like you.’





Chapter 30



The trail was slippery and damp underfoot. Falk pounded along as fast as he could, his chest heaving as overgrown branches reached out, catching and clawing at him. The thunderous sound of rushing water drew closer and he burst from the tree line, panting, the sweat already cooling and clammy against his skin.

The wall of water tumbled down. He made himself stop and look properly, his breath ragged as he squinted into the failing light. Nothing. The waterfall viewpoint was deserted. He swore under his breath. He was wrong. Or too late, a small voice whispered in his head.

He took a step onto the bridge, then another, and stilled.

She was perched on the jutting rock face at the top of Mirror Falls, almost invisible against the craggy backdrop. Her legs dangled over the edge and her head hung down as she stared into the churn of white water crashing into the pool below.

Lauren sat, sad and shivering, and very much alone.





Day 4: Sunday Morning


Your daughter is just like you.

The words were still echoing into the night when Lauren crashed hard into Alice. The move took even Lauren by surprise as her body rammed against the other woman’s and they stumbled, their hands scrabbling and flailing. Lauren felt a scratch of pain as fingernails raked down her right wrist.

‘You bitch.’ Lauren’s throat felt hot and tight and her voice was muffled as they twisted and fell back as one, smashing against a boulder by the side of the trail.

A smack resonated in the air and Lauren felt the breath forced out of her lungs as she smashed into the ground. She gasped and rolled over, feeling the rocky trail bite into her back and her heart pounding in her ears.

Next to her, Alice groaned softly. She had one arm over Lauren’s and was lying close enough for Lauren to feel the body heat through her clothes. Her backpack had fallen by her side.

‘Get off me.’ Lauren pushed her away. ‘You’re full of shit.’

Alice didn’t reply; she lay there, slack-limbed.

Lauren sat up, trying to breathe deep. The adrenaline spike had plummeted, leaving her shaky and cold. She glanced down. Alice was still on her back, staring at the sky, her eyelids fluttering and her lips slightly parted. She moaned again, lifting one hand to the back of her head. Lauren looked at the boulder by the trail.

‘What? Did you hit your head?’

No answer. Alice blinked, her eyes closing and opening slowly. Hand to her head.

‘Shit.’ Lauren could still feel the anger, but it was more muted now, washed over with a layer of regret. Alice might have gone too far, but so had she. They were all tired and hungry and she had lashed out. ‘Are you okay? Let me –’

Lauren stood up and put her hands under Alice’s armpits, hauling her to a seated position. She propped her up with her back against the boulder, and her backpack by her side. Alice blinked slowly, eyes hooded and hands slack in her lap, her gaze focused on nothing. Lauren checked the back of her head. There was no blood.

‘You’re okay. You’re not bleeding, you’re probably dazed. Just take a minute.’

No reply.

Lauren placed her hand on Alice’s chest, feeling for the rise and fall. Like she had when Rebecca was a baby, standing over her cot in the dark of the early hours, strangled by the tightness of their bond, trembling under the weight of responsibility. Are you still breathing? Are you still with me? Now, as Lauren held her own breath, she felt the shallow rise and fall of Alice’s chest under her palm. Her sigh of relief was audible.

‘Christ. Alice.’ Lauren stood. She took a step back. Now what? She suddenly felt very alone and very scared. She was exhausted. With everything. She felt too tired to fight.