Roadkill (LiveWire) (10 page)

“I could get you some Ben and Jerry’s and bring up my computer so we can watch a film,” Leo’s holding my hand and I’m resisting the temptation to snatch it away.

“I am honestly fine, and I kind of need some time by myself just to..um…sleep. I’m really tired. Maybe it’s the drugs…” It’s the best I can do, and they look like they want to say more but know they have to leave me alone.

“I’ll make you a cup of tea, Leo. Would you like to stay to dinner? We can eat early.” Mum asks, as she heads for the fridge.

NO! I want to scream. Just leave me alone. I have things to do, specifically LiveWire things, Ashley things, and also I need to process that weird interview with the police. A bored looking bloke came to ask me a few standard questions, while I stuttered answers, going bright red and really, really hoping Matt was not responsible for starting the fire. Then, just as I was about to leave, this woman came in, no uniform, and really cool short white blonde hair, and she muttered with the bloke, while I shifted uncomfortably and wondered if seawater was good for burns.

“Caroline, we just got some information from the fire service, which leads us to believe the fire was started deliberately.” This woman obviously didn’t take any crap, and she dismissed the man with a quick look. Wow, power trip…

I was puzzled, “But who would bother to set fire to a load of weeds?” Mostly though I was relieved it wasn’t Matt..I must text him and check he really is okay. Apparently he got off lightly, and was sent home after an A and E check up. My phone had a cute message saying he wanted to be with me when I woke up but they booted him out.

“Caroline? Are you okay?” This woman had freaky intense brown eyes and very dark eyebrows.

Dead giveaway with the blonde hair I thought, amused. Rose used to say…, “I’m fine. Sorry.”

“Caroline I don’t want to alarm you but can you think of anyone who would do this?”

“Me? No!”
             

She stared at me, “Let me put this another way. Can you think of anyone who would want to hurt you?”

Slam! I got it, and was totally shocked, “Somebody tried to set fire to me?” What the hell is this all about. Images of bitch Anita, and a couple of loser kids from college spun through my brain, but no way!

“Not necessarily. It may have been just to scare you. Or your boyfriend.”

My……I suppose he is, but we’ve only be seeing each other for two days. “So it could have been someone trying to get at Matt?”

“The fire team discovered an accelerant - petrol. It looks like it was poured in a line between you and the street above, then lit from the end nearest the bridge. This would work like a dynamite trail, basically creating a firewall.”

I shuddered, remembering the searing heat, the terrified half blind dash for The Road. Had there been someone else on the embankment, hidden above us in the weeds? Somebody had tried to drive us down to The Road. This was my time, the time to voice my suspicions, or maybe just the drugs based ones…….But of course I didn’t, because that would have meant linking Matt to Rose’s death, and I just can’t quite go that far.

*

I turn back to my desk, half sketching a rough profile of my sister in smudgy pencil as I think. Also on my desk is a scrawled note with a typically scratchy, twirly signature.

‘Hi Caz. It didn’t come with the post. The cleaner reckons a boy with glasses and blonde hair posted it in our letterbox. Probably your geek friend Leo. If you want it, come and get it. If not I’ll put it in the bin.’

Anita

I still haven’t ruled out Anita, but I really can’t find anyone who ever saw her and Rose even talk to each other. They were like total opposites, although I do remember Rose telling me about the model competition. Surely she wouldn’t hold a grudge over a stupid photo shoot…

The sketch of Rose is rubbish so I scrunch it and aim half- heartedly for the bin. Then I sprawl on my bed, frantically tapping on Rose’s computer, trying to stop my feverish mind from linking Rose’s death and last night’s arson attack. There is no doubt in my mind (okay I’m biased) that Matt has nothing to do with this. He’s a genuine chilled out skater boy with no hidden agenda. Then who? A crazy by
-
passer who had no idea anyone was hiding down in the grass. Or, going back to my thoughts at the police station, were we watched? My sore face flames at the thought. Yuck, a weirdo perving from the street is totally gros.

Lots
of messages in Rose-Farlan’s
LiveWire inbox. Kelly is ramping it up, and has sent a frenzy of cheery messages about tomorrow night’s swim, plus information on her next dare, which seems to involve getting lost in the mountains, or ‘hiking’ without any food, water or maps. Great. Someone called LiamFive says he’ll see me on the beach. Interesting, but luckily he doesn’t seem to have met Rose before so he won’t notice it’s not actually Rose. For a quick second I flash back to Ashley telling me he wasn’t the ‘only one’ in Rose’s life. I wonder if she actually hooked up with this mystery bloke on a dare; and how Ashley found out.

God what a mess. Half six and I can hear Leo laughing with my mum, and force myself not to feel claustrophobic. Why did I not notice it before? He is so clingy, so ready to help that it’s bugging me. Evil cow, I tell myself firmly, shutting down the computer. Leo is totally my best friend and I need to start treating him better. Despite the fact he’s already told me he hates my hair…

The smell of chicken soup wafts from the kitchen and they turn anxiously as I crack the door.

“Hey you! We saved you some. It’s okay, your mum cooked it not me,” he smiles mischievously, his naughty child look.

If I hurry I can still be at Ash’s in an hour. Just. “Great, that means it’s edible,” I grin at him, remembering past attempts in the kitchen. Leo might be strangely house proud for a teenage boy, but he’s no Gordon Ramsey. We’re all relieved and I grab a chair next to my best friend.

I can tell they don’t want to upset me by mentioning the fire and my hair, so I clear the air for them, telling them about the police interview, and explaining Shona wanted to practice so I offered to be a model.

“But you have gorgeous hair!” Leo tells me crossly, “Or you did. Weren’t you looking when she did it?”

My mum is absently checking her emails on her blackberry. When she came to take me home, she slid gentle hands over my head, cupping my face. Tears were sliding down her cheeks, dripping on my bare legs. “I think it’s pretty Caroline,” she says now, sliding a page of handwritten notes onto the table.

Surprised I glance up, but her heart- shaped face is shuttered, calmly clicking and deleting. Carefully referring to her paperwork, mum has her work face on; super intelligent scientist. But she looks exhausted and I suddenly imagine how awful it must have been when the police appeared on her doorstep. Again. She must have thought she had lost another daughter.

“Thanks Mum. Hey I was telling Leo about Australia and he was saying it, um sounds like a great idea.” Argh! Why did I say that?

That makes her look up, shocked, then pleased, genuinely happy. Mission accomplished.

Later I stand in the cluttered hall with Leo.

“So when are you seeing Matt again? Should I start planning the wedding?” he giggles like a loon, adjusting his beloved computer bag. I thump him as usual without thinking, and smile despite myself.

Then he becomes serious, “I was so worried when I heard, Caz. I mean what idiot would do something like that? Do they think it might be linked to Matt and the drugs thing?”

“I didn’t say anything. I’m sure they’re wrong and it’s just some loser who dropped a ciggie.” I don’t think that for a moment but I don’t want to freak him any more than he already is. His big eyes are crinkled with worry.  And you didn’t want to drop Matt in it a tiny voice chimes at the back of my mind.

“Yeah. Whatever. Ring me tomorrow won’t you?”

“Course I will. Hey Melissa said to come over anytime in the evening.”

“Both of us?” There is a slight edge to his voice.

“Yeah, don’t worry I won’t let her jump you!” I am amused. “Did you even speak to her at Anita’s party?”

He shrugs crossly, so I change the subject.

“Leo, do you remember that eagle bracelet Rose had?”

Adjusting his bag, sliding the strap over one shoulder like a little kid’s satchel Leo appears to consider my question carefully, “Of course! You bought it for her when you went to Singapore with your dad.”

“Um…yeah,” Does he remember every tiny detail of my life? “Well, the thing is Anita has it now. She reckons someone posted it through her letterbox this morning, asking her to wear it at the party.” I study him closely.

A motorbike roars past outside and we both jump.

“That is just so weird! Who would do that?”

I run a frustrated hand through my new short locks, “She thinks it was you.”

“That’s crazy! You don’t believe her do you?” He looks sad and suddenly much older, lines creasing his forehead.

I reach out to touch his arm, but he’s pushing out the door.

“Just leave it Caz! I’m supposed to be your best friend but if you want to listen to some mad cow from college, go ahead.”

“I’m sorry Leo…I..” Too late, he’s stormed off down the road, and I am left with mixed feelings. Guess it’s because normally I’m the emotional one in our relationship. Leo is always so chilled and sweet. Except now obviously.

When he’s gone, and made it clear how pissed off he is by totally ignoring my texts, I plead exhaustion again, chickening out of the Talk part two, and cursing my cowardice.  I have exactly ten hours to prepare for Rising Tide, plus there is no way of getting to see Ash, so I take a deep breath and ring him.

“Just tell me what’s going on,” I snap, “Rose put in her diary about the lorry. Was that what I heard the other night? Is it drugs? Does Matt do it too?”

“Hi Caz, how are you? Calm down. And I have no idea where you got the drugs thing from…..As if. I’d lose my place on the team! Look the reason I wanted to show you is because I thought you might not believe me.”

Bang on. “So?”

“Pigs. The lorry was full of pigs.” I hear the smile in his voice.

“You what?” Totally wrong- footed, I shove the phone under my cheek and unscrew a bottle of energy drink, listening intently as I down it.

“So the lorry brings pigs, sometimes other animals rescued from factory farms. They swap drivers in the lay-by and our bloke drives the lorry on to my place. The other driver heads back to work like nothing’s happened.”

“Do you really think I’m gonna believe you?”

I can almost hear him shrug down the phone, “That’s why I wanted you to see for yourself. The load from last night are just settling in. It was Rose’s idea you know. She’s got a friend who’s really into the animal rights stuff and they rescue…um…nick pigs and that from these places. The animals stay at ours for a bit, then get rehomed. You can come and visit whenever you want. We live up towards Catford. You can walk it in about fifteen. I’ll give you the address.”

Silence. I am shocked how relieved I am Ashley didn’t have anything to do with Rose’s death. His openness makes me feel guilty for having ever suspected him. Also, of course I’m shocked at yet another side to my sister.

“Yeah. Yeah I’d like that,” I manage. “I didn’t know Rose liked pigs.” Of course I did, but not enough to go round illegally rescuing them.

He laughs, genuine affection in his voice, “You know Rose; first conquer the world, then save it! See you later Caz.”

Chapter Twelve

Flopping down on my bed I am suddenly exhausted. Leo would say I need a sugar hit, and I half smile. Grabbing a glass of water and an array of my multi-coloured medication, I gulp it down. No way am I backing out of this, not after the fire. Of course transport is a problem, but in the end I managed to persuade Leo to lend me his scooter for the day. He thinks I need it to
get to the hospital for a check-
up in the morning, and I managed to talk him out of picking me up/coming with me. Sometimes Leo is worse than my mum. Plus I’m dead lucky he actually honoured the deal after our little spat.

I pack a smal
l rucksack, slide on an A
didas sporty swimsuit (I’m hardly going to wear a polka dot tankini which is the only other choice). Over the top go my usual clothes and a thick white fisherman’s jumper of Rose’s. I’ve promised Mum I will help sort out Rose’s stuff very soon. In exactly four weeks, but she doesn’t know that. The night is cloudy and muggy and soon I strip off the jumper, squishing it into the backpack.

The mirror shows a fragile ghostly figure, small pale face highlighted by short black bobbed hair. Of course I had to go black for my mission, but I couldn’t leave it long like hers had been; that would have been too weird. It certainly wouldn’t fool anyone who has studied her photos on the forum with any attention, but to a casual observer in the darkness I would pass.

I like my new hair, and from her shadowy position on the wall Rose gives me a thumbs up. Her approval means everything. Downstairs Garry has arrived and he and my mum are murmuring over a late dinner. They sound so relaxed. He’s been away on a lecture tour for the last two days so she is obviously filling him in on the details of the fire incident. Exclamations, and then glasses clink and the television chatters quietly. All the normal sounds of home.