Time To Play by KA Richardson (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

had seeped through to her bones. Several times she’d stopped, wanting nothing more than to lie down and sleep, but she pushed herself on.

She had found a small stream and taken a long drink of the icy cold water, splashing a little on her face. And had then started walking again. The stream had joined a river, one too wild to even consider crossing. So she walked alongside it instead, hoping it would lead her into civilisation.

Though what she’d do when she got there, she didn’t know.

A noise caught her attention, something drifting down in the wind. It sounded like people talking faintly somewhere in the distance.

Maybe it’s them. Maybe they’ve found me.

She was almost tempted to turn and go the other way, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to walk forever. Noni had always said to face her demons head on, as the only way to fight a demon was not to show fear.

Determined now, she cautiously moved closer to the noise.

People were milling on the riverbank. There was a boat hooked up to a large car, and slowly she realised the people were police officers. Her heart thudded in her chest.

They’ll send me back, ’they’ll give me to her, and then she’ll kill me. Or worse they’ll send me home. And the men will come and take me in the middle of the night again. Why didn’t the village help me, Noni? Why did you leave me and let them take me?

She held a hand over her mouth as an anguished cry threatened to escape. She’d barely had time to even begin to cope with her grandmother passing on, and so much had happened to her in the short time since. Her senses were on overdrive, her emotions acutely honed to the verge of absolute panic.

But she managed to rein it in just enough to function. Even if they couldn’t help her, she was sure they would be heading to the nearest town; she could hitch a ride and get out there.

She edged closer to the people and then suddenly saw her opportunity. Creeping forward, she pulled herself onto the boat, crept underneath a large piece of tarpaulin, and lay as silent as a mouse.

The tarp acted like a blanket, the plastic trapping heat from her own body and breath. Unable to help herself, Elvie fell asleep.

Dive Team HQ, South Shields – 5 November

Marlo and Connor put the last of the equipment away in silence, both lost in their thoughts. Sharpie had gone to the hospital with Mac and Doc, leaving them to drive back and unload. They hadn’t heard from them yet, so were both worried about Mac’s condition. At the time the paramedics took him off in the ambulance, they suspected a heart attack, but he had been breathing. That was at least a small mercy.

A sudden burst of static in the radio hooked to Marlo’s belt made them both jump, and it rapidly turned to the beeping sound that indicated a private call. The radios were primarily used by the dispatch controllers to deploy, but if they needed a private conversation that didn’t tie up the network, then they gave the handset a private call as if it were a mobile phone.

‘Hello.’

‘Buck, it’s Sharpie. You with Connor?’

‘Yeah. How’s Mac?’

‘Conscious and feeling a bit of a prick. It’s not a heart attack. Mac is suffering from a case of alcohol poisoning.’

‘Sorry, did you say alcohol poisoning?’

‘Apparently so. He and Doc were shooting straight vodka last night. Turns out Mac’s body doesn’t like vodka. He’ll be fine in a few days. They’re keeping him in for obs. We’re heading back to HQ now. Everything OK?’

‘Yeah, we’ve just finished getting everything put back. Tell Mac I said to get well soon. About time for lunch, like.’

‘He can have hospital food. Me and Doc will grab lunch on our way back if you’re OK to wait for us?’

‘Yeah, sounds good to me. See you in a bit.’

She clicked the radio back onto her belt and turned to Connor. ‘Alcohol poisoning. Just wait ’til he comes back. I’m gunna put him on granny watch! Who knew vodka would react that way? You OK going and putting the kettle on? I’ll go park, cover the RIB then I’ll be up.’

Connor nodded and headed towards the stairs.

Marlo made her way outside to the 4x4 and climbed inside. Sometimes, on days like this, she used the vehicle as a safe haven. Somewhere she could go to just be alone. Mac collapsing had scared her. The team was essentially her family, and for all she would poke fun at Mac when he came back to work, she was pleased he was going to be OK. She took her phone out of her pocket and sent a quick text to Deena asking if she wanted to go out for tea after work. Marlo didn’t fancy being on her own tonight, it would give her too much time to dwell on what ifs and maybes.

The screams in her head started like a whisper, gaining more momentum as she tried to push them back. They got louder and louder, and she put her fists to her head. ‘No. Please go away. It wasn’t my fault, I didn’t know.’

But her mind didn’t listen. The silent noise echoed round the vehicle until she thought the only way for her to stop it was to remember.

I can’t – I don’t want to. It wasn’t my fault.

But deep inside she believed it was. That deep dark secret that no one knew, not even her best friend, was what kept her awake at night and caused her mind to scream at her. She tried not to let it, and mostly she succeeded, but when she was stressed or had time to spend with herself, it always came back. Reminding her