When the Dead Speak by Sheila Bugler

Author:Sheila Bugler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2020-07-12T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-one

At the top of the hill, Dee paused to get her breath back. A morning haze hung over the downs, shot through with shades of pink and pale grey as night turned to day. The green hills of the South Downs National Park rolled out before her, ending abruptly as land became white cliff at the start of the English Channel. Teetering at the top of the cliffs, Belle Tout lighthouse was a black silhouette against the brightening sky. When she turned the other way, Dee had a perfect view of Eastbourne town, laid out along the coast on the flat stretch of land at the bottom of the downs. The sun was rising over the sea, light moving across the town, pushing away the last traces of a long night.

‘Beautiful, isn’t it?’ Ed said.

‘It really is,’ Dee agreed. ‘I’m glad you suggested this. It’s such a lovely way to start the day.’

She hadn’t felt that way at five thirty this morning when her alarm went off. Then, all she’d wanted to do was roll over in bed and go back to sleep. Now, with her heart pumping fast and steady, and her body full of the good feelings you only get from physical exercise and being close to nature, she promised herself she’d do this more often.

They turned right and walked along the ridge. The geography of this corner of England meant they had sea views on either side of them. With the sea and the rolling hills and the air full of birdsong, Dee couldn’t imagine there was anywhere lovelier in the entire world.

‘I’m sorry,’ Ed said.

Dee stopped walking. ‘What have you done now?’

The corners of his lips twitched and she felt a tug of her old feelings for him.

‘Nothing else,’ he said. ‘I mean I’m sorry for being so crap recently.’

‘And?’

This time she got a proper smile.

‘And for not telling you about Lauren coming to see me, or what happened with Graham. All of it.’

‘I can understand why you didn’t say anything,’ Dee said. ‘It’s just… I thought I knew you better than I do. That’s a weird feeling.’

‘I’m still me,’ Ed said.

‘Unfortunately.’

‘Hey.’ He punched her arm. ‘Watch it or you’ll be buying your own breakfast.’

They started walking again. Half an hour later, they reached Jevington, a tiny village nestled in the bottom of the valley. They walked through the village, past the row of cottages that were once the Hungry Monk restaurant, where the banoffee pie was created.

‘Which way?’ Ed asked. ‘Continue through the village or turn here and walk up to Butt’s Brow?’

‘This way.’ Dee pointed to the path that led across the fields and over several more hills to Butt’s Brow. Her body would regret this later, but the views from the top of Butt’s Brow were some of her favourite. It seemed a shame not to take advantage of them on a clear, sunny day like this.

‘I got a call from a journalist at the Mirror last night,’ Ed said. ‘Wanted to ask me about Graham.

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