The Survivors(101)

‘What’ve you got in there? Chisel? File? You’d need it.’ Kieran took a few steps down the path until he could see the mouth of the North Cave, where the names casually carved more than twelve years ago still scarred the rock face. ‘Those markings stick around forever.’

Kieran looked at Sean, who had been his friend for as long as he could remember. Deny it, he wanted to say. Please, mate. Tell me I’m wrong.

Sean’s face flickered and Kieran felt a surge of hope. Then, as he watched, Sean’s gaze slid past him. Across the deserted beach. Up the empty cliff path.

They were alone.

When Sean’s eyes met his again, Kieran could feel that fact being closely considered. He took a breath.

‘Pendlebury knows.’ Kieran managed to sound more confident than he felt. ‘She’s worked it out. Close enough, anyway. I could tell, the other day when she was down here. She’s got Bronte’s photos. She’s got a picture of your name carved in the rock. The letters are blurred, so I didn’t notice at first. And it looks pretty similar, but it’s not the same. It’s your name, mate, but I know you didn’t write it.’

Kieran could see the salt water rushing into the North Cave, disappearing into the hole.

‘You were right about damaging the caves. It was bloody stupid and I know you tried to tell us, and we wouldn’t listen. You were right and we were idiots.’ Kieran saw Sean’s mouth tighten. ‘But you did do it once. Because I pushed you into it. And I know you felt bad afterwards. You felt so bad that I feel really sure – knowing you, mate – that you wouldn’t have done it again. So if your name is somewhere else in this cave, who scratched it there?’ Kieran looked at his friend. ‘And what else did they write?’

Sean had turned his head and was now staring at the sea, past The Survivors and out to where his beloved wreck lay invisible under the waves. The water foamed and swirled around him.

‘Pendlebury will find it,’ Kieran said. ‘Sean? She’ll work it out and then she’ll bring in all the back-up she needs and they’ll search this whole place until they find it.’

As he said the words, he remembered Pendlebury’s face as they had stood at the mouth of the cave, and felt instinctively that what he was saying was true. If she wasn’t there yet, it was only lack of local knowledge that was keeping her half a step behind. That wouldn’t last long, he knew. Kieran looked at Sean and could tell, from the slack weariness in his eyes, that he knew it too.

‘Had Bronte guessed?’ Kieran said.

Sean’s face creased and he gave a tiny shake of his head.

‘But she would have?’ Kieran said. ‘Or you were worried she’d tell someone else who would?’

No shake of the head this time. No denial. Kieran looked at the man he had known for so many years, and it was like looking in a mirror. Kieran knew what he was seeing, because he knew it well. He had lived with it every day. Guilt.

He took another single step down the path. Just one step closer to the water and then he stopped. That was far enough.

‘What happened here, mate?’ he said.

‘It wasn’t how you think.’

‘How was it, then?’

The only sound was the sea rushing between them. Then Sean opened his mouth and began to speak.





Chapter 38


Toby and Finn were late.

Sean lay flat on his back on the deck of the Nautilus Black and felt the dip of the waves as he watched the sky. There were still patches of blue above, but if he turned his head he could see a darkness gathering in the distance. He zipped his fleece up to his chin and checked his watch. He’d give them another five minutes, no more. Toby wanted help unloading some equipment into the boat shed before the weather turned. Sean probably wasn’t going to get paid for it. There was no way he was going to get wet for it.

He heard the marina gate squeak open and propped himself up on one elbow in hope. Not Toby or Finn. Better, though. Olivia. Sean sat up properly now, feeling a familiar nervous thrill. Her curly ponytail was blowing and her skirt flapped in the breeze as she shut the gate behind her. Then the girl turned towards him and Sean felt a mild stab of disappointment.

Not Olivia. Her little sister, Gabby.

Gabby hoisted her backpack higher on her shoulder as she walked over. Her face was uncertain as she cast her eyes around the empty dock, answering her own question before she asked it. She stopped in front of the boat, looked up at the older boy and seemed to completely lose her nerve. Sean felt a bit sorry for her.

‘Hey,’ he said.

‘Hi.’ Her voice was hard to hear.

‘Looking for Liv? She’s not here.’

‘Oh,’ Gabby said, disappointed. ‘Has she been by?’

‘No, I haven’t seen her all day. You tried calling her?’

‘My mum took my phone.’ She seemed embarrassed. ‘I need to find her, though. It’s our mum’s birthday tomorrow. We won’t have time to make her cake otherwise.’

‘Fair enough. I suppose ignoring your mum’s birthday won’t get your phone back any faster,’ Sean said, and Gabby gave an unexpected smile. He hadn’t seen her do that often; she was normally so solemn. She looked back down, still smiling at her shoes, and for a second she looked even more like her sister than usual. Sean took out his own phone and tried Olivia’s number. They waited as it rang out.