Sharks - Matt Rogers (classic books for 11 year olds txt) 📗

looked like top-of-the-line artisanal extravaganzas thanks to dutiful care. Rugs, armchairs, coffee tables and a sofa couldn’t have come to a collective sum of more than a few hundred dollars, but they were arranged with the eye of an interior decorator.

Slater turned to sit down, and caught a glimpse of Teddy and Lyla in a loving embrace, hugging each other tight. He whispered something in her ear, and she smiled and kissed him on the cheek. They came into the sitting room together and sat down on the sofa as one.

King took the armchair next to Slater, completing the four corners of a square.

Lyla said, ‘How did you meet?’

King said, ‘We got a drink at Teddy’s work. We struck up a conversation. One thing led to another.’

He left out the part where they’d stalked Vince out of the hut earlier that day in full view of Teddy. King figured there were some things better left unsaid.

She said, ‘What do the two of you do for work?’

‘We’re retired,’ Slater said. ‘But we used to be private investigators.’

She said, ‘I’m not sure what needs investigating here. It’s all pretty clear, isn’t it?’

Teddy said, ‘That’s what I told them.’

‘Then why are they here?’

‘They think—’

‘I’ll cut to the chase,’ Slater said. ‘We just want a better sense of your situation. How likely it is you’ll be able to pay off your debts. Whether you think you’ll ever be able to get out of the hole.’

‘I think the two of you are pleasant,’ Lyla said, ‘but I’m afraid there’s no polite way to say this. It’s a hole we dug for ourselves. We’re not going to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves. There are good people all over this island, good people I know very well, who borrowed money from the same people because they had no other choice. Their livelihoods were lost, their jobs disappeared, their homes were levelled, their lands flooded. The hurricane broke people. It wore down their spirits, and that’s considerable out here, because Bahamians have the strongest wills of any people. The floods stripped them of everything until they had no choice but to borrow money from the wrong lenders. I’m sure they knew they should read the contracts they signed, but they didn’t, because sometimes it’s easier not to know how low you’re sinking just to survive. But that’s not us. We didn’t need help, or aid, but we took money anyway. For no good reason.’

A long pause.

They could all taste the tension, Teddy more than anyone.

‘So,’ she finished, ‘it’s really none of your business what our situation is. And it’s not your responsibility to help us.’

Again, Teddy said, ‘That’s what I told them.’

Slater looked deep into her eyes, and made sure she was looking back. ‘It’s not “we.” It’s “he.” Teddy borrowed the money. Teddy ignored the consequences.’

‘We’re married,’ Lyla said. ‘That makes us one.’

‘By law, yes. Reality is always different.’

Teddy slumped his shoulders and stared at his feet, like he was suppressing his guilt on the stand in a murder trial.

Lyla said, ‘I love my husband. Whatever we do, we do together.’

‘You didn’t borrow the money together.’

‘But we’ll get out of it together.’

She reached over and took his hand.

Slater said, ‘How likely is that? Please be honest with us. We’re only trying to help.’

Lyla stared at him, a touch of irritation in her warm eyes. ‘I told you, Will. We don’t need your help.’

Slater heard footsteps right behind him.

A hand clamped down on his wrist.

37

The overused primal part of his brain screamed, Threat.

The rational part quashed that immediately.

Because the hand was tiny, a quarter the size of his own, and it came down on his wrist playfully instead of aggressively. The footsteps had been soft and small and rapid.

Slater looked over with a raised eyebrow, into the eyes of a small boy. He had fine hair the colour of oak and a chubby pale face and a smile that could melt anyone’s heart. His green eyes bored into Slater’s.

‘Hello,’ Slater said.

‘Hi!’ the kid said. ‘Who are you?’

‘My name’s Will.’

‘Hello, Will! I’m Caleb.’

‘It’s very nice to meet you, Caleb.’

‘Are you Gramma and Grandpa’s friend?’

‘I sure am,’ Slater said. ‘This is my buddy, Jason.’

‘Wow!’ Caleb said, looking over at King. ‘You’re big.’

King said, ‘So are you, champ. I can see those muscles. Give me a flex.’

Caleb rolled up a sleeve of his tee and squeezed as hard as he could. Then he frowned. ‘No. I’m not big. I’m small. Can I be as big as you one day?’

‘Only if you eat your vegetables.’

Caleb bounced from foot to foot with unsuppressed excitement, as if the secrets of the universe had been revealed. His gaze tore over to Lyla. ‘Gramma! Have we got vegetables?’

‘Of course, dear.’

‘Can I have some? Please, please, please.’

Lyla looked at King. ‘Would you like to move in with us, Jason? You’ve instilled more good habits in him than we have in years.’

King turned to Caleb, rolled up his own sleeve, and flexed. Muscle rippled under taut skin with density that would shock a bodybuilder. He practically had a tree trunk attached at the shoulder.

Caleb almost leapt out of his shoes. ‘Vegetables! Oh, wow, vegetables!’

He ran for the kitchen in a frenzy.

When he was gone, Lyla said, ‘You’re a messiah.’

King smiled. ‘How old is he?’

‘Seven.’

‘He’s your grandson?’

‘Lyla’s,’ Teddy said. ‘Not mine.’

Lyla said, ‘He’s the son of my daughter from a previous marriage.’

‘Why isn’t she in the picture?’ Slater said.

‘Gosh,’ Lyla said, ‘you two get straight to the point, don’t you?’

‘Small talk is often a waste of time.’

Lyla bit her lower lip. ‘I’ve only just met you.’

‘And yet we haven’t been asked to leave.’

Teddy said, ‘She’s too polite for that.’

Lyla closed her eyes, searching for an answer. She seemed to find one. She opened them again and said, ‘My daughter and my son-in-law are both in prison back home.’

‘Why?’

‘I think I’ve shared enough with a pair of strangers.’

Slater nodded. ‘Of course. I apologise for prying.’

Which seemed to sway her, for some reason.

She said, ‘They were selling pain pills.’

‘Opioids?’

‘That’s