The Flood

Daniela at last found her way around a bulky Welsh dresser that blocked the direct route to the cleared area at the back of the shop that doubled as Henry’s office. A huge polished rosewood desk the colour of venous blood took up most of the space, with a wicker chair wedged behind it. The desk and two nearby tables were submerged below a sea of paperwork. At the back of the room, the fire exit was propped open with a metal urn, allowing a sluggish breeze to flow in from the walled courtyard behind the building.

Franklyn had been sat in a ladder-backed chair, which she’d knocked over as she stood up too fast. A box of papers had fallen from the desk, but it was unclear who’d done that. Franklyn was thin and wiry like Daniela, with a fringe of black hair that was always in her eyes. Henry was six inches taller and at least five stone heavier. His shirt didn’t fit well, the material stretched and strained across his chest. His reddish hair was combed flat.

‘Hey …’ Daniela said.

When he saw her, Henry smiled and shook his head. ‘How come you invited these guys?’ he asked Franklyn. ‘I thought you wanted to keep this private.’

Franklyn took a moment to shove her temper back into whatever compartment she usually stored it in. To Daniela she said, ‘I’ll be done in a minute, Dani. Just wait for me outside, yeah?’

Daniela looked from her to Henry. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Nothing. Nothing.’

‘How about you tell her?’ Henry suggested with a smile.

‘Is that really what you want?’ Franklyn asked. ‘Seriously, I would’ve thought you’ve got more to lose than me right now.’

Henry settled down into a chair and rested his arm on the rosewood desk. He was still smiling, like he was entertained by Franklyn’s words. Daniela had learned at a young age that Henry had a pretty good poker face, but all his tells were in his hands. She glanced at his fingers. The table was littered with papers and boxes and trinkets from the shop. Not far from Henry’s hand was a stack of post and a knife he’d been using to open the envelopes.

‘This isn’t a great reflection of your character,’ Henry said. ‘Coming in here to threaten me. I’m sure your little sister doesn’t want to see that.’

Daniela couldn’t look away from the knife on the table. It was a flick-knife, a patina of age across the opened blade. On the handle was an inlaid design in the shape of a snake, black on red. It looked like part of the stock from the antiques shop. The handle was less than two inches from Henry’s hand.

‘Frankie, maybe we should go,’ Daniela said, nervous.

‘Listen to your sister,’ Henry suggested. ‘It’s good to hear someone in your family talk sense. That’s been sorely lacking since your dear mother walked out.’

Franklyn took a couple of steps towards Henry. Wherever she’d put her anger, it hadn’t been boxed away securely, because the colour rose back to her face. ‘Listen—’ she said.

Henry started to his feet. His hand moved over the knife.

Darting forwards, Daniela snatched up a double-handful of papers from the desk and flung them at Henry’s face. He flinched in surprise. At the same moment, Franklyn made a grab for him.

Everything happened too fast after that. Daniela lunged for the knife. She succeeded in knocking it off the table, but lost her balance and stumbled. Someone shoved her to get her away – either Henry or Franklyn, she couldn’t be sure – and she fell, striking her chin on the table on the way down.

For a second, Daniela lay dazed on the rough carpet. Feet scuffled next to her head. The papers she’d thrown were still fluttering to the ground.

Someone yelled, ‘Stop it! What’re you doing?’

Leo had run into the shop, with Auryn right behind him, and behind her, Stephanie.

Stephanie pushed to the front. She got both hands on Franklyn’s shoulders and yanked her away like a dog on a leash.

‘All right, what the hell’s going on?’ Stephanie demanded. ‘Franklyn, cut it out.’

Franklyn lifted her hands contritely. ‘Sorry, sorry,’ she said, with a shrug that implied she wasn’t doing anything worth shouting about.

Stephanie shoved Franklyn away, not gently.

Daniela was still on the floor, dazed, unwilling to get up. Her hands shook from the brief confrontation, and there was a dull ache where she’d banged her chin. It took her several moments to work out why her mouth tasted coppery. Her tongue probed a split on the inside of her cheek.

Light glinted off something metal nearby. The flick-knife, which had bounced under the table after Daniela knocked it off the top. Careful to keep her movements hidden, Daniela closed her hand around it.

‘It’s my fault,’ Franklyn told Stephanie. ‘We were just having a discussion. Here, let me help you up.’ She reached down to grab Daniela’s hand.

Stephanie didn’t look even slightly convinced. ‘What were you discussing?’

‘Just passing the time of day. Daniela tripped and fell, right?’

Henry smirked. ‘Tripped right over her own feet.’

Daniela felt heat flush her cheeks. She let Franklyn haul her upright. Her head swam. She stayed half-turned away so no one would see she’d picked up the flick-knife. The handle felt warm.

Leo had pushed past so he was between Stephanie and Henry. ‘Franklyn started it,’ he said. ‘You all heard her shouting at my dad.’

‘That’s not what I heard,’ Stephanie said.

Franklyn laughed. But whatever comment she was planning to make, Stephanie silenced her with a glare.

‘Go wait in the car, Franklyn,’ she said. ‘You too, Dani.’

Daniela hesitated. It rankled that no one had bothered to check whether she was hurt, or to get her side of the story. Her fingers tightened around the knife.

‘C’mon, kid,’ Franklyn said, taking hold of Daniela’s elbow. ‘Let’s give the grown-ups some space.’

Making her expression neutral, Daniela nodded, while she slipped the knife into the sleeve of her jacket, hidden.

7 (#ulink_cd3b8d96-e3a2-511e-992d-30aac2783997)

By the time they reached the car, Franklyn had shrugged off her temper. She kept her head up as she crossed the road.

‘You okay?’ Daniela asked.

Franklyn gave a tight smile. ‘Sure. Why the hell not?’ She leaned against the bonnet of Stephanie’s car to light a cigarette.

The door of the antiques shop opened and Auryn came out with Leo. She kept wiping her eyes with her fingertips. Leo pushed her away when she tried to touch his arm.

‘You don’t get it,’ Leo was saying. ‘Dad’s mad at your stupid sister right now, but by tonight he’ll take it out on me, or Mum. We’re the ones who’ll get the fallout.’

‘So, come stay at our house,’ Auryn suggested.

‘That’s not going to help Mum, is it?’ Leo chewed his lip as he glanced at the open door of the corner shop. ‘I better warn her.’

‘I’ll come with you.’

‘It’s probably best if you stay away.’ Leo softened his words with a sad smile. ‘I’ll call you later, okay?’

He walked off, leaving Auryn standing helpless in the middle of the road, still blinking back tears.