Dave's Story

Laney always was precocious. It was me that bought her the camera. Point and click! I never thought that she'd follow me with it. Why would I? To Laney and Bethan, I had a job that took me away part of the week, the life of a salesman. I never gave them any cause to be suspicious of me but thinking back now, there must have been something that I did or said to make Laney come after me.

The morning she disappeared, before I went to work, she was surly and uncooperative. She confronted me. Bethan had already gone out and in those days, you'd never worry about your kids being left at home while you went off. The street was like a community: Mrs Wright at No. 22 would be keeping an eye out and Laney knew to go to her if there was any trouble.

"What are you doing today, Laney?" I asked, drinking my tea, eating toast.

"What do you care?" she said, staring at me, defiantly.

"Whoa! Watch your mouth, young lady!" I said, surprised at her attitude. It was unusual for Laney to be anything but sunny. "Everything alright with you?"

She shrugged but glared at me while I continued to eat my breakfast. And then she spoke.

"I saw you."

I looked up at her, her eyes blazing, anger palpable.

"What do you mean? Saw me?" It seemed a strange thing to say.

"Having a meal. With a woman."

My heart lurched.

"I saw you. With her."

That with was loaded.

Shit! I lived a risky life but the reward was high. I thought I'd never get found out but by my own daughter? Shit! I decided to bluff.

"I don't know what you mean."

I held her gaze, its venomous power even at 12 making my guts churn. Or was that guilt?

She sneered at me and said, "I knew you'd lie. That's why I got proof."

She turned, walking towards the front door.

"Now, just you wait a minute, young lady!" I went after her.

But she opened the door and three boys stood on the doorstep, the one called Mark saying, "Alright, Laney? Fancy the quarry?"

***

366 words

A confrontation; a double life; the chance of discovery: could these be motives for murder? But we know how Laney disappeared, don't we?

This all started with this story:

Yesterday's story:

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