The Girl Beyond the Gate

by Becca Day

‘You mean, like Norah Wilson did?’ I say. And DS Wolfe looks momentarily caught out.

‘Because it was my fault.’

but we’re so close now. I just need to keep going a little longer.

‘I’m stuck!’

‘Miss Anderson, it is your behaviour that concerns us, not Norah’s.’

Norah is laying on the floor beside me. At first I think she’s looking at me but then I realise she’s not looking at anything. Her eyes are empty. Lifeless. Blood is

dripping from her head, soaking her hair and running in a crimson stream along the pool tiles and into the water where it spreads like a splash of paint, clouding the surface.

Lacey is standing.

‘We’ll have to make sure wherever we stay has a TV so we can start up our movie nights again,’ I say.

A sob escapes her throat, coming out as a suppressed, hiccupy gulp. ‘I’m so sorry, Jodie.’

Oh Lacey … Forgive me.

But what about toby??