The Siren Read Free

anger rising, and she tried to restrain it, grabbing at its tail and
willing it to go quietly back into its cage.
    Kimberly asked her again, knowing that her voice sounded hard and unforgiving. ‘What was it you meant?’
    This was the wrong tactic with Rachel, and Kimberly knew it. Rachel stiffened, then pulled away and began walking the more direct route back to her house.
    By the time Kimberly had manoeuvred the pram across the bumps and heavy clumps of grass, Rachel had almost reached the low wall before her back garden.
    Kimberly spoke again as soon as she thought she was close enough to be heard. ‘Please, Rachel, I don’t understand.’ Parking the pushchair, she caught up with her finally and
reached out for the woman’s arm. ‘What’s scaring you, Rach?’
    The next moment Rachel was hugging her, constantly repeating her name. Kimberly held her close at first, gripping her as tight as she was being gripped. Then the seconds began to stretch on too
long. This wasn’t just an expression of close friendship, and Kimberly didn’t understand it. It began to feel claustrophobic. She needed to know what Rachel was now feeling, needed to
catch her breath and assess this new pitch of emotion. Is this love or fear, or something else? Regret perhaps?
    But, in their relationship, Kimberly believed she was the sole custodian of all the regret. She’d held on to it for so long now.
    She eased herself free.
    ‘I know how much I owe you. I’ll never forget that, and I’d never want you in any danger because of me.’
    Rachel turned to her, her eyes already puffy and her nose running. Her words sounded thick and heavy. ‘Everything’s scaring me. You, Stefan . . . the whole fucking, miserable
mess.’
    Then, Rachel began backing up as she continued, ‘Go away. Take Riley and go. I’m not going to tell you anything you don’t already know, so don’t ask me any more. Just get
away from Cambridge.’
    ‘I don’t know everything , do I? What’s it got to do with Riley?’
    ‘Kim, there’s nothing else I can say.’
    ‘There is. Just tell me what’s happened.’
    Rachel hesitated and, when she finally spoke, her voice was barely audible: ‘You saw the news?’
    Kimberly couldn’t let it go so easily and followed her right up to the low wall. ‘Spain’s a thousand miles away, probably more. It has nothing to do with Cambridge.’
    Rachel shook her head and stepped right over the wall. They were only thirty feet from the pushchair but Kimberly wasn’t prepared to be any further from her son. She hurried back to
collect it, and pushed the buggy towards Rachel. ‘Wait, there’s something else, isn’t there?’
    ‘You really must go away from here.’
    ‘I can’t just vanish.’
    ‘You have to. I’m going early tomorrow.’
    ‘Without Stefan?’
    ‘No.’ It was Rachel’s instant answer, then she checked herself. ‘Maybe. Look, the less you know the better.’
    ‘You’ve had it all planned.’
    Rachel shrugged, but seemed increasingly uncomfortable.
    ‘Why didn’t you warn me earlier?’
    Rachel shook her head. ‘It was an old plan – one we never thought we’d need.’ Again her gaze alighted on Riley.
    ‘Is he in danger, too?’ Kimberly whispered.
    She guessed Rachel wished she could deny it, but instead she gave her a small nod. It did nothing to soften the sense of betrayal: Rachel had let her down but more than that she’d let
Riley down.
    The truth of the situation seemed to strike Rachel only then. She paused, then said, ‘OK, how long do you need?’
    Kimberly couldn’t help the sarcasm. ‘To arrange a new life?’ she snorted.
    Rachel didn’t visibly react. ‘To collect some cash and a car and go,’ she said quietly.
    That sobered Kimberly. ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘I’m all ready. Why don’t I take Riley for a few hours? Pick him up when you’re sorted.’
    ‘I don’t know . . .’
    ‘It’s all I can offer.’
    And Kimberly could tell then that there was no