Yesterday morning he heard them talking about Beatrice Wallace coming back to stay in Falcon. The heliport workers were chatting about it up by the tinned goods. Thor moved to the shelves on the other side so he could hear better, pretending to price cans of tomatoes. He felt sick.
The men stood there for ages. The one with the teeth who they call Vlad said how much he missed the barmaid. Boring stuff. But then Thor heard, ‘She’s coming alone, Kit’s mother. The husband died, didn’t he. And that other maid who was with her last time, she wouldn’t want to come back here, would she. Came off worse, didn’t she.’
So he might be safe – for now. She’s not been back to the island at all since the gig championships, the one who heard his voice. The blonde one.
That afternoon the old hag, Beatrice, came in to buy some extra provisions. He felt like throwing up, but he forced himself 345to stay calm as he served her. She’d not seen his face. She’d not heard his voice. And thank Christ she hadn’t recognised him.
This morning, still buoyed by relief, Thor gets up early. The day after tomorrow he’s off to the mainland. Saved up for a helicopter flight and everything. A real occasion. He can hardly wait.
He’s meeting one of his online friends. He’s booked a room in the Travelodge in Hayle. She wanted to go to the seaside, but he doesn’t want to stay in Penzance just in case someone recognises him there.
She’s taking the day off school.
He thought that might be a problem, but he’s seen her with and without makeup, with and without clothes – she can look older if she wants.
That’s not the main thing anyway. The young ones aren’t always the best. This one is. One of the more docile ones. Cries a lot.
His bag is packed. Tripod for his camera phone. Rope and tape. Toys.
He pulls on his short-sleeved T-shirt because it’s mild enough, checks himself in the mirror – it shows off his muscles and tattoos nicely. He’ll treat himself to a breakfast at the pub before heading to the shop for his shift. He has something to celebrate.
He’ll buy a knife on the mainland. He threw the meat cleaver into the sea.