Since when? said Ren.
He doesnt know, said Shannon, but hes only had that for the past six weeks.
Unless he never had that key in the first place, said Ren.
Shannon nodded. Its a possibility.
And where were those keys before he was given them? said Ren.
I keep them in the house, said Shannon.
And whens the last time you remember seeing that key? said Ren.
I couldnt tell you, said Shannon. Its more Seth whos been dealing with the cabins.
Who else might have keys to the cabins? said Ren, as they walked down.
Apart from the remaining individual owners? said Clyde. Just me. I dont know if John Veir kept copies, but I doubt it he wasnt too concerned with the cabins even when he owned the place. Maybe some of the tradesmen who have worked here over the years still have keys, but I doubt it. And I guess, if any of the former owners rented out their properties privately, they would have had copies too they could be anywhere.
Yeah, thats not really narrowing it down for us, said Ren.
Ren and Ruddock took the map with them and followed the path past the shabby Reception hut with a pale rectangular space above the door where the sign used to be.
Its hard to believe that this was the place to be, said Ruddock. Well, up until about 85. Then, as it always goes, somewhere fancier was built nearby and that was that Lake Verny was pretty much wiped off the map for most people, and all the kids around wanted to go to Rainbow Rapids.
And did Rainbow Rapids survive? said Ren.
Ruddock nodded. Yes, its still going strong. But the owners know to keep reinventing it.
They walked on.
Hows your hotel working out for you? said Ruddock.
Its... OK, said Ren. The food isnt exactly dazzling.
Well, youre not going to find sushi there, thats for sure, said Ruddock.
Sushi! A roast chicken with crispy skin would do it for me right now, said Ren.
Despite appearances, said Ruddock.
What the heck?
That was a compliment, said Ruddock.
Ren laughed. Im a girl of simple tastes, really.
They arrived at Cabin 5, the cabin closest to where Aarons body was found. Clyde Brimmer was standing at the top of the path beside a Crime Scene Investigations van.
Nice work, Clyde, said Ruddock. Thank you for persisting with what you believed in. Its very sad news, but the kind we need to know.
What a sweet man.
Clyde nodded sadly.
What a sweet man.
Clyde nodded sadly.
Ruddock and Ren walked down to the waters edge.
The body was found here, said Ruddock, pointing. He turned and waved the crime scene techs over. Three divers had arrived, and descended along with them.
Do your best, said Ruddock, but we know theres a slim chance of any evidence being found at this stage.
Ren turned to him when the others started to work. So, she said, was he drowned close by? Or driven here in a vehicle to be disposed of? Shannon was out for the count that night, she wouldnt have heard anyone drive in. Seth didnt report hearing anything. She looked around. Theres no access point here, is there?
No, said Ruddock. All vehicles have to come through the front.
Where could Aaron have been drowned near here? said Ren.
Ruddock shrugged. In one of the cabins... in a bathtub? A sink? You could drown someone in a bucket of water, if you really wanted to.
Is there water running to all the cabins? said Ren.
She turned to ask Clyde. He was gone.
Oh, said Ren. Clyde has vanished.
Its probably all too much for him, said Ruddock.
Jumping-into-the-lake too much, or just having-a-quiet-cry too much?
Ruddock smiled. I wouldnt say we have to worry.
Not as simple for me.
Im going to go see if I can find him, said Ren. She walked up the path and passed a crime scene tech coming down.
Did you see a guy leaving here? said Ren. Late forties, but looks a little older, short, slightly bedraggled-looking.
Nope.
Clyde? Ren called. Clyde?
She walked back to the cabin. There was no sign of him. She walked up to the edge of the lake, looked up and down.
Hes fine. Relax.
Ren went back to Ruddock and they went together to Cabin 5, where two crime scene techs were at work. The place looked like it hadnt been opened in decades.
I dont think it happened here, said Ren. She went over to the faucet and turned it on. Water sputtered out of it.
Where the heck did Clyde go?
Hes going to kill himself.
Stop.
Ruddock turned to her. Youre worrying about Clyde, arent you?
She laughed. I am.
Why dont you call The Crow? All he might have needed was a stiff drink.
Ren called the bar. Shannon picked up.
Shannon, its Ren Bryce. Firstly is there water running to all the cabins?
Yes, said Shannon.
And is Clyde with you?
No, said Shannon.
Can you take a look out the window and see if you can see him on his way?
Sure, said Shannon. Ren could hear her move out from behind the bar, she heard her footsteps on the timber floor. No, said Shannon. I cant. Is everything OK?
I wanted to talk to him, but hes disappeared.
Where are you? said Shannon.
Shit. Not far from where Aaron was found.
Try Cabin 8, said Shannon, sidestepping the answer that had just dawned on her.
The cabin with the missing key.
Why eight? said Ren.
Because Clydes in beating-himself-up mode he feels responsible for Aaron, no matter how many times I tell him hes not. Cabin 8 is where Clydes sister fell through the deck all those years back. The kids all think its haunted. Clyde sometimes goes there to feel bad about himself.
Bad things happen around Clyde Brimmer.
Stop.
31
Clyde was sitting on a rock beside Cabin 8. Ren walked down to him.
Hey, said Ren, gently. How are you doing?
He shrugged. Ive been better. He was holding a tattered photograph in his hand.
His sister. Whos that in the photograph?
My sister, Lizzie, he said.
How old was she? said Ren.
Ten, said Clyde. This was taken the year she died. He handed her the photo. Lizzie was a skinny, tanned little girl, dressed in a navy-and-white striped swimsuit, her wavy, sandy blonde hair falling around her shoulders, one hand trying to push it back off her face.
Shes adorable, said Ren. She paused. Im so sorry.
Clyde nodded. Thank you. He looked at her. I wish I could go back in time...
It wasnt your fault, said Ren.
Thats what everyone keeps telling me, said Clyde. But if I had just insisted on fixing that deck...
Youre being too hard on yourself, said Ren. You did what you were told to do by the owners. And you were only seventeen years old. Do the same owners still own this cabin? said Ren.
No. It was part of the sale when John Veir bought the site.
Ren nodded. He looked up at her, expectant.
Why am I here? Well, I thought you might be dead. Thats why. Jesus.
OK, said Ren. Is there anything you can think of, Clyde, anything you saw, anyone you saw here the night Aaron drowned someone who looked out of place or was acting suspiciously?
No, said Clyde, not that I can think of. I would have said. I told you about Aarons back.
You did, said Ren. She looked around. When was the last time you were here?
Christmas Eve.
Jesus Christ. He comes here at Christmas.
Ren looked at the cabin. It was in a worse state than all the others, the timber battered, the paint flaking, roof tiles missing, a section of the roof caved in. The windows she could see were boarded up.
I feel so bad about Aaron, said Clyde. If Id been here
Dont, said Ren. You werent responsible for what happened to Aaron.
He looked down at the photo of Lizzie.
And what happened to your sister was a tragic accident, said Ren.
She squeezed his shoulder, and walked away. As she made her way up the slope, a chill swept over her.
Bad things happen around Clyde Brimmer.
She turned back to look at him. His shoulders were shaking. He looked so small, hunched and weeping, against the vast expanse of the lake, next to the tumbledown cabin that haunted him still.
Thats why you sit in the window of The Crow Bar; you find comfort in being vigilant, you think you need to make amends.
Clyde? she said.
He turned around and looked up at her with his soft blue, watery eyes.
Bad things happen around Clyde Brimmer.
No.
No: this is just a damaged, heartbroken man.
Look after yourself, she said.
When Ren got to The Crow Bar, Shannon was putting plates of sandwiches on the tables. She looked up. Just if any of your guys are hungry, she said. Theyve a lot of ground to cover.
Thats very kind of you, said Ren.
Did you find Clyde?
I did, thank you, said Ren. That poor man.
Thats very kind of you, said Ren.
Did you find Clyde?
I did, thank you, said Ren. That poor man.
I know, said Shannon. Im not sure hes ever going to be right.
Ren heard a shout from inside the house. It was Seth.
Fuck this shit! he said. No!
Ren was startled.
PlayStation, said Shannon. Her expression was a tolerant one.
PlayStation...
Mind if I go in? said Ren.
Sure go ahead, said Shannon. Its down that hallway, where I was when you came in with Pete.
Ren knocked on Seths door. There was no answer. She walked in. Seth was sitting on a black beanbag on the floor, his back up against the bed, with headphones on, playing Grand Theft Auto.
His fingers were furiously, effortlessly, working the controls.
I have Nintendo muscle memory.
Caleb... Grand Theft Auto... PlayStation cheats... did Seth Fuller lure kids in here with this?
PlayStations are everywhere.
This one looks new. But theres a dent at the corner.
No! said Seth to the screen. Motherfucker! Fuck you! Fuck, fuck, fuck!
He caught Ren out of the corner of his eye and jumped. He pulled off his headphones. You scared the crap out of me! he said, struggling to sit upright in a black beanbag. On screen, his car crashed. Damn! he said. Then he paused. Sorry. Is everything OK? Why are you here? Wheres Aunt Shannon? Is she all right?
Shes out in the bar shes fine, said Ren.
She looked at the PlayStation. How long have you had that?
I feel bad, but since Aaron died. It was Aarons.
And when did he get it?
For Christmas. From Aunt Shannon.
What happened to the corner?
Seth leaned in. What?
Do you see that dent in it? said Ren.
No, said Seth. He walked over to it, crouched down, got to within three inches of it. Oh, yeah, now I see it. He ran his thumb down it. No idea. Never noticed it before.