The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair: A Novel by Joel Dicker

Author:Joel Dicker [Dicker, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

August 15, 1975

At 8 a.m., Louisa Kellergan went to see her daughter in her bedroom. Nola was waiting for her, sitting on the bed in her underwear. Today was the day. She knew. Louisa smiled tenderly at her daughter.

“You know why I’m doing this, Nola . . .”

“Yes, Mom.”

“It’s for your own good. So you’ll go to Heaven. You want to be an angel, don’t you?”

“I don’t know if I want to be an angel, Mom.”

“Now, now, don’t talk nonsense. Come here, my darling.”

Nola got up and followed her mother into the bathroom. The large basin was ready, filled with water. Nola looked at her mother. She was a pretty woman, with beautiful blond, wavy hair. Everyone said how alike they looked.

“I love you, Mom,” said Nola.

“I love you too, my darling.”

“I’m sorry I’m a wicked girl.”

“You’re not a wicked girl.”

Nola knelt in front of the basin; her mother grabbed her hair and shoved her head underwater. She counted to twenty, slowly and harshly, then pulled Nola’s head from the ice-cold water. Her daughter let loose a cry of panic. “Come on, my girl, this is your penance. And now, again . . .” And she held her daughter’s head under the ice-cold water once more.

In the garage, David Kellergan listened to his music.

• • •

He was horrified by what he had just heard.

“Your mother drowns you?” Harry repeated, still in shock.

It was noon. Nola had just arrived at Goose Cove. She had spent the whole morning crying, and despite her attempts to dry her reddened eyes when she reached his house, Harry had immediately noticed that something was wrong.

“She shoves my head in the basin,” Nola explained. “The water is so cold! She shoves my head underwater and holds it there. Every time I feel like I’m going to die. I can’t take it anymore, Harry. Help me.”

She pressed herself against him. Harry suggested they go down to the beach—that always cheered her up. He picked up the box with SOUVENIR OF ROCKLAND, MAINE written on it, and they went to feed the seagulls. Then they sat on the sand and contemplated the horizon.

“I want to leave, Harry!” Nola exclaimed. “I want you to take me far away from here.”

“Leave?”

“You and me, far from here. You said we would leave one day. I want to get away. Wouldn’t you like to go with me? Please, I’m begging you, let’s leave. Let’s leave at the end of this horrible month. Let’s say the thirtieth—that would give us two weeks to get ready.”

“The thirtieth? Are you crazy?”

“No! What’s crazy is continuing to live in this miserable town! What’s crazy is loving each other the way we do and not being allowed to show it! What’s crazy is having to hide, as if we were some weird animals! I can’t take it anymore, Harry! I’m going to leave. The night of August 30. I can’t stay here any longer. So please, come with me. Don’t let me go on my own.”

“What if they arrest us?”

“Who’ll arrest us? We could be in Canada in three hours.

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