after school, catching up on paperwork until Andrew called for her. She was just finishing when Justin Dane walked into the classroom.
She could feel his anger before she saw it. It was like watching a volcano preparing to erupt.
‘So much for deals,’ were his first words.
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘You made a deal with my son, a young man of his word, according to you. He was to stop playing truant.’
‘And he has. He’s been here every day since. I’ve seen him.’
‘Today?’
‘Yes, this afternoon. In fact, he did a particularly good piece of translation. I’ve just finished marking it—here.’
She pulled the book out and showed him.
‘Then where is Mark now?’ he asked in a tight voice.
‘He didn’t come home?’
‘No.’
‘Perhaps he went out with friends?’
‘He isn’t allowed to just go off like that. Either Lily or I must know in advance.’
‘Are you saying that he’s wandering around alone?’ she asked, horrified.
‘I don’t know. I wish I did. Where did you find him last time?’
She scratched her head. ‘I know where it is but I didn’t notice the name of the road.’
‘OK, you can take me there.’
His casual way of giving her orders made her grind her teeth and say, ‘Since you seem not to have noticed, I am about to go out on a date.’
‘How could I have noticed?’ he asked, puzzled.
‘Because I’m dolled up,’ she said, indicating her dress and make-up. Unwisely, she added, ‘I don’t dress like this unless I have to.’
Incredibly his lips twitched. ‘I believe you.’
‘Mr Dane, I’m sure this will come as news to you, but I do have a life. I don’t just sit here waiting for you to give me orders.’
‘So you won’t help me?’
‘I didn’t say that, but ‘‘please’’ would be good.’
‘All right. Please. Now can we get going?’
She looked at her watch. Andrew would be here soon. She guessed how he’d feel if she put him off, but she couldn’t shut out the memory of Mark’s unhappy face and the miserable hunch of his shoulders.
‘All right,’ she said. ‘But I don’t have long, and I must make a call first.’
She dialled Andrew on her cellphone and was relieved when he answered.
‘Darling, I’m going to be a little late,’ she said. ‘Can you leave it for an hour?’
She heard him sigh. ‘An hour then.’
Justin’s luxurious car was waiting in the school yard. For a while, on the journey, neither of them spoke. Evie remembered Mark saying that his father had asked a lot of questions about her. He’d described some of the questions, but how many others had there been?
She took a cautious look at Justin’s profile, which was set and hard, otherwise she would have called it attractive, with a sharply defined nose and a firm chin. A good man to have on your side in a fight. Otherwise, steer clear.
‘So, tell me everything that happened,’ she said at last.
‘I called home and asked to speak to Mark. Lily said he wasn’t there and she didn’t know where he was. Just like last time.’
‘So you immediately blamed me.’
‘I thought you might have some ideas.’
‘I don’t know why we’re going back to this road,’ she said. ‘He’s hardly likely to be there a second time.’
‘Unless there’s something nearby that attracts him. A cinema, a shop?’
‘It’s a tree-lined street. And so are all the others near it. What’s the matter?’
She had noticed him grow suddenly alert, slowing the car and looking around him at the passing streets.
‘I know this part,’ he said. ‘We used to live here.’
‘When?’
‘About three years ago. Is this where you saw him?’
‘In the next road.’
He turned into the street where she had seen Mark slouching along, but, as she had feared, there was no sign of him.
‘Where was your house?’
‘Another five minutes,’ he said tensely. ‘The next turning, then the first on the right.’ He was turning the car as he spoke.
‘There he is,’ Evie said quickly. ‘In the cemetery.’
Of course, she thought. His mother must be buried here.
Justin was drawing over to the kerb and getting out. She hurried to catch up with him and together they climbed the few stone steps to the raised ground where the graves were laid out.
Something made the boy look round as they approached and it was Evie he saw first. His face brightened and he took a step towards her.
‘Hallo, son,’ Justin said.
The child checked himself before turning obediently to his father and there was nothing in his face but blankness. It was enough to stop Justin in his tracks. Evie clenched her hands, hoping he wouldn’t berate his son, but he only turned away with a shrug that would have suggested helplessness in anyone else.
Evie took her chance, walking up to Mark and speaking quietly so that Justin couldn’t hear.
‘You know,’ she said, trying not to sound too heavy, ‘this isn’t playing fair. You promised me, no more playing truant.’
‘But I’ve been at school,’ he said quickly.
‘Don’t split hairs. No truancy means no vanishing after school either. No forcing us to chase around after you, and sending your father grey-haired with worry.’
She thought she saw a smile of disbelief flicker across the child’s face.
‘I just like being here,’ he said.
‘Had you been here the other night, when I caught up with you?’
‘Yes. It’s beautiful.’
