“Feckin’ hell.”
By the time I arrived back at the camp, Declan was nowhere to be seen. There was no answer at his place, even when I shouted through the door that Tess was on her way back to Appleby. Seamus was sure he was still inside, having seen him bolt back in there like a rat out of a trap after knocking him about and stealing the drugs, but he was holed up tight and refusing to answer us.
When I failed to put my boot through the door, we were left with no other choice but to wait him out. I supposed it was possible that he was already off his wee face on gear, passed out inside, but I had to cling to the hope that suicide would give even Declan Furey cause to stop and think about what he was about to do.
Hours drifted by and when the sun set, cloaking us in dusky light, doubts crept in. How much longer were we to wait here? What if Declan wasn’t even here and Seamus had missed him slipping out? When there were still no signs of life from inside, I suggested Seamus go around camp, asking folks if they’d seen Declan and to keep an eye out if they did. I’d remain here just in case he decided to show his face.
And so I continued to wait, but just as I was beginning to lose hope, an idea came to me. I copied the unknown number from Tess’s old phone into my own and sent a text.
JOHN-FRANCIS: What train are ya on?
TESS: London Euston, with a change in Carlisle. I’m due into Appleby at ten-to-nine tonight.
I glanced at the digital display – that gave me an hour. I’d make that work.
JOHN-FRANCIS: Keep an eye out for me. I’d be swinging by to pick you up.
I eased myself up off the floor, stiff and cold. Perhaps hearing from Tess herself would be the key to getting a rise out of Declan. It was the only plan I had left and though it didn’t sit well with me to be abandoning my watch post, bringing Tess back to Declan was of far greater importance. I dived into my van and headed off to the local train station to collect the wee buffer that had caused this mess in the first place.
Tess’s train had rolled in, and I spotted her before she caught sight of me. She looked different – pale and somehow withdrawn, her shoulders rolled inwardsself-consciously. She was nervous returning here and I couldn’t rightly blame her, but I made sure to force a wide, bright smile onto my face as we locked eyes. To my surprise she ran to me, and I wrapped my arms around her. We embraced one another for a long moment before I eased her away from me.
“Jaysus, it’s good t’ see ya. I don’t mean t’ worry ya, but I need y’help, now,” I said, opening the passenger side door of the van for her. “I’ll explain on the way.”
“Declan?” she asked, eyes wide with fear. I simply nodded and once she had climbed inside, I slammed the door behind her and jogged around to the opposite side.
Once we were both belted in, I took off, the van’s engine roaring through the night as I made my way back to the camp.
“What’s going on, John-Francis?” Tess asked, her voice quiet. “You’re frightening me.”
I pressed my lips together, wondering where to even start. “Declan has been a mess since y’left, Tess.” When she opened her mouth to respond, I interrupted her. “No, really, now. Today… Today has not been a good day, like. He’s gotten hold o’ some gear—”
“As in Heroin?” Tess spluttered.
“Aye, enough t’ take down a wee elephant by the sounds o’ things, now.”
“Do you… Do you think he plans to use it? All in one go?”
Both of us knew what she was getting at, neither of us wanting to say the word out loud.
“Aye, I do.”
Tess’s lower lip began to tremble, her eyes filling with tears.“Fuck, what have I done?”
“Ah, y’weren’t t’ know, now,” I replied gently. “No one expected him t’ take it this hard. I thought a week or two o’ wallowin’ in self-pity an’ he’d be back on his feet, bu’… We’ve joked ‘bout it before, like, but I dunno what ya’ve done t’ him. It’s destroyed him bein’ without ya.”
“I just– I didn’t know what to do!” she spluttered. “I thought I’dkilledsomeone!”
I didn’t quite know how to break it to her that she may well have done after all if we didn’t get back to Declan in time. I kept that dark thought to myself, pressing down a little harder on the accelerator.
“We can worry ‘bout the mess wi’ Pearl another time. What’s important now is—”
My phone burst to life, rumbling against the dashboard where I’d slung it in my haste to get into the van. I snatched it up, answering it despite still driving.
“What’s up, fella?” I asked Seamus.
“Declan’s not here. Wee sneaky bastard has given us the slip.”
“Feck!”I growled, slamming the heel of my hand against the steering wheel. “Y’sure, now?”
