Out of Towners (19 page)

Steph is standing one step above me. I pull her close and kiss her. For some reason I'm getting the urge to do somersaults and backflips, dive off the stairway into the sea, but it's not an option. It would wreck my mobile, and I've got an important call to make. We're out of danger for now, but the water level is still on the way up and shows no signs of slowing down.

I slide the phone open and key in the emergency number. I'm ready to hit the connect button, but I'm holding back. I look up at Steph.

“The minute I send this, a lot of stuff is going to kick off,” I say.

Steph nods.

“Not all of it's going to be good is it?”

I shake my head.

For a second Steph looks downcast. Then she squeezes my arm.

“When all this is over, we'll meet up, yeah? You could come down to London or I could come up to Letchford.”

“I'd like that,” I say. “I'd really like that.”

Steph breaks into a smile.

“Right. Consider it sorted,” she says. “And you know what? I've got a feeling we're going to be okay.”

I grin.

“Yeah. I think you could be right.”

I check the digits on the little screen of my mobile.
999
. Glowing in the gloom. With a dab of my thumb, I send the call on its way.

The phone rings once, twice, three times. On the fourth ring there's a click and a woman comes on the line.

“Emergency operator.” The voice is calm, businesslike. “Which Service do you require?”

I lick my lips. They taste of salt. I swallow hard.

“Coastguard, please,” I say.