The Last Resort(25)

She’s covered too many stories like that. Celeb does something bad, with no thought to the consequences. Celeb gets caught out. Celeb goes on TV and gives interviews, crying and begging for forgiveness. Not just celebs, either. Her ex had tried the same crap, but she’s become immune to it. The more time she spends as a gossip columnist, the greater her lack of sympathy, and empathy. Hazard of the job. And the longer people try to manipulate you, the harsher a cynic you become.

Sometimes she has to remind herself why she got into the job. She’d had a perfectly nice life in Edinburgh, but the city is small and that meant opportunities for exciting news were limited. London gave her that, but it hardened her too.

Maybe Scott’s not such a bad lad. Full of crap, maybe, but not bad. She should use this time away from the city to try and take advantage of the things she used to enjoy. Fresh air and friends being just two of them. She used to be a good laugh too. Jesus, Lucy . . . what happened to you?

Amelia has Scott’s shoe and sock off now, and his foot is exposed in all its glory. A purple bruise is already beginning to flower. But there are no protruding bones, thankfully. That kind of thing is fine on TV shows, but she’s not sure she could stomach it in real life. Looks like he wasn’t putting it on after all.

‘Can you wiggle your toes, Scott?’ Amelia is asking.

Scott stares down at his foot as if he doesn’t recognise it. Lucy looks at his face. His eyes. The pupils are dilated. Does shock do that? Or is it because of that water he’s been guzzling? It doesn’t seem to have had much effect on her, except making her overthink her life choices. She looks at his foot and sees his big toe move, just a little. Then the other toes.

‘Well done,’ Amelia says. ‘I think you’re going to be OK. I mean, it will be really tender for a while, and you’ll have some fantastic bruising. But I think we can carry on. What do you think?’

‘Can I have some more water?’

His voice is a little slurred, and something pings into Lucy’s memory from earlier on. When they picked up their backpacks Scott had taken his water out immediately, and he’d turned away from them all. Something from his pocket . . . him looking around furtively. And then he’d screwed the cap back on and put the water in his bag. He hadn’t drunk any of it. She looks again at his eyes, and at the vaguely blank expression on his face. Nutraceuticals? Is that what he calls them?

He’s spiked his own drink.

Interesting, she thinks. She pulls out her bottle from her bag and takes a swig. There’s something in this water, for sure, but it’s probably electrolytes and vitamins – like they put in sports drinks – to keep them well hydrated in this heat. Maybe a bit too much caffeine, or that guarana stuff to keep them going. That’s why it’s only one bottle – because it’s some sort of smart water. Tiggy had blethered on about minerals of some sort, hadn’t she?

Speak of the devil.

‘Guys . . . Oh my God, I’m so glad I found you!’ Tiggy comes bounding down the hill like a puppy, a big grin plastered on her face. But there’s something not right. Her eyes are red-rimmed, her hair mussed. She stops. Looks down at Scott, who now has his sock and shoe back on and is propped up against a large rock. ‘What happened?’

James says, ‘Scott tripped, and—’

‘Oh my God, are these bones? Where did you find bones?’

‘James brought them to us,’ Lucy says. ‘I think he’s trying to freak us out.’ She wants to deflect. Maybe they are just sheep bones.

‘Where’s your man anyway?’ James says. ‘Did you have a nice time?’

With that, Tiggy bursts into tears. ‘I . . . I . . .’ She glances around. ‘I thought he’d have caught up with you before me.’

‘Lovers’ tiff, was it?’ Lucy says. She hopes that’s all it was. She could do without any more drama right now. He’s definitely a player, that one. Tiggy probably deserves better, but she seems to live in a happy bubble of naivety. ‘I’m sure he’ll be back with his tail between his legs soon enough.’

Scott is standing now, leaning against the side of the hill. He’s picked up one of the bones and is turning it over and over, an odd expression on his face. ‘You know, guys . . . I definitely think these are human.’

Goosebumps shoot down Lucy’s arms. ‘I knew it,’ she says, turning to James. ‘Maybe you should take us to where you found them?’

James sighs. ‘You know what? I’m getting fed up with this. I thought we’d be drinking tequila on the beach by now. But we’ve got Scott hobbling around, Tiggy’s upset, Giles has gone AWOL . . . and Brenda is . . .’

‘You’re right,’ Amelia says. ‘Where is Brenda?’





Amelia

‘OK,’ Amelia says, trying to put as much authority into her voice as she can. ‘We need to go and find Brenda. But we can’t all go. The others need to stay here to look after Scott, and wait for Giles.’

Lucy shrugs. ‘I suppose I need to stay with Scott. Right, Scott?’

‘I’m fine, you guys. No one needs to babysit me. I’m not going anywhere.’

‘I think I should come with you,’ James says. ‘Tiggy needs to wait for Giles, but she shouldn’t be on her own.’ He smiles at her and Tiggy smiles back, but it’s forced.