Coldbrook

They exited the freeway and pulled up outside a rest stop. Olivia whooped and hollered, delighted that they’d reached their holiday destination, and Vic looked at the trucks and motorbikes and dusty cars lining the parking lot, wondering at his child’s sense of imagination. Outside the car, stretching the several-hour journey from their limbs, Lucy stood close to Vic and entwined her fingers with his.

‘They’ll have the TV on in there.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Olivia will see.’

He bit his lip and watched his beautiful daughter skipping beside the car’s hood, singing softly to herself, so vulnerable and dependent.

‘It’s spreading quickly,’ he said.

‘Moving as fast as people can run,’ Lucy said.

‘Faster.’ Vic brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, and she gave him a strained smile. He’d treasure any smile from his wife now as a gift.

‘Jonah hasn’t called,’ she said.

‘He’ll be busy.’ Lucy nodded slowly, rubbing an ache in the back of her neck. ‘Holly Wright went through,’ Vic said, not sure why he’d blurted that now. Perhaps she had been on his mind, beneath the fear for his family and what was to come. Perhaps leaving her behind was just another facet of his guilt.

‘Through the breach?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Where the thing that started this came from?’

Vic nodded, unable to answer. He felt a weight behind his eyes, and his heart was thumping fast. Don’t let me see that look in your eyes, he thought, remembering the dream of his sister and Lucy.

They ate, used the toilet, and left the diner as quickly as possible. As Vic drove, Lucy tried once again to call her parents in Los Angeles and her brother in Seattle. But the networks were still overloaded.

As she put the phone down once more, they passed by the sign for Cincinnati.

They met Marc Dubois where Jonah had arranged, in a private staff car park at the university. He was sitting on the hood of his car as they pulled up, and Vic saw him checking out their RAV4. In one hand he carried a satphone, in the other he held a cigarette. He did not smile but leaned in Vic’s window, breathing cigarette smoke over him. ‘One, two, three,’ he said, nodding at each of them without expression, and then he turned away and dialled his phone.

Vic glanced across at Lucy. She raised an eyebrow, then he opened the door and stepped out. His legs and arms were aching, both from the long drive and the escape from Coldbrook that had preceded it. He wished once again that he’d spent more time in that gym.

‘Marc Dubois?’ Vic asked, though he already knew who he was talking to. Tall gent, Jonah had told him. Should play basketball but he hates sport. Good-looking bastard. Looks like he should be a lady’s man, but he’d more likely go for you. Marc is a genius. You’ll like him, Vic. Eventually.

‘Jonah,’ the man said into the phone. His voice was low, slow and measured. ‘They’re here. All three.’ He nodded a couple of times, then half-turned and looked at Vic over his shoulder. ‘So you want me to kill him now, or later?’

Vic tried not to react.

‘Okay,’ Marc said. ‘Speak soon.’ He pocketed the phone and sat back gently on the hood of his car. ‘He said to kill you later.’

‘Doesn’t sound like Jonah,’ Vic said. ‘He’s usually one to act on the moment.’

‘Seems to think you might be able to help me first.’

‘Well. .’ Vic said, trying to size up this man. He gave nothing away. ‘I thought perhaps it was the other way around.’

‘You think?’ Marc asked. Then after a pause he offered a half-smile. ‘Just fucking with you. Here.’ He held out his hand and Vic shook it. ‘So, let’s meet your family.’

Lucy and Olivia were stepping from the car, and when Vic introduced them Marc produced a candy bar for Olivia.

‘You want to see some rabbits?’ he asked Olivia. She squealed.

‘Can I hold one?’

‘Oh, honey-’ Lucy said, but Marc interrupted.

‘Sure you can! One of them is called Olivia, and I’m sure she’ll love you.’

‘You’re just joking!’ Olivia said through her laughter.

Marc pulled a face. ‘You got me. I’m joking. She’s actually called Lady. But I’m not joking when I say she’ll love you.’

He looked up at Vic and Lucy, glancing back and forth as if sizing them up.

‘Jonah said-’ Vic began, and Marc cut him off.

‘You okay to drive?’ he asked Lucy.

‘Sure.’

‘Cool. Ride with me, Vic. Need to fill you in on a few things. My place is five miles up into the hills, and I want to get there by nightfall.’

‘Why?’ Olivia asked.

‘Because,’ Marc said, leaning in close to the little girl and putting on a spooky voice, ‘that’s when the monsters come out!’

‘Monsters? Like zombies?’

Marc stood again, staring down at Olivia from his great height. Then he turned and opened his car door. ‘Come on. Light’s wasting.’

‘Lady rabbit awaits,’ Vic said to Lucy, and he kissed his little girl before climbing in beside Marc.

The tall man drove in silence for a while. Vic positioned his wing mirror so that he could keep an eye on Lucy behind them, then he glanced several times at Marc. In profile he presented an intimidating picture — sharp nose, sloping forehead, bald head, lush beard, cigarette smoking in the corner of his mouth. His arms were long, his hands big. He might have been a wrestler or a boxer, rather than what he was. In any other circumstance but this, Vic might have felt comforted by his presence.

‘That old Welsh bastard really asked you to kill me?’ Vic asked, only half-joking.

Marc turned to look at him, staring for so long that Vic wanted to shout, Don’t forget you’re driving!

‘You have a nice family,’ Marc said. ‘Your daughter is delightful. Your wife’s pretty, but sad.’

Vic sighed and looked out of the passenger window. The RAV4 was following close behind and he wished he was still with them, singing with Olivia and holding Lucy’s hand.

Marc reached over into the back seat while still driving, rooting around for something. ‘Here. Thought I should show you this.’ He dropped an iPad into Vic’s lap and Vic winced when the corner dug into his groin.

‘What’s this?’

‘Open it, access the net. I’ll give you the website to look at.’ Vic did what he was told, then Marc read out a series of numbers and letters forming a website address. After that, a user ID and password.

‘What am I looking at?’ Vic asked.

‘Something you shouldn’t be.’

‘Whatever Jonah told you-’

‘Is true. I’ve known that man for over forty years. How old are you?’

‘Forty,’ Vic said.

‘Fucking kid. Listen here, Vic. I’m going to do the best I can, and you’re going to help me. But what Jonah told me. . I can’t just forget that. Can’t forget what a fucking stupid prick you were, wrecking every safeguard built into that place. Can’t forget what a selfish motherfucker you were, leaving them down there and escaping to save your own damn skin. I’m supposed to be working with you — it’s good that I know what a clumsy fucker you are.’