“Hello, Archie.” Jaunty bounced on the balls of his feet. “Excellent timing. I had offered to walk young Malachi safely home, but you’ve saved my poor legs from trekking up that bloody hill. And look, we are right outside the pub,” He grinned and pointed his umbrella at theCraic and Barrel.
“Get in,” Dad barked. “I said I’d pick you up.”
Malachi’s stomach sank. He opened the car door and peered in. “I sent you a text about going toLucky Crumbsafter work. Did you not get it?” He nodded towards the old phone, plugged into the dashboard. “I keep telling you to upgrade that thing, there’s always a delay in messages being received.”
“Let me help you.”
Before he could protest, Jaunty bundled him into the passenger seat and slammed the door.
Malachi bounced off the dashboard. A throb pulsed through his elbow. He scowled at Jaunty, rubbing the tender spot, but Jaunty grinned and placed his hands on his hips like a man satisfied with a job well done. He gave the car roof a loud thump, nodded, then retrieved his umbrella from where it leaned against the car.
“Thanks, Jaunty,” Dad waved. “Enjoy your pint.”
“I certainly will, old friend. I may stop for a while and have dinner. The catering at the Johnston house was poor, which doesn’t bode well for a plentiful spread after the funeral.” Jaunty closed his eyes and bowed his head, showing more emotion over the quality of the food than the gruesome death of the mayor. “Oh well, I’ll see you all there. Bring your umbrella, as it might rain.” With that, he waved farewell and marched towards the pub, swinging his umbrella as though he didn’t have a single care in the world.
“I’ll drop you home, and then run some errands.” Dad pulled a smile in his direction, an attempt at reassurance that didn’t quite reach his eyes. His knuckles stayed bone-white on the wheel. “Ina needs your help. She’s baking replacements for whatever the hell Tilly is concocting in her kitchen for the funeral tomorrow.”
“Jesus, hasn’t the family suffered enough?” Malachi’s empty stomach churned at the thought of Tilly’s cooking. He already knew the answer, but the question slipped out anyway. “Are you going to be long?”
“I’ll be a while, but I’ll be back in time to go to the Johnston house with you both later on.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Malachi had spent all day trying to avoid Dad, but the urge to stay closehit him hard. Maybe he did need to tell him the truth. If those monsters were back and killing other people, maybe there was something they could do to stop other people getting hurt. “Maybe we could have that chat?”
The air inside the car was thick and stifling. He cracked the window even though the air conditioning was blasting arctic air around him.
Dad didn’t reply. He didn’t even look at him. He stared straight ahead as though the road in front of them required life-or-death concentration.
Malachi rested his elbow on the door, propping his head up with his fist. The countryside blurred past in a wash of green as Dad sped towards Riverside.
In the reflection on the glass, a notification blinked on Dad’s phone: Jaunty—Main Street.
Of course. Dad had asked Jaunty to keep an eye out for him. No wonder Jaunty had been glued to his side. It wasn't a concern—it was a delaying tactic.
“Bloody phone.” Dad yanked the wire free and disconnected it from the car, jaw clenched.
Chapter 9
Archie
They drove up the twisty hill back to Riverside in silence. Malachi’s head dipped a few times, only to jolt awake whenever the car swung around a bend.
Archie kept his eyes on the road, but his thoughts were already down at the Polar Bear. He needed to see the scene for himself. The Selkie almost certainly killed the mayor, but he wouldn’t settle until he knew for sure. A shark attack on Latharna was ridiculous. Yet, it would no doubt be classed as yet another tragic accident by the Latharna Police Department, who once spent an entire afternoon searching for a “missing” boat that had been tied to the harbour the whole time.
“I’ll be back shortly, and then we’ll head to the Johnstons.” Archie pulled into the driveway but left the engine running.
“I need to talk to you later,” Malachi rubbed his eyes and turned to him. “About my plans for after the summer break.”
Heat rushed across Archie’s face. It hadn’t sunk in thatMalachi was eighteen and had finished school. “Tonight then,” his voice aimed for brightness and landed somewhere near strained. “We’ll have a chat about your future. It’s long overdue.”
“I also need to talk to you about Rhys.” Malachi's gaze dropped to his knees. His fingers twisted so tightly they turned white.
Archie tightened his grip on the steering wheel, steadying the jolt inside him. For seven years, they’d avoided each other around Rhys’ anniversary, like ships passing in the night. If it weren’t for Ina, they probably wouldn’t acknowledge the day at all. If the Selkie hadn’t come back to Latharna, the cycle would’ve continued. They would’ve kept drifting further apart when they needed each other the most. But now, out of nowhere, Malachi wanted to talk about Rhys. The same summer the Selkie came back. A prickling crept up the back of Archie’s neck, the sense that something beyond human nature had nudged them back towards each other.
“Okay then,” Malachi sighed, reaching for the door, shattering Archie’s train of thought.
“Wait.” Archie caught his arm before he could slip away. His fingers tightened, holding on a beat too long “Yes... please,” The words came out softer than he meant, almost unsteady. “Let’s talk about Rhys and we’ll raise a glass in his honour.”
“Can we do it now?” Malachi’s dark eyes cut straight through him.
