‘What’s happening?’ she asked. ‘Is it Sam?’
‘Possibly,’ Dylan said, ushering us into the ballroom foyer. ‘Have you seen April?’
Marilyn looked at me. ‘When I nipped to the loo after your moment of glory, she was talking with the guy who made the bid out here.’
Sensing my legs crumple, Dylan braced me with his arm. ‘Did you see what happened next? Where either of them went?’
Marilyn’s eyes were like saucers. She put one trembling hand up to her face. ‘They left out the front door. I thought she must know him. Who is he? What’s happened? Is April messing about with that old bloke? They looked pretty grim, to be honest.’
Gasping, I clutched at Dylan as if I was drowning. ‘Call the police.’
He’d already dialled the first two nines by the time I hit the floor.
As soon as I knew police cars with lights flashing and sirens wailing were speeding to Sam’s flat, I dragged myself up and stumbled outside, where the gusting downpour hit me like a slap.
Dylan came right behind me.
‘Where’s your truck?’
‘In the other car park. But Faith, I’ve had three beers. I can’t drive. Especially in this weather.’
I whipped around, grabbed the lapels of his jacket. ‘How long is it going to take the police to get to Houghton? You could get me there in six minutes. Less, if you break the speed limit.’
He shook his head, his eyes pleading with me. ‘No, Faith. What about Perry?’
‘Perry’s been drinking a lot more than you. I don’t have time to explain to anyone else. Please, Dylan. I am begging you.Everyone else has come in taxis. Put your moral principles to one side for six minutes. Drive me to Sam’s.’
He closed his eyes for a second, before shaking his head briefly. Then, pulling away, reached into his pocket. I breathed a whoosh of relief.
‘No. I’m sorry.’
What?
‘Here.’ He threw something at me. Automatically I reached up and caught it. His keys.
‘You drive.’
‘Do you want me to tell Perry what’s happening?’ Marilyn had managed to gather something of the situation from hearing Dylan’s 999 call.
I paused for a tiny moment. Flashed back to the ballroom. ‘Right now, I really don’t care.’
I ran to the truck. Clambered in. Dylan grabbed the magnetic learner plates out of the glove compartment and stuck them in the windows.
‘Take it slowly now. If you reverse back in a straight line, you can turn around by the trees.’
I looked at him, overwhelmed with panic. ‘I can’t do this.’
He smiled. ‘Yeah you can. Remember that turning by Little Farm? It’s just like that. You could do it with your eyes closed.’
I shook my head, my hands shaking so hard, I could barely grip the steering wheel.
Dylan kept on talking, his voice calm and steady. ‘You can do this, Faith. You can do this for Sam. Take a deep breath, blow out the fear or whatever it is Hester taught you. Breathe in.’
I let out a trembly breath, sucked in some courage, some strength, whatever the heck it was I needed to get this truck to my brother.
‘Okay?’ Dylan pulled on his seatbelt.
‘Okay.’ I let out a weak laugh. ‘Do you mind if I sing? It kind of helps.’
