Closing In...

Matt

Luke and I arranged to meet at the same pub as before. Safe ground. I haven't decided yet what I'm going to tell him, if anything. I think we can just meet and raise a glass to our lost friend, poor bastard.

Dave

Christine can tell that I have something on my mind. She keeps asking, "What is it, Dave? What's wrong?" I've fobbed her off with some pain that's worrying me and she seems satisfied with that. I don't think she knows anything.

Do you know, if the camera had been taken, I'd have thought "It's been given away" and probably felt relieved because the film would have been thrown by the new owner and this would have been laid to rest. But it's got to be Katie. It's got to be. She must have got the photos developed. She must have sent one to Bethan. What else was on that camera? Laney hinted to me...Is there one of me and Christine?

If it was Katie, this means she knows. About Laney. About Bethan.

Shit!

I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do! I moved the camera. It's in the boot of my car now, by the spare wheel. No-one will look there.

This is a fucking mess.

*

Bethan and Katie

"I think it's my dad's."

Bethan stared at Katie and tried to take in what she'd just said. The girl looked uncomfortable and looked away from Bethan and then back, shifting from buttock to buttock on the chair. Eventually, she picked up her tea, drank it and stared at the floor. To Katie, this was not how she envisioned things going.

Bethan's mind was reeling. Dave had a camera. Katie found it, hidden. It had film in it. Katie got it developed. Katie found a photo of three boys. Katie sent this photo to her. Katie knew who she was. Katie knew about Laney.

Question 1: Who took the photo? But she knew.

It was Laney's camera, Laney's photo. Had to be.

Question 2: Why did Dave have Laney's camera?

Bethan had a sudden urge.

She said, quietly but determinedly, "I'm going to have to see that camera."

***

366 words

I hope that this is still keeping you on tenterhooks. Every day, I think I need to be winding this up but I get to the end of 366 words and think, "Still a way to go yet."

I wonder what will happen when Katie discovers that the camera isn't there?

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Yesterday's story:

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