Death on the Lake by Jo Allen (early reader books TXT) 📗

‘I’m afraid so.’

Still her heart refused to accept the evidence of her eyes and the response of the paramedics. ‘Why did you let me leave him? I should have waited.’

His expression answered her, but he was too kind to repeat the brutal truth.‘You were upset. And if he’d been aware of that it would have upset him more. Sometimes it’s better that way.’

‘I was not upset. I should have stayed with him.’

‘Becca. You’re in shock.’ He snatched a glance through the window, as if anxious for someone to appear and relieve him of his duty of care. ‘Don’t beat yourself up about it. You didn’t do anything wrong.’

‘I’m a healthcare professional. How dare you tell me whether I’ve done anything wrong or not!’ Grief and self-loathing overwhelmed her and she launched herself at him, fists clenched. ‘How dare you? Who do you think you are? Who? Who?’

Tears blinded her. Jude’s hands closed around her wrists as he held her off. ‘Becca. Calm down. This isn’t helping anyone.’

‘Nothing will help now!’ she shouted back at him. ‘Don’t you see? Nothing. Nothing! I couldn’t save him! He’s dead, and we’ll never get him back, and I’ll never see him again. And it’s all because of everything that’s been happening!’ It was Ryan giving him hassle and the police asking questions. It had been the shock of Summer’s death and the disruption that had come upon peaceful Martindale. ‘It’s your fault, too!’ But he didn’t answer, just continued to hold her at a distance. Fury changed to tears and her misery erupted into a huge sob. ‘Jude. Oh, Jude. What am I going to do?’

He released her and she collapsed against him, clinging to him and sobbing. It took a second before he responded, a hug that was so cold and impersonal as to hurt more than anything else, the kind of hug you give people at a distance when they embarrass you. ‘Oh God, Jude. I’m sorry.’

‘No need to apologise,’ he said, still with that cool lack of engagement.

She’d loved him for so long and now he was distant. When she relaxed her hold, he stepped back with obvious relief, and she almost hated him for it. ‘I’m sorry if I inconvenienced you.’

‘Not at all. But I’m going to leave, now. It looks like there’s someone here to help you.’

Becca turned towards the door and found the presence of her current boyfriend chillingly less comforting than that of her ex. ‘Adam. What are you doing here?’

‘Your mum called me and asked me to pop by and make sure you’re all right.’ He walked past Jude, who’d stepped back still with that same infuriatingly neutral expression on his face. Her tears had left a dark mark on his tee shirt. ‘That’s what I’m here to do. What a hell of a shock for you, my darling. Poor old George. No wonder you’re struggling to cope. But at his age it was probably the best thing, with him living in that house all on his own.’ He flicked a knife-like look at Jude. ‘Okay, pal. You’re not needed.’

‘I’ll see myself out.’ Jude was already in the hallway. ‘Becca. If you need me you know where I am.’

There was a click as he dropped her car key on the hall table and then he was gone, with the grey shadow that was Holmes ghosting down the path at his heels.

Jude crossed the street to his mother’s house in a state of deep thought, and leaned on the bell. There was no point in pretending Becca’s distress hadn’t affected him, and he’d grown used to being honest with his own soul even when he couldn’t be honest with anyone else. He was still in love with Becca, and whenever he thought he’d conquered his feelings, something caused them to flare up. That was why his relationship with Ashleigh would ultimately go nowhere, and the only reason it continued was because she was in exactly the same situation as regarded Scott. Neither of them ever mentioned it, but they both knew.

Mikey answered the door. Out of the loop, Jude never knew whether to expect his brother or not, but it seemed as if Mikey’s recent silence was casual rather than aggrieved, because his demeanour was cheerful enough. ‘Hey, Jude.’ He grinned. ‘I love the way you bring Becca’s cat with you when you call.’

Looking down, Jude saw Holmes stalking past him into the Satterthwaite household as if he owned the place. That would irritate Becca, who resented the cat’s fondness for him, but he wasn’t about to take the animal home. Besides, he admired Holmes’ independence of sprit. ‘Good to see you. Are you back for long?’

‘Studying.’ Mikey made a face. ‘My last exam is next week and my flatmates have all finished and are on the lash. There’s no way I’d ever get anything done if I was there.’

‘Sensible man.’ Jude followed Holmes through to the kitchen, where Mikey had spread his books and folders out over the kitchen table.

‘Up to a point. The last week before the last exam in my last year of uni is probably leaving it a bit late to see sense.’

Jude snatched a look through the kitchen window at the green brow of Lowther Fell. If he and Ashleigh had got moving five minutes earlier they’d have been away from George’s cottage before Becca got there. Not only would he have avoided the whole drama that had played out and been spared the awkward scene he’d just had with Becca, but he and Ashleigh would have had a whole day to walk and talk and look down on Ullswater and over to High Street, breathe in the fresh air and get away from the stresses of work. God knew he’d have welcomed that. ‘Better late than never.’ Mikey was smart and probably protested too much. Not a book learner, Jude couldn’t help envying his capacity to