“Have you been out all night, Howard?” I asked him. He nodded, but didn’t offer any further information to me on where he had stayed. Howard was almost nineteen, a man, and it wasn’t really my place to pry too much into his private affairs. All I said was,
“A woman?” To which Howard replied,
“Yes, a woman.” He gave me one of his strange little smiles, and then disappeared upstairs. Howard came back down, about ten minutes later, and walking into the kitchen. By this time, Kay was with me at the kitchen table, and we were eating breakfast.
Howard stood in the doorway of the kitchen, looking at me and Kay.
“What are you eating nice?” He asked.
“Full English, Kay’s treat. Do you want some, Howard? There’s plenty to go around.” I replied. Howard shook his head.
“No thanks… has Mary gone off on her walk?” He wanted to know.
“Yeah, she left not long ago.” Answered Kay. I noticed the clothes that Howard had changed into; a thick black jumper, baggy jeans, hiking boots, a long grey overcoat, and a scarf.
“You look like you’re going off for a walk yourself.” I pointed out.
“I am.” Confirmed Howard. “Though I’m not dumb enough to go up on the Black Pathway.” He went on, having a not-so-subtle dig at Mary and Alex. “I’m going to take a drive out, up to Ruthley, do a short walk up on the Breardon Hills. I should be back at around tea-time.” Howard informed us.
“Oh, okay.” I replied. “It’s a nice day for it.” I said, referring to the clear blue sky outside. I expected Howard to leave the kitchen at that point; instead, he loitered awkwardly in the doorway.
I looked up at Howard.
“Is everything okay?” I asked him.
“Yeah. Sure. Everything’s fine. It’s just that… I want to thank you, Lucas.” Howard said to me. I stared at him, bemused.
“Thank me for what?” I replied.
“You know… for taking me in, after my mom had passed away. For putting a roof over my head, and looking out for me. I appreciate it, and I don't think I’ve ever thanked you properly for that.” Said Howard.
“It’s a pleasure having you around, Howard. It always has been.” I informed him. “There’s no need to thank me. We’re family. I’d do exactly the same for any of my cousins.” I pointed out.
“Well, you’re a good man, Lucas.” Howard turned to Kay. “And you’re a good woman, too. I’ll always be indebted to the pair of you. Again, thanks for everything.” He smiled, and then he left the kitchen. A few moments later, I heard the front door close, and, just after that, the sound of Howard’s car struggling, but eventually succeeding, to start up… he was always having trouble starting that bloody car up, when it was cold. I kept telling Howard that it needed a new battery… anyway, that was the last time that I ever saw my cousin.
After Howard had left, Kay turned to me, looking troubled.
“What was all that about? Do you think Howard’s okay?” She asked.
“I don’t know.” Came my reply. Howard certainly hadn’t seemed himself. “Maybe he’s just a bit love-struck.” I suggested to Kay.
“What do you mean?” She wanted to know.
“Howard has been out all night. He said that he was with a woman.” I told Kay. She raised an eyebrow.
“Really? Do you know who?” She asked. I shook my head.
“I didn’t ask. It’s not really any of my business.” I replied.
“Looks like he’s got over his little crush on my sister then.” Kay smiled. I nodded, slowly.
“Yeah, it looks like he has.” I agreed. After that, we began to talk about other stuff whilst finishing off our breakfast. Once that was done, I did the washing up, whilst Kay wandered off into the living room. Not long after, I heard the front door-bell ring, and voices at the door.
“Lucas. Could you come here a minute?” Shouted Kay. I left the washing up and walked through the hallway to the front door, and that’s when our world really began to fall apart.
Stood at the front door was Detective Tom Grogan, together with another policeman who I’d not seen before. I nodded to them. Kay had a concerned look on her face.
“Is everything okay?” I asked her.
“We need to speak to your cousin, Howard.” Said Tom Grogan, before Kay had a chance to answer my question.
“What about?” I asked.
“It’s to do with Mister Whitehouse.” Said Kay. “They think…”
“Is Howard at home?” Interrupted the detective, with impatience in his voice.
“No, he’s not. He headed off out, about fifteen minutes ago… look, do you mind telling me what this is all about?” I repeated my question.
“I’m sorry to tell you this, Mister Trenton, but we’re here to arrest Howard on suspicion of the murder of Alfred Whitehouse.” Said Tom Grogan.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me?” I responded.
“Unfortunately not, sir. Now, would you mind telling me where Howard has gone?” The detective requested.
“You’ve got it wrong. Howard’s not a killer. You’ve met him. He’s not violent, or dangerous… he’s a good kid. I’m telling you, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” I argued. Tom Grogan ignored my defence of Howard.
“We need to know where your cousin has gone to. Now.” The detective ordered. I had no choice but to tell him, not realising that Howard hadn’t gone to Ruthley and the Breardon Hills at all. Instead, he’d abandoned his car down at a car-park near to the beach, and then walked back up into the residential area of Coldsleet, following Alex, Mary, Gary and Shark, up onto the Black Pathway Trail. In order to kill them.
***
Gary Ackley looked back down the Black Pathway Trail, towards the town of Coldsleet. Beyond the town was the ocean. Gary’s eyes scanned along the coastline, to the north, and the Baylin Peninsula. The four of us will have to go there, in the summer, thought Gary, there’s some brilliant stretches of beach over on Baylin… damn it, summer… it feels so fucking far away at the moment… Gary turned his attention back to Alex, Mary and Shark, who were walking up the first part of the trail, towards him.
“Come on, you bunch of slow-coaches!” Gary teased. Alex Crennell flicked him the middle finger.
“Fuck you, Gary.” He said. “We’re not rushing ourselves.”
“I can see that.” Replied Gary, sarcastically. The three others caught up with Gary, who was concerned to notice that Alex was already beginning to break out in a sweat.