The next day my conscience pricked and I offered Felicity a lift to school. It seemed the sensible thing to do, but while my thoughts were preoccupied by what I might find today, she prattled on like a dam had burst.
It scared me a bit. I wasn’t sure where I wanted this new relationship to even go, let alone rush it along into the unknown at the speed of a fighter jet. And I also wasn’t ready for the guilt she could evoke. Like when I realised I hadn’t heard her question as we got out of the car.
‘I’m sorry?’
She pouted in reply, but her eyes told me that she was hurt more than she was letting on. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Obviously it does,’ I shot back. ‘So, spill.’
‘I was just asking if you wanted to get a coffee or something after school? Maybe . . .’ Her head lowered, and I had to strain to catch the next bit. ‘Maybe check out that new boutique at Broadbeach that Mum mentioned last night . . .’
I raised one eyebrow. Visions of her tantrum in my closet swam before my eyes. I had to hand it to her, it took guts to suggest a shopping trip after all that had gone down. ‘Sure. Why not?’
And as we walked towards the school, I actually felt a little smile forming. God, I was getting soft!
It was only later that I remembered the security detail – Kik’s turn on the roster – and knew I’d have to clue her in so she didn’t spill in front of Felicity.
School that day was bizarre, but then I’d come to expect the worst. Today, though, was different. It was all about Felicity. I’d been wrong to assume they’d have heard, which was moot because now suddenly everybody seemed to know I had a sister. And that we were alike enough to be twins.
As if my life wasn’t already crazy enough . . .
By lunchtime the stories were so wild that they made the truth sound totally boring. So, it was as much out of a need to get away from the gossip as it was out of curiosity that I made a quick recon mission down to her Middle School cafeteria – just to see what was going down. And what I saw made my blood boil. Felicity was copping it from the kids in her year, but it was worse for her because she didn’t even know these people.
She sat at the same table she’d been sitting at the day before, but this time she was surrounded by a heap of kids that I knew weren’t hanging around to be her friends. And judging by the dark look on her face, I was pretty sure she knew that, too.
All it took to scatter them was for me to saunter over and take a seat next to her.
‘You okay?’
When she looked up, the old fire was back in her eyes and it couldn’t have shocked me more if she’d slapped me. ‘Like you care!’
My mouth tightened but, inhaling, I deliberately forced it back to something less defensive. ‘Actually,’ I began slowly, ‘I do. That’s why I’m here. So, why the turnaround? Wanna tell me what’s going on?’
‘Why? It’s not like you tell me anything!’
Now I was just plain confused. ‘Um, forgive me for stating the obvious, but until about twelve hours ago, we’d barely done anything but swipe at each other. We’re hardly BFFs. But I’ll bite: what didn’t I tell you that’s got your Gs in such a twist?’
‘That you’re being stalked.’ The fire in her eyes that had been burning with such intensity seconds before was suddenly doused by tears. ‘You’re being stalked, and you’re in danger!’ she spat. ‘And you didn’t even tell us!’
‘Felicity, I was dealing with a lot of stuff. I still am. I felt like I was at war and being hit from all sides . . . I—’
‘God, Macey! We could have helped but you have to be the almighty Macey who can do every freaking thing and doesn’t need anybody!’
I sighed. ‘I’m not being bitchy here, but while I appreciate your concern, this really doesn’t have anything to do with you. But if it’s any consolation, I’m going to tell Dad when he gets back. Okay?’
Her eyes were still spitting daggers. ‘You do that!’ As she stormed off, she shot out one last barb: ‘And don’t bother taking me home this afternoon. I can make my own way!’
I should have gone after her. I even got up and took a couple of steps, but I knew it was a futile mission. I wasn’t even really sure why she was so upset. The sister thing? Sheesh! I turned away, resolving to try and talk to her that night. Right then, though, the buzzer sounded for class and I had to put her out of my mind. Mostly because it was getting mighty crowded in there!
After school I went back to find her but I passed her leaving in Dad’s car with Adrienne at the wheel. Good, at least I didn’t have to worry about her being safe. I was digging around for my own car keys when Kiki bounded up and flung a long arm around me. ‘So, where to, my little peach?’
‘What?’
‘Me. You. Hot date. Remember? I’m your guard gal for today.’
So she was. ‘Kik, it’s really cool of you, but I really don’t need—’
‘Oh come on, Mace! I haven’t got anything else to do. Jase is off cross-countrying. Again. Nationals. And I got a lift here so we could travel together. Would you deny this chick a bit of excitement?’
Reaching the car, I dumped the entire contents of my bag onto the hood, half-heartedly grabbing at items that tried to escape.
‘What are you doing?’ She made it sound like I was exposing myself in public.
‘Keys,’ I answered shortly. ‘They’re not in the usual pocket.’
‘No problemo! Want me to hot-wire this baby?’
I resisted the urge to sigh. Just barely. ‘Kik? This is a brand new Saab. It’s electronic. I don’t think it can be hot-wired.’
‘Schweetheart,’ she began in her best fake mobster voice, ‘give me a computer and a circuit board and I can do anything . . .’
‘Well luckily,’ I said, holding up the keys, ‘you don’t have to.’ I clicked open the doors and she flung herself in. By the time I had the car moving, she had her bare feet up on the dash and the radio up full bore. ‘Let’s go, baby!’ she yelled. ‘I’m riding shotgun. First stop: Juice Jungle! I am so hanging for some frozen blueberry yoghurt.’
The Juice Jungle was away from the main strip, down past Burleigh Heads where all the new condos were going up, but it was a place a lot of kids hung out. Really? I just wanted to go home; my head had been pounding all afternoon. But on the other hand, it was fun to spend an afternoon with another girl that didn’t include stress and drama. Though even thinking that spurred a surge of guilt that both irritated and confused me. When had I become so protective of Felicity? So connected? Sighing, I gave myself up to the moment and decided to enjoy Kiki’s company. I was really missing Willow. The two-and-a-half weeks she’d been gone felt like a year – especially since she’d been out of contact.
But being with Kiki and doing something as normal as going for a frozen yoghurt was some consolation. And I so needed a dose of normal. So, Juice Jungle it was.
The place was a leftover from the sixties, and looked it. It was funky, with a dried-palm-frond roof like a beach hut from the tropics, and had heaps of outdoor tables. The owner was an old surfer, so kids could leave their boards there. But, with all the new condos going up, it was now basically in the middle of a building site.
As I turned onto the Esplanade it was deserted; all the builders had finished for the day. One other car followed us into the street. I’d noticed it back in Surfers. Maybe it was someone else from school.
Kiki was still bopping out, but I kept darting looks behind me.
‘Do you know that car, Kik?’
Still swinging her strawberry-blonde hair from side to side, she looked across. ‘Pardon?’
‘That car. Do you recognise it?’ I paused, knowing how dramatic I was going to sound. ‘You don’t suppose it’s following us?’
She spun around so fast her hair slapped me across the face. ‘Far out! Really! Ah-mazing!’
‘Kik, this is serious. If we are being followed, it could be the stalker!’
‘In broad daylight? Come on, Mace! Don’t stalkers stalk under cover of darkness?’
‘Don’t ask me. This is my first stalker, and so far I haven’t found the freaking manual.’
I kept one eye on the car behind and one eye on the road. If we could just get to Juice Jungle . . . Suddenly the juice bar appeared, but even from there I could see it was closed . . . Duh! It was always closed on Tuesdays!
At that very same moment the other car sped up, and started to pull out.
‘Kiki! Look out! Brace yourself! I think he’s going to hit us!’
The words were barely out when the first crunching sound of metal on metal raced through my ears, setting my teeth on edge, and it was just seconds before the steering wheel was pulled out of my hands by the impact.
We’d been hit! On my side.
Palms sweating, I grabbed the wheel and straightened and, at the same time, I jumped on the accelerator. The second hit came from behind. And our joint screams filled the car as we spun to the left, headed straight for the water.
As the car spun, I caught it at what I hoped was one-eighty and floored it. My sight was blurred, smoke poured out from behind and I didn’t even know if I was headed in the right direction – I just flew.
And hoped.
When Seth was a kid he’d always wanted to ride in an ambulance. I couldn’t wait to tell him it wasn’t that big a deal. The cops hadn’t listened when I told them I was fine and that I hadn’t been drinking, probably because after they’d forced my door open and I tried to get out of the car, I fell straight on my face. For some reason, my legs wouldn’t hold me.
Kiki had at least been standing, but she’d been as white as a sheet. ‘Kik? I’m so sorry. Are you okay?’ I was being bundled onto a trolley bed and it had taken me this long to try to form words that weren’t drivel. ‘Kik?’
I knew she could hear me, but she wouldn’t look at me. Wouldn’t make eye contact.
Why? Had I terrified her that much? But it wasn’t my fault . . . Why hadn’t I stood my ground and made them all stay away from me? Guilt swamped me, and didn’t let up all the way to the hospital and through the interminable waiting – right up until I heard Kik was going to be allowed to go home with her mother.
The relief was so palpable that I didn’t even mind that I had to wait to be X-rayed, but I would have given anything to be able to see her and talk to her. Know that everything was really okay.
The hospital was totally different to the one Nick was in, heaps noisier and it smelled like a hospital should smell. Not that I cared. Once the shock started to wear off, I realised there wasn’t one part of me that wasn’t hurting. Especially my right hip, which had taken the biggest hit. It wasn’t broken, but it was going to take way more than an upmarket spa tan to cover the bruises.
But when the curtains were pulled back and my father’s face appeared, I knew that was the least of my worries. He wasn’t wearing his happy face.
‘I’m sorry Dad, I—’
‘For crying out loud, Macey! I know you’re mad with me, but why in the hell didn’t you talk to me?’
Confusion momentarily clouded my already fuzzy head, but only until the second face appeared behind him.
Finn. And I didn’t need a reading from Zorda to know he’d spilled the beans, just like he’d been threatening to do. And again, irrationally, it felt like another team member had jumped ship.
‘I’ve spoken to the police, and Finn and Felicity have filled me in on the rest. Why didn’t you listen when Finn told you to talk to me?’
‘Excuse me? You always told me to make my own decisions!’ I argued back. ‘And besides, I was going to tell you, but you went away! Again.’
‘For crying out loud! I had no choice! Macey, I have a lot of people depending on me – the welfare of my staff – and I shouldn’t have to explain every time I go away. You know that!’ He swiped a hand through his hair, leaving it sticking up at odd angles. The sigh that accompanied it was one of weariness, and for the first time I noticed how frazzled he looked. ‘Adrienne was there,’ he continued gruffly. ‘It’s not like you were alone.’
Remorse filled me. I was well aware that it was because he worked so hard and had built such a huge empire that I’d had a privileged life. One that also didn’t feature a lot of the man himself – but now wasn’t the time. ‘I’m sorry, Dad. And I get that Adrienne is trying – but I hardly know her. Everything is too new. H . . . Hurts too much . . .’ When my voice broke, both the men in front of me sprang closer.
Dad had the edge and got there first, his face crumpling as he reached down to grab my hand and squeeze. ‘I know . . . I’m sorry this whole mess has happened. We’ll talk about it later, sweetheart. For now I’m just glad you’re okay,’ he whispered. ‘But you have to promise me that you never try to handle anything this big on your own ever again!’
I nodded, suddenly too wiped out to argue: too tired and too sore. Anyway, I sincerely prayed that this was the only stalker I’d ever have to deal with. I still had one question, though.
‘What did you tell the police?’ My question was aimed at Finn.
‘Everything I know, Mace. The blog, the stalking . . . This is way out of control.’
I stifled the groan, not even willing to think about the ‘inside stories’ the local papers would rake up. ‘What are they going to do?’
‘Investigate,’ my father answered. ‘They want all the notes and photos. They might be able to get prints. Finn’s given them the cardboard box he got from the school . . .’ His voice shook on those last words and it was evident Finn had really filled him in on everything. ‘If there’s anything else . . .?’
‘The doll.’ My eyes went back to Finn. ‘It’s gone, Finn. I left it in my locker, but it’s gone.’
My dad chewed on his bottom lip; it was his worry thing. He never yelled or threw tantrums, he just chewed his lip. And thought things through.
‘I’m bringing in Finn’s mate Jock; hooking him up with my guys and getting him all the equipment he needs. The kid’s a genius. He was already on it, so no need to waste that; it’ll save us a lot of time. And the police will talk to you tomorrow, okay?’
When I started to get sleepy, Dad slipped out in search of coffee, but Finn stayed. He pulled a chair in tight and bent his head close. ‘Hey.’
‘Hey,’ I answered, on a yawn. ‘How’s Nick?’ He pulled my fingers to his lips without answering. ‘It’s okay, Finn, I can handle whatever you’re going to say. I don’t want you to have this all on your own.’
He nodded. ‘He’s not great. They’re saying it might just be some new meds they’re trying.’ He raked a hand through his hair. ‘Who knows, right? But he’s hanging in there. They’ve barred all visitors until they get him sorted.’
I squeezed his other hand. ‘You’re a good cousin; a good friend.’
The rest of that night was a blur; exhaustion kicked in big time and I barely remembered the trip home. They’d given me some drugs to help me sleep, but I hadn’t needed them – just knowing Dad now knew and was on guard duty was enough.
When I first tried to get out of bed the next morning it felt like every bone was broken, and even though the doctors had told me the more I moved the easier it would get, I still piked out and took the elevator downstairs. Felicity had already gone to school, so I missed getting to talk to her – but there was no way I could miss the two cops in the kitchen having coffee with my dad.
I hadn’t bothered getting dressed, and pulled my soft Gingerlilly gown tighter around my PJs. Dad fussed with coffee and toast, settling me into a comfy chair. It felt nice. It was only after he was satisfied I was okay that he let the cops get into it.
‘Did you take a look at the car, Macey?’
It was the same cop who’d spoken to me at the theatre. I shook my head. ‘Silver. Older. Maybe a Holden, like a Commodore or whatever you call them. I don’t really know cars that well apart from the family ones. Kiki probably got a better look than I did; I remember yelling at her to brace herself.’
The cops looked at each other. ‘She couldn’t identify it either, and she thought it was metallic blue.’
‘Really?’ I sighed and brushed hair out of my eyes. ‘Maybe it was, the sun was behind me – maybe it was blue. Silver-blue probably makes sense.’
‘And prior to this you’d been driving your mother’s car? So, whoever tailed you had to know both cars?’
I nodded, even as an image of Finn writing down my number plate slipped into prime position. I hadn’t asked him about that . . .
‘And you’ve got no idea who’s doing this? Or why?’
Even though Finn had already done it, I explained again about the blog and Pashon, which reminded me of the one thing I hadn’t told anyone. ‘Dad, you have to change the security codes and get the alarms checked. He’s broken in twice – at least, that I know of . . .’
Dad’s face was suddenly paler than the white coffee mug that jerked to a halt at his lips. ‘When?’
The explosion, after I’d told him that the last time had just been a couple of days ago, was probably something I should have expected.
‘That was completely irresponsible, Macey! People – more people – could have been hurt! Or worse!’
‘Ease up, Steve; she actually went to a lot of trouble to make sure no one could get in – at least, as much as she was able.’
I turned to the voice coming into the kitchen. Adrienne dropped her keys on the granite benchtop, snagged a mug and headed for the coffee machine; I watched her every step of the way.
‘H . . . How did you know?’ I stammered.
‘I heard a noise and came down. I stayed in the shadows and watched you. I also knew you got up early to put everything back in place – drag broom handles away from all the sliding and folding doors. I saw it all. Because of that, I sat up each night – down here – to make sure you were both safe. In the mornings, as soon as I heard you move upstairs, I’d hide in the elevator and then I’d sneak back to my room when you came into the living areas.’
Waves of heat washed up over my face. ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
‘I knew you were troubled by something,’ she answered quietly. ‘I wanted to help but I knew I couldn’t push. I’d hoped you’d come to me . . .’
Constable Freeman cleared his throat. ‘Macey? You just said “he’d” broken in. How do you know it’s a male?’
My breath caught. What was I supposed to say? That a guy in a coma heard a boy telling him that he was going to ‘get me’? ‘I, um – I don’t know. I guess I’m just assuming.’
The other cop tapped his pen on his notebook. I didn’t need a diagram to work out which role he’d play when they went into their good cop/bad cop routines.
‘Why don’t you leave the assuming to us, Macey. Most obsessed fans of boy bands are female, from our experience—’ I started to argue but he put up a hand and cut me off. ‘And we also have little evidence to prove it’s anyone from your school, apart from some codes being broken – and as it also happened at your house, I think that opens it up to be potentially a lot bigger than your school mates.’
‘But what about the rat? That could only have come—’
Again he cut me off. ‘Have you ever mentioned your fear of rats on this “blog” of yours?’
My eyes roamed the room. I wanted to shout ‘No!’ I also wanted to stick a very sharp pin in his puffed-up balloon-ego, but I couldn’t. Because I wasn’t sure. ‘I don’t think so . . . I mean, I can’t remember, but I’ve been writing it for years. I guess I can’t remember every single thing I’ve said. But I mostly write about social injustice! Asylum seekers; discrimination; boy bands with inappropriate song lyrics . . .’ My voice trailed and I doubted anyone but me heard those last words.
‘The most important word in that whole sentence, Macey, was “mostly”. That means you’ve sometimes written about other things.’ His smug face almost made me puke, but I felt a little bit better that the younger cop, Freeman, looked embarrassed.
‘But I try to be objective, not subjective. It’s not about me . . .’ OMG – I sounded so whiney.
Freeman looked concerned even though his words went straight for the jugular. ‘But you weren’t objective about Pashon, were you, Macey? You got very personal.’
Heat washed over me and I squinted through the thumping in my head that hadn’t let up since the accident. ‘I was hacked!’ I wished I didn’t sound so pathetically defensive. ‘Yes, I admit it sounded like me – but it wasn’t!’
I heard the catch in my own voice and both Adrienne and my father moved together like it had been some signal. She put her arm around my shoulders and Dad moved between the cops and me. ‘I think she’s had enough. She needs to rest. She’s trying to help you – she’s not the one in the wrong here.’
Before they’d even left the house, Adrienne steered me back in bed. After settling me she left, but in minutes she was back again – this time with pain killers, muesli with fresh apricots and some herbal tea. Another fave. When I asked about Kiki, she was able to tell me she was fine; that she’d already rung to check because she knew I’d want to know.
And I didn’t know whether to hate her more for playing dirty, or admire her for sneaking in when my defences were down; getting to me when I was most vulnerable. Because she had got to me.
She’d had me at the fresh apricots . . .
By lunchtime it was evident that most of the kids in my home room had ditched school that day. A stream of them filed into my bedroom, which pretty soon resembled a florist shop – and Kiki was going to get the same because she was the next stop. Sienna asked if I needed an extension on my Shakespeare assignment, and offered to help. Mia brought flowers and a baby-pink bear holding a satin cushion that said, Always look for the silver lining.
Even I thought it was cute, which was solid proof that I had sustained a serious head injury, even if the doctors hadn’t picked one up!
Laysha didn’t have much to say; when everyone else flopped on the bed, or huddled, chatted – and asked a gazillion questions – she kind of stayed at the back.
I even got in a few questions of my own, but no one knew anyone who owned an older, silver or metallic-blue car. Considering the cars these kids drove, that didn’t surprise me, but I had to ask.
Looking up at their faces, though, made it harder and harder to believe any of them really wanted to hurt me. Duke seemed pretty upset, and so did the Stepfords. Even Frankie was nice to me – or that could just have been because he was trying to see down the top of my PJs.
When Finn arrived after surf classes, they’d all gone and I was exhausted. I mean, I was grateful that people cared – which, given I’d never had super-close relationships with them was a flip-out in itself – but it had worn me out completely. Totally unfair because he was really the only one I’d been hanging to see.
The kiss cheered me, though. Gentle and sweet. Not the same as Sunday, but maybe he was scared of hurting me. I didn’t blame him – with bruises coming out everywhere, I did look a bit breakable.
‘Sorry I spilled to your dad,’ he whispered against my mouth.
I waved off the apology. ‘I was wrong. You were right. I should have told him earlier. How did you know about the accident, anyway?’
‘I rang your mobile and couldn’t get you, and after Sunday that spooked me, so I drove around. When I couldn’t find you, Adrienne let me in to wait and I was here when the call came through. Your dad had just arrived back from the airport – he was pretty upset so I drove him over.’
I nodded, noticing for the first time that he had one arm behind his back. It wasn’t flowers, but his gift brought that lump back into its usual position in my throat. It was a book, wrapped in purple glittery paper with a huge black and silver bow. Classy.
Not any book; a book about 1940s film stars, with Katharine Hepburn gracing the cover. The lump dropped to my chest and I hugged the book close to me. ‘Oooh, Finn . . . It’s perfect,’ I whispered.
One eyebrow shot up, along with his shoulders. I knew it was supposed to be a throwaway shrug, but I could tell he was pretty pleased that I liked it. Liked it? Honestly, I couldn’t remember a more special gift.
Not really knowing what to do next, I flicked through a few pages. Finn watched for a moment and then started wandering around the room. ‘Geez – you got a lot of flowers,’ he muttered.
Putting the book down, I watched him scan the cards attached. The sun was warm as it filtered in through the glass doors and my eyelids felt heavy. I didn’t want them to drop. Didn’t want to sleep. Not now . . .
I needn’t have worried.
In seconds I was sitting up, my eyes wide, my mind more awake than it had ever been.
Before me, Finn’s eyes mirrored my own shock.