Midnight Waters (The Moonlight Mermaid Book 1) by Rosie Wylor-Owen

Author:Rosie Wylor-Owen [Wylor-Owen, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rosie Wylor-Owen
Published: 2024-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Two police officers, one with a notebook and pen, stood a few feet in the doorway.

Dad stood before them, grabbing a fistful of his hair. Sandra had her arm around him, dressed in her fluffiest pyjamas.

The entire family congregated on the sofas, watching with stricken faces from a distance. Even Rose, who I hadn’t seen in days, rocked her baby in an armchair by the fire, her husband squatting down by her side.

“What’s happened?” I asked.

Every head in the room snapped in my direction, and a solemn silence fell. Dad’s eyes glazed over as he stared at me.

“Can someone tell me what’s going on here?” I asked. “Is someone hurt? What⁠—?”

Dad pushed past the police and pulled me into a bear hug.

“Where have you been?” he demanded.

“I got in half an hour ago. I was in my room,” I said. “Dad, what’s happening?”

“We received an anonymous call.” One of the police officers tucked his notebook into his pocket. “A report that someone had seen you fall off a cliff.”

All the blood drained from my face.

Had Adrian called in to report my fall?

“Was this the Everharts?” Keith balled up his fists. “Were you pushed?”

He actually wasn’t far off the mark, but I couldn’t admit that if I wanted to keep the peace.

“No, I… I didn’t fall off a cliff!” I said, struggling to move my arms in Dad’s grip.

He pulled away, red-eyed, with tears streaming down his face.

“Dad…” I chewed my lip. I hadn’t wanted to cause him all this hurt.

“Where have you been, then?” Dad asked. “The last thing I hear is the police have picked you up about that poisoned girl, and then you just disappear!”

“I went back to the office to pick something up, and I guess I lost track of time?” I said.

“Lost track of time?” Sandra pointed at the grandfather clock. “Maeve, it’s three a.m.!”

I followed her finger to the antique clockface. Ten to three. Gods… how long had I been floating around in the sea for? I wasn’t even pruning.

“Sorry,” I said. “I… don’t know… what…”

“Well, if there’s nothing more.” The police officer nodded at Theo. “We’ll call off the search and get out of your way.”

Dad cleared his throat. “Sorry to waste your time, Officers.”

“You folks have a good night, now.” The officers closed the door behind them.

Dad rounded on me, his hands on his hips, and his face apparently trying to decide whether to be angry or sad.

Oh boy, was I going to get it.

“You didn’t fall off a cliff?” Dad’s voice dipped low.

“No, Dad. I’m fine,” I muttered.

I hated lying to him, but to tell him the truth meant revealing what had happened to me. Until I knew what was going on myself, I had to keep him in the dark.

“Who made the call, then?” Keith asked. “An Ev⁠—?”

“I swear to the gods, Keith, if you finish that sentence, I will shove my foot so far up your—” Sandra began.

“Will you all stop it?” Dad’s voice boomed so loudly that the chandelier shook.

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