The Runaway. Ali Harper

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СКАЧАТЬ see my parents.’

      ‘When?’

      ‘Last Friday.’

      ‘Where?’

      ‘York, well, just outside. All I know is Matt and Tuff went to a party – on Saturday night. These outdoor parties – you know?’

      I shook my head. ‘I’ve heard of them but thought they’d got rid of them back in the nineties. They’re illegal now, right?’

      ‘I don’t know much about it.’ She finally lowered herself into the chair opposite me and rubbed at an imaginary spot on her jeans. ‘Sounds like a bunch of hippies, taking drugs and dancing till sunrise, but Nikki’s got them into it. Tuff came back on Sunday, about lunchtime, he said – I wasn’t back. He said Matt stayed.’

      ‘When did you get back?’

      ‘Teatime. I was hoping to get some work done. Fat chance. Nikki came round, twice, looking for Matt.’

      ‘Sunday evening?’

      She nodded.

      ‘What did,’ I checked my notes, ‘Tuff say had happened to Matt?’

      ‘I didn’t see Tuff till Monday.’

      ‘He got back Sunday lunchtime, you said?’

      ‘Yes, but he’d gone out again by the time I got here. And I was in bed by the time he came home. I didn’t see him till Monday.’

      ‘And?’

      ‘And he said he came back Sunday lunchtime and Matt had decided to stay at the party.’

      ‘Did he say anything else?’

      ‘Not really. Nikki came round again, screaming that she’s going to call the police. Like I’m personally responsible for the fact that her boyfriend’s not here.’

      ‘Must be hard for her —’

      ‘Matt’s problem is he’s too pretty. He’s got too many options.’

      ‘You mean – there’s someone else?’

      ‘I wouldn’t blame him, that’s all I’m saying.’

      ‘You really don’t like Nikki.’ It wasn’t a question, more a statement of fact. I probably sounded peeved. I hate women doing other women down, especially over a man.

      ‘I don’t not like her. I just wish … Oh I don’t know.’ She stood up. ‘Tuff’s right. Matt’s probably holed up, writing up his dissertation.’

      ‘His tutor says he should have just about finished it.’

      ‘I think that’s probably being optimistic.’

      ‘Have you rung his parents?’

      ‘Tuff’s known Matt the longest.’

      ‘Where is Tuff?’

      ‘He’ll be at uni by now.’

      I frowned and glanced at the clock on the wall above the fireplace. ‘Bit early.’

      ‘Yeah, well.’ She smiled for the first time and I had the sense that she felt better for talking to me. ‘They’re both feeling the pressure. And the library opens at 8.’ She paused a moment, drew a breath. ‘It is weird.’

      I thought she meant the library. ‘Weird?’

      ‘Tuff’s, well, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just the stress.’

      ‘Tuff’s what? What were you going to say?’

      She didn’t answer me, was lost in her own thoughts. ‘If Matt’d taken his laptop with him, I’d agree he’s holed up somewhere, ignoring Nikki and trying to get his dissertation finished. But he went missing at a party.’

      ‘Could he have come home on the Sunday? If Tuff was out and you were out? Maybe he picked up his stuff?’

      ‘Maybe. I did have a look in his room, but it’s impossible to tell. I’d have thought he’d have left a note though if he’d done that. Unless he didn’t trust us not to tell Nikki. That’s the only thing I can think of – he wants to disappear till he gets it in.’

      ‘How long’s he got?’

      ‘It’s due Monday.’

      ‘And you don’t think you should ring his parents?’

      ‘He did disappear before you know.’

      ‘Disappear?’

      ‘Well, took off for a few days. Never said where he’d gone or anything.’

      ‘Did you ever find out where he went?’

      She shook her head. ‘That was before Nikki.’

      ‘What’s their relationship like?’

      Jan pulled a face. ‘Nikki knows Matt’s out of her league – that’s what’s driving her mental.’

      ‘He must like her. They’ve been going out together for nearly a year,’ I said.

      ‘Yeah.’ She shrugged her shoulders like she was genuinely bemused by the whole thing.

      ‘Is there someone else?’ I asked again.

      She hesitated and I knew she was searching her conscience. I leaned closer to her. ‘We’re just trying to make sure he’s OK,’ I said. ‘We’re not looking to get him into trouble.’

      ‘Last night, I got a few phone calls where the phone was silent every time I picked it up. I don’t know whether it was Nikki, or just …’

      Jan’s gaze had fixed on the window. She stood up and crossed the room and stared out into the street. I couldn’t see what had caught her interest. She swore under her breath and it sounded like a gust of wind.

      ‘What?’ I asked.

      ‘That’s Matt’s car.’

      I got up and peered out of the bay window in the direction she pointed, followed her gaze to the burgundy Volkswagen Polo parked a few hundred yards further down the street. I hadn’t noticed it on my way there, but I’d come from the other direction.

      Jan turned and ran from the room. I followed her, through the front door back into the street. I wondered how I’d not noticed it earlier, but I’d been focused on the house, and a car with a smashed window isn’t that much of an unusual occurrence in Leeds 6. As I got closer though, I realized it wasn’t just a smashed window. In fact there wasn’t a single pane of glass intact – front and rear windscreen, every window, shattered. Another couple of steps and I realized the headlights and taillights were destroyed as well. The shards crunched under my feet.

      ‘Shit,’ СКАЧАТЬ