‘Never mind.’ He tapped the car. ‘I should take another look myself first. There’ll be no rush anyway. Ilse hates driving that thing, she’s not going anywhere in that.’
‘Harry?’ Liz’s voice again.
‘I’ll tell her you’re fine.’ Harry nodded at the bloodied scalps at the end of the hook in his hand. ‘Better do something with these as well.’
‘You got them, then?’
‘Yeah. Wanted to get it done before everyone arrives tomorrow. They were getting too comfortable.’
‘I thought Bub was going to do it.’
A look flitted across Harry’s face that suggested Bub might also be getting a little too comfortable.
‘I had the chance, got it done,’ he said. ‘If you’re finished out here, generator’s going off in ten. I need to get some sleep.’ He swung the hook gently. The matted fur and skin was already curling at the edges. ‘Big day tomorrow.’
Chapter 28
Nathan awoke to the ache of dehydration pulsing in his temples. He squinted into the early-morning light and reached for his water glass beside the couch. It was empty. He must have drunk it during the night, but he couldn’t remember doing so. It felt like a hangover with none of the fun. He tried to remember how much water he’d drunk yesterday. Not enough, clearly.
He stood up too fast, and had to steady himself briefly against the wall as his head spun. He waited, blinking slowly, until the sensation passed. He looked around. Something felt off.
Nathan frowned as his gaze was dragged once more to Cameron’s painting. It hung there in front of him, looking the same as ever. Not quite though, somehow. He stepped closer, his head still pounding. The scene was fully familiar, with the same colours and shapes. The dark grave and bright sky swam in front of his eyes. The translucent smudge was still there, as unclear as ever. What was different? Was the horizon slightly tilted? He wasn’t sure, and reached out, instantly making things worse as the frame slid at an alarming angle too far the other way. He corrected it hastily, trying to judge a straight line.
‘Be careful.’ Liz was at the doorway. She was entirely in black, except her eyes, which were bloodshot red. ‘Cameron loved that.’
‘Maybe we should take it down for today? I can put it somewhere.’
‘What? No. Why would we?’ She came over, gently reaching out and straightening the frame. Much better, Nathan could tell immediately.
‘Stop it getting damaged,’ he said.
‘But everyone will want to see it. It belongs here on the wall. Cameron would have wanted that.’
‘I suppose. I just thought, you know, with the subject matter.’
‘It’s still a beautiful painting.’ Liz wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. Nathan hadn’t even realised she was crying. ‘And whatever was wrong with Cameron, he was always a beautiful painter. It reminds me of all the best things about him. I don’t want to hide that away.’
‘Yeah, all right.’ Nathan shrugged. ‘It was only a thought.’
Liz looked over. ‘How’s Xander coping?’
‘I haven’t spoken to him since last night. He’s still pissed off with me for being gone so long yesterday.’
‘Are you surprised?’
Nathan considered. He was, actually, a little. It wasn’t like Xander to hold a grudge. Or get pissed off in the first place, for that matter. ‘There was nothing for him to panic about. When I’m back at my place, I’m out on my own all the time.’
‘That’s exactly part of the problem, Nathan.’ Liz turned to him. ‘Listen, I want you to have a chat with Steve today. Get him to make you an appointment at the clinic.’
‘Why? What for?’
‘See if he can give you something to get your head straight.’
‘I don’t need –’
‘You do. Because if you think it’s all right to disappear like that, to the point where your son is scared about what you might be up to, then there’s something seriously wrong.’ Liz lifted her head to look at him properly. ‘Please, Nathan. Losing one of you is bad enough. Today is going to be the worst day of my life. I can’t go through this twice.’
He couldn’t bear the look in her eyes so he nodded. ‘All right.’
