The Boy in the Well by Dan Clark

Author:Dan Clark [Clark, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: darkstroke / Crooked Cat
Published: 2021-04-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Carolyn waits in the front porch for Barry. Her mother had left half an hour ago for the church. She can hear the loud rumble from the van’s engine before he comes into sight. Carolyn climbs in and is welcomed by a strong-smelling aftershave. She’s smelled it before. Simon had the same one.

Barry is wearing a grey jumper with a blue shirt collar poking out of the neckline, dark jeans and smart boots. A little too smartly dressed for running a ‘friend’ into town. The van has also received a cleaning. The dash is now clutter-free and there are no empty wrappers or cola bottles in the passenger footwell. Carolyn hopes Barry doesn’t see this as a date. She isn’t ready for dating. She’s not sure if she will ever be ready for it again.

“Hi. You look smart for interrogating a shop girl,” Carolyn jokes.

“I like to make an effort on my days off, you know. I’m always wearing paint-stained scruffs,” Barry replies, his cheeks turning a slight pink, though now there is no stubble to conceal the blushing. Today he’s clean-shaven.

“You look fine. I was just joking,” she says, holding up a hand. “Just don’t think this is a date.” They both laugh and head for town.

Carolyn hadn’t mentioned Simon and Ryan to Barry last night. She thought that there was no need for it to come up, but then she thought she ought to explain why she’s so eager to figure out what had happened to the disappearing body she seen in the well. She decides she’d tell him later over a coffee. Although Barry doesn’t appear to need any explanations. It seems he’s already on board.

Carolyn is more relaxed on their drive into town. It feels more comfortable than last night. Barry keeps apologising over the broken heater and the worn shock absorbers. As they hit bumps in the road, his face blushes a darker shade.

“I think it’s time for a new van. I’ve had this for the past five years and it was already ten years old when I got it,” Barry chuckles. “I bought it for a bargain though.”

Carolyn tells him again that it’s fine, and she’s very grateful for his help.

At Llanbedr Convenience, Barry says he’ll stay in the van and wait. He doesn’t want to seem intimidating towards Sophie. Carolyn agrees it might be a good idea.

Sophie is starting her lunch break as Carolyn approaches and asks if they can talk. The skinny redheaded girl ushers her around the side of the building to a part that has a sign reading EMPLOYEES ONLY. They sit on a wooden picnic bench, surrounded by plastic coffee cups. The surrounding floor is cluttered with dozens of cigarette butts. Sophie reaches into her bag and pulls out a box of cigarettes. She offers one to Carolyn, and when she refuses, she puts one to her lips and lights up. Sophie tilts her head up to blow the smoke away from Carolyn’s face.

“So how come you want to talk to me?” Sophie asks, taking another drag of her cigarette.

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