The Piper

THIRTY




Teddy was hiccuping softly when they pulled into the driveway of Charlotte’s house. The garage doors were open, and both cars were there. Charlotte was home. Olivia took a deep and steadying breath.

‘She wasn’t there when I got out of school,’ Teddy said softly. She had a hand on Winston’s collar, as if she were afraid to let him go.

‘Do you mean Dr Amelia?’ Olivia asked.

‘She was supposed to pick me up after school, but she didn’t come. I waited and waited.’

‘Did that make you mad at her?’ Olivia asked.

Teddy gave her a puzzled look, and shook her head.

‘Why didn’t you call me, Teddy? How did you get home?’

‘I walked.’

Olivia dug her fingernails into her palms. Waited. But Teddy seemed to have nothing else to say.

‘Come on, Teddy, out of the car.’ Teddy needed to be there with her, standing at the door. That would make it hard for Charlotte to turn them away.

But Charlotte was holding the front door open as they came up the walk. Opening the screen door. Beckoning them in.

‘I thought I heard a car,’ Charlotte said. She was looking at them oddly, taking them in, the two of them, desolate and desperate and on her front porch.

Olivia tried to pull Teddy through the open door, but Teddy hung back. ‘Are you sure you want me here, Aunt Charlotte?’ Teddy said.

Charlotte winced. ‘Yes, honey, I’m sure.’ Her eyes were circled and dark, and she crouched down to give Teddy a hug and pat Winston. ‘We need a dog around this place to cheer things up and—Teddy, you’re drenched. What happened?’

‘Teddy, take Winston and go in the house,’ Olivia said.

‘The girls are in the backyard on the trampoline.’ Charlotte waited until Teddy was out of earshot. ‘I know you’re mad at me, Olivia, and I’m sorry I didn’t return your call about coming to dinner Sunday night. I’ve been thinking and – look, come on in the house and let’s talk this out. I know I treated you like hell the other day. I panicked. I just didn’t want . . . I just didn’t know what to do.’

‘I can’t come in right now, Charlotte.’

‘Oh, come on, Olivia, at least hear me out. We can—’ Charlotte paused and put a hand to her mouth. ‘Your skirt is wet and you look like hell. Something’s happened. What is it, Livie?’

‘I need you, Charlotte. I need you to do what I say and not ask me any questions.’

Something in Olivia’s voice made Charlotte go very still. ‘So it’s starting up again, isn’t it?’

‘Just listen to me, Charlotte. Please. For Chris’s sake, if nothing else.’

Charlotte put an arm around Olivia’s shoulders. ‘Come on in, sweetie.’

‘I can’t. Look. Teddy has been here, with you and the girls, all afternoon.’ Olivia held up a hand. ‘Don’t interrupt, just listen. You picked her up from school. You were late, so she started home and you picked her up at the curb right at the stop sign at the intersection of Sutherland and Westside Drive.’

‘Olivia, please tell me what’s going on.’

‘Amelia’s dead. My friend from California? The PA?’

‘Yeah. I met her, remember – but what happened? Was she in an accident?’

‘She’s been visiting us and she died at the house.’

‘Oh my God. Another one.’ Charlotte put a hand to her mouth. ‘Did it happen in the night? Did she die in her sleep?’

‘It happened this afternoon. Sometime in the last hour, I think. It looks like she drowned in the tub.’

‘That’s why you’re wet? And Teddy?’

‘Teddy was there when it happened.’

Charlotte reached for Olivia. Tried to give her a hug. ‘Oh my God. Poor poor baby.’

Olivia took a step backward. For some reason it was harder not to cry when Charlotte was being nice. When it felt like they were family again, part of the same tribe. ‘Look. I have to go and deal with things. I have to call nine one one.’

‘You mean you haven’t called them yet? She’s still—’

‘I got her out of the tub. She was beyond help, I promise. The thing is, Teddy was there, in the bathroom, when it happened. I don’t want the police to know that. I don’t want her questioned and traumatized anymore than she already is.’

‘What is it you’re not telling me?’ Charlotte said.

‘I’m protecting my daughter. That’s all you need to know.’

‘Protecting her from what?’ Charlotte said.

‘Honestly? Honestly, Charlotte? I have no idea. I just know that whoever it is, I’m scared.’