Beneath the Shadows

‘Where the hell did all these people come from?’ James murmured.

They bought drinks and found an empty table, but it didn’t take long before A

‘All right then,’ James muttered crossly as A

But Grace shook her head as they got up and moved to the dance floor, and after a few attempts at waving her over to join them, James gave up. A

‘Hi Grace.’ Claire was smiling. ‘My family are over there – come and say hello.’

Grace got up and followed Claire across the room to a large round table. ‘Everyone,’ Claire a

Conversation drifted away as all eyes fell on her. On the far side, a burly, shaven-headed man had his hand placed proprietorially on the thigh of the woman next to him. The woman was observing the dance floor, and Grace saw that she had a pretty elfin face and dark hair piled high on top of her head. Nearest to Grace, a woman with long auburn hair had turned to stare, her face sombre. Last of all, Grace spotted Meredith in a dim corner close to the wall, one elbow on the table, the heel of her palm elegantly propping up her chin as she coolly regarded the dance floor.

‘These are my younger sisters, Liza and Je

‘Hello Grace,’ Meredith said from her shadowy corner, her mouth barely moving. ‘Claire, can I talk to you for a moment?’

Claire moved across to her mother, leaving Grace on her own. As she looked around, her gaze fell on Je

Dan got up and held out a hand. ‘Nice to meet you,’ he said without smiling as they shook. ‘So you’re living in Roseby? Claire said you’re from London – the change of scene must have taken a bit of getting used to?’

‘Yes, it has.’ She shook his hand, expecting more conversation, but he sat down and began rolling a cigarette. Grace remembered Emma telling her about him, and tried to picture him as a policeman. His ma

‘How are you getting on at the cottage?’ Liza asked. ‘Mum says you’re busy sorting through everything?’

Grace wondered if they knew about Meredith’s interest in the place. ‘Yes, but I’m enjoying the break for Christmas.’

Before Liza could say any more, Je

‘Good to meet you all,’ she said, glancing around to find Meredith’s eyes fixed on her. Claire began to move towards her again, but Grace pretended she hadn’t seen, and hurried away.

A

‘I’m not here to babysit your handbag,’ Grace retorted. ‘Look after it yourself.’

‘All right, calm down.’ A

Their attention shifted towards the stage as the raffle was drawn. Grace glanced at her tickets, then screwed them up. Then the lights were dimmed again, the music resumed, and everyone went back to their conversations. Trying her best to absorb the carefree atmosphere, for a while Grace chattered inconsequentially to A

She decided she would go for a walk rather than sitting by herself next to the packed dance floor. She thought she might find a moment’s solitude in the ladies’ bathroom, but when she arrived there was a queue of women gossiping animatedly while they waited for a cubicle. So she headed back beneath the leering parade of hunting trophies, towards the main doors of the building. The old women who had welcomed them were no longer there, and she leaned against the cool stone wall, breathing in the frigid air, feeling the chill of the night seeping through her skin and into her bones.

‘Grace?’ a female voice said.

Grace whirled around. One of Meredith’s daughters was standing behind her, contemplating Grace nervously.

‘Liza, isn’t it?’ Grace queried.

‘Yes,’ the woman replied, a small jewel in her brown hair glinting in the soft light. ‘I need to talk to you. Alone. It’s about Adam.’

As Grace stared at Liza, she noticed that Liza’s stomach protruded in front of her like a perfectly rounded egg. Grace’s whole body had stiffened upon hearing Adam’s name, but before she could speak, Liza said, ‘This way,’ and headed down the steps. At the bottom she glanced back and beckoned Grace to come with her.

Grace followed in a daze, as Liza made for two soaring oak trees whose trunks stood set apart but whose branch tips bent to join each other in a delicate embrace. There wasn’t much light to navigate by, but between what little moonlight had managed to penetrate the clouds, and the glow from the hall, Grace could make out a small lake in front of her. Liza had turned right and disappeared, and as Grace came through the trees she saw there was an ornamental gazebo a little further along. Creeping plants had spun a web of stems over the wrought-iron railings, and there were a few steps leading into it.

Liza waited inside, looking out across the lake. As soon as Grace joined her she said, ‘I’m sorry to bring you out here like this, but I didn’t know how else to speak to you on your own. And I need to tell you something …’ She searched Grace’s face for reassurance.

‘I’m listening,’ Grace told her quietly.

Liza took a deep breath before she spoke. ‘I saw Adam in the library in Ockton, the day before he went missing. I’d nipped in there to browse while I waited for a bus, and I was amazed to bump into him. We recognised each other straight away, even though it’s been, what – over fourteen years … But during the summer he spent in Roseby, my sisters and I saw him all the time – he made life far more interesting for a while, I can tell you. Anyway, it was really lovely to catch up. He told me about you, Grace – said he was married and had a baby girl – he looked really proud.’

Grace felt a searing pain in her chest. She went across and leaned on the railing, studying the inky-black lake. Patchy light illuminated small parts of its glassy surface, and highlighted the dark outlines of plants and bushes surrounding it.