Hide and Secrets by Sophie McKenzie

Author:Sophie McKenzie
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2021-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

21

For a few moments I forget where I’m standing. I forget Yvonne in the office trailer. I even forget Tyler and Bess waiting outside along the cliff path.

Mac gazes at me, concern in his eyes. ‘Are you all right? You’ve gone very pale.’

I nod, though in reality it feels like the sea is thundering in my ears and that my legs might give way under me.

‘It’s probably shock at hearing about your dad,’ Mac muses. ‘Let me get you a glass of water.’ He peers at me. ‘Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?’

‘No, thank you.’ I take a juddering breath. ‘Do you know where Dad is now?’

Mac makes a face. ‘I’m afraid I don’t,’ he says. ‘Alan didn’t say. Said it was safer for both of us that way. He told me what happened to him, in confidence, of course.’ Mac shakes his head. ‘Nasty business.’

‘So…’ I’m struggling to focus on the details I need. ‘When exactly did he leave here?’

‘About six months back, I reckon it was.’

‘Six months ago?’ A sinking feeling lands in my stomach. How on earth am I going to trace Dad now?

I lean against the table where Mac is potting his plants. He watches me with a worried expression. ‘Wait here,’ he says. He disappears inside his mobile home.

The wind whips around my head as I try to think about what on earth I’m going to do next. My brain is all over the place. One second I’m brimming up with excitement that Dad is really out there. The next I’m overwhelmed with the desperate frustration that I’m as far away from finding him as ever.

Mac reappears after a minute or so, a large paper bag in his hand. ‘Some rolls and cheese and a couple of apples,’ he says gruffly. ‘For you and the little one. I put two cans of pop in too.’

I take the bag. ‘Thank you,’ I say, forcing myself to focus. ‘Are you sure you don’t have any idea where Dad went? No clue at all?’

‘Well, there is one thing I can tell you,’ Mac says. ‘Your dad’s a great one for helping people, as you’ll know, and, while he was here, he did a bit of carpentry work for a young mum with a little boy. Julie Walker. She left the caravan park before he did, so that’s a good while back now, but she might remember something as to where he went. I don’t have an address for her, but I think she mentioned she was moving to Hallerton East. Tiny place along the coast.’

I nod. It’s not much to go on, but it’s better than nothing.

‘I’d better get back to Bess,’ I say. ‘Thanks for this.’ I hold up the bag.

‘Good luck,’ Mac says gruffly. ‘And give my best to your dad if you find him. Great guy. No matter how low he was feeling, he always had a smile on his face.’

‘Oh, thank you!’ Overwhelmed, I dart forward and give him a swift, impulsive hug.

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