Soul Fire

not telling me? You’re not saying you think she killed Meggie?’
    For a moment, I wonder if I should tell her about my suspicions. Even if she thinks I’m crazy, it might be enough to make her more cautious. Here, everything feels under control, just
about. In Spain, who knows? But going there is the best chance I’ve got of working this out.
    ‘I’m just saying . . . We know what jealousy can do. It drives people mad. Don’t risk it. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.’
    ‘Oh, honey. Nothing’s going to happen to me.’ She reaches out to touch my hand and I squeeze it back. ‘Right. I’ll phone my ma, shall I? Just think, we’ll be
soaking up the sun and sangria in less than a month.’
    ‘Better wait to book till I’ve asked my parents for permission.’
    ‘Your mum will be over the moon. She seems to think you’re turning into a weirdo loner recluse who spends her life on the internet. Can’t imagine how she got that
idea.’
    ‘I’m not that bad. I went out last night.’
    ‘Oh, yes. Hey, Lewis could come to Spain, too!’
    ‘So you can go off with Ade?’
    She laughs. ‘You know me too well, Alice Forster.’
    I laugh too, though it doesn’t seem that funny, because Cara doesn’t know the real me anymore. How could she? Wherever I go – even the bloody Marks and Spencer café
– my baggage comes with me: the letters from Guests on the Beach, the mystery behind Burning Truths, my list of murder suspects, Javier’s story.
    These days, I am ten per cent Alice Forster. And ninety per cent secrets.

31
    I can’t find Danny.
    I’m not panicking, not yet. Though the Beach is too small to lose people. Javier is trying to hide from everyone as he grieves for Gretchen, yet everyone knows exactly where he is:
in the same spot where Triti went when she was suffering. With luck, I may be able to help end his torment, too.
    But where the hell is Danny?
    I tried the rock first, of course. That was where I’d imagined we’d spend the whole afternoon today. The exams are finished, Mum’s out, Cara’s off on a uni Open Day with
her mother, and I have nothing to do except lie next to Danny and talk nonsense between kisses.
    When I’ve found him . . .
    The last week or two have been weirdly settled. It can’t last. Spain is bound to change everything; that’s the whole point of going. But right now, my time feels like my own for the
first time in forever. I’ve passed my driving theory test, and taken my first practical lessons. I’ve gone for long lazy lunches with Cara after our exams, flirting with boys on the
riverbank.
    Once or twice, I’ve even forgotten to go online after a night out, and Danny’s told me off. So this afternoon I am planning to put that right, by spending time with him, alone.
    The sun is high in the sky, and dazzling. I can’t even look at the white hot sand without screwing up my eyes. I guess it’s midday on the Beach; in the real world, only mad dogs and
Englishmen would risk the heat. But here, where Guests’ skin is pre-bronzed like a Christmas turkey, no one burns, so they’re lined up on the shore as usual.
    Like sausages under the grill.
    Where did that come from? Not an observation the glamorous Guests would appreciate. I spot my sister and Tim sitting in the beach bar, feeding each other scoops of ice cream. Her hand
holding the spoon reminds me of that photograph. Nothing new has appeared on Burning Truths since then, not even a comment, but every time I check the site, it makes me nauseous.
    Meggie spots me, then leans in to say something to Tim. She leaves their table and comes over to give me a huge hug.
    ‘It’s my baby sister!’
    She sits down on one of the rough wooden steps down from the bar, and pats the space next to her. Since Tim arrived, they’ve been in this bubble and it’s been hard to get any time
alone with her.
    ‘So, what news?’ she asks. And I manage to make her laugh with the tale of next door’s dog being chased by a cat, plus a whole bunch of other stuff that doesn’t matter.
I’ve never even mentioned my birthday, and she hasn’t brought it up. Perhaps she feels awkward too.
    ‘And how’s everything going with Tim?’ I ask.
    Her smile says it all. ‘When you arrived, I was ecstatic. Now he’s here too, the Beach feels different. It’s more like contentment. Boring word, right? But it’s the right
one.’
    I hug her again, then see Tim over her shoulder.
    ‘He’s looking at me